Proposed fishing regulations for 2011

[Tim_T]

about that food source in the river.From what I have read dydamo or what ever that stuff is, coats the bottom of the stream, cutting off O2 to larva and other food sources.Till they find out how to get rid of that stuff, what food source?

In normal years the river produces some good hatches, regardless of the spread of dydimo. It is spread by boats, much like zebra mussles.

[RoadToad]

You hit on it with the key being enforcement. I've been to several of the FINS lakes here in L'ville and its crazy what you see on people's stringers. And if you really want to have some fun, try to have a conversation about a trout stamp with some of the fishermen there.

I once talked to a guy who told me he caught 50 trout that day. He told me he didn't keep a single one though. He said he gave them all away!

I do most of my fishing on those FiNS lakes, and you're absolutely right. The utter disregard for creel limits or the need for trout stamps is astounding! I've been fishing those lakes for around six years, probably fished a hundred or so days there total, and have been checked exactly once, at Miles Park.

I have no problem with the proposed changes, but I wonder if a slot limit might be a better idea on those lakes? As small as they are, I'd rather see someone take home a 12 1/2" male than some 5-6 lb. female they caught. I don't know, I'm not a biologist...

[RICHYD4U]

Okay guys, here is the scoop on the brook trout. This is the same species that grows to five pounds and bigger in the tailwaters of Missouri and Arkansas, that are being stocked here. They are looking to make it a trophy fishery. With the food sources in the Cumberland this should help growth rates.

The triplods will be stocked as well. These are the Arlee strain of rainbow. It is a sterile fish that uses energy normally reserved for reproduction for tissue development. All of these stockings will happen next Spring.

You are right about the Brookies, they can grow into the double digits if the conditions are right. I just hope that the water conditions at the time of the planting, have improved dramatically from where they are at right now. Brookies are great fighters, but do require clean, cold water. I think they ought to focus more on the browns, being that they are a more resilant trout species and can tolerate lower oxygenated waters. The Triplod Bows are another great idea. With them being sterile and focusing all their energy on growing, they can truly become GIANTS! I would say limit CR trout stockings to soley Browns and Triplods IMHO.

-Rich

[cra97]

MAN ALIVE!!! I knew there were so smart guys on this board, but WOW!! I know NOTHING about trout, outside of "lake trout" they used to stock at Wright-Patterson when I was there, until I read this thread. You boys REALLY know your stuff here and it was not only interesting reading but VERY informative. The amount of in-depth knowledge on this forum continues to amaze me....AWSOME discussion!!!

Rob

[Tim_T]

For those of you that are interested, there is a good article about the new trout and Cumberland in the current issue of Midwest Outdoors, written by my favorite outdoor writer LOL!