March: Bull Shoals Lake after dark

Lake level 657.1 ft 

March 7, 2014 (Friday): Rod Pennington and I drove late afternoon to fish the Pot Hole. The lake level was 657.1 feet and no current from the powerhouse. There was a mild breeze but not enough to provide cover for the fish. There were a few shad breaking the surface and at dusk trout (probable) taking items of the surface at mid-lake. Rod took off going down the lake and I walked the roadbed to fish the points. Needless to say we did not hook up and we fished to 7:30 PM. There was a chill in the air and on our drive home had some rain droplets on the windshield.

Power Site dam at sunset

March 9, 2014 (Sunday): First day of day light savings time. The lake level is 657.1 feet with no generation through the powerhouse. The lake is flat with a very light wind. I decided to explore more water and took the kayak. I parked on the east side and paddled to the west shore to find the shade from the hill and the setting sun. There were a few shad hitting the surface. I started with a white 1/80^th oz. jig trying to pick up any small fish and did hook and land a seven-inch shiner. I floated the water on the west side to silver creek and drifted back to the pothole.  I finished the night in the pothole with no hook ups; fishing without a current is difficult.

Rising moon a few days from being a full Moon

March 13, 2014 (Thursday): I checked Table Rock Dam and Bull Shoals dam with water moving at Taneycomo with the lake level reaching 709 feet, probably operating four generators. I was anticipating a good night of fishing. I checked the water levels before leaving Springfield and found the water flow had ceased with Taneycomo going back to 701 feet. When I pulled up to the Pot Hole, I found some flow through the powerhouse, so I drove to the west side and unloaded the kayak since the water level was probably at 657.7 feet (up six inches since my last trip). As soon as I had the kayak in the water with waders on, the water through the powerhouse stopped with the water flows changed in the lake. I considered packing up and fishing Beaver Creek but decided to tough it out. I fished the first point without a hookup. I took to the kayak and fished the west side wading out into the lake and working a bunny strip without a take. The shadows began to cover the west side and fished the same area with purple buck-tail streamer, again no takes. I saw baitfish on the surface and heard a few large fish splash without actually seeing them. The moon rose over the east before sunset and the night had plenty of light with moon shadows.

Power Site Dam at 10 PM

This is my third trip to the pothole without a walleye, the remarks from Paul Henry would be if no moving water, move on to fish another spot. It has proven to be true.

I had a long weekend off from work and took time to fish the Pot Hole below power site dam on Bull Shoals Lake. The water has been flowing for a week with the lake level steady at 659 feet. There was water running over the dam all three days with some water passing through the powerhouse. The water’s edge is ten feet past the large sycamore tree at the end of River Run lane. You can wade the roadbed but you will not travel far before it gets too deep.

March 21, 2014: Friday evening, Rod and I took a seventeen-foot aluminum canoe to fish the deeper water. We waded and fished the west side with one 15-inch rainbow trout taken before the walleye hole. Two bait fishermen fishing the walleye hole took several 3 lbs. trout. Later that evening, we loaded the canoe and took three walleye after sunset; the largest was 22 inches. We stayed until 8:30 PM before returning to Springfield.

March 22, 2014: Saturday evening, I drove down alone. I loaded the kayak and fished the east side. There was plenty of water coming over the dam with a lake level at 659 feet. The wind was out of the north with the weatherman forecasting some frozen precipitation Sunday morning with a low forecasted to be 24 degrees. I stayed until 9:30 PM, with one short walleye returned.

March 23, 2014: Sunday evening, again I took the kayak. The water conditions were similar to the past two days; lake level 659 feet water clear. The wind was out of the east with a light chop on the water. There were a number of fishermen lined up on the dam wall on the west side. I did see moving fish and took a sixteen-inch white bass at sunset.

  

first white bass of the year

With warmer water, it is my opinion the fishing in the deeper water will bring fish, unfortunately a boat, canoe, kayak or belly boat will be helpful to get to the fish. There will be very limited wading this year at the Pot Hole.

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.