How's Fishing?
Fishing is what you make it. (Fishing happens to be great right now!) We meet people everyday that are just starting their personal fly fishing journey. Everyone was a beginner at one point in time. I personally like to share tips and tricks to make their experience go a little smoother. The patience and perseverance needed to catch trout at Bennett Spring State Park or anywhere you travel is paramount in your success. Everyone has been "skunked" at least once or twice on the stream. Not everyone owns up to this fact, but we all know a day on the water is better than a day at work. It is called fishing not catching for a reason. (ha ha)
Of Interest:
The water clarity is returning to its beautiful Bennett blue appearance. The trout are currently less active on top water, which is not surprising due to the cool temperatures we are experiencing. The upcoming weekend forecast shows temperatures in the 70's. This could be a good indicator of Blue Winged Olive Emerger and Dry hatch happening. According to the hatch chart that can be found at the following website:
https://www.flyfishersatthecrossing.org/education/bug-info/missouri-hatch-chart/ this particular hatch occurs from mid March to mid April, which is dependent on the weather. Early afternoon is a great time to try this pattern, since the hatch occurs during this timeframe.
Water Conditions
Bennett Spring
March 31, 2019
Gage house level is 2.57 feet
Daily Discharge levels:
All discharge numbers are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was 84.0 in 1936
25th percentile is 146
Current level is 318
Median is 201
Mean is 262
75th percentile is 311
Max was 1000 in 1973
Niangua River
March 31, 2019
Gage House reading (water level) is 3.21 feet.
Discharge levels in cubic feet per second:
Minimum was 118 in 2016
25th percentile is 176
Median is 420
Today's reading is 609
75th percentile is 625
Mean is 558
record high max was 2590 in 2008
What's Working?
From the Fly Case
Griffiths' Gnats
Pale Evening Dun
Red Zebra Midges
Red San Juan Worms
Yellow Elk Hair Caddis Emerger
Zone 1 or 2
Brown Mopflies
white mini jigs
John Deere
white megaworms
apricot supreme red dot glo-balls
light roe red dot glo-balls
Jimi Hendrix glo-balls
marabou - black and yellow, gingersnap, ginger, white, chartreuse, black and olive, shell (peach), pink and white, salmon
Rooster Tails - Bumblebee, Tinsel Leech, Yellow Fire Tiger
Zone 3
Bubblegum Mousetails
White Glitter Powerbait
Chunky Cheese Trout Nuggets or Powerbait
Cheese Powerbait
Bubblegum Powerbait Worms
Rainbow Powerbait
Pink Lemonade Powerbait
Salmon Peach Powerbait
Fishing Times
BEGIN
END
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.
Weather Forecast
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 64. West wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Thursday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 63.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Windyville MO
37.72°N 92.92°W (Elev. 1024 ft)
Lunker Club
3/26/2019
Virginia Alderson from Bowling Green, MO 3 pounds in zone 3 on cheese powerbait
3/29/2019
Jason Holdmeyer from Lake St. Louis, MO 3 pounds in zone 2 on a black and yellow marabou
Tina Gabbert St. Louis, MO 5 1/2 pounds in zone 3 on white glitter powerbait
3/30/2019
Gary Alexander from Hallsville, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 1 on black and yellow marabou
3/31/2019
Wyatt Cox from Butler, MO 4 pounds in zone 1 on olive and black marabou
Calendar of Events
The Mayfly Project Fly Tying Night at the Bennett Spring Church of God Annex Building - www.TheMayFlyProject.com
April 5, 2019 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 State Park thoughout the year.
Quote of the Week
During my addled career as a trout fisherman I have gone on a lot of wild-goose chases, and I ruefully expect to go on a lot more before I hang up my waders
Author:
John Voelker (Supreme Court Judge) aka Robert Travers
Published:
Trout Madness
Thanks for reading,
Devin