This Is Bull

[oneshot 1]

Went after Trout right where the spring comes into the river. 

Only seen two caught.  My wife said well they will stock for the weekend. Truth be known I think they are being stingy with their stocking. 

Thinking around here fish for Redhorse much better. 

I was thinking Montauk but I don't know if it is any better after the flood and all.

Oh well seen and Eagle having same luck. 

oneshot 

[tjm]

2 hours ago, oneshot 1 said:

Truth be known I think they are being stingy with their stocking. 

If that's outside the park, the stockings should only be 5-6 times a year, I think. That's  a "White Ribbon" stream and I was told the "white Ribbon" streams that I fish  are budgeted for five stockings per year. (Roaring River, Capps, Hickory )

Right at the confluence, there may be Park fish that have moved downstream that would make it seem like it's stocked more frequently. But if you want heavy stockings, they do the spring branch daily, don't they?

[oneshot 1]

10 minutes ago, tjm said:

If that's outside the park, the stockings should only be 5-6 times a year, I think. That's  a "White Ribbon" stream and I was told the "white Ribbon" streams that I fish  are budgeted for five stockings per year. (Roaring River, Capps, Hickory )

Right at the confluence, there may be Park fish that have moved downstream that would make it seem like it's stocked more frequently. But if you want heavy stockings, they do the spring branch daily, don't they?

See the Hatchery has been down for months so they have had to bring fish in. They quit stocking the river like they use to for years. This makes at least two years that the Hatchery has been down. 

I'm thinking they had to find fish for Merrimack and Montauk this year. They have been all over with stocking ponds in the cities for Winter. 

Hey you have to raise fish to have any to stock and I think things are catching up with them. 

I know this isn't fishing but catching one time 3 of us went to the access with one Rod in a half hour we all had our limits of 5. Yes this was a few years ago. 

oneshot 

[tjm]

5 stockings in 12 months means there may be a couple of months or more between stockings. For as close to the park as that is the stocked fish may last a week or ten days and that means there will be a lot of fishless days in a year.   They will source fish from private hatcheries to keep the park stocked. But don't you prefer suckers?

[oneshot 1]

18 minutes ago, tjm said:

5 stockings in 12 months means there may be a couple of months or more between stockings. For as close to the park as that is the stocked fish may last a week or ten days and that means there will be a lot of fishless days in a year.   They will source fish from private hatcheries to keep the park stocked. But don't you prefer suckers?

True on the Suckers if I had a Gigging Boat and was able to stand I would be out there every night. 

This year nothing but nice weather. 

I've seen when ice was getting on everything. 

oneshot 

[WestCentralFisher]

I fish that stretch of the Niangua a lot (though probably not as much as you admittedly) most recently last week. I have had 50+ fish days, and also some real slow days. It most definitely largely depends on the stocking truck.

But even on the real slow days (and the trip late last week was firmly in that category) there are trout to be caught. They just start acting a lot more like "wild" trout when there hasn't been a stocking in awhile. I caught a few rainbows, it took me a lot longer than usual to break the skunk, but once I figured it out I had some half decent fishing.

They'll spook easier and adhere to structure/cover a lot more when they've been in the river awhile. I'll admit I never mind the easy days where you clearly hit the stocking schedule right, but the slower days aren't so bad either.  It's a lot more like fishing on the Eleven Point or upper Current on those days. You never know which you're gonna get until you go, which is part of the fun. 

The slow trout fishing also inspired me to go elsewhere and chase some smallmouth, which ended up being a really fun side quest. 

[oneshot 1]

You guys are talking flies which is ok but I can't walk well and need to catch a ride. 

So it is setting on the bank with a worm.

Been trying to convince someone to take me Crappie fishing from the bank.  Not in a Boat I do well on the bank.

Could rig up for Suckers and still catch a few Trout.  All is good!

oneshot 

[WestCentralFisher]

18 minutes ago, oneshot 1 said:

You guys are talking flies which is ok but I can't walk well and need to catch a ride. 

So it is setting on the bank with a worm.

Been trying to convince someone to take me Crappie fishing from the bank.  Not in a Boat I do well on the bank.

Could rig up for Suckers and still catch a few Trout.  All is good!

oneshot 

That's fair. I think as the catch and keep trout season continues on there should be a steadier flow of fish from the spring branch. I feel like I do better in the summer and fall in the area right near the confluence than winter and early spring.  Of course there are also more people too, but such is life. Not sure if that's actually the reason but it's just something I've observed. 

[podum]

On 3/31/2025 at 12:03 PM, WestCentralFisher said:

I fish that stretch of the Niangua a lot (though probably not as much as you admittedly) most recently last week. I have had 50+ fish days, and also some real slow days. It most definitely largely depends on the stocking truck.

But even on the real slow days (and the trip late last week was firmly in that category) there are trout to be caught. They just start acting a lot more like "wild" trout when there hasn't been a stocking in awhile. I caught a few rainbows, it took me a lot longer than usual to break the skunk, but once I figured it out I had some half decent fishing.

They'll spook easier and adhere to structure/cover a lot more when they've been in the river awhile. I'll admit I never mind the easy days where you clearly hit the stocking schedule right, but the slower days aren't so bad either.  It's a lot more like fishing on the Eleven Point or upper Current on those days. You never know which you're gonna get until you go, which is part of the fun. 

The slow trout fishing also inspired me to go elsewhere and chase some smallmouth, which ended up being a really fun side quest. 

feral trout are more fun!

[fishinwrench]

For the first 4-5 days after stocking, many of those stockers will stay schooled up like crappie......and you can catch a limit (or more) out of one little spot.

After a bit they will break up and spread out into individual holding areas.   So basically anytime you are able to catch several from the exact same little current seam it is safe to assume that they were recently stocked.