Rockbridge Trout Ranch Trip

[T.J. Clarke]

Treated myself, or should I say cheated myself to Rockbridge Wed.  Nice day, only six people fishing the entire time.  Winter rate on the motel room, so that was nice.  This fish was 3.5 pounds, other fish were 2 and 3 pounds.  They put up a good fight, using 5 wt 1980s vintage L L Bean flyrod outfit.  Stream looked good but saw a few pieces of trash.  Saw no trash last time I went.  I am a litter fanatic, so maybe I notice it more.  They did not have a basic room cleaned so they gave me the upgraded room for the same rate.  LOTS of big fish below dam.  They are stocking it well even for a Wednesday off season.  

If you drive through Ava MO near RT. 5 check out Archie's restaurant for breakfast: 605 No. Jefferson.   Nice Folks, good breakfast, discount always offered for first responders and military.   

Total cost for 3 fished cleaned/fillets, fishing fees and room, total=  $171.97  

[gotmuddy]

13 minutes ago, T.J. Clarke said:

Treated myself, or should I say cheated myself to Rockbridge Wed.  Nice day, only six people fishing the entire time.  Winter rate on the motel room, so that was nice.  This fish was 3.5 pounds, other fish were 2 and 3 pounds.  They put up a good fight, using 5 wt 1980s vintage L L Bean flyrod outfit.  Stream looked good but saw a few pieces of trash.  Saw no trash last time I went.  I am a litter fanatic, so maybe I notice it more.  They did not have a basic room cleaned so they gave me the upgraded room for the same rate.  LOTS of big fish below dam.  They are stocking it well even for a Wednesday off season.  

If you drive through Ava MO near RT. 5 check out Archie's restaurant for breakfast: 605 No. Jefferson.   Nice Folks, good breakfast, discount always offered for first responders and military.   

Total cost for 3 fished cleaned/fillets, fishing fees and room, total=  $171.97  

thats not a bad price IMO.  Rockbridge is where Cloud 9 gets their trout from, very high quality.

[Quillback]

Can you catch and release?  Nothing wrong with keeping them, but some of those trout places make you keep every one you catch and then you pay for them.  

[Foghorn]

They offer full and half day catch and release. Fly rod only and you fish below the bridge next to the hatchery office. They have in recent years allowed you to fish the entire stream until the first of March.  

[T.J. Clarke]

There is a lunker photo album in the lobby that is interesting.  Gigantic Rainbows, even saw some people I knew in those pics.  Many of them holding two fish well over 5 pounds.  

The catch and release is fairly pricey so I have not done that yet.   

[Gavin]

Fun place, we usually stop by for some fishing and dinner if in the area. The girls are usually done fishing in 45 or an hour, so the price for catch & keep is the way to go (lots cheaper for 4), Did you stop by the new Bryant Creek State Park? It's just up the hill towards Monks.

 

[T.J. Clarke]

I really wanted to stop there but had to get home.  It is on my list.  Back in the late 90s the Mrs. and I did the DNR State Park Passport program.  Did all the parks across the state, all the covered bridges, all the major civil war battlefields.  It was one of the most enjoyable thinks we ever did.  Learned a lot of history.