February: Bull Shoals, Pot Hole and walleye

The Power House at 657.7 feet, counted five rocks from the island

February 23, 2014: The water level for Bull Shoals was 657.7 feet. It is difficult to find good wading. There is a spot on the west side for footing but lost a dozen flies to the bottom; the Clousers minnows are too heavy, need to modify the fly for the west side. 

No one fishing the walleye hole, very little room to drive down to the pot hole

I looked at Swan Creek. The spot we fished last year looks like good place to start. I saw no working shad so I drove over to Beaver Creek. 

Swan Creek up stream from Shadow Rock Park

The place to fish at this time is at the bluff hole just below Kissee Mill on Beaver Creek. That is how far the lake level has backed up the water. 

Beaver Creek below Kissee Mill Park, the bluff hole

I finished the evening at the Pot Hole on the east side, I watch a pair of fishermen earlier in the day. One fished the road bed and the other fellow walked up the the power house. There were probably a half dozen fishermen on the west side at the walleye hole at sunset and that many or more up near the power house. 

Fishing the west side of the Pot Hole

My intent was to get as close as possible to the three trees. There was a tree that fell behind the three trees that fell near the third tree. I started below the third tree and was able to get a fly into the pool in front of the three trees. Later, I moved to the space between the 2nd and third tree. I had to stand on the root of the 2nd tree to get to waist deep water instead of chest deepwater wading out to the trees. I picked up a 23-inch walleye thirty minutes after sunset and probably lost a small trout a little later. 

First walleye of 2014, 23-inches

There was very little surface activity from working shad, saw two trout break the surface at sunset. Hope to make another trip within a week.

February: Last weekend for Catch and Release at State Parks

February 8, 2014: I made a 140 mile round trip to Roaring River State Park. The Cassville area received several inches more snow than Springfield with the roads in the park snow covered. I fished the fly only area at the end of the park with the trout active on the surface. They seem to be dimpling for midges and occasionally taking my #20 BWO dry fly. The day was at the freezing mark with ice forming in my guides most of the day. I did take a moment to spread some of Sean’s ashes to the water. 

There was an eagle that came into view and perched on a tree near me, I took a moment from fishing to get a clip of him flying away.

February 9, 2014: Rod and I fished Bennett Spring State Park. The roads were clear with a few inches of snow on the ground all the way from Springfield to the park. The day was over cast with a north wind. We started to fish at 11 AM with small blue wing olive (BWO) emerging with mayfly duns on the surface for four hours. The temperatures were below freezing with ice in the guides all day long. The cold temperatures made it hard for the mayflies to leave the water and were on the menu for the feeding trout. I made a switch using #20 parachute BWO patterns, which proved to be productive. Rod fished last Sunday and said it was an outstanding day. The catching was good with Rod and I releasing from hand 31 rainbow trout. For most of the day, we had the water above the dam to ourselves. 

For a short period four fellows made there way down near us and finally on of them fell into the water. I am sure that did not feel good. There is one day left for catch and release and I will finish at Bennett Spring SP tomorrow and stay for the pre season Bennett Spring meeting.

Last day of Catch and Release season with winter conditions

February 10, 2014: This was the last day for catch and release season at the state parks. A fresh snow of two inches fell at 7 AM in Springfield, with side streets snow covered. I left the pickup behind and took the RAV4; it has all wheels drive and travels easily over snow covered roads. I-44 was clear with a few wet spots and several MODOT trucks and blades working the shoulders and side roads. I did exit 118 (Phillipsburg) and found Hwy A snow covered and Hwy OO to Bennett Spring in the same condition. The park was had no other fishermen when I started to fish with another fellow coming in an hour later. 

The tracks are from Rod and I yesterday, a fresh snow in the park

The wind was from the north blowing up stream with a cold fog. There was a mayfly and a white midge hatch on the water. The trout seem to be targeting the midges with the heads of the trout coming straight out of water to feed. It was 1 PM and the blue wing olive (BWO) hatch was in large numbers. The BWO duns were not able to leave the water and would float long distances before taken by a trout. Again, I saw not see a dun leave the water, my guess too cold. By 3 PM, most of the activity had passed, with the waters calm from dimpling trout, but the cold wind continued to blow up stream. I fished to the sound of the horn at 4 PM, and the end of the season came to past. I managed to release sixteen trout from hand the many missed. The opening of catch and release season for next fall is November 14, 2014…

January 2014: Winter fishing at the Missouri State Parks

Fishing below the dam at Montauk State Park

January 12, 2014: After a week of winter with cold temperatures and snow on the ground; the weekend warmed up with a higher than normal temperatures and increased number of fishermen in the water. It was difficult finding a spot and I retreated to a familiar spot away from other fishermen. The water in the slough opened up allowing a dry fly to splash into the open spots. The day was sunny with a blustery wind out of the south. The water was up a little from Friday’s rain but not enough to murk the clarity of the water.

The 30-40 mpr gusts did add an element to casting precision but the trout did go for the dry flies if presented in front of them. There was a sporadic hatch of BWOs throughout the day; as soon as they emerged and on the surface of the water off they went with the wind, flying down stream over the dam. It was difficult even for the trout to target these bugs.
The catching was about average with fifteen trout to hand; several of these were less than seven inches. I am sure these trout are hatchery fish but not aware what has been stocked in the zone 1.

There are a few fishing days left before the end of the catch and release season with February 10^th the last day. I have trips planned and have tied a few adult caddis for the next trips.
There are four days left for me to fish the state parks before the end of catch and release season, which will close February 10, 2014. If you have not been out this year, winter fishing at Missouri state parks is the best time to visit the park. There is usually wildlife out and about, more open water to fish and an opportune time to match the hatch with caddis and BWO mayflies.

A favorite spot for dry flies fishing at Montauk State Park

January 26, 2014: I was able to fish two days at Montauk State Park. The weekend turned out very comfortable with temperatures reaching near 60 degrees. Of course, there were a few other fishermen out to take advantage of the pleasant weather. The water was up a little and very clear. There were hatches of midges along the edges, caddis flying low over the water and occasional hatches of BWO mayflies in the afternoon. The trout varied in size with the largest trout released was near sixteen inches. Some of the more productive spots were full of fishermen and I made the decision to try other water and learning the water below the dam. Even in skinny water, the feeding trout would take dry and wet flies.

I had a muskrat swim up from behind me and I took the time to walk over to him with an I Phone in hand to capture his smile. I did scare him off but not before getting a good video.

There are four days left for me to fish the state parks before the end of catch and release season, which will close February 10, 2014. If you have not been out this year, winter fishing at Missouri state parks is the best time to visit the park. There is usually wildlife out and about, more open water to fish and an opportunity to match the hatch with caddis and BWO mayflies.

Fishing the waters below the Stone Bridge in zone 2 at Bennett Spring SP

January 31, 2014 (Friday): I left Springfield with the windshield wipers on with a drizzle and light rain all the way to Bennett Spring State Park. The air temperature was at 40 degrees with a light wind. The day remained overcast and stayed in the forties. I truly enjoy these weather conditions. There were only a few fishermen and I fished the waters in zone two below the hatchery outlets to Zone 1 and the familiar waters above the dam. I had no one within shouting distance throughout the day. There was a decent hatch of BWO mayflies hatching out of some aquatic plants below the stone bridge; for some reason the trout were very selective taking my fly with only a few hook ups in this area. 

Fixing a broken water main 

It was almost 3 PM, I stopped at the bridge to chat with Mike Mitchell and look at the digging project by the DNR. A water line broke and they were making the repairs. It was odd seeing half of the stone bridge blocked with piles of dirt. I spent the last hour working the weed line above the dam using a caddis pattern with moderate success. I finished the day with a dozen released from hand with the largest trout being the first fish below the stone bridge. I have taken a few days off next weekend and hope to finish the catch and release season by fishing Roaring River State Park and Bennett Spring State Park. 

December: Winter time at the state parks

Dec 7, 2013: Rod and I made our way to Bennett Spring state park for an afternoon of fishing. The day was cloudy with some light precipitation. We did see a five-car pileup with a tractor-trailer in the ditch on I-44 near the North view exit. Later, it was reported several people went to the hospital with no fatalities.

I made contact with Brant Koetting, from Jefferson City and he met us at the park. Rod and I made Brant acquaintance last year at Saltery Lake Lodge; He is now a guide with the lodge. We spent the day in zone 1 just above the dam. There were a few other cars in the park, but we saw no one else fishing this day. The temperature was in the mid-20’s with a swirling fog over the water most of the day. There was a mayfly hatch that lasted about an hour. The trout were cautious taking our flies with our total trout to hand for the day at twenty-six.

Can you find Rod?

 Some of the high lights of the day include Rod discovering his phone missing and retracing his steps to the front of the park store where he found his new galaxy phone in the snow covered parking lot. It probably fell out of his pocket when he was lacing up his boots. The other oddity was an eight-point buck racing us down Hwy OO. He was on the other side of the fence running alongside of us at fifty miles per hour; he veered away running to the top of a hill after the short sprint. Rod was driving and heard me yell “deer”, looking up to see a deer out of the passenger’s window.

The day remained below freezing. The hatch was light and the trout weary of our flies. Again, it was good to get out to Bennett Spring SP with all of the fair weather fishermen staying home.

December 16. 2013: I had the opportunity and fished at Bennett Spring SP. The high pressure pushed in leaving a bright sunny sky with cool temperatures. The Ozark's have recorded 13 inches of snow this December with less than half left on the ground. There was less snow above I-44 with ice still on the back roads. There were a few fishermen this day with no one else in the area above the dam. 

Found a few adult caddis on the decaying vegetation

The bugs were popping with sporadic hatches through out the afternoon. My problem was the bright sun with shadows over the water scaring fish. It seems my flies are not near enough to get consistent takes or extend the leader from 10 ft. to fifteen get more distance from the leader. 

I was ale to get some nice photos of the mayflies that hatch this time of the year. I managed five trout this day.

Dec 20, 2013: I met Rod and John Anderson in the parking lot at Bennett Spring SP. It was afternoon before we wet a line. The day was over cast with a fog blanketing the landscape. There was ice and a wintery mix forecast for the weekend. The light wind was blowing up stream. 

The insect population was low with sporadic duns seen along the weed edges and a few duns made it to open water only to be taken quickly from below. Before we made it to the water, we saw an eagle perched on a Sycamore Tree across the spring creek. It eventually left and made a low pass over the water before accented to the trees and out of sight. 

The fishing was good with some issues setting the hook. The trout are probably approaching the fly and turning away the last second or pushing it with their nose. But, it is still fun to watch the trout rise to a dry fly. We finished the day with sixteen trout for two and a half hours of fishing. I did go with a longer leader from ten feet to fifteen with the tippet six feet (6X). On the drive saw several group of deer and turkey feeding in the open fields; another indicator of a winter storm approaching. 

Who needs a meteorologist, just look for wild life and a cold fog to tell you winter is still with us.

December 29, 2013: A cold front had move through with the high temperature recorded (28°F) for the day at 4 AM, the temperatures dropped into the teens by late afternoon. The NNW brisk wind blew out of the NNW with an over cast sky. This blew the fog over the water at Bennett Spring SP up stream. I had to wear wool mittens most of the still the wind did sting bare flesh.

The mayflies blew up stream after hatching and there were s a large number in the slough above the dam. The fishing was best at the time I started to fish, which was 12:30 PM. The best fish of the day was the first take of the day. There were eight fishermen seen throughout the day. The wild life must have taken refuge which none seen in the field to and back to Springfield. The number of released trout was thirteen, not a high number but with the conditions a respectable day. This was my last day to fish for 2013.