• Registered: 2008-12-11
  • Posts: 500

Topic: Why Trout?

Alright, I feel the need to throw another curveball. Y'all get ready to swing at it, now.

Why is there this thing about stocking trout in southern waters where they have NEVER been before? I can only imagine how GREAT the NATIVE smallmouth bass fishery might have been if it would have been assisted half as well as the trout thing.

Discharge water from the dams being too cold? At Murfreesboro? No, smallmouth water gets to be a LOT colder than the water coming through the upper LIttle Mo. Or the Little Red. Or the Spring.

Oh yes it does!

Personally, I believe it's all politics - that yielding to the FACT that stocked trout, no matter how river-conditioned they might become - are turkeys compared to river-raised smallmouths.

So why would anyone want to go fishing for stocked trout when they could fish for wild smallmouths?

Because they can catch the trout?

Oooooooo

Okay, now you can throw your rocks, but while you are winding up to make a toss, think about it. emot_wink

Pete

SMALLMOUTHS RULE!!!

  • From: Lafayette
  • Registered: 2010-03-24
  • Posts: 234

Re: Why Trout?

I totaly agree with you on this.

I think its the long tradition that flyfishers have and feel that they need to withhold(is this the right time to use this word)
Just like a flyfisher is stubborn on his rod and reel choices same so for the fish. If you gave a flyfisherman anywhere in the world a chance to fly fish anywhere in the world for any fish in the world it will most likely be Bonefish, Tarpon, Trout , Salmon , or a bill fish.

One word tradition

  • From: Idaho Falls, ID
  • Registered: 2010-04-10
  • Posts: 48

Re: Why Trout?

I love smallies and I am with you Pete.  Leave the trout up here where they belong!

  • Registered: 2008-12-07
  • Posts: 856

Re: Why Trout?

All wrong!  emot_tsktsk

(Like most Southern tailwaters) After the construction of Narrows Dam, the majority of the smallmouth population on the Little Missouri River shifted southwards.  Although there is a fair number of smallies in the first 6 miles of the tailwater, as well as largemouths, large pickeral, white bass, bream, and other "warm" species, it simply isn't as favorable to them as the waters further south.  AFGC for many years attempted to restore smallmouth in this stretch to their traditional numbers, but with no success.  Trout flourish in this stretch, and it fills a demand for trout enthusiasts in Louisiana, southern Arkansas, and east Texas.  The folks who prefer smallmouth still have 34 miles of river below (which also hold big walleye) as well as a few dozen streams in the area, including the Caddo, the Cossatot, the upper Little Missouri, the Ouachita, the Saline, etc.

I hate  to tell you guys this... but there are FAR more folks who take advantage of the 6 miles of trout on the Little Mo and 12 miles of trout on the Mountain Fork than all the anglers taking advantage of several hundred miles of smallmouth water.

As for me, I love fishing for both!  emot_fishing  Why should I argue one way or the other, when I can have both!

  • From: Baton Rouge
  • Registered: 2008-12-11
  • Posts: 162

Re: Why Trout?

pete cooper, jr. wrote:

Alright, I feel the need to throw another curveball. Y'all get ready to swing at it, now.

Why is there this thing about stocking trout in southern waters where they have NEVER been before? I can only imagine how GREAT the NATIVE smallmouth bass fishery might have been if it would have been assisted half as well as the trout thing.

Discharge water from the dams being too cold? At Murfreesboro? No, smallmouth water gets to be a LOT colder than the water coming through the upper LIttle Mo. Or the Little Red. Or the Spring.

Oh yes it does!

Personally, I believe it's all politics - that yielding to the FACT that stocked trout, no matter how river-conditioned they might become - are turkeys compared to river-raised smallmouths.

So why would anyone want to go fishing for stocked trout when they could fish for wild smallmouths?

Because they can catch the trout?

Oooooooo

Okay, now you can throw your rocks, but while you are winding up to make a toss, think about it. emot_wink

Pete

SMALLMOUTHS RULE!!!

Pete, I like where you're going with this. I think native fish should be restored where they can. I'm sure there are tailwaters out there that can no longer support native fish, in those I think it's alright to stock something to replace the void, hence the trout. I personally don't seek out stocked trout while I vacation. If it's the only game in town than I won't complain, but usually you'll find me in a headwater stream going after the wild fish, especially if that wild fish was once a native fish. A fish born and raised in a river fights much harder than those from a tailrace or even a lake for that matter.

You may find "An Entirely Synthetic Fish" by Anders Halverson a good read, it delves a bit into this matter. He explores what has lead to America's love affair with rainbow trout.

  • From: Idaho Falls, ID
  • Registered: 2010-04-10
  • Posts: 48

Re: Why Trout?

Hope you all have a nice weekend. Headed up to Craig MT in a few minutes to spend four days chasing rainbows and browns on the Missouri River. The world's largetst spring creek....technical dry fly fishing at its best!:to:

  • Registered: 2008-12-11
  • Posts: 53

Re: Why Trout?

I feel the same way about Florida largemouth in the Basin. emot_bh

  • From: Lafayette
  • Registered: 2010-03-24
  • Posts: 234

Re: Why Trout?

A largemouth is a largemouth and if there a little bigger thats fine with me.

  • Registered: 2008-12-11
  • Posts: 53

Re: Why Trout?

They are more difficult to catch, and they don't bite as well.
I am generally opposed to introducing non-native species or even a strain of any kind into an environment, especially on the basis of a better recreational experience. No offense! smile I did say "generally." Our native largemouth are fine fish, fine fighters and it makes no sense to me that they don't propagate them at our own state hatchery. In time, we'll have no native strain left in the basin, only hybrids.
Back on subject, sorry for the interjection.

  • From: Baton Rouge
  • Registered: 2008-12-11
  • Posts: 162

Re: Why Trout?

Roger Stouff wrote:

I am generally opposed to introducing non-native species or even a strain of any kind into an environment, especially on the basis of a better recreational experience. No offense! smile I did say "generally." Our native largemouth are fine fish, fine fighters and it makes no sense to me that they don't propagate them at our own state hatchery.

I agree. I think it is ridiculous that the state would stock our open waterway systems with non-native florida LMB.

  • Registered: 2008-12-11
  • Posts: 500

Re: Why Trout?

fishtaco wrote:
Roger Stouff wrote:

I am generally opposed to introducing non-native species or even a strain of any kind into an environment, especially on the basis of a better recreational experience. No offense! smile I did say "generally." Our native largemouth are fine fish, fine fighters and it makes no sense to me that they don't propagate them at our own state hatchery.

I agree. I think it is ridiculous that the state would stock our open waterway systems with non-native florida LMB.

Roger/FT -
I started bitching (Loudly!) about that at least 15 years ago, mostly about a private enterprise ("Bass-life" in Shreveport) pulling enough political clout to have W&F stock Lake Bistineau with Florida-strain fish.
Bistineau was once a bastian of our native largemouths and, incidentally, had a healthy population of spots. There probably isn't too much interaction between the spots and the FSL, but I would not be surprised if there aren't any more pure native fish left in the lake.
All because the Shreveport bass fishermen wanted to catch bigger bass. And that W&F couyon in Minden couldn't see the forest for the trees, even after I tried to explain to him about the value of "natives".
"Hmmmph", he responded, "I never knew anyone felt like that" - or something VERY similar.
And that's the way it was, once upon a time in - well, it seems like nowadays it's all over the place!
Pete