Bluegills Above the Dam

[T.J. Clarke]

Fished Bennett the other day and landed 2 fat bluegills minutes apart, just above the dam.  Maybe just me but of all the years fishing there, decades, I do not remember ever catching them (maybe I did but forgot).   They would have been keepers on a pond.

[mic]

Maybe came down from the creek above the spring when the creek got cold.  

 

[fshndoug]

They are in the creek above the spring, just got washed down at sometime during high water.

[fishinwrench]

I had forgotten until you just brought it up, but back when Springview fly shop was there by the Spring, a buddy and I had a blast one day catching some rather nice 'gills, on Renegades, in that "frogwater" above the spring.      

There were some fatties in there. 👍

[Xraydude]

Those were the good years at Bennett, when you could camp up by the spring, Springview had not been run off, Vogels was still in the park. When there used to be deeper pools in certain spots. 

[fishinwrench]

41 minutes ago, Xraydude said:

Those were the good years at Bennett, when you could camp up by the spring, Springview had not been run off, Vogels was still in the park. When there used to be deeper pools in certain spots. 

Yep, and loaded with plenty of sizable fish all year, even though practically everyone was keeping limits......And no brand new multi-million dollar hatchery operation.  Fish were fed out of coffee cans and wheel barrows.   

How was it possible, and why isn't it today?

[tjm]

It's long been my belief that DNR/Parks is opposed to fishing (or any kind of consumptive use) and that it shows in Park management, in the trout parks MDC is a stepchild. It's a wonder to me that they still have hatcheries there. 

[Xraydude]

I think it’s as simple as the trout chow. Years ago it had an oily, strong smell. Now when you feed the fish it feels like a vegan mix. I simply don’t think those fish get enough calories to add the extra inch or two that makes a difference. They should be able to keep maybe 15%  of the fish longer to a better size, for goodness sake we’ve got more hatchery space now. The mgmt just doesn’t care, the swimming pool is a good example. 

[fishinwrench]

Somebody needs to step in and shake things up around there.  

They scrapped the swimming pool. It sits there covered in buzzard poop and fish bones.

Spent a literal fukton on a new lower bridge, that only lasted until the first high water event.....and is STILL closed.

And the entire hatchery system is shut down, with all these grandiose plans of updating....but no signs of anything going on currently to restore it.  

I've said it 100 times, and I'll keep saying it........Back when it was running smoothly, all it took was an old 1/2 ton pick-up truck, a wheelbarrow, and 3-4 old drunks with Pal mall's hanging out of their mouths.     Now they have a whole team of college graduates, all kinds of brand-new special vehicles, the best high-dollar equipment that money can buy........But yet they just can't seem to make anything happen.   There's simply no excuse for any of this.   

Huge FAIL going on there.   HUGE!

Too many Chiefs, and not enough Indians.   

All they are concerned about keeping up, is the RV park, and the lodging.  When you go in the park store there is 5-6 people hanging around the "lodging" desk......and you have to go hunt down and disturb someone to sell you a daily tag or to sell you any tackle, and they act pissed that they had to do it.  🙄 You used to have to show them a fishing license to buy a tag, but they don't even care about THAT anymore.   

[tjm]

Pool, bridge, RV park, store, lodging is all on DNR. whose interest is hiking and bird watching. Of course the Concessionaire has his way with the store and lodging,  you having a fishing license is your responsibility not his.   The hatchery must be MDC though, since they control  the fish.