Rainbow trout in Missouri

[BilletHead]

4 hours ago, Skeeter ZX190 said:

Last Tuesday I went to the Current River.  I started at Baptist Camp and headed downstream and then worked my way back to the parking lot.  Got back to the parking lot around noon so I stopped to eat a bite before continuing my trek upstream.  There was a gentleman there and we talked for quite awhile about the Current River and the other trout streams in Missouri.  We talked about MDC's Trout Slam challenge and where we stood in trying to complete it.  It was a very enjoyable conversation just talking about trout fishing.  We said our goodbyes and I headed upstream.  When I got back to my truck  about 3:00 pm, there was a book on my windshield.  Inside it was signed by the author, so I'm pretty sure I had been talking with the author earlier that day.  The book is called "From Northern California to the Ozarks of Missouri, How Rainbow Trout Came to the Show Me State", written by Rik W. Hafer, and published in 2021.  I'm halfway done reading it and it is fascinating.  To think that trout in Missouri came to be because of an experiment trying to establish pacific salmon in not only Missouri, but many other states east of the Rockies.  

I was at the right place, at the right time to receive such a blessing.  Fishing and a history lesson!

                  You were very blessed. Neat story. Some wonderful folks still are amongst us.

[BilletHead]

4 hours ago, Skeeter ZX190 said:

I did really well, for me anyway.  I caught 37.   I would say half and half as far rainbows and browns.  Nothing bigger than 14 inches.  Quite a few in the 7 to 9 inch range.  I think they stock it in the spring so I would say most of those smaller fish are from this year's stocking.  I'm using a euro rod and I keep it simple.  I usually go with two flies.  The anchor fly is a size 12 with a tungsten beads and lead wraps.  The other fly is usually a size 16 scud or nymph.  Pink squirrel, pheasant tail, hare's ear, Pat's rubber legs, etc.  

                Those pink squirrels are the bomb. 

[Skeeter ZX190]

1 hour ago, Dutch said:

Why in the world aren’t you fishing for real fish?  You should be after the small mouths at Stockton and giving us reports.🤣  Nice day.

I wouldn't know where to start.  Are the bass still holding out in deeper water where they were spawning before the lake rose, or are they going to be up in the trees and bushes?  

I have really enjoyed the challenge of trying this euro-nymphing.  I've been to the Current River 5 times since the beginning of February.  First time I caught 7 fish.  The next trip 5 fish, then 15, then 30, and now this last trip it was 37.  I really believe my bass and crappie fishing experience has helped with euro-nymphing.  Distinguishing between the subtle differences of a bite or just bouncing along the bottom.

[Dutch]

What we found last trip were in the bushes.  I’m going to try the Little Sac next time there are some 30° banks which should have some fish as well as some timber.  Weedless Ned and weedless shaky were all we could catch them on.

[ness]

On 5/20/2022 at 2:09 PM, Ryan Miloshewski said:

That's awesome! Any mention of Spence Turner in the book? Haven't read it. He was extremely influential in Missouri's trout success, as well as a great guy.

I got the book today. In the front, the author says Spencer 'planted the seed' for the book. Also, several of his papers are listed in the bibliography.