Two day camping trip

I hadn't camped and fished a trout park since before Covid but had a cooler front move through and since I'm not getting any younger I gave it a go Sunday and Monday. When I left the house it was still 78 but by the time I arrived at the trout park it was 66. Sunday was a good day and I made up for the missed years doing this. From the opening siren at 6:30 to 6:30 pm I fished non stop besides a lunch break. Smart watch said I did over 19,500 steps and covered over 8 miles Sunday. Finished the day with 22 trout from 10-13" along with some goggle eye and Longear sunfish. I slept in the bed of my truck on and air mattress and a couple heavy blankets since it was going to be low 60's come morning. Evening meal was a Rib eye on rye with potato salad and watermelon for dessert. After the day I put in it tasted great. Thousands of fire flies were out lighting up the night sky, never seen so many ever. Several flew into the truck bed as well, no need for a flash light. Monday morning was slow, didn't catch a trout until 8am and only caught 4 until I called it a day and headed for the house. Pictures coming on the next post.

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Last picture is me laying down on my truck bed pointing straight up at the sky, cloudy so no stars but I did sleep under them. Spent 1.5 days outside, just what I needed.

Wow, that sounds like a fun and enjoyable day. Also, sounds very tiring. Glad they were biting. Thanks for sharing Jim.

Awesome trip .
I miss doing trips like that .

That water and landscape is beautiful, and the fish look amazing. I have to admit though, I don't understand what you mean when you say "trout park". Is comping like this a trout season tradition in your area? Is that what the siren is for?

You make me all kinds of jealous to hear of the trip. My mind wanders to camping in the basic way and fishing for a few days and I can’t concentrate when my mind wanders like this. Very glad to hear the trip was a success and the fish are beautiful. Memories like this are way over the top. Thanks for taking me along.

I sure miss camping! Thanks for sharing

Jim,
you made the right call, we only live once.
the older I get, nature becomes more relaxing.
tent or camper shell camping is my favorite, shell for weather issues, I bought some Cabela’s xxl cots, I sleep like a baby.
I need to get my behind going.

thank you

Awesome Jim. If you decide to give that a try down here in Ga. leave the blankets at home. Scott

I fished at Meramec Springs which has the fifth largest spring in the state of Missouri. March 1st is the trout season opening day and they stock trout daily based on the number of trout tags sold the previous day. There is a hatchery there where the spring comes out and you can feed trout pellets to them. Pretty cool throwing out a pellet and a big trout will come up and take it right off the top. Should have made time to visit the hatchery and taken pictures of where the spring comes up from the ground. Opening siren went off at 6:30 am and signals when people can start fishing and another siren goes off at 8:30 pm signaling that you have to stop fishing for the day.

sounds very nice bro , bet that was some real good times , KABOOM is the word :highfive

crowded ? just wondering ?

By the time I finished fishing I was really tired and once I got the fire going just zoned out watching the fire. As far as crowds go there is plenty of room this time of year, more crowded at the deeper holes. I never have fished on opening day and never will. 2,000 + fisherman on opening day is normal for this park in this .4 mile stretch. Way to many for me. I wanted to fish the spot I started at Sunday and squeezed in between a couple guys. Thought they had enough room but when the siren went off before I even made a cast I got whacked in the head by the guy on my left with his sinker and dough bait combo. He said, "Sorry, I didn't see you there. I guess he thought I was a tree because I was wearing camo. Could have been worse if he was throwing a roostertail with exposed treble. I moved on and fished less crowded area, safety first.

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Originally Posted by JUNGLEJIMJIGS

By the time I finished fishing I was really tired and once I got the fire going just zoned out watching the fire. As far as crowds go there is plenty of room this time of year, more crowded at the deeper holes. I never have fished on opening day and never will. 2,000 + fisherman on opening day is normal for this park in this .4 mile stretch. Way to many for me. I wanted to fish the spot I started at Sunday and squeezed in between a couple guys. Thought they had enough room but when the siren went off before I even made a cast I got whacked in the head by the guy on my left with his sinker and dough bait combo. He said, "Sorry, I didn't see you there. I guess he thought I was a tree because I was wearing camo. Could have been worse if he was throwing a roostertail with exposed treble. I moved on and fished less crowded area, safety first.

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I used to go opening weekend to every year.
Nothing close to what you experienced.
Don’t like crowds .
There is no opening day here anymore, it’s a year round season.
We do have some delayed harvest areas that are catch and release only for a few months . Guess they have two openings days .

Excellent photos and post. Thanks for taking us along.
Bob

Shoot trout season opening day in Pa. The entire town closed every year and it was literally elbow to elbow in all the spots the state stocked WAY before first light…not kidding…
Totally shocking if you never seen it before , Alaska gets that way during the red run , it’s amazing the amount of people that show up that far from anywhere, miles of folks in line on the bank in waders hitting the water hard with flies ….

I saw the Maumee river near Toledo with people invaders elbow to elbow kind of when the walleye ran through there. The fish would be cool but I’m not thinking of that as fun with the crowds. Cold too.

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

Shoot trout season opening day in Pa. The entire town closed every year and it was literally elbow to elbow in all the spots the state stocked WAY before first light…not kidding…
Totally shocking if you never seen it before , Alaska gets that way during the red run , it’s amazing the amount of people that show up that far from anywhere, miles of folks in line on the bank in waders hitting the water hard with flies ….

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I only fished one year for trout. Never again. Just like you said, there is no respect shown. Will not waste money, buying a trout stamp.

Sounds like a great time to me. Last time for camping for me was in 2004. Used to camp out for the striper spring run below Pickwick Dam. I do miss it but got good memories.

Regards


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Sounds like a great trip Jim. Just what is needed by more folks that really don't know it till they're out there. Been a coons age since I camped any. Last time I did I took my second wife's 7 yr. old out for a weekend with the cub scouts. That was a hoot. Man how time slips away. That was 1996...before that, Uncle Sam used to take us out for 45 to 60 day jaunt camping trips...But that was 1500 of us.