Fishing Report 5/6/2019
How's Fishing?
Fishing has been a challenge, but not impossible due to the stream conditions after the substantial rainfall we received. Additional weight, color variances, and modifications in technique, as well as, adjustments to your reeling/stripping, drifting, and the area you choose to fish is a large determining factor on how productive you are catching trout on the stream. The stream is muddy, moving fast, and visibility for you and the trout is limited, which can be a hindrance or advantage. This is usually dependent on your patience and how tempestuous your relationship has been with the trout during your visit.
The trout are stressed from the change in their environment, which changes their feeding habits. We also take into consideration a lot of "food" got stirred up from the banks and the stream bed, which would make them less likely to eat artificial offerings from anglers. All the particulates in the stream with the trout would be comparable to smog in the air for us. These are just a few of the many interesting facets to trout fishing at Bennett Spring State Park with the stream in its current state.
We were lucky enough to share some of these factoids over this past week and weekend with the up and coming generations of anglers. Kids Free Fishing Day took place on Saturday May 4, 2019. Kids 15 and under fished for free. A special kids area cordoned off in zone 2 for the event was filled with child anglers 15 and under. 540 tags were handed out to kids with approximately 130-150 tags to the Boy Scouts of America. Thanks to all the vendors in and around Bennett Spring State Park for a fun weekend! A special thanks to Ben Havens, Hatchery Manager and his amazing staff for keeping the trout safe and stocked we commend your efforts!
Water Conditions
Bennett Spring
May 5, 2019
Gage house level is 3.01 feet
Daily Discharge levels:
All discharge numbers are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was 83.0 in 1934
25th percentile is 145
Current level is 483
Median is 199
Mean is 254
75th percentile is 309
Max was 831 in 2017
Niangua River
May 5, 2019
Gage House reading (water level) is 3.73 feet.
Discharge levels in cubic feet per second:
Minimum was 91.7 in 2015
25th percentile is 165
Median is 287
Today's reading is 859
75th percentile is 863
Mean is 570
record high max was 2020 in 2017
What's Working?
From the Fly Case
Red Zebra Midges
Bennett Blue Cracklebacks with or without bead head
Gold Cracklebacks
Green Cracklebacks
Rusty Spinner
Copper Hot Shots
Renegades
Ginger or Olive Weighted Woolies
Copper Johns
Zone 1 or 2
White Megaworms
Red and White Megaworms
black and yellow mini jigs
Leech Yarn Jigs
John Deere
John Deere with yellow tails
Angry John Deere
Tricolor glo-balls
Egg glo-balls
Chartreuse with black dot glo-balls
Chartreuse glo-balls
Jimi Hendrix glo-balls
Marabou - black, black and yellow, gingersnap, Crawdad tricolor-(orange, brown, and green), chartreuse, chartreuse and black, salmon and brown
Rooster Tails - Bumblebee, Metallic Gold Spot, Tinsel Leech, Skunk, Cop Car, Yellow Black Tiger
Zone 3
Pink Glitter Powerbait
White Glitter Powerbait
Cheese Powerbait
Salmon Peach with or without glitter Powerbait
Bentley's Secret Bait with or without garlic
Worms
Minnows
Salmon Eggs
Fishing Times
BEGIN
END
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: A chance of showers before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 68.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Windyville MO
37.72°N 92.92°W (Elev. 1024 ft)
Lunker Club
4/30/2019
Steve Curran from Ozawkie, KS 2 pounds in zone 1 on a white mini jig
5/2/2019
Trevor Gathe from Vandalia, IL 5 pounds in zone 1 on an egg colored glo-ball
5/3/2019
Steve Evenson from Chanute, KS 2 pounds 5 ounces in zone 1 on a homemade jig
Thomas Sitze from East Alton, IL 2 1/4 pounds in zone 1 on a white jig
5/4/2019
Holland Hughes from Columbia, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a red and white megaworm
Brad Ream from Unionville, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow roostertail
5/5/2019
Tom Dobson from St. Louis, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 1 on a cream mopfly
Calendar of Events
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.
Missouri Trout Fishermen's Association~Tagged Trout Derby at Bennett Spring State Park~ May 18 and 19 2019~Registration starts Friday May 17th at 7:15 P.M. Derby Rules will be available at registration.
Weed Cutting-May 22-23
Bennett Spring State Park offers Photo Walk
May 18
Join professional photographer and naturalist, Al Griffin, as he leads a two-hour class that combines hiking and photography at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 18. Participants will meet at the Bennett Spring State Park nature center to learn tips on how to capture great photos and make the best use of those accidental encounters with birds and wildlife. Noticing wildlife and changes in the environment helps us to be better stewards of the land.
Participants are encouraged to bring a camera or cell phone camera, dress appropriate for outdoor weather and wear comfortable shoes. The principles of photography will be practiced and applied to all cameras equally. Participants will learn that success in photography does not depend upon equipment as much as technique.
Al Griffin is a professional who does commercial and fine-art photography. Griffin’s commercial work has been published in various magazines, and his fine art images have been exhibited in New York City and Paris. Griffin is a faithful Bennett Spring State Park volunteer and a member of the Missouri Master Naturalist Program.
Bennett Spring State Park is located at 26250 Highway 64A in Lebanon. For more information about the event, call the nature center at 417-532-3925 or fish hatchery staff at 417-532-4418.
For more information about Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites, visit the web at mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
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 Caching
Map Reading
Friday, June 14
Hike to the Natural Tunnel
~Quote of the Week~
Thanks for reading,
Devin