It really depends on how those private streams are managed. If they are handled like the private "per pound" ponds around here, I would find them less than exciting. They are primarily "meat markets" for people who want to say they "caught" the fish they are eating rather than buying it at the grocery store. For me, part of the fun of fishing is the challenge of a fish loose in a stream. Down here in Georgia, they are all stocked fish, but there IS a difference. The private streams around here are all C&R only, really trophy streams where you have a reasonable chance for one or more 20"+ fish that will test your equipment as well as you skill.
But to fish in water that's overstocked for the purpose of selling fish is apt to become boring soon enough. That type of water are best fished with a Zebco and corn though it does offer a way to get familar with some aspects of fly-fishing. What it doesn't do is demand of you the refinement of your presentation that would be necessary to catch an even semi-wild fish. Catching a 9" fresh stocker is fun, but to catch a 16" fish that has "held over" from the previous year gives you a sense of accomplishment that a trout pond can't match. Just wait until you hook into about two feet of trout that's survived several years in the stream and is nearly as wily as a stream-bred. wild fish...WOW! Neal Gilchrist [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Matt Tucker > Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 8:24 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [VFB] Rod/Tresspass Fees for Put & Take Fisheries > > > I have a question for those of you on the board. I live in > Missouri and do > all of my fishing (thus far) in the Missouri Ozarks. Most of the > streams I > fish are managed as put and take fisheries by the MDC (although > they do have > "special management areas" managed for trophy fish, thier survival is at > best minimal). The majority of my fishing is C&R, but keep a fish or two > every so often (depending upon where I am fishing). Missouri has > 4 "trout > parks" that are managed by the MDC on a put and take basis where you must > buy daily tags, etc. We also have some rivers below the parks > that are the > "special management areas." Also in Missouri there are a few privately > owned streams that do the "pay by the pound" for the fish you > keep, or you > pay a flat fee ($30 - $60) for a day of C&R. I tend to favor the > later, as > there are not the crowds like in the parks or on certain sections > of rivers. > I do like fishing the rivers and parks during their specified > C&R seasons > though. > > Given the status of the fisheries I am fishing, what is the difference > between paying the daily fees to fish at an MDC managed trout park or > fishing at a privately managed trout stream. I tend to believe > there really > isn't one, although a few of my fishin' buddies act like I am > fishin' in a > barrel when doing the private C&R thing. Is the "your just fishin' in a > barrell" comment valid, and is it as common in other states? > > Just Curious, > Matt Tucker > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Join the world�s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. > http://www.hotmail.com > >
