March: Fly Fishing the Ozarks then on to Michigan

New handicap access addition to Bennett Spring SP

March 7, 2013: Sean and I made plans to fish a long weekend. I met Sean at Bennett Spring State Park a little after 10 AM. We stayed with the dry fly working the waters above the dam in zone 1. The water was up a little with a slight chalky color. The day was sunny with a light breeze blowing downstream. The fishermen were spaced throughout zone 1, with fewer fishermen seen than late winter catch and release days in February. I found a few cooperative trout before noon but found the trout to be finicky, refusing my fly many times. I could get their attention and they would move to the fly only to nose it and turn away. Actually, it was fun watching them size up the fly; I wish to know what it was that turn them off to it. We saw more stone flies and took a photo opportunity. 

The stone fly hatch continues for another week

Sean did much better catching, releasing nine trout to my three with his dry flies. We finished the day below the stone bridge with Sean taking a few out of the discharge flow. We finished at 4 PM; I had return to Springfield for a MTFA meeting that evening with Craig Fuller (MDC) providing the program.

March 8, 2013: We had lunch at Pizza House in Springfield. After lunch, Sean and I drove south and took a look at Beaver Creek below fisherman’s nose and down past the maiden hole. We were checking water levels and watching for signs of shad. There were a few other fishermen downstream close to the state park. After an hour, we released one blue-gill. We retreated to look at Barker Hole and again fished above Swan Creek without a bite. We covered 100 yards of beach and decided to try water farther upstream. There we found a walleye, 21-inch female about an hour before sunset.

21-inch walleye taken out of Bull Shoals

 We covered this water and decided since night fall was near to fish the pot hole on the east side. There was no flow from the power house the time we fished with the lake level 649 ft. Sean picked up a line-bass and I released two rainbow trout for our night fishing. We called it a night of fishing at 9 PM.

March 9, 2013: There was a state MTFA meeting at Bennett Spring SP. The meeting was to start at noon. Sean and I left Springfield at 10 AM. Sean decided to fish zone 1 and had success with the dry fly taking trout when a cloud passed in front of the sun, diminishing the light on the water and allowing the trout to see the fly. The meeting lasted until 1:30 PM, I found Sean still stalking the waters above the dam. We decided to drive to Rolla and fish the blue ribbon waters of the Little Piney River at Lane Spring Federal camp grounds.

Little Piney River - blue ribbon water

The Little Piney is a small stream with gravel bars, eroded banks and down trees to provide cover for wild trout. It is one of three blue ribbons streams in the area: Mill Creek, Spring Creek and Little Piney.

Sean and I split up, Sean started to fish as soon as seeing the stream. I took a walk up stream looking for promising water. It was near sunset, and a few small trout came to the top and were taken with dry flies. I saw one other person up stream of me and soon he retreated and went out of sight. The small streams are places many come to find solitude and we respect other’s space on the water.

Sean walked upstream to find me. Since this was our first trip to this area, we figured it was best to leave before dark. We drove back to Rolla for a meal at Bandana’s BBQ. After dinner, Sean returned to St. Louis and I drove back to Springfield. I did hit rain at Lebanon and it continued to rain to Springfield. I plan to return to the Little Piney again, a fine blue water stream.

March 10, 2013: This was my final day to fish for a long weekend. It rained most of the night with 1.5 inches measured in Springfield. It was after 2 PM when I left for the Pot Hole, the rain had stopped but the forecast was windy and colder into the night. As I was getting ready to fish, a 35 mpr wind blew through followed by dark clouds. There was some generation through the powerhouse with the lake level 650.5 ft. Since there was a current, I decided to fish the pot hole hard. I covered the area above the three trees and worked my way down stream. It was near sunset when I hooked a 23-inch male walleye. Just before that I had decided to try farther down, but that changed with this fine catch. I stayed until 9 PM, without another bite. So it goes… needless to say I was very satisfied with the single fish.

23-inch walleye taken out of Bull Shoals 

My next time to fish will be later this week. I checked the lake levels and Bull Shoals continues to be and is at 650 ft. As the water warms, the shad will move up with white bass and walleye to follow. Good fishing to come.

March 14, 2013: I made another trip to Bull Shoals Lake to look for walleye and white bass. My first stop was Beaver Creek below maiden hole. A normal level for Beaver Creek is three feet according to the USGS web site and it rose 3.5 feet after last weekend’s rain. It was at 3.5 feet; up 0.5 feet from last Friday. I figured a few fish moved up into the holes. The water was clear with the edges muddy due to the westerly wind blowing up stream against the banks. Again, I saw no shad movement with the water possibility too cold. The bite will probably happen after this weekend with the general warm up and more rain predicted for the first of the week. Some fellow stopped to talk while I was on Beaver Creek and he reported white bass taken last week.

Beaver Creek 

At 4:30 PM, I drove to the Pot Hole; very few people fishing at the time. I made a pass through familiar waters before Rod and Keith pulled in. We chatted for a bit, while they geared up for an evening of fishing. They started where I was fishing and I fished below the three trees. A short time later, Ty Ingram drove in with a friend and we talked for a bit. The sun was about to slip behind the hill and the east side of the pot hole was filling up with fishermen with little room to move in that stretch of water.

It was getting near sun set and I took off for Silver Creek hoping to fish with less people and find better fishing. The water in Bull Shoals at dusk was covered in dimple rings made by trout. I manage to take a few with a streamer. Forty minutes later, all activity stopped. 

Released a trout near Silver Creek

It was 8 PM; I made my way back to the Pot Hole. Most of the people had already left. Rod was fishing in front of the three trees when we crossed paths. He reported catching a 13-inch male white bass and Keith picked up a trout. They said no one else caught a fish. A short time later they left and I stayed to fish another hour. The water through the powerhouse completely shut off and the water went flat. I called it quits at 9:30 PM. I did look for the comet and did not see it, hoping for better results in late November.

On to Michigan to fish the Pere Marquette River

Access to the Pere Marquette River

March 24, 2013: My brother (Kirk), his three sons (Trevor, Trent and Turner), Mike, a friend of Trent and me fished the Pere Marquette River (PM) near Walhalla MI. We fished three days for Steelhead trout moving into the stream from Lake Michigan for their annual spring spawn.

The Pere Marquette River was designated a National Wild and Scenic River in July 1978. This river is the longest river without dams or impoundments in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The Pere Marquette was the first stream in the United States to acquire German brown trout in 1884. The stream has return from near disaster from logging operations that clear cut most of the Jack Pines at the turn of the twentieth century, which were sent down the river to mills near Ludington with the lumber rebuilding Chicago. Since designated as a national park, the river has returned to a gentle wandering and flowing stream. There are spawn runs of King Salmon in August and September, Coho (Silver Salmon) later in the fall and steelhead trout in March and April.  There is a healthy population of brown trout year round that can be taken with dry flies during the late spring and summer (note there is a season to creel brown trout).

This area near Walhalla has several accesses. We fished the Maple leaf access and worked our way up to Ackerson’s cabin. On the first day of fishing Kirk caught eleven browns and skippers and lost two Steelhead trout. Trevor lost three Steelhead trout, caught seven browns and skippers. Trent released five small trout (skippers), Turner caught two skippers. Mike had one brown and I released a 16-inch rainbow. There is about a foot of snow on the ground. The stream was clear, normal level and cold. The river flow was 880 cfs with visibility to three feet and the level was 2.5 feet. The sun came out late afternoon, which made wading in the river comfortable. We left at 5 PM, to get a cabin and dine at Emerson Lake Inn.

March 25, 2013: We started at 9:30 AM with the air temperature just above freezing. We drove in at the Ackerson access. The area changed by ten years of tree growth (this area was clear cut in the 1980’s). I started my day with a slip and fall on an icy hill and broke the tip of my 10’ 6# fly rod. I fished with it using 3 out of 4 pieces and struggled to get good cast. I called Kirk at 11 AM and we returned to the Alpine Motel to get another rod. Kirk dropped me off at the Ackerson access and he went back to the Maple leave access. The day was overcast with occasional snow seen in the air. I made my way down stream fishing behind gravel runs and along down trees. I finally took a three brown trout near the island, which proved to be good fishing for others in our party. For the day, Kirk released six brown trout, two skippers, and one steelhead trout (25-inches). Trevor released eleven brown trout, three skippers and had two fish that broke-off. Trent released one brown and had two fish that broke off. Turner had one skipper and Mike released five brown trout. Most of the action was after 5 PM and we fished until 7:30 PM.

 

Turner with 27-inch Steelhead trout

March 26, 2013: The day was overcast with snow flurries throughout the morning. No ice in the guides for the morning of fishing, but it was above freezing with any wind. We made our way to the riverbanks by 8:30 AM. Kirk started at the hangman. Turner and I walked to the Birch tree. I saw a pair of trout on a redd. My approach sent them into deeper water. I went above to the next gravel depression to run the fly through deeper water. An hour later Turner and Kirk, gave it some attention and Turner connected with a 27-inch female Steelhead trout. We finished at 11 AM, packed out of the Alpine Motel and on the road to get back to Battle Creek. For the morning, Kirk released one Steelhead trout and a Brown trout. Trent released a dozen brown trout, one of the brown trout measured nineteen inches. Trevor released four brown trout.

This was a short trip, but it was great to back to the PM. The walking through a foot of snow and trekking the hills wore my knees out; it felt like gravel pellets under the kneecaps. I forgot how strenuous fishing the PM was in years past. I did not hook-up with a Steelhead with a fly rod. The water was cold at 34°F most of the time leaving the trout in deep holes and sluggish. The ideal water temperature is 42-45°F with tea stained water, usually after a rain and slight rise in the river to get these trout active and chasing flies. Hopefully, I will be able to return the waters of the Pere Marquette River in the near future.

For more information and history: http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/greatrivers/pm/

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.