Why is it STILL so hard to keep Caney trout?

[Mnfishingbum]

Being from MN walleye is the fish of choice I have been told to kill smallies, largemouth, northerns, etc on site by serious walleye fishermen. Never understood that thought process. They are very good eating and we used to troll rapalas for them. Most of the time at night (very similar to big brown tactics).

I also believe that people are so passionate about the caney not because we feel trout are sacred but we experienced how good this river could be and the large trout it can produce......similar debates occur on waterfowl, deer, upland birds, heck even walleyes (this debate is bad but is calm compared to lake Millacs walleye fishing debates). The caney was very special in 2006-2008

[MNfisher]

Haha! Mnfishingbum, you are not joking about the Mille Lacs walleye debates! Oh boy! Netting, can't catch any eaters, etc., it never ends!

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by Mnfishingbum

Being from MN walleye is the fish of choice I have been told to kill smallies, largemouth, northerns, etc on site by serious walleye fishermen. Never understood that thought process. They are very good eating and we used to troll rapalas for them. Most of the time at night (very similar to big brown tactics).

I also believe that people are so passionate about the caney not because we feel trout are sacred but we experienced how good this river could be and the large trout it can produce......similar debates occur on waterfowl, deer, upland birds, heck even walleyes (this debate is bad but is calm compared to lake Millacs walleye fishing debates). The caney was very special in 2006-2008

This happens all over. Below Wilson...Wheeler....Pickwick...you have folks that despise Stripers. They will tell you they have eaten all the Sauger...eaten all the Crappie. I have many tell me about how much better the fishing was before the Stripers were introduced. Now I am hearing this as I walk up the rocks with a stringer of 30 Slabs and my buddy has a nice limit of Sauger....and I am not talking about just one good day of fishing but many many days of great fishing. I just ask them that are talking all that stuff "How much better do you want it"......LOL.


Regards

[flyfish]

I'm a recent transplant to TN and the Caney was the most hyped river I heard about. I was so excited to fish the river. Well, you guys can have it. I'm with the others here who don't want to stand shoulder to shoulder with other fishermen. And let's not even talk about the canoe hatch. Want to make the Caney a better fishery ( or at least more enjoyable)? Get rid of the the canoe services. Coming from KY, the Cumberland below Wolf Creek was my river, and I still utilize it monthly because I feel it's a better fishery and experience.

As for the original topic of keeping trout, go for it. I'm a staunch fly fisherman, but I don't understand why people hold the trout to such a snooty standard. It's a fish. BASS did the same thing with the largemouth in the 70s and 80s. Yes, having a trophy fishery is nice, and with the proper regs it will be sustainable. We the sportsmen voted that we want a trophy fishery, so the biologists set regs to give us what we asked for.

[Alphahawk]

Well....we cant get rid of the canoe outfitters.....no one owns the river. We have a great Small Mouth stream here in Tennessee....the Buffalo River. The Caney looks deserted of canoes on a Saturday compared to what is launched on the Buffalo. It is a 100 mile drive for me to get to the Caney...but I go....there is nothing closer. I am blessed because I fish it through the week and don't have to contend with the crowds. It is what it is. If one in Middle TN wants to trout fish within a reasonable drive that is it. I have fished the Cumberland below Wolf Creek...it is nice. I guess if one lived north of Nashville the drive is not so bad to it. Believe it or not there are some creeks in Middle TN that could support trout all year long....but due to all of the land being privately held you would not be able to fish them. Forty-Eight Creek...a little stretch of Indian Creek and Cane Creek near Hohenwald. I have caught small trout out of Forty Eight Creek a couple of times. When I tried to find out how they got there I was told that maybe over 40 years ago TWRA put some in.....does that mean they are reproducing in there..I don't have a clue. But the Caney is all we have really...so I just have to make the best of it.


Regards

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by flyfish

Coming from KY, the Cumberland below Wolf Creek was my river, and I still utilize it monthly because I feel it's a better fishery and experience.

How has that tailwater bounced back from the Dam repair? Always had an interest in fishing it but I am not buying an out of state pass then driving passed then Caney and the Obey to fish a river about the same as those. It's a haul for me and about the same as heading to the Clinch.

Originally Posted by flyfish

We the sportsmen voted that we want a trophy fishery, so the biologists set regs to give us what we asked for.

"We" is a pretty broad statement. A lot of people were in favor of it but not all sportsmen. There were several license holders who were against the new regs.

[Travis C.]

I think a problem that aids in making the "canoe hatch" worse than it is has been the construction on the Dam. Not throwing the ramp congestion in with that statement though. The outfitters need to practice better ethics on that front.

IF repair on the Dam never happend and we continued from 2007-2008's upward trend along will current regs there wouuld be no water temp problem on the lower end or bunching of fishermen on the upper end. The trout would be spread throughout more evenly and in 28 miles you can find places to fish. The canoe's typically only use the top 5 miles or so to Happy.

Granted people in canoes and fishermen could be nicer or more forgiving on a daily basis anyway but that is up to the individual. Nobody wants canoe after canoe across their fishing lane just as much as someone out to enjoy the river wants to dodge people standing in it.

But back to the topic of keeping trout...

That is what they were put in there for. If you follow the current regs, there will be plenty of sizes of fish for all to enjoy including the top end trophies. Your average low water weekender angler isn't going to just happen on and catch those really big fish. They will be there for those willing to hunt them.

[jad2t]

I've spoken with the Wildlife Fisheries group here at Tennessee Tech. They do shock treatments frequently in Center Hill and in the Caney, mostly in the Caney. They confirmed my suspicion that the brown trout are coming back in huge numbers. They also stated that in the past year or so they are seeing a significantly larger, and growing, number of 20+ inch browns.

Simple biology here folks. If the Caney Fork can hold 'x' number of brown trout due to the characteristics of it's ecosystem such as available food, shelter, water temperature, etc. then if that number 'x' is significantly exceeded, nature has it's way of evening things out. Brown trout will die off due to starvation, or predators eating them, or disease, etc. You trout worshippers have to be realistic here. The brown trout are back, the 20+" brown trout are back, and it's time to let the "meat hunters" as you refer to us, keep a few smaller ones if we wish. They're not your pets, they're a food source. This is very simple evolutionary science. Humans eat fish, we are supposed to eat fish. It is completely illogical and hypocritical to be ok with me eating a crappie or a bass but want to crucify me for eating a trout. The caney IS a sustainable fishery because TWRA stocks thousands of trout in there every year and will continue to do so. Going back to the old days of keeping 7 any size, any species wouldn't be a good idea. That's what depleted the trout population in the river and got these regs approved in the first place. I'm happy with the PLR on rainbows and brooks, something very similar should be put in place for the browns as well.

[Travis C.]

I can see your point and frustration. Thanks for the info as well.

As far as the info is concerned, there should be a huge number of brown trout in the 20+ inch range or else we have more problems on our hands than regulations. We have had 2 years of these new regs and 2 years where a brown 18"-23 15/16" can survive harvesting. I would contribute that more to the regs than the rivers ecosystem. Although they tend to go hand in hand.

In reality the "trophy" fishery they are wanting to create in my eyes in not a bunch of 20+ inch fish. While that is a nice fish anywhere just not what I would consider a true trophy. Show me browns in the 30's and you have a trophy fishery. But unfortunately to get to that point you have to let some fish grow.

Since we are talking trout for food, I think a solution you may be looking for is not as much regs based as stocking numbers based. Maybe more rainbows, brooks stocked and less browns since they are doing so well would solve it. I wouldn't have a problem with that knowing the browns that do get stocked should be okay until they reach 24" pending a rogue striper comes their way.

[j19bill]

This thread is not going to help anything. I think it needs to be locked before it gets worse. That being said here's my 2¢…

If you want the regulations changed call or write the TWRA and see what the process is. Go from there.
I don't care either way. I don't keep any trout and I don't care anyone else does. As long as its with on regulations whatever they are.
As far as the canoe rentals I don't like them either but I support individuals right to start a business. I avoid upriver from happy during the heavy rental times and fish down river. Then move upriver during the slow times ie early morning/evening.

Happy fighting everyone …

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[browntrout]

This news just in, there has been a huge fish kill at the Caney Fork. All of the trout are dead and the river has been taken over by skip jack. They are advising everyone to stay off of the river for the next 10 years due to the toxins from the dead fish. I will sacrifice myself and I will go to the river and check on it and I will let you know when the trout population starts to come back. All trout fisherman are advised to start fishing at Old Hickory lake for catfish and carp. Please understand the seriousness of this situation and do not risk your life by going to the Caney. I would probably advise staying off of Centerhill lake also.

Originally Posted by browntrout

This news just in, there has been a huge fish kill at the Caney Fork. All of the trout are dead and the river has been taken over by skip jack. They are advising everyone to stay off of the river for the next 10 years due to the toxins from the dead fish. I will sacrifice myself and I will go to the river and check on it and I will let you know when the trout population starts to come back. All trout fisherman are advised to start fishing at Old Hickory lake for catfish and carp. Please understand the seriousness of this situation and do not risk your life by going to the Caney. I would probably advise staying off of Centerhill lake also.

Oh no OH has been put on a high mercury count alert, stay as far away as possible. think about your loved ones for goodness sakes! The catfish are growing arms and legs and walking up on the shore and steeling picnic baskets...Better call Mr. Ranger!

[MNfisher]

Hahahahaha! Hey brown trout, I will also risk my life to check on the trout population! Thanks for the laugh guys!

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by j19bill

This thread is not going to help anything. I think it needs to be locked before it gets worse.

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I haven't noticed anything that would deem it lockable. Heck there have been far worse go rounds on here.

A little venting and collective thoughts aren't too bad.

[MNfisher]

Originally Posted by Travis C.

I haven't noticed anything that would deem it lockable. Heck there have been far worse go rounds on here.

A little venting and collective thoughts aren't too bad.

I agree, just a bunch of guys throwing their opinions out there! I personally enjoy reading it! Ha!