Fishing Report 7/23/2020
How's Fishing?
Fishing has been great. The stream is low, clear, and beautiful as ever. The stream is stocked daily according to total tags sold the day before. Dry Flies on top in the evening especially Renegades and Pale Evening Duns' have been working well for me with my fly rod. On my spinning rod I have been floating John Deere flies and Peacock jigs under an indicator.
If you are looking to rekindle a new found love for this place after an extensive absence or looking for a new place that will bring back a feeling of home, Bennett Spring State Park is the place. Osage Indian lore refers to Bennett Spring as the "eye of the Sacred One," in this context the "Sacred One," is the Earth. I find this information captivating and believe it conveys how special this place is.
See you on the stream!
Water Conditions
Bennett Spring
July 23, 2020
Gage house level is 2.28 feet
Daily Discharge levels:
All discharge numbers are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was 78.0 in 1934
25th percentile is 110
Current level is 222
Median is 135
Mean is 146
75th percentile is 168
Max was 415 in 2019
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=06923500
Niangua River
July 23, 2020
Gage House reading (water level) is 0.96 feet.
Discharge levels in cubic feet per second:
Minimum was 17.9 in 2012
25th percentile is 43
Median is 71
Today's reading is 141
75th percentile is 122
Mean is 102
record high max was 349 in 2015
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=06923250
What's Working?
From the Fly Case
Griffiths Gnats
Crane Fly
Zebra Midges
Renegades
Rusty Dun
Rusty Spinner
Pale Evening Dun
Light Cahill
Black Caddis
Red Cracklebacks
Olive Cracklebacks
Copper Johns
Prince Nymphs
Wooly Buggers- olive, brown, white, black
Zone 1 or 2
Mopflies- olive, brown, orange, chartreuse, gray
Megaworms-pink and white, red
Bedspread jig
Opossum Hair Roaches~brown, black, white
Olive Roaches
Peacock Jigs
Original Tricolor Glo-balls
John Deere with Yellowtail
John Deere
Cream Delight Fur Bugs
Peach Fur Bugs
Popsicle Glo-Balls
Sherbet Glo-balls
Jimi Hendrix Glo-Balls
Hatchery Pellet with Red Dot Glo-Balls
Egg Glo-Balls
Tricolor Sockeye Glo-Balls
Camo Glo-Balls
Marabou - black and yellow, brown and yellow, gingersnap, black, Shell and white, white, Tequila Sunrise (orange and yellow), Pink Lemonade, salmon and brown, John Deere (Moss and Yellow), Black and White, Olive and Black, Blue and Moss, Chartreuse and Black, olive and yellow, moss, ginger, cerise and black, black and orange
Rooster Tails - Glitter Flame, Copper Glitter Rainbow, Flame Spot, Yellow Firetiger, Brown Trout
Zone 3
Lucky Lady worms- white, orange, black and yellow, Banana, Red and white, yellow, pink, pink and yellow
Green Pumpkin PowerBait
Bumblebee Powerbait
Glitter Pink PowerBait
Hatchery Pellet Powerbait
Salmon Peach PowerBait
Fluoroscent Orange PowerBait
PowerBait Power Eggs Red or White
Meal Worms
Salmon Eggs
Minnows
Worms
Shrimp
Wax Worms
Weather Forecast
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 91.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 93.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Windyville MO
37.72°N 92.92°W (Elev. 1024 ft)
Lunker Club
7/14/2020
Brian Noble from Stanberry, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 3 on doughbait
7/16/2020
Eric Winget from Tucson, AZ 2 3/4 pounds in zone 1 on a black and yellow jig
Mark McGrath from Columbia, MO 2 1/2 pounds in zone 2 on a midge
7/18/2020
Paden Muskoph from Freeburg, IL 2 pounds in zone 2 on a cream mopfly
7/19/2020
Austin Flippin from Jamestown, MO 2 3/8 pounds in zone 3 on Secret Bait
7/20/2020 Selby Hulse from Hannibal, MO 2 pounds in zone 1 on a ginger marabou
Mike Mathis from Moberly, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on a pink brassie
Calendar of Events
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: July 31, Sept. 4, Oct. 2
PROGRAM TIME: 6 P.M. - 9 P.M.
26250 Hwy 64A, Lebanon, MO | (417) 532-4338
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
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.
Quote of the Week
Of course fly-fishing is not proof against craziness. In fact, spending what can easily become serious money and endless time to catch fish you mostly release would by most measures prove craziness.
Author:
James R Babb
Published:
River Music
Thanks for reading,
Devin