February: Final Days fishing catch & Release at MO State Parks

February 3, 2013: A month ago, Dr Bill Taylor, Rod Pennington and I made plans to fish Bennett Spring S.P. on Super Bowl Sunday. We were hoping people would stay home and provide us with solitude and quiet water at the park. There were approximately two-dozen fishermen in zone 1 when we drove in, with the water near the dam open for us to fish. The day was sunny, with temperatures in the low fifties, a light wind blowing upstream. For me, it was too nice of a day to catch many trout. The surprising event of the day was the number of mayflies hatching. They were seen on the water surface at noon and continued to blow out into the open water for two hours. The trout were taking the naturals without hesitation. I saw one trout take five naturals before taking my imitation. The trout were jumping out of water when the dun finally took off. 

Rod and I both agreed at times 75-100 mayflies would be out in front of us as trout took nourishment. We did pick off a few trout with all of us having a good time. I finished the day at 3:55 PM with a last cast last trout with an eagle passing overhead to find a sycamore tree up stream to perch. 

It seems, if care is taken with your presentation and you avoid scaring the trout, even on a sunny day the dry fly will provide excellent game, taking trout from surface. It will keep you on edge with each fly passing over a trout lie. One more weekend before the end of the catch and release season. The weather is predicted to be mild… hope to see you on the water.

Feb 11, 2013: This was the last day to fish the winter catch and release season at Missouri state parks. The public will be waiting for March 1, 2013 to fish the regular season. I will be many miles to the south fishing Bull Shoals in the months to come.

Rod and Keith were in the water when I passed through the park at 11 AM. I drove to Reading’s Fly shop to see Charlie. I needed a tip top for a rod wrapping project and some barbless hooks. I made it back to the park at noon. Keith and Rod walked up from the dam. They had some lunch and we had a short visit. There were five other fishermen in the water fishing the water from the handicap access to the dam. I started in the slough water taking a few rainbows with many more trout rushing up to the fly only to refuse it. Rod and I both commented on the finicky trout, pushing the fly with their nose.

Stonefly hatch at Bennett Spring S.P.

The mayfly hatch was good in numbers with the mayflies getting off the water quickly. I tried to get some more photos of them but they were too fast and hard to catch by hand. The surprise of the day was half-dozen adult stoneflies on the water. On the water, the stoneflies fluttered about making a good target for trout. The midges came on at 3 PM.

 It was not a great day to catch fish, but the opportunity to fish will linger until next year for the return of the catch and release season.

Feb 18, 2013: I made my first trip of the year to Bull Shoals Lake and looked at the waters below power site dam (Pot Hole). The lake level was 648.0 ft., (last year Feb 16, 2012 is was 654 ft.). The distance from a place I usually park on the east side is normally next to the water’s edge, now its 75 paces to the water. This is not the lowest I’ve seen the Pot Hole, I recall 2002 a few feet lower. So, I am out looking to find, places fish will gather in the months to come and will be fishing the area from the dam to Swan Creek.

Lake Level 648 ft.

I left Springfield after lunch and on the road before 2 PM. I drove through several lines of thunderstorms before reaching the Pot Hole. It rained for another thirty minutes while I set up my rod, slipped into neoprene waders and a rain jacket. My rod had a slow sink tip, which was too much for the shallow conditions and found the bottom several times with my fly. I fished the east side for a few hours. There was a fellow on the west side catching small white bass with a spinner (three). There were a few fishermen near the dam.

The vultures sitting in one of the three trees

I looked Silver Creek over but did not take time to fish it. It a near sunset and I walked the beach near the old boat dock. It was 15 paces to the water’s edge with a firm shoreline. I did miss a small line bass as I lifted the fly. I checked another area after dark. It was 7 PM when I walked along the bank of Swan Creek in shadow Rock Park. The lights from the park made seeing possible with no fish movement. I waded under the bridge and walked the gravel bar and fished my way to Bull Shoals, again no activity. I did not hear a horn but noticed a current on the surface and left the gravel bar. I decided to finish the evening on the west side in the Pot Hole.

Seventy-five paces from the truck to the waters edge

The generation of water came on after 8 PM, without a current fishing can be tough. I did not see shad activity, a few trout breaking the top water. When I arrived, there were no other fishermen; a few cars drove in after thirty minutes. I was able to wade beyond the rocks near shore and was able to go to the middle of the Pot Hole; problem the water is too shallow to hold fish. There may be runs of fish l in March, but I doubt enough baitfish to keep fish in the area. There is a possibility fish are holding in front of the rock pile. I decided at 9:30 PM to call it a night of fishing. I did not catch any fish, but did have the opportunity to survey the waters. As winter passes, spring with warm the water to invite fish to the waters near the rivers, creeks and Tail waters of Bull Shoals.

Feb 24, 2013: I made another evening trip to Bull Shoals on a day with cool temperatures, clear sky and light breeze. There were a number of fishermen in the Pot Hole with some generation through the power house. I started my day of fishing downstream from the Pot Hole and hooked two trout; one was 15-inches in length. I saw almost no surface activity and assume very few shad. I water temperature was probably less than 40 degrees by feel. I could see snow from last week’s storm in north protected pockets around rocks and trees. Later, I moved farther down to a washout with a gravel point and managed a 11-inch line bass. There were four fishermen on the other side and figured they possibly had luck fishing there days past.  It was after sunset and I moved to the mouth of Swan Creek to fish the protruding gravel to Bull Shoals. Again, there was very little surface activity with one large splash after dark. The moon was waning one day passed full and it was bright enough to tie on flies after breaking off. I managed to tie six more flies for the night without a flashlight, with the illumination of the moon. It was 8 PM, and I finished the evening on the west side of the Pot Hole working the fly towards the dam. The generation was greater and there was an eddy to fish hoping a walleye would move in to take my fly. The was not the cased but the lake level did hit 452 ft, four feet higher than last week. If the rain continues and the lake continues to come up, the fish will come with productive days in the near future.

January: Fishing state parks, dry flies and cold weather

Montauk State Park - Current River

Jan. 11, 2013 Friday: I had the opportunity to fish a four-day weekend. I made plans with my daughter and son in St. Louis to meet Ann and I for a few days at a cabin in Montauk State Park. The weather for Friday was very pleasant with temperatures in the 60’s with a mostly sunny sky.  Jenn and Desmond met Ann and I Friday afternoon in Rolla. We had lunch at Panera Bread. After lunch, we finished our drive to Montauk, which is near Salem (still 24 mile away) and checked in at the lodge. We stayed in cabin #11, which was not as nice as #9. Ann took Desmond to the playground; Jenn and I suited up, grab the fly rods and took to the water. It was late in the afternoon, with a few hours left to fish for the day. There were a number of people out this balmy day and it was difficult to find water left undisturbed. There was a midge hatch with little to no response from the trout. We managed one trout in the area above the dam and only were able to fish upstream 75 yards due to congestion from other fishermen.

After the siren blew to sound the end of a fishing day, Jenn and I went back to the cabin and took Desmond out for a walk. We checked out the raceways were the trout are fed and reared. We watched the MDC feed the trout with pellets delivered from their truck. We trout boiled the waters as they fed.

Desmond throwing rocks into the water

We collected some rocks and went down to the stream. Desmond caught on quickly and threw a hand full of rocks into the water in a short time. We then walked over to the playground and did the slide a number of times. We returned to the cabin were Ann had dinner ready for us. We spent the evening playing with Desmond, reading a few books and enjoying each other’s company. 

Sean drove in from St. Louis after 9 PM. Desmond was down for the night, we talked about fishing, tying a few knots and catching up on the latest news.

Jan. 12, 2013 Saturday: The cold front was to move in with rain by noon with a dip in the temperature. The number of people fishing was less this day and had the opportunity to fish around the down tree. We started half way to the down tree from the dam, due to fishermen already fishing and we were trying to find some space. Sean fished up around the tree and Jenn and I started fifty yards below. The trout were swirling about probably taking midges in the film. The rain started at noon. Jenn and I walked back to the cabin for lunch. Jenn and Desmond packed after lunch to head back to St. Louis. Ann left about the same time to check out Rolla and do some shopping.

Sean and I returned to the water and started in the lower zone near the hatchery outlet and worked our way upstream. Four fishermen were in this area and we went upstream fifty yards searching the water for trout. The stream was very low and little cover for the trout. I did manage a wild trout in one of the pools.

Wild trout from the Current River

An hour before the end of the day, Sean and I fished below the dam. There was a mayfly hatch with the trout aggressively going after the duns. I had a near enough dry to take a half dozen trout before 4 PM.  Sean and I returned to the cabin, prepared supper (hot beef sandwiches with mash potatoes). We finished off the evening going over a few knots and retying his leader. We finished with a dozen trout released from hand.

Jan. 13, 2013 Sunday: It rained hard off and on throughout the night, with ice and snow north of the I-44 corridor. The next morning the temperature did drop with a little ice on the windshields and there was a light snow in the AM. 

Montauk SP - freezing rain coats the foliage

We started at the dam and worked our way up stream. There was one other person fishing and he was below the dam near the bridge. We saw no one else fishing in front of us this day. The water was undisturbed and I was able to take a few trout in spots from past trips. There was a PMD (pale morning dun – cream) hatch in progress with the trout taking these from the top. I was able to use my BWO pattern to take a few and would switch to a caddis pattern. We fished for four hours and we managed to take eighteen rainbows, most were 11-13 inch fish.  We left the park at 2 PM, and we drove back to Rolla. We did make a stop at the little Piney River to check it out. The water felt cold, Lane Spring access was closed and the waters near Hwy 63 Bridge did not look fishy. We stopped in Rolla and had dinner at Bandanna’s BBQ. After dinner, Sean drove back to St. Louis and I drove back to Springfield.

The shimmer of ice on trees - Bennett Spring SP

Jan. 14, 2013 Monday: My last day to fish this four day weekend and I decided to fish Bennett Spring State Park. The temperature was 18°F with a north wind and high clouds. I was in the water before 11 AM. There was a pair of newbie fishermen, heavy dresses and looked cold. They moved out in short time and I had the area to myself for four hours. The mayflies were hatching blowing upstream. The trout were cautious being very selective. I did manage eighteen for the day with a few measuring 16 inches. The ice did stay in the guides for the day of fishing; a quick dip into the spring creek took care of the problem. I did see a deer on my drive to the park with a few eagles flying high over the park.

The view of Zone 1 at Bennett Spring SP

JAN 21, 2013 Monday: I had the opportunity to fish Bennett Spring SP on a cold day. The sky was clear when I left Springfield but a high cloud cover moved in from the northwest that dimmed the sun for the afternoon. The air temperature was in the high twenties and with the north wind blowing up to 15 mpr, made it feel much colder at times. There were three other fishermen walking the banks but I was the only fisherman in the water this day. The other fellows left after an hour. The mayflies once again made an appearance and blew out into open water. The trout were set up mid-stream and seem to be eager to take these mayflies. My tie has been made smaller with a # 20 daiichi hook with light blue dun hackle and chartreuse thread … a very simple tie and will work to fool a few trout on any given day. I took to the water at the dam and made it to the handicap ramps by 4 PM.

The activity below the dam continues with the MDC using a shovel to take out some bank and adding large rock. There’s a sign indicating the construction of a walkway for the handicap. I hope to make a few more trips to Bennett Spring SP before mid-February.

December: Fishing MO State Parks

Zone 1 Flies only is above the dam 

November 30, 2012 Friday: A group of us had the opportunity to stay at cabin #9 at Montauk State Park this weekend. Rod Pennington, Ralph Eichholz, Warren Wilkerson and I made plans to attend the MTFA winter meeting Saturday at noon in the lodge at Montauk State Park. We decided to extend the meeting time to a three-day weekend to fish the parks waters, which is the spring that begins the Current River. Rod, Warren and I arrived before noon on Friday, unpacked the vehicles and set up the cabin. The cabin had been remodeled recently with white pine interior and furniture, in addition to new appliances (stove, microwave, coffee maker and more). We were told six of the cabins in the park had been worked on over the past year.

Warren standing in front of cabin #9

Friday afternoon, we found our rods, gathered a few flies and jumped into our waders. Rod, Warren and I walked to the pool above the dam and worked our way up stream. The sun was bright with little or no wind, for me difficult conditions to catch a trout. Rod managed to take a few with his dry, I missed a few.  A deer came up behind me and watch me from twenty feet. At 3 PM, I moved to the waters below the dam and with a wet caddis fly took six trout in the last hour of fishing. At 4 PM, the whistle sounded to end a day of fishing. We returned to the cabin, Ralph arrived. He had been fishing the upper end near the spring. He caught a few with soft hackles flies. Rod provided dinner by bringing quail. We thawed them out, and covered them in flour and fried more than enough for the four of us; with mash potatoes and gravy, and peas. Everyone had their fill with a few quail left over. Rod left after dinner and returned to Rogersville, he was to run in two races Saturday morning. Warren, Ralph and I turned in at 9 PM.

December 1, 2012 Saturday: Saturday morning, we started the coffee at 7 AM. By 8 AM, breakfast was on the table with eggs in the hole, thick bacon and juice. We were in the water by 9 AM, I fished the section of stream near the old mill, and Warren fished a little farther downstream near the outlet. Warren had some success pulling few out of the deep hole. I took several Parr trout with a dry fly measuring five inches. We fished until 11:30 AM, broke for the MTFA State meeting in the lodge. There were ten members present from Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield Chapters for the 1.5-hour meeting. After the meeting, my son Sean arrived from St. Louis. We returned to the water near the mill, I worked my way upstream and Sean fished downstream. With an hour left, Sean met up with me and we went to the water below the dam. There was some surface activity but few fish came to hand. We stopped fishing with the whistle and returned to the cabin. Rod had some lingcod, rockfish and a package of white bass thawing in the refrigerator. I cut the fish up, battered them and fried them for dinner with fried potatoes, peas and cake for dessert. Sean returned to St Louis after dinner. Warren and Ralph turned in at 8 PM. Rod and I watched a few episodes of the Big Bang Theory on his computer, in memory of our trip to Alaska. We turned in by 9:30 PM. 

A portion of the stream near the mill

 December 2, 2012 Sunday: I started the coffee at 6:30 and had breakfast on the table a little after 7 AM. After breakfast, we started to pack out and settle our bill with the lodge. We were in the water by 8:30 AM. Rod went to the water near the mill. Ralph went to the spring. Warren and I walked to the pool above the dam. Warren was going work his way to the catch and release waters to fish for the day. I decided to fish from the dam to the spring. I made it to the spring by 3 PM having to leave the water twice to move around group of fishermen, for only a short distance. My Montauk box of flies went with my son back to St Louis, so I used a box designated for Bennett Spring. The first fly of the day was a McMurry ant and fished it with some success. It took fish from the edges of the aquatic plants. When the hackles fell off the fly, it was replaced with a deer hair caddis. This fly worked well in small pools near structure.  As I worked my way upstream, I would throw midstream to the edges picking up a few. I concentrated my time in favorite areas, which did produce a trout to hand. It was afternoon; I fished a stretch of water very productive in past years. The hole was full of trout, but the trout refused my dry fished. When I ran out of water, I tied on a #14 wooly work and fished it as a streamer; of course it was attached to 2# tippet. The good news the trout hit it hard breaking off four flies in the process with a few hooked and released. Another productive spot was below the spring with a down tree harboring trout; these trout were happy to take a #18 BWO. I had released twenty-four trout before 3 PM and was making my way to the spring. 

A rainbow trout caught near the spring at Montauk

The best trout of the day was found along the opposite bank from the main spring outlet. There I was able to finish the day with thirty trout at 4 PM. I walked back to the truck, which was near the cabin we stayed at for the weekend. Warren was waiting for me. Rod had left at 1 PM and Ralph left at lunchtime. It was an excellent weekend to fish, with unseasonably warm weather with an overcast sky on Sunday to help me catch a few trout. I am making plans but hope to return mid-January for another adventure.

The spring is near by

Dec 16, 2012 Sunday: Rod Pennington, John Anderson and I had the opportunity to fish Bennett Spring SP on Sunday. The day was more like a day in March, instead of late December. The sky was bright with temperatures in the low sixties and very light breeze throughout the day. My task to take a few trout with a dry fly proved to be difficult with a half dozen released from hand. Rod had better luck with eight trout, taking trout on a dry fly and green woolly bugger; in addition Rod released a chub. John caught a brown trout and released a rainbow. Later in the day, John fell into the water below the dam. Rod reported the next day; a nail impaled a tire and was flat.

Rod calling it day of fishing

There were two dozen fishermen in zone 1, with some reporting a good day of fishing. Rod watched a few shuffling the bottom to pick off a few fish below them. Shame on them!!!We saw eight deer, a dozen turkeys and hawk all within a mile from the park on Hwy OO on the hill. The day to get outside to enjoy the weather was outstanding, the fishing was good with the ability to catch trout challenging.

The baetis mayfly on the water

December 21, 2012 Friday: I fished a day after some seasonal weather blew in with a light power of snow seen in the shadows of buildings and on the north side of trees. The morning left frost on windows and windshields with temperatures in the mid-twenties. The day warmed to the mid-fifties with a light breeze blowing upstream. The sky was true blue with no clouds in sight. I was in the water by 11 AM with a few fishermen upstream near the New Holland dam. There was no one else in view until 2 PM. There was a good hatch of blue-wing olive (BWO) mayflies and midges later in the day.

The trout were selectively taking the BWO may flies, the dry flies I tie took a few dozen trout from 11 Am – 2 PM. Three fellows came in after 2 PM, about the time the hatch had expired. One of the fellows walked right up to me as I was fishing, I actually took my dry fly and set it next to his boot. He waded in above me and was in a hurry to get to the dam and had to pass by me as I worked my way upstream. And that is the reason I look forward to cold, snow and below freezing temperatures, it will usually keep these guys home in front of a television; providing peace and solitude for me reminiscing my youth in Michigan.

It was a good day to fish and catch trout… it was good to see a good hatch of Baetis mayflies coming off the water. The forecast for the next two weeks looks like winter in the Ozarks with freezing temperatures every morning; looking forward to some peaceful fishing once again.