February 8, 2014: I made a 140 mile round trip to Roaring River State Park.
The Cassville area received several inches more snow than Springfield with the
roads in the park snow covered. I fished the fly only area at the end of the
park with the trout active on the surface. They seem to be dimpling for midges
and occasionally taking my #20 BWO dry fly. The day was at the freezing mark with
ice forming in my guides most of the day. I did take a moment to spread some of
Sean’s ashes to the water.
There was an eagle that came into view and perched on
a tree near me, I took a moment from fishing to get a clip of him flying away.
February 9, 2014: Rod and I fished Bennett Spring State
Park. The roads were clear with a few inches of snow on the ground all the way
from Springfield to the park. The day was over cast with a north wind. We
started to fish at 11 AM with small blue wing olive (BWO) emerging with mayfly duns on the surface for four hours. The temperatures were below freezing with ice in
the guides all day long. The cold temperatures made it hard for the mayflies to
leave the water and were on the menu for the feeding trout. I made a switch
using #20 parachute BWO patterns, which proved to be productive. Rod fished
last Sunday and said it was an outstanding day. The catching was good with Rod
and I releasing from hand 31 rainbow trout. For most of the day, we had the
water above the dam to ourselves.
For a short period four fellows made there
way down near us and finally on of them fell into the water. I am sure that did
not feel good. There is one day left for catch and release and I will finish at
Bennett Spring SP tomorrow and stay for the pre season Bennett Spring meeting.
Last day of Catch and Release season with winter conditions
February 10, 2014: This was the last day for catch and
release season at the state parks. A fresh snow of two inches fell at 7 AM in
Springfield, with side streets snow covered. I left the pickup behind and took
the RAV4; it has all wheels drive and travels easily over snow covered roads.
I-44 was clear with a few wet spots and several MODOT trucks and blades working
the shoulders and side roads. I did exit 118 (Phillipsburg) and found Hwy A
snow covered and Hwy OO to Bennett Spring in the same condition. The park was
had no other fishermen when I started to fish with another fellow coming in an
hour later.
The tracks are from Rod and I yesterday, a fresh snow in the park
The wind was from the north blowing up stream with a cold fog.
There was a mayfly and a white midge hatch on the water. The trout seem to be
targeting the midges with the heads of the trout coming straight out of water
to feed. It was 1 PM and the blue wing olive (BWO) hatch was in large numbers.
The BWO duns were not able to leave the water and would float long distances
before taken by a trout. Again, I saw not see a dun leave the water, my guess
too cold. By 3 PM, most of the activity had passed, with the waters calm from
dimpling trout, but the cold wind continued to blow up stream. I fished to the
sound of the horn at 4 PM, and the end of the season came to past. I managed to
release sixteen trout from hand the many missed. The opening of catch and
release season for next fall is November 14, 2014…
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