Like many FATC members, I, Al Harper, enjoy referring to informative literature published by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). One large foldout “roadmap” they churn out features all the trout areas MDC manages laid out in a grid with detailed maps and color coded waterways showing the Blue, Red and White Ribbon trout areas.
In the last few weeks I’ve enjoyed fishing a few of the more obscure (and challenging) MDC managed creeks with the assistance of Will Black and advice from a few others in FATC. In all there are six blue ribbon creeks, one red ribbon creek and four white ribbon creeks statewide. I haven’t yet fished them all.
These creeks contain mostly wild trout and some smallmouth bass as well. If you’re accustomed to fishing the four major trout parks, these Ozark creeks require a change of your mindset, tactics and expectations. For the most part, they aren’t as accessible. They usually require a little more physical effort, more persistence, patience and stealth as well. And a shorter and more nimble rod can be beneficial too because of thick overhanging limbs and dense creek-side bushes.
The latest, and thus far most successful effort on these creeks and springs occurred the middle of February on a section of The Little Piney. Will and I had noticed similarities that seemed to emerge in the spots where the fish chose to be, the way they fed and their behavior in these clear, mostly spring-fed creeks. This hard-won knowledge from earlier outings coalesced with just the right weather and water conditions. After participating in creek fishing, I’m the first to admit that luck is perhaps as important as stealth, ingenuity and fly choices and presentation in this type of effort.
But the rewards of landing some of these beautiful fish are great. Their average size doesn’t always match those of the hatchery fish but their markings are really unique. In some creeks the McCloud strain of rainbows many of us have heard or read about can still be caught. And sometimes — for instance when the creeks swell with rainwater runoff diminishing their natural spookiness — truly large fish can be landed; but usually only after some real effort (and the aforementioned luck) has been added.
The photos accompanying this report were taken when Will and I were joined by FATC member Russ Waggoner for a day when we did pretty well on an MDC Blue Ribbon creek.
