Trout Routes is meh…

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- August 8, 2023 at 2:08 pm #27646
  
  jeffblev
  Participant
  
  I’ve had trout routes now for about 6 months. Purchased in preparation for our annual trip out west.
  
  it works exceedingly well for popular, well traveled bodies of water, but that’s where its usefulness ends.
  
  I used it to plan and stalk North Fork of the Flathead feeder creeks as well as Gros Ventre wilderness creeks. In many circumstances, accesses that they had labeled didn’t exist, and more times than I care to admit – creeks were completely non-existent (or in one case, completely underground). In the instance of the completely underground creek, they had it labeled as a class II fishery. If you’re a ground hog, the fishing might be excellent.
  
  Feeling frustrated, I stopped and talked to the folks at Montana FWP who confirmed the non-existence of many of the access points illustrated in trout routes.
  
  Either way – it’s a useful tool, but it’s extremely limited. I wouldn’t plan a trip based on lesser known streams and information from the app. You’re sure to be disappointed.
  
  Gazetteers are still the most useful way to plan a trip if you’re searching for that diamond in the rough creek.
- August 13, 2023 at 10:57 am #27667
  
  Kenny Klimes
  Keymaster
  
  Jeffblev,
  
  There are 1oo’s of thousands of trout streams in the United States and no one organization can put all of them together for us fly fishers. Troutroutes, that has only been out for just a few years, is trying. Of course they would start with the more famous streams and rivers and then work down to the rest. They are continually working everyday on finding trout streams. Our association with them, as a sponsor, is invaluable with their discount for our members.
  
  With that said, Troutroutes is ALWAYS asking their members to provide information to them to make their app better. For example, we (FATC) are working with them to make trout streams, locations, access points, etc. in Missouri and Arkansas more accurate. If you have any streams that you have fished, small streams or large rivers, that you fished for trout and want TroutRoutes to put them in their app, get them to us and we will work with TroutRoutes to add them to there app. If you find locations that are NOT accurate in TroutRoutes, then let us or TroutRoutes know so they can make them accurate. This way if we (FATC) plan a trip to lesser known streams the information from the app will be accurate. As you may or may not know TroutRoutes briefing given at the Denver Fly Fishing Show in 2023 gave information on all of the ways, besides using TroutRoutes, that you can find the tiniest of trout streams in each state. Their job is trying to put all of this information in one location – a monumental task.
  
  I have used TroutRoutes on several of my trips this year (Colorado, Wisconsin, etc.) and it has worked great – saved time in finding some awesome trout streams. If you have spots that you have fished for trout that are incorrect or non-existence, please contact us and we can pass them on to TroutRoutes to make their app better.
  
  KK
- August 13, 2023 at 12:25 pm #27672
  
  jeffblev
  Participant
  
  I’m definitely being a little unfair by not discussing why it was a beneficial tool for me and why I intend to keep it.
  
  I know that they can’t possibly get out and fish each stream and are likely relying on data from many sources. Underground creeks are considered ‘navigable waterways’ to the federal government though so using EPA or Forest Service GIS information blind may lead to this type of thing.
  
  While I was slightly annoyed by the inconvenience of an underground creek, it still dumped into the Flathead somewhere, and knowing creek confluences can produce some good fishing so it’s still valuable information (and exactly how I ended up using it. With good results).
  
  And not all creeks were a bust. In fact, a majority of them were present as were their accesses.
  
  My goal in writing about it was simply to state that, if planning a trip, an additional resource will eliminate some frustration. Whether it’s a gazetteer or a call to fish and wildlife.
  
  I wouldn’t have been as annoyed had these been drive up accesses. Simple enough to turn back the way you came. Figuring out after hiking in a few miles though was the source of my frustration.
  
  Essex Creek (Middle Fork of the Flathead) in the Flathead Forest is one off of the top of my head. McGinnis Creek (North Fork of the Flathead) was another. I believe Canyon Creek also (near McGinnis).
  
  McGinnis and Essex are both underground. Though I’m told that if I had hiked a few more miles, I could have accessed a fishless trickle at the Essex headwaters.
  
  Overall it’s a great app, but if you’re stalking backcountry creeks, the information needs to be verified by other sources
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