April 15, 2019

How's Fishing?

Fishing is good. Our springtime weather is agreeable for the most part. On Sunday we had snow in the morning and sun in the afternoon. The stream has a slight stain, but is returning to its beautiful Bennett blue. The Pale Evening Dun and Mayfly are productive patterns in the late afternoon and evening for top water action. The John Deere fly on a fly rod or spin casting rod under a float about two to two and a half feet from the lure has been the favorite this week in zones one and two. Zone three had quite a bit of luck with Salmon Peach Powerbait (orange). When I was taking pictures for the fishing report there were four people with fish on at the same time at the Whistle Bridge! 

Of Interest:

The 2019 Trout Fishing Season is upon us and the weather is finally starting to cooperate. I’m sure the off color water and windy conditions had some influence on our lower tag sales this past month. We were down a bit for the month, but we were given two great weekends of warmth and sunshine, a big improvement over the cold and quiet of opening week.

The hatchery fish production is on schedule with many nice fish waiting for stocking. The three rises we had this month didn’t help fishermen much but the extra flow has been welcome for fish production. All outside fish groups are staged and ready for 2019 season. Staff have been working over the last month sweeping and grading pools. The hatchery building moved additional groups of fish outside this month to make way for spring egg arrival. We currently have around 650,000 fish outside and another 500,000 fry in the building. It was a windy month, but spring is right around the corner!



This past month we stocked nearly 36,000 trout into the park and 900 fish into Niangua River Trout Area. These fish averaged 12.96” in length.

Ben Havens
Fish Hatchery Manager
Bennett Spring State Fish Hatchery
417-532-4418 x1062

Water Conditions

Bennett Spring
April 14, 2019
Gage house level is 2.24 feet
Daily Discharge levels:
All discharge numbers are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was 87.0 in 1936
25th percentile is 130
Current level is 219
Median is 217
Mean is 239
75th percentile is 300
Max was 666 in 1994



Niangua River
April 14, 2019
Gage House reading (water level) is 1.82 feet.
Discharge levels in cubic feet per second:
Minimum was 107 in 2014
25th percentile is 190
Median is 268
Today's reading is 212
75th percentile is 743
Mean is 623
record high max was 3260 in 2007

What's Working?

From the Fly Case

Bennett Blue Cracklebacks
Red Cracklebacks
Olive Griffiths' Gnats
Pale Evening Dun
Renegades
Olive or Brown in Size #14 RGN's 
Rusty Spinner
Black Zebra Midges
Mayflies



Zone 1 or 2

Chartreuse, Orange, Mopflies
Peacock mini jigs
White and red mini jigs
White mini jigs
John Deere
White megaworms
Tricolor glo-balls
Pink glo-balls
Jimi Hendrix glo-balls
Marabou - black and yellow, gingersnap, ginger, white, John Deere, salmon 
Rooster Tails - Bumblebee, Skunk, Yellow Spot, Pink, Mustard, Mayfly


Zone 3

Orange Powerbait
Chunky Cheese Trout Nuggets 
Bubblegum Powerbait Worms
White Glitter Powerbait
Cheese Power
Lucky Lady white or pink and white worms
Salmon Peach Powerbait

Fishing Times

Weather Forecast

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. 


Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.


Thursday: A chance of showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.


Friday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.


Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69.





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

Lunker Club

4/8/2019

Bill Thompson from Culpeper, VA 2 1/4 pounds in zone 2 on a chartreuse mopfly



4/10/2019
Harrison Tucker from Bridgeton, MO 2 pounds in zone 3 on homemade bait

Raymond Bloomer from Holts Summit, MO 2 3/4 pounds in zone 2 on a white mopfly



4/11/2019
Dale Yajewski from Eudera, KS 2 1/4 pounds in zone 2 on a John Deere



4/12/2019

Kevin Smith from Warrenton, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 2 on a pink glo-ball



4/13/2019

Sarah Flynn from St. Louis, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zonw 1 on a white marabou

Travis Toelke from Springfield, MO 2 pounds in zone 3 on a white worm

Jason St. Gemme from St. Charles, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow marabou

Calendar of Events

Veterans' Free Fishing Day - April 27, 2019


Kids' Free Fishing Day - May 4, 2019

The Mayfly Project Fly Tying Night at the Bennett Spring Church of God Annex Building -www.TheMayFlyProject.com . May 10, 2019 6-8 P.M. 


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 though out the year.



Explorer Camp at Bennett. Good news is the organization, “Gals Go Fish!” have donated backpacks and journals for the kids. Students sign up through Lebanon Mo Summer School. Students do not have to be a Lebanon school district resident.


We will be doing group builders, art, fly tying and more! Details of some activities are below:



Monday, June 3

Fishing in morning

World Bird Sanctuary will have an Eagle Program at 11 am

Youth will visit the recycling program in Lebanon at 2 pm



Tuesday, June 4

Fishing in the morning

Stream Team Activities



Wednesday, June 5

Fishing in the morning

Cross Fit/Yoga



Thursday, June 6

Fishing in the morning

Outdoor Awareness

Snakes – 10 am

Learn to Camp

Survival Skills – 1 pm Karate



Friday, June 7

Fishing in the morning

Learn to Clean a Fish

Dutch Oven Cooking



Monday, June 10

Fishing in the morning

Archery

Glade Restoration – Hike



Tuesday, June 11

Fishing in the morning

Celtic Music & Story Teller - 10 am

Park Ranger Hug A Tree – 1 pm



Wednesday, June 12

Kayaking and Trails at Ha Ha Tonka State Park



Thursday, June 13

Fishing in the morning

Compass Reading/Geo Cashing

Map Reading



Friday, June 14

Hike to the Natural Tunnel 

Quote of the Week

There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home.

Author:

Roderick Haig-Brown





Thanks for reading,

Devin