June: Still finding White Bass

Rod and I have been fishing the Pot Hole, the tail-waters of Bull Shoals below Power Site dam for the past two weeks. The white bass have returned, or maybe never left, but to say the least the catching has been top notch. The recent heat wave has increased the demand for power and the dams have been generating on a regular schedule, pushing water through Beaver, Table-Rock and Bull Shoals dams. The waters in the Pot Hole have been ideal (water temperature and flow) for white bass, small-mouth and large bluegills. The shad are in large numbers allowing for a feeding frenzy from the larger fish. There will be a magic hour when all the elements come together for a terrific time to catch many white bass, these are quality fish measuring 14-18 inches in length. Needless to say it has been outstanding fishing, Rod and I fished it a half dozen times in the month of June. There have been only a few fishermen along the shore, my guess… most fishermen considering the white bass fishing finished until next April. I must say the white bass fishing for this month of June is some of the best fishing one can find it Ozarks.

June 21 Kim (W25 BG1): Rod called me in morning and gave me a tip; they are catching walleye below the dam. I had considered floating and fishing the James River near Hooten Town but decided to check out the Pot Hole. I packed the truck, gathered a box of newly tied Clouser Minnows and left Springfield at 5 PM. At 6 PM, I parked the truck on the east side of the Pot Hole and surveyed the water. There was a light breeze from the south, with some generation passing through the powerhouse. The lake level was 653.5 ft with a few clouds overhead. It did not take long to figure out… a shad kill was on. There were fishing jumping and swirling water from shore to shore. I was able to find a few white bass before 7:30 PM, but after that it was catching one large white bass back to back to back… several of these fish were 18 inches in length. This continued until 9 PM and then it stopped. I released all the fish this night and plan to return to keep a limit. This was some of the best white bass catching for the year, definitely something I would not expect for late June with day temperatures in the 90’s. 

June 23 Rod (W20) Jake (W20): Rod reported he and Jake did well with many active white bass on the surface with 40 White Bass caught and a limit taken home.

June 24 Rod (BG1): Rod reported a tough Sunday night with little to no flow, there was no wind… and no white bass moving. 

Two of these White Bass measured 18" with the other two 17"

June 26 Kim (W25 SM3): I returned to the Pot Hole hoping to find white bass busting the surface. The day was hot with a clear sky, slight breeze with a good current coming from the powerhouse. The white bass could be seen on the west bank in the shadows, which moved across as the sun went down. The white did follow the shade of the trees and high bank. It was near 7:30 PM, before the white bass came within casting distance and again I started to take fish after fish. This lasted until 9:00 PM, and then it was over; the white bass quit taking a fly and very little surface activity. I figured 25 white bass, with 6 of the over 16 inches, two measured 18 inches. I released three small-mouth bass, the largest was 16 inches. It was a great evening of fishing. I did keep a limit of white bass.

June 27 Kim (W2 WE1) Rod (W3 BG1 SM1) Bill (W3): I picked up Rod at his house, there was some trouble getting around the James River Expressway and Hwy 65. I was late getting to Rod. We made it to the water’s edge by 6:30 PM. A short time later Dr. Bill Taylor pulled up beside us. The current seemed stronger this evening; the water level was at 543.2 ft, with a cloudless sky. There was very little surface activity this evening. Rod and Bill fished the waters productive nights before and found a few white bass moving in deeper water. I fished areas above and below them with one short walleye. Rod released a 16.5-inch small-mouth with Bill catching the largest white bass measuring 17.5 inches. Hope to get in one more trips; Sunday evening.

Dr Bill Taylor hooking up with a 17.5" white bass

May: Early Spring on the rivers

May 6, 2012: Rod and I had another chance to fish the pothole. There was some generation from Taneycomo coming through the power house with a cold front moving through. It rain on our drive from Springfield but the skies cleared at sunset.  I was able to get to the mid-lake gravel bar and found 13-14 inch male white bass before sunset. Rod found a few whites after dark in the same general area. I fished the three trees after 8 PM, without a bite. My first trip in six weeks without hooking up a walleye; I suspect they are retreating to deeper water with the end of the spawn. Rod and I fished until 9:30 PM before calling it a night.

May 10, 2012: I received a tip of gar pike in the James River below Lake Springfield. My wife dropped me off below the dam; it is called the Tailwaters Access on City Utility property. The first warning of the day was a brown recluse escaping from my wading boots as I laced them up. It was in the truck, next to my wife in the driver’s seat as I was getting into my boots no harm but I did dispatch the spider.

I carried the kayak to the water’s edge, returned to the truck to carry the rest of the gear down to the water. My wife waved good-by and took off; she was to pick me up at the Campbell Bridge in four hours. So, she was going to shop until time to pick me up. Within 5 minutes, I realized two boxes of flies were left on the rear bumper of the truck. I immediately called Ann; she called me back thirty minutes later. One of the boxes was found in Kohl’s parking lot a few feet from where Ann parked. The other box was lost, approximately 50-70 streamers; including Clouser minnows, buck-tail streamers, etc. Ouch that hurts; for me time to get back to work trying flies. Ann returned in short time and gave me the box she found; it contained large streamers with a few small gray Clouser minnows.

It was almost 3 PM, I finally shoved off. It was been years since I fished this portion of the river; it had changed significantly with the area around the cave completely different with the main stream taking a different path. I went a little farther downstream and finally had some water to float. The water was low with many of the shoals difficult to pass. I was making a run and the current pushed the kayak into an uprooted tree.  I saw it and thought I would be able to paddle through it, instead I crashed into it. Damn, there goes the rod!!The fly rod was caught in the mess of roots and broke, rendering the rod almost worthless. I floated downstream and parked on a gravel bar.  

My two piece fly rod is now a four piece fly rod. Sometimes things just happen, and for me it was modifying my 9 ft 8 wt Loomis rod, to a 4’10” fly rod. I took a knife and modified it by inserting the tip section into the butt section and placing a tender twig between the sections to secure it. It actually threw a nice roll cast and finally started to see head to tail movement of gar. The rod worked in a pinch and took a few pumpkinseeds, an eighteen inch channel catfish and two small-mouth bass downstream.

The honeysuckle was in full bloom and the perfume was overpowering in some areas with a field nearby of fresh cut hay. There were several sightings of white tail deer along the water’s edge.  It was almost 6 PM and I was making my final push to Campbell Street and saw two eagles fly across and downstream. Rod told me later that pair has been nesting there for five years or more. Ann was waiting for me at the bridge and I took out at 6:30 PM, right on time.

It was a memorial trip with a box of flies lost to the road, a broken fly rod. So, back to the tying bench and considering a new rod one that is six foot with the stiffness to roll cast a sink tip line… more to think about.

April: White Bass, white bass and walleye

Sean and I made plans last month to fish three days together for white bass in April. The weather was ideal with the streams down a little due to lack of rain. Bull Shoals has dropped seven feet from two weeks ago and now at 655 ft, ideal for wading. Our first evening of fishing took place below power site dam in the Pot Hole.

Wednesday April 11, 2012: The highlight was catching seven species of fish; a few walleye, small white bass, a couple largemouth bass, a number of crappie, a hand full of bluegill, two perch and a 24-inch drum. The white bass were small; the crappie may have been legal but without a tape measure to confirm the length decided to release them back to the lake. It was after 8 PM; the sun was down with Venus bright in the evening sky. The belt of Orin was in the western sky. At 8:15 PM, the first walleye was caught; it was small, probably near 15-inches and was released. The next cast took a larger walleye that was measured later that night to be 20-inches. Sean had on a large fish and we finally figured it out when we turned on a flashlight to ID the drum. We called it a night of fishing at 9 PM.

Thursday April 12, 2012: We had a short day to fish. I had to be back in Springfield before 5 PM. So we drove north to the Little Sac River near Morrisville. We parked at Taylor Bridge and took a canoe upstream to the power line hole. I fished below the power line hole with six fishermen above me fishing the S-curve; all catching white bass. We fished until 3 PM and caught just short a limit.

Friday April 13, 2012: The day was wet with thunderstorms in the surrounding area. The rain was light for most the day but the passing storms did provide some lightning. The white bass were not interested in our flies during the heavy rain and storm activity. After the second storm passed, the white bass calmed down and took our flies. Sean and I had a good afternoon of catching white bass with only a few other fishermen in the area. At 4:30 PM, I took Sean back to Taylor Bridge; he was to return to St. Louis.

Rod came in at 4:30 PM and we went back to fish earlier. There were several fishermen in the hole, but we found other places to catch a few more white bass. Rod released a 16-inch walleye, since it was after 6 PM. It was about this time we could hear thunder off in the distance and it was rumbling and we knew in a short time another storm would be over us. We moved downstream at sunset, and made our way back to Taylor Bridge after 8 PM. The thunderstorm was over us with intense lightning and thunder. Several ground to cloud lightning hit near us and we rowed our way downstream. As we lift the canoe to the rack on my truck, all HAIL broke loose with pea size hailstones, heavy rain and lightning. I made it home for a sandwich and cleaned fish until 11 PM. Saturday the stream came up and foot and Sunday the data indicated the stream rose five feet. Fishing will be good next week with a new run of fish moving up during this high water.

Wednesday April 18, 2012: I met Rod on the Little Sac River, we planned to meet at Taylor Bridge but I was late getting there after a drive from Bennett Spring State Park getting ready for the MTFA State Derby. Rod had walked upstream an hour later, I found him near a feeder creek. He loaded his gear into the canoe and we continued up stream. Days earlier the Little Sac was up five feet and it dropped as fast. The level was at 3.5 ft with a good flow. There were many local fishermen near Taylor Bridge with no one up stream in the power lone hole. We found a few white bass along the banks with Rod catching and releasing a channel catfish. The catching was better after sunset, one could see moving fish in the shallow waters. We managed to put a limit in a cooler.

Saturday April 21, 2012: I received a call from Rod at noon, he and Keith fished Friday night in the Pothole and did well catching many species of fish, including a number of 17-inch white bass, a few walleye with one over 22-inches. That was all the information I needed. That evening I returned to the Pothole before 6 PM. I caught a few small crappies on a smaller fly. It was nearly 7:30 PM and I put on a large streamer tied for walleye. I managed three for the evening with the largest measured 21-inches. The cold front moved in during the day and the night was cool, there was forecast of local freezing. Now it is beginning got feel like spring.

Sunday April 22, 2012: Rod and I decided to return to Bull Shoals. I decided to check out a spot Paul and I would visit in the spring for white bass. There was a good flow from Taneycomo and a current in Bull shoals all the way to Swan Creek. We fished above Swan Creek and managed a few large white bass, one measured over 17-inches. We moved at 7 PM to fish the Pothole at sunset. There were only a few people fishing the banks, the two boats left when we arrived. Rod found his spot and caught several species of fish; a smallmouth over 18-inches, four white bass over 16-inches, three short walleye, and a few small large-mouth bass. I caught a few small white bass before 8 PM and picked up two walleye after 8:30 PM, one was 20.5 inches. The night was pleasant with a thin crescent moon following the sun into the western sky. Rod and I called it a night of fishing at 9:30 PM. 

March: Bull Shoals, Beaver Creek, Swan Creek and more...

I had an opportunity to fish three evenings this week. For me, fishing the Pot Hole below Power Site Dam is my best option to possibly catching a trophy walleye. I know the area from the dam to Swan Creek and places to fish.

Friday, March 9, 2012: I drove to the east side of the Pot Hole late afternoon; a clear blue-sky day, a moderate wind with some riffles on the water. After parking the truck, I watched Harvey Ragsdale cast for a short time into the pool near the three trees. He drove down solo, wanting to see if the white bass were biting. We talked for a short time, before he decided to call it a day. I walked straight out from the point just above the three trees and found the gravel bar. A short time later, Ty Ingram drove in and we fished together until 7:30, before he decided to call it a night. He did release a bluegill over nine inches. I fished until 9 PM with one 14-inch large mouth returned to the water. There was no generation from the powerhouse with the wind blowing towards the dam. It made for a tough evening of fishing.

Saturday, March 10, 2012: I attended a meeting for the MTFA at Bennett Spring State Park, which started at noon. It was almost 3 PM, when I returned to Springfield. I returned to the Pot Hole, hoping for some current. Again, the powerhouse remained quiet. Warren Wilkerson and Joe Davis pulled in behind me on the east side of the Pot Hole on River Run. We walked out to the gravel bar and in a short time I hooked a 16-inch walleye, which was returned to the water. A short time later, I hooked and released a seven-inch bluegill.

It was after 8:30 PM; Warren and Joe were getting ready to leave. I caught up with them and we decided to check out Swan Creek. There was some talk that Swan Creek had a few white bass caught a few days earlier. We walked the high banks of Shadow Rock Park walking from the bend to the mouth of Swan Creek and saw no movement in the water. It was after 9 PM and we all called it a night.

Sunday, March 11, 2012: It was a persistent overcast day, with forecast made by NOAA for increase chances of rain and possible thunderstorms. It was after 2 PM, and I made the drive back to the Pot Hole. It started to rain hard when I turned off of Hwy 65 and made my way to Forsyth on Hwy 160. When I drove down River Run several vehicles were on their way home. I parked the truck and saw the last of them leave. There were several flashed of lightning with little or no wind, but the rain continued to fall. While sitting in the truck when I realized my raincoat was in Springfield; going through my fishing bag I found a $ 0.99 light plastic poncho for an emergency. It actually worked with my overcoat and hood staying dry in the torso area. I fished the east side until 5:30 PM and decided since there was not any water flowing, perhaps a lost cause. So, I decided to look at Silver Creek, just .25 miles downstream. I drove cautiously down the wet, muddy lane and parked on some gavel some distance from the water and walked in. Silver Creek was muddy with a slow flow into Bull Shoals. A little farther down the road, I came across a Ford four-wheel drive truck stuck in the mid with a family of three. They were working to get it out with winches and straps, progressing an inch at a time. I helped for an hour before getting the truck moving again. The waders were wet inside due to perspiration and covered in mud on the out side. I walked back to the truck and drove to Swan Creek. The waters around Shadow Rock Park were dirty with low flow; again no movement in the water. I worked the water from the bend to 160 bridge, catching a small line bass and watching a small white bass chase my fly. I left Swan Creek and checked out the waters 200 yards upstream from the mouth of Swan with no takes. It was 8:30 PM; I decided to try one more spot. I drove back to the Pot Hole and fished the west side. I left the truck near the sycamore tree and walked down to several spots Paul and I use to fish. I tied on a purple/orange buck-tail streamer. The powerhouse was starting to push some water through with the currents beginning to move. With a first cast I hooked a large fish, after a short fight brought it to shore and hit it with a flashlight. It was a large walleye; I dispatch it and continued to fish until 9:30 PM without another bite.

I left the Pot Hole and drove to the fish cleaning station to measure the walleye and to my surprise; it was 27.5 inches with a 15.5 girth. A calculation later at home determined it to weigh 9.2 lbs.

Two fishermen came to the cleaning station; they caught a few walleye and told of the MDC coming in Tuesday night to shock the waters for their annual survey. It is my feeling the fishing will only get better.

MARCH 15, 2012: Another day off with unseasonably warm weather, my plan was to fish all day if there was rain. Instead the day turned out mostly sunny. So, I worked in the yard until 4 PM and I rode down with Rod Pennington after 4:30 PM to fish the Pot Hole, since there was moving water from Table Rock Dam and the water was passing through Power site dam with the water level steady at 654 ft. We parked on the west side and worked our way towards the dam since there was a good current with the water moving towards the island. We caught an assortment of fish including; white bass, large-mouth bass, walleye and blue-gill.

The walleye was legal, since it measured 18.5 inches. Rod and I watched the western sky after sun set, two planets; Venus and Jupiter were in close proximity and very bright before following the path of the sun hours after sun set. We finished the night on the east side fishing in front of the three trees and caught another white bass. We called it a night at 10 PM.

MARCH 20, 2012: Rod and I left his house at 4 PM and returned to waters below Power Site Dam. The rain started when we arrived and parked on the east side of the Pothole before we began to fish. There were a few fishermen in the area, with more on the west side throwing their bait and sitting on buckets. There were a few claps of thunder as we fished. The water was flowing through the power house and over the top of the dam with Bull Shoal lake level at 654 ft and on the rise; the water did come up six inches while we fished, actually reaching rod’s vehicle after dark. We watched a fellow with an ultra-light spinning rod with a small gray jig take a limit of white bass. Rod found the white bass some time later, his largest white bass for the night measured eighteen inches. He took ten fish to the cleaning station.

Ty Ingram drove down thirty minutes after we arrived and fished with us for a short time. He reported some activity at Beaver Creek. Ty did take a twenty-inch walleye and a few white bass. Most people left after 7:30 PM, Rod and I continued to fish until 9 PM. I caught two walleye, one fish was 22-inches and the other was ten inches and released. I kept seven white bass several measured seventeen inches with the smaller white bass returned to the water.

On this night, we did see the MDC return with their boats and shocking equipment. They took the boat to the powerhouse and worked another boat along the west bank below the pothole. Last Tuesday night, they shocked the water for their annual survey. We stop and talk with Justin and other MDC personal about their activities and why they returned. We were told they needed more walleye eggs and they had some eggs in a bowl mixing with a turkey feather. These eggs will go to Chesapeake Fish Hatchery. As of this posting, Bull Shoals has come up five feet. The rivers and streams are up, many at flood level. The fishing will begin to get interesting, time to start looking for the this weekend.

March 25, 2012: I made a return trip to Bull Shoals and carried along my kayak. The water level has risen since my last trip seven ft with a lake level of 661 ft. (March 20,2012: 654 ft)

My how conditions change with some rain. I did look at Swan Creek and drove up stream from Shadow Rock Park to the bridge. Since, the bridge and road project a few years back very little cover for the fish. I am sure the white bass will migrate up Swan Creek in the evening only to return to the lake during the day.

I drove down River Run and parked the truck just above the waters edge, unloaded the kayak and made my way out into the moving water. Taneycomo has been up (a normal lake level of 700 ft) and now at 710 ft with all four generators going. This water will stay in Bull Shoals for the summer with a slow release in Arkansas through out the summer. Of course wee know it is capable to rise and other 33 ft if necessary, recall last year.

View from my kayak

I fished along the tree edge and picked up a few large mouth bass and a thirteen white bass. It was after 7:30 PM, the sun went behind the trees on the west bank and I position myself near the three trees throwing into the deeper water, it was near 8 PM and I took another large walleye, figured 7.5 lbs, 26 inches in length and a 15.5 inch girth.

I fished until 9:30 PM, broke off on the bottom and decided to call it a night. I will probably look at new water and will get out on Thursday.

February: Small Streams and Blue Ribbon waters

February 6, 2012: I decided to try another small creek for trout. The nearest trout stream to Springfield is Crane Creek, about thirty miles from my house. The stream is very small with gin clear water. Much of the stream is no more that 6-10 foot across; during the summer with little rain, a portion of it is a losing stream. I drove to Wire Road Access upstream from the town of Crane and walked the bank and path upstream 0.6 miles before see trout.

I used a 12 ft spey rod with fly short line (3 feet) and ten-foot leader; my intention was to reach with the rod to fish the waters for trout. Working my way upstream with a weighted fly, was not productive.

It was after 4 PM and I turned around and went back down stream, tied on a dry fly and dabbed it on broken water.

It finally scored three small rainbows. It was after 6 PM, I was walking back to the truck and saw a near full moon coming over the trees. This mild weather has been great, how much longer? It is almost time for walleye.

FEB 12, 2012: This was my final day to fish the Catch and Release season at a Missouri State Park. Rod and I returned to Bennett Spring S.P. There were 15 fishermen in Zone 1 as we drove from the dam to the spring. We saw fish activity in the handicap hole above the Holland Dam around the aquatic plants; trout were coming head out of the water for pupa. Upon closer inspection, we saw many white adult midges on the water as they emerged. We tried dry flies with a few trout willing to take them. Rod stayed in the area most of the afternoon. I worked my way upstream to the spring looking for trout along the edges.

The day was clear with a very bright sky. It remained cold with the guides on the fly rod freezing through out the day. I fished midstream and dropped a fly on both banks. I made it to the low-water bridge on river left. There was activity most of the afternoon with trout taking an occasional dry fly. I released a dozen from hand with Rod having an outstanding day. I will start to migrate south, to fish the Pothole for walleye and waiting for the return of white bass.

Feb 16, 2012: The catch and released reason for trout has ended at the state parks, for me this is a signal to look south and fish Bulls Shoals Lake. My target fish is walleye; I tie large buck-tail streamer flies and get serious to fish after sunset and fish into the night, and fishing to 10 PM. It is throwing an 8 Wt fly rod, with a large fly for distance with a slow strip retrieve. I became more serious for walleye after the passing of Paul Henry; we did not fish much after dark. He did tell of his adventures when he was younger and he had a few interesting tales fishing the Pothole. We did over the years find a few walleye during the day light hours fishing for white bass.

I returned to the Pothole, the lake level was 654, which is six feet higher than last year this time of the year. The day was bright, slight wind from the north with little effect on the lake. There was some generation moving through the power house. It was 2:30 PM and I decided to look at Swam Creek and then drive to Beaver Creek to get a look. I parked at Fisherman’s Nose and walked up stream to the bluff hole.

Much of area changed from the high water, the banks have been scoured, trees missing most of their branches and look dead. Beaver Creek was up 7 inches from the recent rains and had a good flow. I fished through bluff hole and moved down to fisherman’s nose. At 5 PM, I saw some shad moving on the surface. I fished until 6 PM without a strike, and retreated back to the Pot Hole.

The sun was down in the west across the Pothole, an eagle was perched in a dead tree just over my shoulder. I was able to a quick picture of it flying off.

I decided where to fish and moved into the area. My first and only fish on was at 7:30 PM, the fish came up, rolled like a walleye and I was leading it to a gravel bar. Before I could get the flash light out of my pocket, the fish released himself, all I could say was damn. It did fire me up and I fished until 9 PM. My schedule will allow me to fish next week.

January 2012: New Year at the State Parks

Jan 2,2012: Hey it is another year, and back to Bennett Spring State Park. The morning temperature was in the low twenties with a robin blue cloudless sky. Rod Pennington, John Anderson and I left Springfield after 10 AM. We arrived shortly after 11 AM, with more fishermen than expected already in the water fishing (maybe twenty in zone 1). The stream was up nearly a foot before Christmas and was up a few inches this day. The stream was cloudy which is typical for Bennett Spring after a good rain. Unfortunately, the high and cloudy water, and bright sky made for a challenging day to take trout with a dry fly. Rod used a green grizzly wooly below the stone bridge with success; john new to fly-fishing had a few strikes.

Photo of a larger mayfly, possibly a Brown March

I did have a short time where the BWO were hatching near the bank and the breeze blew them upstream a ways until the trout discovered them. I used a short line and danced the fly on the surface, finding a few willing to take the offering. The cloudy water will last a few weeks, and hope to return on Friday.

Jan 6, 2012: Frank Moran and I planned to fish together at Bennett Spring State Park. I received a call early in the morning. It was Yvonne, Frank’s wife; she explained how Frank was ill most of the night and had to cancel our fishing trip.

I spent the early morning tying a few flies and quit at 9 AM, and decided to head to Bennett Spring S.P. The sky was clear with unseasonably warm temperatures. A mild wind, probably out to the southwest pushing the temperatures above 60 degrees. The park was crowded with more than fifty fishermen in the water from the spring to the dam (zone 1), with more fishermen unloading gear getting ready to start. There was a crowd in the water at zone 2 above the whistle bridge. I had some business to attend and made my rounds. Thirty minutes later, I looked over the situation and decided to retreat and left the park; not wanting to fish in a crowd.

I returned to Springfield, ate a lunch, called Table Rock Dam, no water running and headed south on Hwy 65. The parking lot was full at the hatchery, with most of the fishermen concentrated between the outlets and down to the rebar hole. I drove to the other side and fished the rocking chair hole, with two other fishermen within 100 yards. I took out a #16 crackleback threw it up stream, pulled it under and twitched it for a few strikes, and hook ups.

I waded across to fish near some exposed rocks and found a more trout switching to a #16 dry fly, then pulling it under and took a few more. There was a 90% moon rising in the east evening sky with a few hundred buzzards circling in front of the illuminating moon. It looked like Halloween. The sounds of peepers could be heard, they must be confused with the usually warm weather. I was still fishing after 4:30 PM, when Mike Allen called on the phone. I wanted to meet with him to discuss the trout habitat project for Taneycomo.

So, I left the water and talked with Mike for an hour. He said there are 213 rocks place in groups of three forming an equilateral triangle. The rock structures will direct the water and scour around the rocks, forming troughs for trout habitat. I was impressed with the amount of erosion that has occurred below the dam, many of these rocks are located where the water’s edge was five years ago.

Mike Allen will come to a MTFA meeting March 1^st to discuss the habitat project.

It was a good day to fish, unbelievable January weather and great places to fish

JAN 20: It was a day without sunshine, with a high temperature in the low forties. The late afternoon winds became calm, with a light mist moving in at dusk, the weather service gave a wintery advisory with possible freezing precipitation north of Hwy 60. Rod, Jacob Scheve, Jessie Scheve and I set a date the first of the year to fish this day and we piled into Rod’s vehicle at 10 AM for a trip to Bennett Spring State Park. There was a light crowd in the park on this Friday. No fishermen near the waters above the dam and it became my area to fish for the day. There was a small hatch of BWO and numerous #28 adult white midges on the water. The trout were coming straight out of water showing their entire head, my guess taking cripples out of the surface tension, and from the numbers of adults, probably midge pupa. The #20 BWO dry flies proved ineffective and worked better pulling them under and twitching them to attract a few trout. I tried a caddis pattern with little reaction from the trout. At 3 PM and pair of bald eagles flew over head and perched on a tree half way up the bluff and remained there until 3:50 PM. Then they flew overhead of me on their way down stream. We fished until the sound from the horn, indicating 4 PM and we reeled in our lines and called it a day of fishing. On our way home several groups of deer were seen in the fields, giving clue to a weather change. It must be January in the Ozarks

January 28-30, 2012: I took a few days off to fish; checked a Missouri map and decided to fish new waters near Newburg. Plans were made; calls and reservations had been arranged and off for three days of fishing.

Sean and I met at Montauk State Park on Saturday. He had a late start from St. Louis and I arrived several hours before him. I took care of the motel room, unpacked the truck, and sent a text to him providing the room number and where I could be found on the river. He arrived after 1 PM and found me in the waters near the lodge. I decided to take him above the dam and finish the day in zone 1, hoping to find some trout willing to take a dry fly. There was a white midge hatch with a few caddis popping out of the water after laying eggs on the stream bottom. There were a small number of mayflies near the aquatic plants. The day was much warmer than forecast, in the high fifties, which is not typical for January.

Sean and I returned to the lodge after 4 PM, had dinner in the lodge and returned to our room to add new leader to one reel, add backing and line to another reel and practice knot tying. We turned in after 10 PM.

The next day, we woke after 7 AM, made a pot of coffee. The ground was cover in frost, the sky was clear, with the air crisp and clean. Rod and his friend John Anderson planned to leave Springfield at 8 AM, and spend the day with us. We did not expect them until 11 AM.

Sean and I started above the dam and worked our way upstream. We fished some of my favorite areas and made our way to the spring, the origin of the Current River. It was almost 3 PM, and we retreated to find a spot to finish the day. Other fishermen occupied our most productive waters and we continued downstream and finally found Rod and John near the blue hole.

I hooked my last fish for the day ten minutes before 4 PM and called it last cast, last fish. Rod found one on a dry fly a few minutes after that and continued to fish to 4 PM. Sean said his had missed three trout looking for his last trout for the day with the siren sounding to end the day of fishing. Sean and I released twenty-eight for the day with many short strikes. Rod said he and John had a great day.

I was to stay another night at Montauk; Sean was to head back to St Louis and Rod to Springfield. The lodge diner closed at 2 PM, so we all caravanned to Rolla and stopped at Bandanna’s BBQ for dinner. After, dinner, everyone took off in different directions, and I returned to Montauk State Park and turned in for the night.

January 30, 2012: The next day I woke after 7 AM, made a pot of coffee and started to pack out. My plan for the day was to fish the Blue ribbon area on the Current River just outside of the park. In the afternoon, drive north to another blue ribbon stream, Mill Creek, south of Doolittle/Newburg.

It was a frosty day, with a clear bright sky and little wind. I parked the truck at the end of loop four camping area and walked down stream, past the water treatment lagoon. I entered the stream below the cabins, and tied on a small Clouser minnow pattern to search the stream. It took an only few casts before I hooked up, and released a 12-inch rainbow. There were several more strikes on the Clouser before it was lost to bottom. There was some surface activity behind a large rock, with adult caddis popping out of the water. I tied on a caddis imitation pattern, which was not good enough to fool with one take after an hour of fishing. I left the stream at 11:30 AM, wanting to get on the road and on to Mill Creek.

After leaving Montauk State Park, I drove north on Hwy 63 to Edgar Spring. I turn left on State Hwy M and on to the community of Flat before hitting the gravels roads to Bohigian Conservation area. Mill Creek runs north to the Little Piney River through Bohigian. There is at least five miles of stream; much of the stream is very shallow with small pools and pockets near root wads. I do not know much of the area but plan to contact the MDC and get some history and details. I fished it until 5 PM and manage six trout using a wooly worm streamer.

The largest trout was fourteen inch taken just above a beaver dam. The other trout were in the 6-8 inch range.

I finished my drive going north to Doolittle and on to I-44 to Springfield. It was three days of good fishing, I plan to return to Mill Creek and check out Spring Creek along with the blue ribbon waters of the Little Piney River.

December: State park waters

This past weekend was spent at Montauk State Park with Ralph Eichholz, Warren Wilkerson and Rod Pennington. There was a state MTFA business meeting on Saturday at noon, so we rented a cabin for two days; leaving three days to fish.

Dec 2, 2011: Friday morning, we moved into cabin 12, put items away and took to the water. Warren and Rod started below the lodge and fished to the dam. I started at the dam and worked the water up stream. Ralph came in later that afternoon and did not find us; so he drove up to the spring and fished the upper water. There was a Baetis hatch with the trout taking them cautiously, Rod fished with a white and cream dry fly and had better success than my BWO. Warren fished with a zebra midge and did well before breaking off. We did not see Ralph until after 4 PM; he fished with soft hackles and did well. He tried a rainbow of colors with the trout willing to take them all. He was thrilled with his success. That evening, we pan fried some quail that Rod and his son bagged earlier this year, with mash potatoes and peas. Dessert was a cake my wife sent. There was more than enough for everyone, with some quail left over. (It was served with breakfast on Sunday).

Dec 3,2011: Saturday, after breakfast we again went to the water. Ralph, Rod and I started upstream of the lodge. Warren went to the dam. There were fish moving on top with little success taking them with a dry. Upstream 50 yards, I saw a trout over 24 inches, giving chase to other trout. I took out a meat and potato fly and swung the fly in front of him and then stripped it quick. The trout gave chase four times and took the fly once only to feel his teeth and not setting the hook. It was after 11 AM, I had to stop for some time to conduct the state MTFA meeting.

After the meeting Ralph had to return to Springfield, Rod, Warren and I went back to the fly’s only area. I moved up stream farther that the day before. There were a half dozen fishermen moving down stream throughout the afternoon, with little interference. Again, it was hard fishing a take with many of the trout hitting short or I was too impatient setting the hook too quickly…hard to figure.

I quit at the sound of the horn, 4 PM and walked back to the cabin. Rod and Warren had already returned and out of their waders. That evening we had Alaska fish, coleslaw and fries. The rain was starting to fall and it rained through the night.

Dec 4, 2011: Sunday, we had our breakfast, packed out our gear and turned in the keys. We drove to the other side of the river. Warren decided to give the catch and release area a try. Rod and I walked back to the water and fished the same general area. I moved much faster up stream wanting to fish familiar water and find trout more willing to take a dry. Rod was fishing the weed banks and taking trout with a cream and white hackle dry, I was trying everything in my box; finding a few trout with a caddis. I saw two trout near 24 inches moving behind a down tree with a washed out trough. I switched flies and tied on a black jig with one of the trout giving chase and taking the fly.

The rain fell for a few hours and stopped after 1 PM. Rod had left the water and had to return to Springfield. I had moved up past the down tree and saw more Baetis duns on top. There were a few trout giving chase and I had only a few small flies left. Here I had some moderate success taking trout with a dry fly. The large sycamore tree is a roost for a hundred buzzards/vultures. The ground under the tree was white from the droppings and had a distinct odor.

I fished until 3:50 PM and decided it was last cast last fish for the trip and walked back to the truck. I found Warren fishing in the catch and release area, where he had a good day of catching trout.

Everyone had a great trip. Ralph has a blog with a favorable report of his experiences. I will plan another trip this winter back to Montauk.

DEC 9, 2011: A trip back to Bennett Spring S.P. The day was cool, the radio reported a temperature of 33° F at 11 AM while driving I-44. The sky was overcast with a light breeze. I did find several cooperative trout; a dozen above the dam. The wind was blowing upstream and blew the Baetis mayflies back into the slough. After 2 PM, the hatch had diminished. I moved to the stone bridge and fished back to the dam. The trout were more cooperative and I took trout to 4 PM; I had a trout on when the horn blew. I finished with 34 trout to hand for the afternoon. I did see eagles flying high, deer and turkeys on the drive home. There were maybe a dozen fishermen seen for the time I fished, for most of the time I fished with no one in sight. Good day to fish.

Dec 16, 2011: It was a cloudless day with early temperatures in the mid-twenties. When I arrived Bennett Spring State Park at 10 AM, it was already above freezing with a predicted high of forty-five degrees. A student from MSU, Zach Schmitz met me at the park. Zach had finished finals at school and had a day to fish before returning to his family’s home in Kansas City. This was Zach first experience winter fishing and has some concerns keeping warm.

We were in the water by 10:30 AM; a mild wind was blowing upstream. There were a small number of midges (white) and small mayflies (BWO) present in the slough in the aqua vegetation. I started with a #18 caddis imitation just to try something different and made two casts and released two small trout. Zach fished with some #20 BWO patterns. We both found some cooperative trout taking flies and fished the area above the dam until 2:30 PM. We walked down stream to the stone bridge and worked back to the dam. The light was very bright in our eyes and it was difficult to get the trout to see or take our flies. We caught a few more trout and finished at 4 PM.

Zach had a good day of fishing and managed to keep the cold away. It was a decent day of fishing with a fair hatch.