Going to go fishing at Bennett Springs next weekend (last weekend of winter fishing). Anybody been lately? How are the crowds, whats working, and how successful have you been? I know there was a flood at the begining of the year but I heard the water has come down a little. Hope to hear and if anyone will be there next weekend let me know.
A bum-legged old man and a drunk. That’s all you got?
That’s WHAT I got.
You can get the latest info on fishing in the park thru Weavers Tackle Store [url=http://www.missouritrout.com/weavers:cf7c0]www.missouritrout.com/weavers[/url:cf7c0]
Bill
I would be interested in whether you folks get the Bennett trout on something resembling a real insect in the no-creel season. I will never again fish the trout parks in season. Just wondering if the trout adapt. No offense intended to you trout park fans, but it’s just not my bag of tea. Don’t much care for chucking a peach glo-ball and hope.
Jeff,
We frequently fish Bennett, and Roaring River, and Montauk. I refuse to fish the luminesent, spherical, no fly. I’ve taken the biggest trouts on the tiniest flies…Adams, spinners, midges. I stick with the flies only areas, and usually son’t have problems with others invading my space. I say usually, because there’s always going to be someone lacking in fishing graces, but they’ll move on. The off season is the best. We’ve had weekends with only us and the eagles! And big fish. The water has been really high this season, lots of rain in the area, but it’s refreshed the aquafier. Missouri has great parks, enjoyed by many. When you can’t get to Wyoming, or Montana, or South Dakota, they’re a welcome bit of fresh air, lots of comradery, and great fishing.
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
Zimrx…
the trout parks are starting to release the trout for the opening days (so they dont have so many to do)… the best bet right now… is heavy weight streamers (just let them sit on the bottom…sight fish)… eggs… crackle backs (if the suns out)… and just about any nymph… this is what Ive use for the past 3 years at Roaring river… right before the openers
Jeff, no offense taken. Everyone at the trout parks don’t fish power bait and glow balls. Most of the time I use cracklebacks, and wooly buggers, midges, and nymphs also work. True there are people who sit and catfish with power bait, but they are restricted to a certain zone. Bennett is 2 hours away from me in St. Louis, it is also the site of many childhood memories, it is also a very beautiful place. Fishing is different things to different people, many people enjoy sitting and watching a bobber drinking beer mixed with tomato juice. Others enjoy tying their own flies, fishing them and trying to trick a fish into grabbing a fake instead of the real thing. Just because you are in a trout park doesn’t mean you have to use glow balls, perhaps you could try again with some dries or nymphs, maybe a wooly booger, the phrase when in Rome does not always apply. Thanks for all the replys.
A bum-legged old man and a drunk. That’s all you got?
That’s WHAT I got.
Hi Zimrx. Was at Bennett last weekend and the water seems quite fishable now w/nice flow and good color. Most likely, there will be a bit of a crowd this coming weekend but the cold will thin it out. If you can handle the cold (forcast in the 40s), might catch a few. By the way, this past weekend, very few were caught, including the “glow ball crowd”.
Jayhawk,
I checked a couple of other sites for you to find out what was successful last week end. BH Pheasant Tails, #24 cream cdc midges in the film, copper johns, dark mohair leech patterns, woolybuggers, brassies, and crawdad patterns.
These are hatchery raised trout. However, once in the stream they seem to adapt quickly.
I’ve always had great luck with Al Troth’s caddis, Griffith’s gnats and, in the summer months,small black ants, and hopper patterns.
I’m a little spoiled because my days off are Tuesday and Wednesday and the best months are definitely March through May and September and October.
If you haven’t been down in the winter, think small—at least for me—people will be fishing dries from 18s to 26s, when the water is clear.
During the high water in early December we caught smallmouth in the park on Clouser minnows.
Finally, I’m always confused by Missouri and Kansas anglers complaining about the park. I fish in the Niangua, more often than at Bennett, but I have never witnessed people being held hostage and forced to fish in the park.
I taught both of my kids to fly fish at Bennett. It holds a lot of great memories for me.
The Niangua River offers a dozen or so spots that you have access to without the crowds. Most of them within a 10 minute drive from the park. I’ve caught rainbows and browns in the river, along with smallmouth, largemouth bass, goggle eye and all manner of sun fish.
signed,
Missourian (nope, not a Tiger–but I am married to one)
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider
McManus, Where at on the Niangua? I know the spring runs into it at the end of Zone 3, we have never gone fishing on it though, have heard good things and we might trapse up there this weekend. Which parts are good, and how do you get there. I am very familiar with the park, as one of my earlier posts its where we went with my grandfather when I was little, he doesn’t go often, but every year we try to get him down there. Thanks for the report and I will be looking forward to this weekend.
Drew
A bum-legged old man and a drunk. That’s all you got?
That’s WHAT I got.
Thanks for the tips on winter flies at Bennett. I just need to make a winter run down there and try it without the crowds. Last trip to the Niangua, I had a very fun day. A buddy and I camped and did a float last July, stopping to fish the riffles and really enjoyed it. Other other 2 buds went to the park instead and had fun with their spin rods and crickhoppers. Plus ,we had trout for dinner. The next day, we went to Bennett (Sat) and after 2 hours swore that I’d never come back. Probably just need to try it without the crowds. Thanks again. -Jeff
Coming down from KC watch for Barclay Access on the left. This is MO Dept of Conservation access. For a couple of bucks you can also fish at Maggards Corkery and NRO. Then as you cross the Niangua there is good fishing just off the road to your left in the public access there. Immediately after you cross the bridge you can make a left and go to HOHUM RV park, and fish there. If you go into the park and then drive to the lodge, go up the hill. On the right you’ll see a road that is marked Moon Valley. There you’ll find more smallmouth than trout. That oughta get you started.
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider
I should read before I post. When I said “if you go into the park” I meant Bennett Spring and the Lodge there behind the concessionaire.
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider
Thanks alot, what do you suggest for the smallmouth, thats actually what I heard was good on the Niangua, supposedly pretty fun. Will you be down there this weekend? Again thanks.
Drew
For smallmouth I like black or olive woolybuggers or Mike Kruse mohair leech patterns.
Clouser minnows really do work outside of Pennsylvania, and are always fun.
I think you’ll find smallmouth and goggle eye below the Whistle Bridge right in Bennett Spring State Park. (try the Suzy Hole)
If you have a trout stamp you don’t need any tag to fish in the park during the winter. (I think this is the last open week end inside the trout parks until opening day on March 1)
Good luck and let me know how you do.
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider
Just looked at the weather for this week down on the Niangua and at Bennett.
Friday, clear and highs in the 50s
Sat. a few showers and in the 50s
Sun. showers and in the 50s
Take the rain gear and go for it.
Let us hear about your adventure!
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider
Thanks for the weather forcast, should be cold enough to keep the crowd small (hopefully). Thanks again for the tips on the Niangua, looking forward to trying to catch some smallmouth, as well as trout. I am going to take a camera, and hopefully I will have some pics!
Drew
A bum-legged old man and a drunk. That’s all you got?
That’s WHAT I got.
I, too, learned to trout fish in one of Missouri’s State Trout Parks – Roaring River – in the early `60s. They get a lot of bad press (including those ghastly Opening Day pictures), but have much to recommend them. I live in Texas now and fish the Guadalupe, but last May I spent the night in Licking and fished the Current below Montauk. There were lots of bugs coming off both evening and morning and I had a grand time with beadhead cracklebacks, brassie zebras, and Guadalupanas (a big streamer similar to an olive woolly bugger.) To top it off, I ran into a guy from Kansas City, Norm Crisp, who had been our TU chapter speaker in Texas just two weeks earlier. Small world.
AGo fish the Current River below the park. Less crowds and better quality. Fishing for pellet pigs gets old.
zimrx!
The Niangua is closer to those of us in KC—BUT—slipping south off I-44 and running down to Montauk and the Current is GREAT!
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider
How did it go?
Swing hard, in case they throw the ball where you’re swinging. Duke Snider