North Fork issue

[Gavin]

I'd be OK with folks planting egg boxes or fingerlings for a year or several. That stream did OK (but never great) with no rainbow trout stocking for 50 years. To be honest....I've caught  5-10 rainbows every day I've fished it since 2017. Fish are there. Not what it was,  but it has never been great for size or numbers of rainbow trout. NFoW is a very special place and one of the most developed streams in the Ozarks, and that is it's biggest draw/problem IMO. It is still a millionaire's row...No trash properties like you see all over the Gasconade or Meramec. It is the MO version of  the Holy Waters on the Ausable in Grayling,MI.

 

 

[tjm]

12 hours ago, Al Agnew said:

I disagree on the Kentucky fishery.  Every stream section in the Ozarks that is heavily enough springfed to support trout has never had a spotted bass fishery.  I do not think spots are willing or able to colonize such cold waters.  

I mentioned the the spots kinda tongue in cheek, but from what has been said and what I've seen elsewhere, I believe you may have lost the cool effect when you lost  the trees. Having used a thermometer extensively in eastern streams, I am convinced that shade is most important in keeping the water cool enough for trout to thrive. I'd get busy planting (fast growing) trees on every south and west exposure, then east,  before even considering any trout expenditure.  Sufficient warming and you will invite the spots up there. The springs should keep it cool enough for the small mouth and trout in the immediate area of the springs, but without good shade  you may have a large proportion of marginal waters.

I'd also skip the dam, with the notion that such things warm long sections above them and slow the water resulting siltation.  Even low water bridges have this effect.

I do think a moratorium (or restriction) on floating would be beneficial to the recovery of the stream. Every paddle stroke stirs the bottom and every foot print compacts it. Even trash removal disturbs some surface area, stirs the mud, scatters a bit of silt etc.  Which. brings to mind the need for a  use fee for recreational floaters that could be used to educate floaters and to acquire/maintain access points.

[Al Agnew]

8 hours ago, tjm said:

I mentioned the the spots kinda tongue in cheek, but from what has been said and what I've seen elsewhere, I believe you may have lost the cool effect when you lost  the trees. Having used a thermometer extensively in eastern streams, I am convinced that shade is most important in keeping the water cool enough for trout to thrive. I'd get busy planting (fast growing) trees on every south and west exposure, then east,  before even considering any trout expenditure.  Sufficient warming and you will invite the spots up there. The springs should keep it cool enough for the small mouth and trout in the immediate area of the springs, but without good shade  you may have a large proportion of marginal waters.

I'd also skip the dam, with the notion that such things warm long sections above them and slow the water resulting siltation.  Even low water bridges have this effect.

I do think a moratorium (or restriction) on floating would be beneficial to the recovery of the stream. Every paddle stroke stirs the bottom and every foot print compacts it. Even trash removal disturbs some surface area, stirs the mud, scatters a bit of silt etc.  Which. brings to mind the need for a  use fee for recreational floaters that could be used to educate floaters and to acquire/maintain access points.

I haven't fished the North Fork between Dawt and the lake in a very long time, so I'm curious if there are many spotted bass in that section.  I'm not sure whether even water a little too warm for trout to thrive would be warm enough for spots.  I agree that if there are any efforts extended toward the trout fishery, they should include some serious tree planting.
I would usually agree on the dam and the adverse effects upstream.  Just not sure that in this one case, it might possibly be justifiable.

There is zero possibility of closing the stream to floaters.  But I could certainly get behind a use fee for recreational floaters.

[Ham]

I think Dawt Mill is the lake. Spots are in the upper lake for sure, but largiesxare more numerous. 

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Ham said:

I think Dawt Mill is the lake. Spots are in the upper lake for sure, but largiesxare more numerous. 

Pretty sure that spotted bass prevail lakewide, much like Lanier.   

Tournament results from Norfork throughout the years pretty much confirm that.

[Gavin]

Dawt Mill is a place I avoid. That doctor wasted allot of money there and should rot in Hell for the trash palace he created.

 

[Ham]

6 hours ago, Gavin said:

Dawt Mill is a place I avoid. That doctor wasted allot of money there and should rot in Hell for the trash palace he created.

 

Whoa !!! Tap your brakes some. NFOW is going to have too many drunk floaters regardless of what any individual invested. Words matter and that’s too strong an opinion for the subject matter. Save that for drug cartels or something

[Gavin]

Nope....I dialed that back allot.

 

[fishinwrench]

I'll always remember Dawt mill as the first place I ever had fried pickles. 😂

[Chief Grey Bear]

3 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

I'll always remember Dawt mill as the first place I ever had fried pickles. 😂

Well that’s certainly not the direction I thought you were going to go!

🤣🤣🤣