Fishing Report 3/3/2020

 

How's Fishing?

Fishing on Opening Day was phenomenal, the best since 2008!  The weather was excellent as opposed to the last Opening Day that fell on a Sunday in 2015; when several inches of snow fell.  The following Missouri delegates and Missouri Department of Conservation personnel on hand at Bennett Spring State Park for Opening Day festivities:  Governor Mike Parson and First Lady, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, Representative Suzie Pollock, Representative Jeff Knight, Senator Sandy Crawford, MDC Commissioner Harrison, MDC Commissioner McHenry, MDC Deputy Director Aaron Jeffries, MDC Southwest Regional Administrator Max Alleger, MDC Fisheries Regional Programs, Supervisor Allen Brandes, and too many DNR folks to mention.

 Jim Smith was the siren ringer for the 2020 Season Opening Day, which I mentioned last week before I actually met this gentleman.  He has been fishing at Bennett Spring since 1950!  I spoke to him at Weaver's Tackle Store and he could not be any nicer.  He spoke passionately about his love of fishing at Bennett Spring. 

 Hatchery Manager, Ben Havens,  Assistant Hatchery Manager, Mike Perry and the amazing Hatchery crew stocked the stream with a total of 8,200 trout for the opener and an additional 50 plus lunkers.  We thank you for all your hardwork! The largest trout caught weighed in at 8 pounds 10 ounces and was caught by Robert Jenkins of Rich Hill, MO.  (See Lunker Club) 

In Memory:  

We would like to pay respect to Bennett Spring traditionalists that passed on in the last year.  Fellow anglers near and far, as well as, Bennett Spring community members alike are included here in the following:

Bill Sargent a true nature lover who is remembered wearing waders flyfishing his heart out at Bennett Spring State Park.  A loving husband, father, and dear friend that is missed very much.

 
Tom Bernard longtime resident of Weaver's Campground. Loving husband, father, and friend.  Always had a story to tell. He is greatly missed.

 
Jackie Dixon long time member of the Bennett Spring Fire Department Auxiliary.  A wonderful, helpful, friendly, all around genuinely great person.  She is greatly missed.  

Forrest Holtkamp angler, friend, storyteller, jokes for days we remember you fondly.  He is greatly missed. Our sympathy to his wife, Marla, family, and friends.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathy to all the families, friends and individuals that were blessed with the presence of these people in their lives.

If there is anyone you would like mentioned. Please call 417-532-4618 or send emails to weavers.fishingtales@gmail.com.  

Water Conditions

Bennett Spring

March 3, 2020

Gage house level is 2.42 feet
Daily Discharge levels:
All discharge numbers are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was 78.6 in 2015
25th percentile is 126
Current level is 254
Median is 173
Mean is 191
75th percentile is 239
Max was 455 in 1975

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=06923500  


Niangua River

March 3, 2020

Gage House reading (water level) is 2.57 feet.
Discharge levels in cubic feet per second:
Minimum was 79.0 in 1996
25th percentile is 81
Median is 232
Today's reading is 460
75th percentile is 484
Mean is 407
record high max was 2110 in 2008

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=06923250  

What's Working?

From the Fly Case

Copper Johns

Red or White San Juan Worms
Wooly Buggers-olive, brown, black
Harvester Midges- olive, red, brown
Olive Cracklebacks
Bennett Blue Cracklebacks
Copper Hot Shots
RGN's-golden olive, brown size 14

Clouser Minnow

Zone 1 or 2

Mopflies- cream, pink, white, orange

Megaworms-pink and white, red, white, orange, pink
Bedspread jig

Chamois Worms
Brown Roaches

Peacock Jigs
Bumblebee mini jigs
John Deere

Angry John Deere
White mini jigs
White thread jigs

Peach Fur Bugs

Jimi Hendrix Glo-Balls
Apricot Supreme with red dot Glo-balls

Egg Glo-Balls
Chartreuse with red dot Glo-balls
Original Tricolor Glo-balls
Easter Egg Glo-balls
Marabou - black and yellow, moss, ginger, gingersnap, red and black, pink, orange and white, Crawdad tricolor-(orange, brown, and green), Old Glory Tricolor (Red, White, and Blue), black and white, black, salmon, Shell and white, Pink Lemonade, 
Rooster Tails - Bumblebee, Strobe Rainbow, Midnight, Copper Tinsel Brown Trout, Metallic Gold Spot, Tinsel Shad, Glitter Black, Skunk



Zone 3

Lucky Lady worms-pink, white, orange and white, mint, red and white, black and yellow, pink 

Bumblebee Powerbait

Glitter White Powerbait

Salmon Peach Powerbait

Cheese Powerbait
Hatchery Pellet Powerbait
Yellow Powerbait
Fluoroscent Orange Powerbait
Marshmallow White Powerbait
Pink Powerbait
Rainbow Powerbait

Grape Nymph Powerbait

Orange Twist Powerbait

Corn Powerbait
Powerbait Power Eggs pink, orange, or white

Orange Peel Power Worms
Minnows
Bentley's Secret Bait Original and Garlic
Worms

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 60. Light and variable wind.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 62.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.

Windyville MO
 37.72°N 92.92°W (Elev. 1024 ft)

Lunker Club

2/23/2020

Kim Roesch from Eureka, MO 2 1/2 pounds in the Niangua River on Orange Powerbait

2/28/2020
Elias Higbee from Conway, MO Estimated 3 1/2 pounds caught and released on a Strobe Rainbow Roostertail in the Niangua River 

2/29/2020

Todd Groshans from Collinsville, IL 3 1/2 pounds in the Niangua River on White Powerbait

Cliff Williams from Sullivan, MO 3 3/4 pounds in the Niangua River on an Orange Peel Power Worm

Brian Beckett from Sullivan, MO 2 1/2 pounds in the Niangua River on an Orange Peel Power Worm

Ryan Eslinger from Arnold, MO 3 pounds in the Niangua River on an orange worm

Kevin Fisher from Fenton, MO 4 pounds in the Niangua River on an orange worm

Zack Gray from St. Louis, MO 2 1/4 pounds in the Niangua River on an orange worm

3/1/2020 Opening Day

Zack Smith from Morrisville, MO 2 3/4 pounds in zone 1 on a ginger marabou

Corey Nolte from Krum, TX 3 pounds in zone 2 on black and yellow marabou

Robert Jenkins from Rich Hill, MO 8 pounds and 10 ounces in zone 3 on white power eggs

Don Erhardt from Chesterfield, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 3 on yellow Powerbait

Cora Wood from Holt Summit, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou

Bill Wood from Holt Summit, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou

John Clemmons from St. Joseph, MO 2 pounds (trout name is Eleanor) in zone 3 on white Powerbait

Jay Stuart from Perry, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 1 on black and yellow marabou

John Greer from Sweet Springs, MO 2 3/4 pounds in zone 2 on a chamois worm

Rider Smith from Lincoln, MO 3 3/4 pounds in zone 2 on black and yellow marabou

Mike Knudson from Lebanon, MO 3 1/2 pounds in zone 3 on corn Powerbait

Bob Knudson from Crocker, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 3 on corn Powerbait

Brian  Reeves from  Lebanon, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a Black Roostertail

Matt Jacobson from Lawrence, KS 2 pounds in zone 3 on a worm

Robert Chaloupka from Huntsville, MO 2 pounds in zone 3 on a minnow

Paul Alan from Holt Summit 2 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow marabou

Brice Helmig from Lebanon, MO 4 pounds in zone 3 on Yellow Powerbait

Todd Henderson from Troy, MO 2 1/2 pounds zone 3 on Rainbow Powerbait

Bobby Phillips from Marshall, MO 3 pounds in zone 3 on Nymph Grape Powerbait

Cayden Phillips from Marshall, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 3 on Nymph Grape Powerbait

Jonathan Phillips from Marshall, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 3 on Nymph Grape Powerbait

Steve Vincent from Overland Park, KS 2 1/2 pounds in zone 2 on a red San Juan worm

Todd Bauer from Peoria, IL 3 1/2 pounds in zone 3 on white Powerbait

Brendon Duvall from St. Louis, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 1 on Larry's black and yellow marabou

Grant Schmitz from Jefferson City, MO 3 pounds in zone 3 on homemade bait

Brian Mcconville Grain Valley, MO 5 5/8 pounds in zone 1 on a shell and white marabou

Cora Silvestre from Lebanon, MO 4 pounds in zone 3 on Yellow Powerbait

Justin Johaningmeyer from St. Louis, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a John Deere jig

Robert Merciel from St. Louis, MO 3 3/4 pounds in zone 2 on a white marabou

Connor Cunningham from Hurricane, West Virginia 3 1/2 pounds in zone 2 on a clouser minnow

Hae Kim from Chesapeake, Virginia 2 1/4 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou from Weaver's

Quinton Phelps from Springfield, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a white mop fly

Randy Horman from Concordia, MO 2 1/8 pounds in zone 1 on a Gold Roostertail

3/2/2020

Bill Hedgpeth from New London, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 2 on black and yellow marabou

Brent Thurman from Louisiana, MO 2 pounds 9 ounces in zone 2 on black and yellow marabou

Mary Burton from Highridge, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 3 on orange Powerbait 

Dennis Pinero from Madison, IL 4 pounds in zone 1 on black and yellow marabou from Weaver's

Matt Turley from Evansville, IN 6 pounds 8 ounces in zone 1 on a peacock jig

Dave Biscari from Kansas City, MO 3 pounds 14 ounces in zone 1 on a jig

 

3/3/2020

Brian Thomas from Osceola, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a Copper John

Lee Creason from Trenton, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a peach megaworm

Randy Affolter from Granite City, IL 2 pounds 8 ounces in zone 2 on a yellow marabou

Ryan Courtney from Savannah, MO 2 1/8 pounds in zone 1 on a white bedspread

Calendar of Events

Friday March 6, 2020

There will be monthly Mayfly Project fly tying nights in the Bennett Spring Church of God Annex, located across from the park office. Supplies and instruction on tying a basic fishing fly will be given. This activity will allow people to enjoy the art of fly tying and learn from experienced Bennett Spring fishermen and women.

All supplies will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own. A $5 donation for the "Fly of the Night" supplies is suggested. Donations will go to provide supplies and support for Kid's Free Fishing Day. Everyone's first six flies will be donated to The Mayfly Project, which mentors foster children through fly fishing.

This event is sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Mayfly Project. More information is available at http://www.themayflyproject.com .

Additional Mayfly Project program dates:

April 17, May 1, June 12, July 10, July 31, Sept. 4, Oct. 2
PROGRAM TIME: 6 P.M. - 9 P.M.
26250 Hwy 64A, Lebanon, MO | (417) 532-4338

Weed Cutting April 7-8

Veterans Fishing Day Saturday April 18, 2020 Bennett Spring State Park~0700-1930

Kids Free Fishing Day Saturday May 2, 2020 Bennett Spring State Park~6:30 A.M.-8:15 P.M.

Weed Cutting May 19-20

Weed Cutting June 23-24

Weed Cutting August 4-5

Weed Cutting September 15-16

For additional information or questions please contact the Nature Center at 417-532-3925.

There is a list at https://mostateparks.com/events/park/bennett-spring-state-park that gives all the details of other activities, such as hikes that are going on at Bennett Spring State Park through out the year.

FISHING HOURS

BEGIN
END

March

6:30 A.M.  CST
6:00 P.M.  CST
7:30 A.M.  CDT
7:00 P.M.  CDT

April

7:00 A.M.
7:30 P.M.

May

6:30 A.M.
8:15 P.M.

June

6:30 A.M.
8:30 P.M.

July

6:30 A.M.
8:30 P.M.

August
7:00 A.M.
8:00 P.M.

September
7:30 A.M.
7:15 P.M.

October
7:30 A.M.
6:30 P.M.
 
Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Quote of the Week

Good fishermen know that in talking about fishing, nothing is more interesting than the truth.

Author:

Arthur Ransome

Published:

Rod and Line 1980

Thanks for reading,
Devin