Trout Fishing Report for Bennett Spring, Missouri

How's Fishing?
It's been our most typical week of this Missouri summer - hot and humid. The fish have been primarily deep but have made the occasional evening appearance on the top water. The most popular fly right now has been a renegade, but small. A 16 or 18 is what is recommended.
Cracklebacks and small woolies fished sub-surface have been a good choice. Scuds in grey, olive or tan have also been working well. And as a last minute addition....olive. A trusted fisher friend has just told me that an olive thread jig (or anything olive) is killer today.

Of Interest
There is a fly tying group that is meeting once a week at the old Bennett Hatchery. They meet every Wednesday morning from 9 to 11 to tie flies, talk about fishing and enjoy each other's company. You don't need to tie flies to join or even know how to tie, You are free to join just for the camaraderie . If you would like to work on your projects there, bring your vice and materials. The person to contact for more information about this is John Walther. His phone is 573-680-2286.

Water Condition
Bennett Spring water levels for 8-10-21
Gage House water level is 2.28
Daily Discharge levels:
All discharge numbers are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was 80 in 1936
25th percentile is 102
Current level is 241
Median is 130
Mean is 148
75th percentile is 166
Max was 624 in 2013

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=06923500

Niangua River water levels for 8-10-21

Gage House reading (water level) is 1.12 feet
Discharge levels in cubic feet per second:
Minimum was 16.8 in 2012
25th percentile is 35
Median is 66
Today's reading is 124
75th percentile is 115
Mean is 286
record high max was 401 in 2013

Lunker Club
8-6-21
Don Henrichs from St Rose, IL
2-1/4 pounds on brown marabou
zone 2

John Pesek from Crestwood, MO
2 pounds one ounce on a #16 renegade
in zone 2

Lori Sylverster from Camdenton, MO
2.25 pounds on a salmon egg
zone 3

Steve Vincent from Belton, MO
2 pounds on a peach mega worm
zone 2

Jordan Mueller from Roanoke, IL
2 pounds on a white mega worm
zone 1

8-7-21
Bruce Turley from Ferrel View
2-3/10 pounds on a yellow and black marabou
zone 1

Sheila Savka from St. Louis, MO
2-1/4 pounds on a black & gold marabou, gold head
zone 2

8-9-21
Dan Scrivener from Urbana, MO
2 pounds on an orange thread jig
zone2

8-10-21
Robert Shreve from St. Joseph, MO
2-1/8 pounds on dough bait
zone 3

What's Working?

From the Fly Case
black crackleback
bennett blue crackleback
grey, olive or or tan scud
renegades

Zone 1 & 2
marabou - gingersnap or brown marabou
mop fly, white or white with peach ruff
white floss jig
john deere mini jig
olive floss jig

Zone 3
live worms
orange, or marshmallow power bait
orange peel power bait worms


CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Bennett Tradition quilting
In commemoration of the Missouri bicentennial, Bennett Spring State Park will host a monthly program entitled Bennett Traditions. Each program will include a 20-minute presentation about a natural and/or historic topic that pertains to the area. The presentation will be followed by a 20-minute lesson from Karen Jaegers about quilting that relates back to the presentation topic. The event will conclude with a short question-and-answer session led by June Buckles of Buckles, Bobbins and Bolts quilt shop.
Dates, presentation topics, quilt block designs and quilting techniques are as follows:
Aug. 26 - Snakes; snake block; batting choices and the process.
Sept. 23 - Birds; flying geese block; choosing techniques (primitive vs. machine).
Oct. 28 - Trees; maple leaf block; binding techniques.
Registration is required and limited to 10 people. Each program will be recorded and posted online at a future date. To register or for more information, contact the Bennett Spring nature center at 417-532-3925.
PROGRAM TIME: 11 A.M.

HOW TO BUILD A FLY ROD
8/13/2021 TO 8/14/2021 | BENNETT SPRING STATE PARK | LEBANON, MO
Instructor Danny Goldsmith will teach students how to construct a fly rod during this two-night class held at the nature center. Whether you have never made a rod before or are looking for new tricks of the trade, this class is for you. Participants must provide their own fly rod kit, which can be purchased online or through a local fishing shop.
Participation is limited to 10 individuals. Call 417-532-3925 to register.
PROGRAM TIMES: 6 P.M. - 9 P.M.

Aug. 21 - Songbirds
Bennett Spring State Park will be hosting monthly birding activities geared toward youth but open to all ages. Each month will highlight a different species or category of bird. Programs will start at 10 a.m. with a hike to see the birds' preferred habitat and to try to locate the featured species. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be a related activity designed in a come-and-go format at the nature center.
. For more information, call 417-532-3925.
PROGRAM TIMES: 10 A.M. - 2 P.M.
Nature Center | 417-532-4338

THIRD ANNUAL AND MISSOURI BICENTENNIAL PICKING UP PAWPAWS CONTEST
9/15/2021 TO 9/25/2021 | BENNETT SPRING STATE PARK | LEBANON, MO
The pawpaw is our largest edible fruit. It can grow up to 6 inches long and is often compared to a banana with mango flavor. The fruit can be eaten raw or baked. Lewis and Clark were known to eat them on their expedition in 1806, Native Americans wove the inner bark into fibers for cloth, and pioneers used the inner bark for stringing fish. The pawpaw is also Missouri's state fruit tree.
Can you find the biggest pawpaw? Help celebrate this edible part of Missouri's history from Sept. 15 through Sept. 25. We invite you to search your own private pawpaw patch to find the biggest pawpaw you can. Bring it to the nature center at Bennett Spring State Park on the dates and times below to be officially entered into the contest. Peak ripening is in September.
Pawpaws will be weighed at the nature center Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pickers will provide their name and phone number along with the county in Missouri where the pawpaw was harvested. A photo will be taken of each picker with his or her pawpaw.
CONTEST DATES: SEPT. 15-25
WEIGH-IN TIMES: WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M.

September 25, 2021 Ladies Free Fishing at Bennett Spring State Park
7:30 AM - 7:15 PM

Holland Derby
The annual Holland Derby. Fishing derby for fundraising for The American Cancer Society. Derby runs two days - 9th and 10th. Tagged trout are released, they will win prizes if caught.
When: Saturday, October 9, 2021
Time: 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM
For additional information, please call 417-532-4418 or 417-532-7612.

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 throughout the year.

Events for 2022 - save the date.
April 23, 2022~ Veteran's Free Fishing Day

FISHING HOURS

BEGIN
END
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
“Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it.”
Harry Middleton

Thanks for reading

Lucy