Dead Topic

[ollie]

Phil, can you just go ahead and get rid of this stream on the forum? It has been 5 years since anyone has posted on here and to be honest, I wouldn't recommend anyone fishing this stream. I say that because in the grand scope of our mayor and others, they have decided to pretty much destroy this stream. The only fish you are going to catch will be the stockers from the opening day. Period. I was a stream team leader for Hickory and did that for about 10 years until I decided to quit since no one would show up for clean ups. Now the new mayor has gone in and had the parks department cut down just about any tree that lined the bank. There is nowhere for the trout to hide or go now. The stream wasn't that great to begin with, but it was in my backyard and is only about 4 blocks from my house. I have watched it go downhill now for the last couple of years. The idea behind getting rid of all the trees along the banks was so "everyone can enjoy the creek and have accessible fishing". I call BS on that since I know a lot of homeless people hang out around there. They just wanted to make it easier to find those people and run them off. Either way the only people that catch anything are just lucky enough to catch the stocking truck.  Use this space for something else more constructive I say.

 

Thanks, ollie

 

[fishinwrench]

No active Stream Team in existence? 

Where's the MDC ?    "Conservation" is their purpose still, right?    Or not?

[snagged in outlet 3]

8 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

No active Stream Team in existence? 

Where's the MDC ?    "Conservation" is their purpose still, right?    Or not?

I think your nickname should be "The Spoon"  😂  Keep it up!

[ollie]

Wrench, it doesn't have so much to do with the stream team. More of the city leaders who think they know best for what the majority of people want in town. I'm pretty sure MDC warned them about the problems that would exist, but they don't own the stream, the city does. Years back MDC pushed for some improvements to the stream and the State actually gave the city money and resources to make it happen. Trees were planted, natural native grass was planted to bring back supporting wildlife and the thought that the city wouldn't have to mow as much in certain areas because of that. Within a year all the trees were gone due to vandalism and the grass got cut down due to people complaining about the "weeds" in their beautiful park. I think after that they just gave up on the stream as well. Hell, I have and I live by it! They have literally taken away any kind of protection for any kind of fish in that stream. Sad. That and no one has posted on this stream in 5 years. 

[fshndoug]

What city does  this stream  run through.

[ollie]

fshndoug it is in Neosho. Morse Park is where most of it flows through or at least that is where most of the water is. 

[ollie]

Ok just to clear things up some the stream i s not void of trees or shade. I just realized it might have sounded that way. The city cleared the banks completely and did remove some trees that were on the bank. Just easier to take what you want.

[tjm]

I agree that the city screwed that stream with the clearing they did to  accommodate the frisbee golf and my source says MDC did argue with them about that. The new bridge construction didn't help trout any either. But I have caught trout there long after opening day and through out the winter months. Last time  was around the end of June or beginning of July, I think,  and the big fish that day looked to have been in stream for a year perhaps, guessing from size and color.  IMO, the only sections left with really adequate shade are where the private land joins the park. If it weren't that so many springs feed it the stream would be way to warm for trout.

Looking at the condition of the ADA accesses, though, I'd say MDC doesn't show a lot of interest in the fishery, but knowing they have no input into the stream management could do that.  The numbers of fish stockings I've been told of and the small numbers of trout in the stream following those stocking days hint that perhaps the fish are going someplace else.

I still enjoy an hour or so in the less trafficked sections a couple times a month, and in the early season I've met guys there from  Ar & Ok that said they had caught several. I don't really think of trout in the hot part of summer though and the day I caught that last  trout I was exploring for rock bass that I've been told occupy the deeper pools. The stream will never be a premier trout stream simply due to the park traffic, numbers of swimmers small size of the stream.

As far as the sub-forum goes, I never look at those as a rule and only read the "Unread Content" page, and judging by the number of new topics there it would look like no sub- forums are needed. It's very rare that I make trip reports, because I never manage to get pictures.

[2sheds]

Hey Ollie,

WOW.  That post must have been very hard to write - documenting  the sad situation where a town doesn't realize the irreplaceable value of such a magical resource.  I have read on this forum how much you enjoy trout fishing, so I can imagine it hurts to report on the state of affairs.

I dream of retiring to a place where I could walk to a trout stream, even if just to stand in some cool water and cast around a bit.  So I guess Neosho is off my list.  Hope things turn around there because clean spring-fed water is disappearing.

[ollie]

2sheds, I mean technically tjm is right about being able to catch a hold over now and then, but they are very few and far between anymore unless you know the creek very well. I do and I can tell you it isn't anything like it used to be. The city is more concerned with the disc golf in the park right now and I have no problem with that, but they would rather cater to them and the mountain bike crowd. To the city the creek is nothing more than a place for those to cool down in the summer and a put and take fishery.