Hot October - Urban Stocking Program

[snagged in outlet 3]

Yep that's what the man said.  You'll be able to smell fish fry's all over North County this weekend

[mreed81]

38 minutes ago, Smalliebigs said:

seriously???? 2400 trout in that lake in the ghetto.....I'm sorry the urban trout thing is stupid as hell IMO

I get what you're saying, as a kid I grew up fishing Trout parks and had a blast. But ever since I started fishing Blue Ribbon Streams for wild Trout and other Ozark streams for smallmouth the parks just don't do it for me. With that being said the Urban Trout thing is a good thing for a lot of people. Some of those people in that "ghetto" that you called it probably don't have the means to travel very far, and wouldn't be able to catch Trout otherwise. This also boosts Trout stamp sales for MDC, which believe it or not does help the overall program MDC has. I know, you have your complaints about MDC as well but if this program can boost revenue for them and some people can catch some trout and feed their families a different kind of dinner then I say it is a great thing overall. May not be for me or you, but we have access to a lot of water that inner city people probably don't.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I think it's CnR until Feb 1 though

[mreed81]

3 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I think it's CnR until Feb 1 though

You are correct. Either way while some of us don't necessarily get all jumpy over it, the program isn't a bad idea.

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I don't get all jumpy.  I said "now go get em" in my post.

[Johnsfolly]

32 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I think it's CnR until Feb 1 though

I always thought the same thing until I went and fished Coot and Plover lakes in the James Reed WA last year. The regulations depend upon the lake. The lakes around Columbia are C&R until Feb 1, but the ones around KC and I believe STL are catch an keep right after Nov 1.

For example on the MDC website for Coot Lake, which is in James Reed WA out towards KC - there do not appear to be any restrictions for when trout can be kept or for the types of bait or number of rods allowed.

Coot Lake

Restrictions: 

Year-round: statewide trout methods and limits.

Trout permits are required if trout are kept.

Winter Trout Fishing Area

Rainbow trout are stocked in the winter beginning in early November.

Fishing is permitted year-round during normal park or area hours. Unless indicated in the area rules, trout may be taken by pole and line using all types of lures and baits under statewide limits. A trout permit is required to keep trout.

 

Whereas here in Columbia for Cosmo-Bethel Park trout are C&R through Jan 31st and there are restrictions in the types of baits used until you are able to keep fish.

Cosmo-Bethel Lake

Restrictions: 

You must have a trout permit to keep trout during other times of the year.

Between November 1 and January 31:

• Catch and release only for trout.
• Only flies, artificial lures and unscented soft plastic baits are allowed.

Winter Trout Fishing Area

Rainbow trout are stocked in the winter beginning in early November.

Fishing is permitted year-round during normal park or area hours. Unless indicated in the area rules, trout may be taken by pole and line using all types of lures and baits under statewide limits. A trout permit is required to keep trout.

In O'Fallon Park in St Louis county again it does not restrict keeping trout after they have been released. The only restrictions are for the number of rods and that chum cannot be used.

O'Fallon Park Lake

Restrictions: 

Trout permits are required if trout are kept.

Year-round:
You must stop fishing for all species after having 4 trout in possession

Nov. 1 - Jan. 31:
Only 1 pole may be used.
Use of chum is prohibited.

Winter Trout Fishing Area

Rainbow trout are stocked in the winter beginning in early November.

Fishing is permitted year-round during normal park or area hours. Unless indicated in the area rules, trout may be taken by pole and line using all types of lures and baits under statewide limits. A trout permit is required to keep trout.

I know that there are a lot of folks that really hate this program. I enjoy going and fishing in new ponds and lakes and this gives me an excuse to stay closer to home to catch some trout. Do they fight as well as a wild trout, no they don't. However, I can't always get out to the wild trout streams.

[snagged in outlet 3]

At Busch WA there are catch and keep lakes and CnR lakes in the same area.

[Haris122]

Same thing all over the St. Louis area lakes. Some lakes around here are C&R until February, while others are put and take right away provided you fish with only 1 pole at a time. The put and take seem to get stocked more frequently with smaller numbers, while the C&R tend to get only a few stockings throughout the winter time but with more numbers per stocking.

I wondered myself on the stocking with the temperatures what they are. Hopefully the weather won't cause any die offs just after stocking.

[jdmidwest]

Rotary Lake in Jackson got theirs.  Water was warm, hatchery guys pumped lake water into truck on fish for a while to get them used to the warmer water and dumped them.  2000 trout. 

Legion Lake in Perryville got theirs this week also for the first time, 3000. 

Then there is a lake in Farmington they are stocking, this is the second year. 

I have trout within an hour of me now instead of 3 to 5 hours of driving.

[Gavin]

Tilles is about a half mile from my house. Will go and catch one occasionally if I have 15 minutes to kill. Jefferson or Busch are better options. Jefferson is fairly clear and you can sight fish occasionally, but heavy pressure. Some folks are there allot and report violations so it does not get cleaned out immediately. Mostly blind casting though.