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  #1  
Old 12-03-2019, 11:03 AM
sedubius sedubius is offline
 
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Default Stauffer in Winter

Planning a few day trips to Stauffer during the winter. Does anyone know how far downstream it stays iced off?

Thank you
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  #2  
Old 12-03-2019, 12:29 PM
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chinchaga07 chinchaga07 is offline
 
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Depends on the year. Last year was the first time I was hard pressed to find any open water on the Stauffer. The lower sections usually freeze over. Upper section usually has some water to fish. I would stay around the Buck for wildlife areas on the upper section and go earlier in the winter rather than the latter.
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Old 12-16-2019, 05:16 PM
Remps17 Remps17 is offline
 
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Originally Posted by chinchaga07 View Post
Depends on the year. Last year was the first time I was hard pressed to find any open water on the Stauffer. The lower sections usually freeze over. Upper section usually has some water to fish. I would stay around the Buck for wildlife areas on the upper section and go earlier in the winter rather than the latter.
x2

doubtful to find open water downstream, Buck and above is probably your best bet.
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Old 12-17-2019, 06:56 AM
Don Andersen Don Andersen is offline
 
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Typically, above the Buck for wildlife parking lot 200 yards is ice free to the head springs.

HOWEVER

These areas also contain most of the redds. So if you want fishing in the future, watch where you walk. In some places the redds will completely cover the whole stream bottom. You must get out of the creek to avoid them.

Don
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Old 01-11-2020, 10:43 AM
buckman buckman is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Don Andersen View Post
Typically, above the Buck for wildlife parking lot 200 yards is ice free to the head springs.

HOWEVER

These areas also contain most of the redds. So if you want fishing in the future, watch where you walk. In some places the redds will completely cover the whole stream bottom. You must get out of the creek to avoid them.

Don
They should close this section then, or ban wading.
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  #6  
Old 01-11-2020, 11:21 AM
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MK2750 MK2750 is offline
 
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They should close this section then, or ban wading.
Brown Trout are at best left to their own devices and most have to survive in spite of conservation efforts in the Red Deer River basin. They focus on Pike, Walleye and those stunned Bull Trout.
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Old 01-19-2020, 01:46 PM
buckman buckman is offline
 
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Brown Trout are at best left to their own devices and most have to survive in spite of conservation efforts in the Red Deer River basin. They focus on Pike, Walleye and those stunned Bull Trout.
Wading a small stream can be as or more destructive than an single trail ATV crossing point. I emphasize small stream.

There are streams in England where wading not allowed due to gravel disturbance.
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Old 01-20-2020, 07:17 AM
Don Andersen Don Andersen is offline
 
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Thankfully, on Stauffer the boys of summer don’t arrive till late May. There are few tracks in the snow.

Don
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