What I'm Hearing On The Park

[oneshot 1]

Heard they are going to replace the old wooden bridge. Fix it where you can drive on it and have a walkway. 

So I'm thinking like they should have fix it like the Whistle Bridge.

Going to put a walkway along the spring. 

The other is tied up in court. 

oneshot 

[Xraydude]

Right, just like all the other “fixes.”  
Why am I picturing broken pieces of concrete in the spring hole after a big flood?
 

[fishinwrench]

MDC & DNR's mission statement was initially about the preservation of natural resources.   And turning Bennett Spring state park into a giant trout hatchery operation in order to stock "Urban Ponds" throughout the winters in this the state, is somebody's pipe dream that needs to be scrapped. 

There's nothing "natural" about catching trout in a bluegill/bass/catfish pond ! 

The Urban Trout program is the ONLY reason why they felt the hatchery needed to be expanded in the first place.

[BilletHead]

8 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

There's nothing "natural" about catching trout in a bluegill/bass/catfish pond !

        You know how I feel on this subject. I do like places to catch trout that occupy a niche on all of our spring creeks and man made tail water cold water fisheries.

     Let me rephrase what you said. There is nothing "natural" about catching trout in Missouri period. 

    As far as stocking ponds in urban areas the monies brought in is for all the people's. There are people that would never get to rural places and fish like you and I and everyone else on this forum.  I'm fine with these hatcheries spreading the non natural trout around for everyone. 

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, BilletHead said:

 

     Let me rephrase what you said. There is nothing "natural" about catching trout in Missouri period.

 

In spring fed creeks I consider it natural ENOUGH.  

And in the tailwaters, where the habitat for native species has been altered...... the stocking of trout is a cool trade-off.   

The Urban Trout program is about giving city folk something for their 1/8 of a cent tax. 

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

2 hours ago, BilletHead said:

   As far as stocking ponds in urban areas the monies brought in is for all the people's. There are people that would never get to rural places and fish like you and I and everyone else on this forum.  I'm fine with these hatcheries spreading the non natural trout around for everyone. 

Growing up with parents who didn't fish,  I was a recipient of the opportunity to fish for trout.   There are many who get to experience the option to catch trout in those ponds.   Many city folks dont have quality transportation to leave their 1 county area, much less travel within 5 counties.   Side note, St Louis City is not within any county.  

While the expenses are tough to justify especially when you are not on the receiving end, I can tell you from personal experience it is a great positive to the residents who fish.   You may have heard all of the negative about the bucket brigade,  and I won't try to act like it doesn't exist.   But there are many many more who do adhere to the laws.    

Them same city people buy licenses and trout stamps for the same price as the country people.    I would tend to believe the country people benefit more per dollar spent as they have more options than ~20 or so stocked ponds within area of city residents.  Truth be told most fish less than 5 ponds.   

Luckily for me, I found this forum.   Honestly.   I've learned much more and had many more experiences, and new waters that I would never considered.   All for the same cost as the limited city kid who modifies his bike to hold 2 rods and carries his takle box on the handlebars to ride 2-3 miles to the nearest pond in December.   

 

[fishinwrench]

Fair enough 👍 

It just sucks to see a once great place, destroyed for the sake of it.  

[Gavin]

Well it will look like a golf course when they are done. 

[Johnsfolly]

18 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

Them same city people buy licenses and trout stamps for the same price as the country people.    I would tend to believe the country people benefit more per dollar spent as they have more options than ~20 or so stocked ponds within area of city residents.  Truth be told most fish less than 5 ponds

Thanks Daryk. I have only fished nine of the urban ponds/lakes. I did fish three in one day once 😉. Usually I would only fish until we had our four fish limits. Even so I caught 65 trout from the pond in Columbia over the years. Saved me hundreds of miles in travel to fish the Current.

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

Saved me hundreds of miles in travel to fish the Current

In my world, a trout caught in a farm pond does not equal one caught in a spring creek. 

Of all the travelling YOU DO to catch little minnows from some obscure little creek.... I'm surprised that you are so easily satisfied. 😉