Full of dinks.

[Terrierman]

7 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

We spent another day in the park yesterday.  Strictly fished drys all day, and determined shortly after lunch (Hillbilly Burger is a chithole btw) that the pattern was irrelevant as long as it was a #16 on 6x. 

Zone 1 had some fairly decent sized fish, but Z2 is absolutely loaded with greedy little farts making it rather annoying.  I did stick one nice brown in Z2 but he took me so by surprise that I blew it on the first run and he broke off.  That was the only brown we saw all day.  We walked the hatchery raceways, looks like they are operating at 1/5 of their capacity and the size of the fish in the raceways is very small.  I wonder why they expanded their operation so much... but aren't utilizing it?  Seems like such a waste.  What's the problem?  

We didn't see anyone toting a stringer, and come to think of it....the weekend before when we were there I didn't see anyone keeping any either.   So where are all the fish going?



You're a lot fatter than I imagined.  And older too.

[BilletHead]

     

37 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

You're a lot fatter than I imagined.  And older too.

   hahahahahahah OH SNAP!   I tell people with fat and age comes earned wisdom ,

   BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

54 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

     

   hahahahahahah OH SNAP!   I tell people with fat and age comes earned wisdom ,

   BilletHead

I'm definitely a wise guy!

[NoLuck]

The cycle of fish size is pretty much the same as it's been the last couple years. Ben has done a great job of putting good size fish in during the busy months of the year. From Mid April to the last weekend of September there were a lot of nice fish in the stream. Just as it was last year, fish size decreased after the Labor Day Holiday weekend. I think people get  spoiled over fish size in MO sometimes. I've fished a lot of streams all over the country and Bennett has bigger average size trout than most,from what I've observed.  I agree with using Bennett to hone your skills, as they've really helped me abroad.  Especially with fish landing and fighting skills. 

 

From what I understand, the stock of fish is doing pretty well.  Not, sure how many fish have been spoken for to stock urban fisheries this winter. But, I'm sure it'll be a good amount from Bennett. As long as they keep putting enough fish in to make it a decent day of fishing I'm good with it.  Sure I'd like there to be a ton of nicer fish every day.  But, it is what it is. I rarely if ever keep trout. Much rather eat bluegill or crappie myself. 

 

The only real issue I have with Bennett is the rude and illegal fishing people. Catch and release season will take care of a lot of that though.

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

This all from the guy that doesn't want the MDC to spend money on trout😜!

You've never heard me say that.  

The trout program is the one that I support, since unlike the spoonbill, walleye, and hybrid striper programs.... actually pays for itself.    Well, that is until you spend millions upgrading a hatchery and then don't bother to use it. 

 

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, Terrierman said:

You're a lot fatter than I imagined.  And older too.

Really?  You had me pegged for a skinny young guy?  

34/32 jeans and 55 y/o.  Pretty much right where I deserve to be.  😊

I'll take you up on a foot race, but please can we make it one with a cheeseburger, a diet Coke and a cigarette at the finish line ?

[fishinwrench]

52 minutes ago, NoLuck said:

I rarely if ever keep trout.

Me either, nor does it appear that hardly anyone who fishes there does.   Which begs the question: Where do all the better sized fish go?

I didn't see any guts in the stream either.

[NoLuck]

Just now, fishinwrench said:

Me either, nor does it appear that hardly anyone who fishes there does.   Which begs the question: Where do all the better sized fish go?

I don't think that there are any left. Between the ladies fishing day and whatever else that drew big crowds at the end of the busy season most of the better size fish are all accounted for.  I know when I was down before I headed out to Oregon, most of the fish I caught were pretty much small fish. Did catch a couple decent sized ones though.  I'm just wondering what the fish size will be like for the catch and release season. Last winter was a pretty good mix. 

 

I'll be down this coming Sunday through Halloween evening to finish up the season. I'll get a better idea of what its like then.  Hopefully my gear makes it home before my flight does Friday.  

[tjm]

8 hours ago, NoLuck said:

people get  spoiled over fish size in MO

No doubt. Especially true of trout, and not only size but numbers available. 

[Trout Man]

Totally agree with the Niangua  management comment.  The river appears to be full of life, crawdads, minnows, insects etc. Rather than dump 500 (or whatever the number is) fish in it periodically to be wiped out after a week why not try some type of delayed harvest?  Let the fish grow a bit and have better fishing (this doesn't mean stop stocking it periodically throughout the year).  Lot of factors in play but our trout fishing in Missouri "in general" seems to have taken a nose dive in the last 10 years and not much is happening to change it.