April: Reflection and Healing

Sean fishing the Eleven Point River above the cave hole

April 2, 2013: It is this day my son, Sean was pronounced dead at St Mary Medical Center in St Louis after a fall at the Apple Store were he worked. His fall resulted in trauma to the brain, which ruptured an artery in the temple region as seen on CAT scan. He did go to surgery, but there was no procedure or surgery operation to reverse the damage.

He had expressed to be an organ donor by signing his driver license and discussions we had around campfires on outings and fishing trips to the Eleven Point River. His lost of life gave others hope by providing his gifts, so others may have a second chance to a better life due to their disease and organ failures. I will miss my son, fishing buddy and friend. Below is a link to his obituary written by his sister, Jenn.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/news-leader/obituary.aspx?pid=164038465

April 10, 2013: This was to be a scouting outing, with quick looks at Swan Creek, Beaver Creek and access points on Bull Shoals Lake. I made many stops to look over the water looking for signs of fish. Swan Creek there were a few boats below the bluff with low water, possible white bass run after sunset. Beaver Creek was at 3 feet and clear. There were a few spawning white bass in fisherman’s nose, the lake level was near the whistle bridge. I was able to fish and take a few white bass before a thunderstorm that was building in the east. At 5 PM the rain came in and I retreated to the Pot Hole to finish the evening. The lake level was at 653 feet with no generation and no wind. I made a pass wading the gravel bar to the three trees. 

A two foot drum taken on a fly

I caught a few more white bass, a short walleye and a chunky drum. I left at 8:30 PM, due to being cold and wet under the raincoat.

Jim Knight and Leonard Brown at Fisherman's Nose on Beaver Creek

April 11, 2013: I fished with Jim Knight and Leonard Brown from Oklahoma; we have met at their club’s event, the Small-mouth Rendezvous over the years in Tahlequah OK. We started out at 2 PM on Beaver Creek. The stream was up approximately a foot at 3.8 feet, it was dingy from the rain the night before. The sun broke out with the air temperatures in the mid-fifties. We started at the boulder hole. We found a few white bass with some fish moving up stream into the pockets. The ospreys were working the water near by with a bald eagle making his presence known. We stayed until 5 PM and moved to the mud slope near Swan Creek. There were a number of fishermen on the opposite shore. A small Clouser seem to work taking eight whites bass with one large female and one small line bass. We made the final move at 7 PM to the Pot Hole. Rod was already in the water when we arrived and reported no fish. There was no generation with a variable wind. There were more fish moving, especially along the western shore. The lake level was 653 with the gravel bar under water. Jim and Leonard decided to return to Springfield. Rod and I made our way to the gravel bar after seeing some white bass demonstrating some spawning activity over it. I managed two more white bass for the evening of fishing.

Jim and Leonard at the Bluff Hole

April 12, 2013: Jim, Leonard and I returned to Beaver Creek and fished it from 2Pm until 6 PM. We saw an eagle overhead flying just over the treetops. The creek dropped six inches after the foot rise. The white bass I expected to find up stream were not found, with the falling water level and cooler temperatures. My question, did they return to the lake? I did find six white bass below the boulders. Jim and Leonard left to return to Springfield. I fished the mud bank for 1.5 hours with limited success taking five white bass and a small blue gill near the walk in access. With the sun disappearing below the hills, I drove to the Pot Hole to fish until 09:30 PM. I managed one crappie and covered the gravel bar to the three trees. There was activity, especially along the west banks. I need to walk and fish that bank in future trips.

The Mud bank looking at the 76/160 Bridge

April 13, 2013: Rod and I shared a ride and fished Bull Shoals. We drove by Powersite Dam and saw no generation and a few people fishing Swan Creek. There was a number of people bank fishing from the dam to Swan Creek in various locations. We started at the mud bank walking up the lake for some distance before retuning fishing our way back to Swan Creek. We caught a few with the fish scattered on the sandy/mud bottom. We caught ten white bass; two walleye (one was short and the other walleye was eighteen inches) and Rod released a carp.

April 14, 2013: Rod and I returned to the mud bank and fished for several hours. There were a number of fishermen near Swan Creek. We covered the water taking five white bass. After sunset, we moved to the Pot Hole and fished it until 9 PM. We caught three more white bass before calling it a night. We watched the moon in the western sky with Jupiter near by. I plan to move to the Little Sac River in the next couple of days to fish for white bass. The whites should be good until Mother’s day. It will depend on the weather, rainfall and rising water.

Rod fishing behind the three trees with rising water in Bull Shoals Lake

April 21, 2013: Rod Pennington and I drove to Bull Shoals to fish the pothole below the dam. There was water coming over the damn from Taneycomo with Table Rock Lake level at 915 ft. The water level in Bull Shoals tail water had been 653 ft. but on this day approached 657 ft. We were unable to fish the places will a normal pool level.  We fished until sunset before moving to Swan Creek.  We went up stream from Shadow Rock park to find the area where the lake and the stream can together. We were able to find a few white bass. The highlight for the night was the beaver. We had a beaver slap his tail in close proximity, which gave us a scared us fright. …Or a statement, what the hell was that. Swan creek was clear a little high probably got a good place to fish during the daylight

John Prugger and Charlie Erickson on the Little Sac River

April 22, 2013: Charlie Erickson, John Prugger and I drove to the Little Sac River to fish for white bass. The Little Sac River was up a half a foot and from the gage reading was at 3.5 feet, a good flow and colored water. Stockton Lake level was 871 ft., which was up two feet from the previous week.  We were able to get three limits white bass; plenty for the club fish fry (I did get a 17 inch walleye around 3 PM that went out with Charlie and John).

Charlie showing off his stringer of white bass

There was a threat of rain with in frequent thunder late in the afternoon.  John and Charlie left before 6 PM to start cleaning fish. I stayed until 7 PM. I drove back to Charlie’s residence to clean fish with John and Charlie and retrieve my walleye. It was a good day to catch fish.

April 23, 2013: it rain throughout the night with my rain gauge reading half an inch. I watched the rain gauges for the Little Sac River and the James River waiting to see if there would be a stream rise. There was a bump for the Little Sac but not enough to deter us from fishing. Connie and Charlie Erickson and I returned to the Little Sac at 1 PM. The day was cold with the air temperature dropping to the low forties. It rained throughout the entire fish trip. Charlie picked up the first white, with Connie showing us how to catch them for the first hour. Connie and Charlie fished for several hours before calling it a day. I stayed until 6 PM to fill my stringer with a limit. This day was hard for me as I thought of Sean and the many times we fished together on the in these waters. 

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.