How's Fishing?
Opening weekend was a great success! Kay Crabtree and Ed Elersic sounded the Opening Day whistle for 2019. Governor Mike Parson and a handful of dignitaries from Missouri were in attendance for the 95th Annual Opening Day of trout season at Bennett Spring State Park. The recorded account can be viewed on the Weaver's Tackle Store Facebook page thanks to Eric Kirchberg.
Hatchery Manager, Ben Havens reported approximately 10,500 trout were stocked over this past weekend with 3065 tags sold, which equates to 3.43 trout per tag sold. 100 lunkers were stocked as well. The stream is in good condition for this time of year. The water is clearing up from the recent rainfall and snow melt.
We would like to send our sincere condolences to the Peace family. Larry Peace of Larry's Cedar Resort passing is a great loss to the Bennett Spring community.
Water Conditions
Bennett Spring
March 3, 2019
Gage house level is 2.26
Daily Discharge levels:
All discharge numbers are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was 78.6 in 2015
25th percentile is 125
Current level is 224
Median is 172
Mean is 191
75th percentile is 242
Max was 455 in 1975
Niangua River
March 3, 2019
Gage House reading (water level) is 2.57 feet.
Discharge levels in cubic feet per second:
Minimum was 44.0 in 1996
25th percentile is 148
Median is 292
Today's reading is 725
75th percentile is 521
Mean is 362
record high max was 1060 in 2018
What's Working?
From the Fly Case
RGN's-size 14 golden olive or dark brown
Blue Wing Olive
Pale Evening Dun
Black Caddis
Black zebra midge
Copper John
Zone 1 or 2
white mini jigs
peach fur bugs
black and yellow woolies
John Deere
white megaworms
cream with brown collar mopflies
Easter Egg glo-balls
Jimi Hendrix glo-balls
marabous- black and yellow, gingersnap, ginger, white, brown, peach and white, and pink and white, tricolor (crawdad), peach, black, and white
Rooster Tails - Bumblebee, Tinsel Rainbow Fry, Brown Trout, Yellow Coachdog, Brown
Vibric Rooster Tails- black and yellow
super dupers
Zone 3
cheese powerbait
garlic powerbait
white powerbait
orange powerbait
salmon peach powerbait
sherbert powerbait
salmon eggs
white Lucky Lady worms
homemade bait
minnows
Fishing Times
March 6:30 a.m. (7:30 Daylight Savings Time ) -6:00 pm (7:00 Daylight Savings time)
April 7:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
May 6:30 a.m. - 8:15 p.m.
June/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.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 29. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 38.
Thursday: A chance of snow before 9am, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50.
Saturday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 57.
Windyville MO
37.72°N 92.92°W (Elev. 1024 ft)
Lunker Club
2/28/2019
Todd Groshans from Collinsville, MO 2 pounds in the Niangua River on white powerbait
3/1/2019
Cliff Williams from Sullivan, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 2 on a super duper
Brian Beckett from Sullivan, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a yellow coach dog roostertail
Christian Wattenbarger from Brookfield, MO 3 pounds in zone 3 on white powerbait
Scott Duncan from Kansas City, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou
Scott Duncan from Kansas City, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou
Ron Mueller from Cedar Hill, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 1 on black and yellow marabou
Wyatt Gregory, age 8 from Columbia, MO caught his first fish 2 1/4 pounds in zone 1 on a rainbow roostertail
Spencer Kendall from Arnold, MO 2 1/8 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow marabou
Phil Skillings from Springfield, MO 3 1/4 pounds in zone 1 on an 1/8oz brown roostertail
Drew Call from Russellville, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou
Todd Groshans from Collinsville, MO 2 pounds in zone 3 on white powerbait
Chance Campbell from Pleasant Hill, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow marabou
Chance Campbell from Pleasant Hill, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow marabou
Chris Waterman from Lebanon, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a Vibric black and yellow
Tina Jarvis from Park Hills, MO 3 1/2 pounds in zone 1 on a mopfly
Gil Kauffmann from House Springs, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a peach fur ball
Justine Schroeder from Marshall, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou
John Maybrier from Lebanon, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou
Charlie Baker from Kansas City, MO 2 1/4 pound brown in zone 3 on homemade bait
Chase Forck from Jefferson City, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 3 on homemade bait
Tim Barnett from O'Fallon, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a white mini jig
Chip Lemons from DeSoto, MO 3 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow marabou
Cora Wood from Holt Summit, MO 2 3/4 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou
George Tiffany from Florissant, MO 2 3/4 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow wooly
Brad Crain from Fairgrove, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 3 on a minnow
Duane Crawford from St. Charles, MO 2 3/4 pounds in zone 1 on a megaworm
Duane Crawford from St. Charles, MO 3 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow marabou
Mike Redd from Hermitage, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow marabout
Chris Kindel from St. Charles, MO 2 1/8 pounds in zone 1 on a white thread jig
Bryce Gallitan from Columbia, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a Jimi Hendrix glo-ball
Tim Buckler from Columbia, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a Jimi Hendrix Glo-ball
Tim Buckler from Columbia, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a Jimi Hendrix Glo-ball
Joe Sevy from Harrisonville, MO 3.2 pounds in zone 2 on a peach marabou
3/2/2019
Brian Lindsey from Mascoutah, IL 2 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow marabou
Eric Meyer from New Haven, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a white marabou
Brian Worthington from Curryville, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 3 on live bait
Buddy Barnes from Edwardsville, IL 3 3/4 pounds in zone 2 on a black jig
Rose Frohwitter from Arnold, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a pink and white marabou
Rex Thomas from Osceola, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a Copper John
Calendar of Events
The Mayfly Project Fly Tying Night at the Bennett Spring Hatchery Visitor Room-www.TheMayFlyProject.com March 8, 2019 from 6-8 P.M.
Weed Cutting- April 10-11
Veterans' Free Fishing Day - April 27, 2019
Kids' Free Fishing Day - May 4, 2019
Weed Cutting-May 22-23
State of Missouri Statewide Free Fishing Days--- June 8th and 9th
Weed Cutting- June 26-27
Weed Cutting- August 7-8
Weed Cutting September 18-19
Women's Free Fishing Day - September 28, 2019
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 Park though out the year.
Quote of the Week
Show me a man who fishes in winter, and I'll show you a fanatic. Actually, I'll get the better of the deal, because for sheer spectacle a fanatic doesn't hold a candle to a man who fishes in winter
Author:
Patrick McManus
Published:
They Shoot Canoes, Don't They
Thanks for Reading,
Devin