Located 500 yards east of Missouri's Bennett Spring State Park

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Fishing report for Bennett Spring State Park, brought to you by Weaver's Tackle Store

 
 
 
 
Sunday,
June 28, 2009
 
 
 
 
 
Sunday summer evening greetings from Bennett Spring, where things have been sizzling (a reference to temperatures, humidity and trout fishing), and where a typical summer to-do list reads:  Eat.  Sleep.  Fish.
 
Our report is updated every week, is brought to you in living color, and -- according to our readers -- contains news and information you can rely on.
 
 
We welcome all readers near and far, old and new, and appreciate all the kind things you say about our report.  "It helps a lot," one fan said, "not just when I can be here but when I can't."  Another angler said, "Your report is a good remedy for those of us sitting depressed in a cubicle, dreaming."  Thank y'all.  Thank you very much.
 
You're invited now to kick back and enjoy the view from our little corner of the Ozarks.  Thanks for stopping by. 
 
 
 
 
 
Reminders
 
 
 
 
.  June fishing hours:  6:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
 
~
 
 
.  Next weekend is the 4th of July holiday, and the Bennett Spring Fire Protection District Auxiliary will host an ice cream social on Saturday, July 4, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Fire Station on Highway 64.
 
They'll have ice cream and toppings, plus homemade cakes and pies (Bennett Spring-area cooks are talented!).  Cost is a donation to the fire department and includes all the above plus coffee, iced tea or lemonade.   
 
~
 
 
MacCreed's Art Gallery will sponsor a benefit for Lebanon's New Life House project on Saturday, July 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the
gallery & gift shop on Highway 64 just east of Reading's Fly Shop.
 
There'll be a silent auction and music provided by a Southern gospel band.  And don't forget to check out all the Bennett Spring and trout-related art, photography and gift items at MacCreed's while you're there.  A visit to MacCreed's is a real treat!
 
FFI:  Call Sandy at 417-588-7993.
 
 
 
 
 
Stream
Conditions
 
 
 
 
 
 
This past week we had an inch of rain late Tuesday and another 1/3 of an inch last night.  Moss cutting took place, as scheduled, on June 23.
 
Current stream status:
 
 
Level:  Up about 3" or 4"
 
Color:  Clearing and improving
daily but still a little cloudy-green
 
Flow:  Healthy
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weather
 
 
 
 
 
 
Blazing heat and soup-thick humidity have plagued the Ozarks all week long (hence the reason for the "foggy" picture above and others scattered throughout the report).
 
A cold front passed through last night, though, and temperatures and dew points are much more tolerable today and are supposed to stay that way for a while.
 
Future cast for the upcoming week calls for mostly sunny skies and daytime highs in the upper 80s.  Overnight lows will be great for sleeping, in the 60s.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Who's Been
Fishing?
 
 
 
 
 
Families, families, and more families all week long.  Families on vacation.  Families attending reunions.  Families celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.  Families trying trout fishing for the first time.  Families -- second, third and, this week, noticeably, even fourth generation -- with adults reminiscing about a Bennett Spring summer vacation when they, themselves, were children.
 
Darin Waters, who lives near Springfield, IL, dropped by on Friday with a just-snapped picture (shown above) of himself and his almost-90-days-old son, Henry.  Henry's the 4th generation of the Waters family.  Henry's grandpa, Nyle, is a "frequent flyer" at Bennett Spring, and soon, Henry will be continuing the tradition started many years ago by his great-grandfather, Byron Waters. 
 
 
"Our family's been fishing here for over 50 years," mused a lady from north Missouri at the beginning of the week.  She was tackle shopping with her grandson and said her 90-year-old dad -- who was in the stream fishing at that time -- would be by to see us, too.
 
A father and his young son were in, and Dad told us, "When I was his age, my dad used to bring us fishing," and he added, "but I wasn't as good at it as my son is!"  Several other adults we talked to this week also remembered a trip to Bennett Spring as being part of their childhood summers.
 
Todd Artz of St. Louis e-mailed this week with a family reminiscence and a look to the future:  "My grandfather and dad started coming to Bennett in the late 50s, and in a few years my son and the next generation will make the trip.  It's a special place for all the guys in our family."
 
 
Along with all those unforgettable Bennett Spring memories being talked over, a great many "firsts" were taking place this week, too, like the first time ever to:  Fish for or catch a trout.  Fish in fog so thick, "I couldn't see what I was doing."   Use a fly rod.  Not use a fly rod (because the person or persons decided more fish could be caught on a spinning rod due to the fast current).  Fall in the water. Fish in "this fine state park" (as one guy expressed it).   Leave home without the fishing gear.  Be outfished by a child!
 
We heard stories about each one of the above "rites of passage" at least once, but in most instances, several times throughout the week.
 
 
It was fairly crowded all week long, peaking on Thursday, and with a number of folks exiting the stage by Friday morning.  However, by Friday afternoon, a good-sized company of new "performers" arrived to make their casting calls.
 
Some of the weekend anglers told us they will be here all next week, having taken their vacation to coincide with the upcoming 4th of July holiday, and that they are expecting family members, neighbors and/or friends to join them before week's end.
 
 
 
 
 
How's Fishing
Been?
 
 
 
 
From our customary fly-on-the-wall position, what we mainly heard this week was that fishing -- in general -- was pretty decent, worth a B grade in our book.
 
In typical fashion, one person sounded quite contented, while the next person was cynical.  Some were both, depending on what day of the week or time of day it was.  The back-and-forth exchanges taking place applied to whether the angler was "in training" or had been at the trout fishing game for a while.
 
 
Contributing factors to success may have been "dumb luck" or "my remarkable skill and ability" (both are direct quotes from fishermen this week to describe their fishing aptitude), or somewhere between the two!
 
Here are some more comments, and you might take note of how many times it was pointed out what other people were doing.  Listings are in chronological order, for the most part.
 
 
.  "Fishing was horrible...did okay yesterday,
but today was reallllllly slow."
 
.  "Fishing was great...put that in your report!  We
were the two guys catching fish when no one else was...
eventually people started congregating behind us, watching..."
 
.  "There were at least 50 people fishing near us, and
I saw only 4 fish caught..."
 
.  "Caught everything on the bottom.  My son and I caught
18 the first afternoon and 30 the next morning, almost
all on kapok.  Your fishing report is right-on:  fish on
the bottom or seams...fish slow!"  (via e-mail from
Scott Berning, El Dorado Springs, MO)
 
.  "Fished all day and caught 2 fish."
 
.  "Fantastic fishing...caught more fish this morning
than I did all last summer..."
 
.  (from a child):  "I caught 4 this morning;
Dad caught zero!"
 
.  "Killed 'em (on hot pink brassies), fishing
anywhere in Zone 1 or 2."
 
.  (Tracy & Susan Werdenhausen):  "Caught over 40"
(on orange plastic worms in Zone 3) "and
made everyone else mad!"
 
.  "They did not stock Zone 3."
 
.  (Adult female):  "The kids all around me
were outfishing me."
 
.  "Catching them left and right (on a
John Deere mini jig)."
 
.  "I have never caught a fish in my life on a
'John Deere', but everyone else
sure raves about it."
 
.  "My 16-year-old daughter entertained everybody
last night.  She was smokin' 'em
 (on #12 orange Cracklebacks on sinking line)! 
 The guys around her finally just left. . ."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This Week's
A-List
 
 
 
 
Anglers' favorites were:
 
Marabou jigs:  Black & Yellow;  White;  "Christmas Tree" (red & chartreuse).
 
Mini jigs:  "John Deere";  Brown Roach;  White Floss.
 
Glo balls:  Chartreuse w/flame dot;  "Original" 3-color;  "Jimi Hendrix" 3-color.
 
Other:  Hot pink brassies;  Kapok;  Rooster Tails (every color under the sun, white, yellow, you name it).
 
Dry flies:  Best action still on #12 Cracklebacks fished on sinking line.  By weekend, some were having luck on #18 Renegades and  #18 Griffith's Gnats.
 
Nymphs, etc.:    Chamois;  San Juan Worms;  Bead Head Pheasant Tail.
 
Zone 3:  Orange or orange & white plastic worms;  Orange Power Bait;  Yellow Power Bait.
 
 
 
 
 
Lunkers
 
 
 
 
 
How about a round of applause for these anglers of all ages who brought in fish this week to our store.  Good work!
 
 
 
.  Chris Heard, Ashland, MO (3# - "John Deere" mini jig).
 
.  Randy Becht, Devil's Elbow, MO (2½# - Brown Roach).
 
.  Andrew Beutler, Imperial, MO (6 years old) - 2½# - Yellow Power Bait.
 
.  Sam Starr, McPherson, KS (2¼# - White Floss mini jig).
 
.  Ed Tumlin, Macon, MO (2½# - white jig).
 
.  Tony Evanoski, Centralia, MO (3# - hot pink brassie).
 
.  John Erwin, Osage Beach, MO (2#, 2 oz. - pink brassie).
 
.  Jason Stone, Ewing, MO (2¼# - white spinner bait).
 
 
 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 
 
Time to call it a day.
 
Wherever or however you spend the July 4 weekend, we wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday and hope you'll check back with us next Sunday night to take a look at what was going on at Bennett Spring.
 
We're fast approaching the halfway point in the season.  What's been keeping you?  Hope you'll be caught fishing soon!
 
'til next time,
 
Jerry & Brenda Miller
Weaver's Tackle Store 

 

 
 
 
 
OUR PREVIOUS REPORT:
 
"At the time, I didn't understand just how much I would be
 willing to trade a vacation anywhere in the world
 for one hour, sitting on a bank, fishing with my dad."
 
                                 ~ from a collection of readers' memories
                                     The Salt Lake Tribune, June, 2009
 
 
 
 
Sunday,
June 21, 2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dateline:  Bennett Spring.  Father's Day (hope yours was happy) and the official first day of summer, which arrived right on schedule at 12:45 a.m.  Living's easy, fish are jumpin'.
 
Welcome aboard for another virtual trip to your favorite trout park and the latest entry in our Bennett Spring journal.  Our updates are designed with you in mind, so that if you can't be here in person, you still can be -- through prose and pictures -- on the water, in the water, or looking at the water.
 
So . . . time to get in that Bennett Spring state of mind.  Keep reading -- and looking (thanks, as always, to the Franks for their super-swell photography) -- and dreaming.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FYI
 
 
 
 
 
.  June fishing hours:  6:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
 
 
~
 
 
.  The Missouri Department of Conservation moss-cutting boats will be in the stream on Tuesday, June 23, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.  They will start in Zone 3 and work their way back up to Zone 1.  If the work is not completed in one day, they will finish up on Wednesday.
 
 
~
 
 
 
.  The blueberry farm on Highway 64 is open!  We've had almost as many inquiries about their re-opening date as we have had about fishing!  Call 417-588-8852 for hours, details, and/or to reserve blueberries to be picked up later.
 
The blueberry season is short (only a few weeks), and they go quickly.  It's a good idea to phone ahead!
 
 
~
 
 
 
.  An ice cream social, sponsored by the Bennett Spring Fire Protection District Auxiliary, is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, at the Fire Station on Highway 64.
 
Homemade cakes, pies and ice cream are on the menu and will be served between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stream Conditions
 
 
 
 
 
 
Another round of storms this past week left us with over 3½" of rain.  The stream jumped up about 20" on Tuesday but started dropping pretty quickly.  Clearing will take a little longer, but it's much better today than it was Tuesday (when there was a wide swath of muddy water along the far bank).
 
Current status:
 
 
Level:  Up about 6" to 8"
 
Color:  Cloudy-green (but you can start
to see the tan gravel around the spring itself).
 
Flow:  Good and strong
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weather
 
 
 
 
 
 
Heat wave!  Come cool off at Bennett Spring!
 
The forecast for the upcoming week is the same for each and every day:
 
.  Sunny, hot and humid
 
.  Highs in the low-to-mid-90s with
heat index values in the upper 90s,
possibly near 100º.
 
 
.  Overnight lows in the 70s
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Who's Been
Fishing?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This week -- in contrast to the previous one -- we didn't see the family groups assemble until it got closer to the weekend.
 
Early week, the crowd was primarily groups of guys (many of them retired), as well as a multitude of couples and numerous father-and-son teams.
 
A surprising number of  folks who were here the first part of the week were lucky enough to get to stay all week long, and some who didn't arrive 'til weekend said they are looking forward to staying into next week.
 
 
Tuesday's rain and change in stream conditions deterred only a few.  Most adapted well, although it seemed like the biggest adjustments made were on the part of the avid fly fishermen who had to switch from fly to spinning gear.  But, as one guy said -- speaking for many -- "The water may be high and murky, but it sure beats the heck out of staying home and cutting grass!"
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hillbilly Days
Weekend
 
 
 
 
 
 
The pickin' and grinnin', yee-hawing and howdying are over for another year, and there was one big passel of folks here over the weekend, taking in the three days of fun, food, crafts and games.
 
 
As might be expected on a joint celebration weekend like this, with both a festival and Father's Day going on, the vast majority of people in the Park were families.  Many of them have made this particular weekend a tradition, with second and third generations joining in the fun and festivity.
 
 
A lot of family folks were fishing, too, although not as many as we have seen in the stream for a Hillbilly Days weekend.  The stream was packed to the margins at various times of the day on Saturday; other times, it wasn't all that crowded.
 
Those who wanted to combine family time with fishing and as many of the Hillbilly Days events as possible tended to fish in the evening on Friday and Saturday or else early in the morning before craft vendors opened up.  Some elected to fish only during the time periods when other family members participated in shopping, games and other activities.
 
 
And for those who were serious only about fishing and being as far away from the madding crowd as possible, Zone 1 was a preferred location, because most of the Hillbilly Days doings were located around the swimming pool area of the Park.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How's Fishing?
 
 
 
 
 
 
We kept our customary running list of angler's quips and quotes all week long, but one of the most representative overall views of the before-and-after (rain) fishing scene came in an e-mail from John Cearlock of Vandalia, IL.  So, we'll begin with his assessment to set the stage for you.  John had this to say:
 
 
"I fished Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.  Fishing was good the first two days on #12 Cracklebacks (grizzly hackle/pearl body and furnace/chartreuse running a close second).  The fish were in the upper third of the water column.  I averaged about 5 fish per hour.
 
After the big rain Tuesday, things changed, and the fish went right to the bottom on current breaks.  I had excellent results using a #10 bead head olive wooly bugger, averaging 15 fish per hour.
 
I also found out just because you can get there dry does not mean you can get back dry!  The downstream place I fished was about 2" from being over my waders on the way in.  I knew it was fishable and only waist deep, but on the way out, the current was strong enough that the lean it took to walk back upstream in the deeper spots cost me about 2¼".  You do the math!  Thank goodness it was June rather than March!  All in all, the little baptism in Bennett Spring was good for the soul!"
 
 
Along the same lines as John's accounting of the early-week fishing, we heard comments that ranged from "absolutely awesome" to "average" to "amusing" (referring to equipment failures, accidental dunkings and other assorted pratfalls).
 
By weekend, it was alternately all green lights or stop signs, and no one was overly talkative either.  Many gave very abbreviated answers to our "how's fishing" query ("Okay," "Slow," "Great", etc.).  It was apparent that this weekend was more about tradition and family and memory making.  Catching a bunch of fish seemed incidental.
 
 
Even though some anglers said "Really?" when we suggested they fish "deep and slow" for best results right now, we feel it necessary to repeat the advice we've had to give all too many times recently. . . because it still applies at this time:
 
 
1)  Get it down to the bottom of the stream.  That's where the fish are, avoiding the fast water.
 
2)  Retrieve slowly.  Because the fish are on the bottom conserving energy, they're not exactly chasing fast-moving lures at this time.
 
3)  Work the "seam."  Instead of casting out all the way across the fast current, aim for the "flat" (read: slower) water on this side of it, that is, the "seam" where the slow meets the fast.
 
4)  Don't try to fish like it's late summer when the water is normally low and clear.  The stream really hasn't  been completely "normal" too many times this season.  The current right now is pretty strong; the water is off-color and slightly higher than it "normally" is this time of year.
 
In short, for best results, adapt and adjust to all the above! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What's Hot?
(besides the weather)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Making the all-A honor roll this week were the following (best is listed first in each category):
 
 
Marabou jigs:  Black & Yellow;  Ginger;  "Christmas Tree" (red & chartreuse combination).
 
Mini jigs:  "John Deere";  "Bedspread";  White Floss.
 
Glo balls:  Chartreuse w/flame dot;  Any 3-color combination;  White.
 
Other:  Kapok;  Rooster Tails;  Super Dupers.
 
Dry flies:  Not much activity after Tuesday's rain...some success now with Cracklebacks, fished deep on sinking line.
 
Nymphs, etc.:  Bead Head Wooly Buggers;  deer hair or foam bug (brown);  Chamois.
 
Zone 3:  Yellow Power Bait;  Trout Nip;  red salmon eggs.
 
 
 
 
 
Lunkers
 
 
 
 
 
Roll out the red carpet, and strike up the band!
 
These anglers brought by fish to weigh this week, which entitled them to put their names on the Weaver's Lunker Club "wall of fame."
 
 
 
.  Pat Propp, Prairie Village, KS (2# brown - caught on a salmon-color nymph).
 
.  Mike Molt, Manhattan, KS (2#, 2 oz. - chartreuse Crackleback).
 
.  Jarred Keplinger, St. Louis (2#, 4 oz. - Bumblebee Rooster Tail).
 
.  Barb Harrison, O'Fallon, MO (2# - wooly bugger)
 
.  James Nicholas, Springfield, MO (2½# - Mepps spinner).
 
.  Dan Schmitz, Raymore, MO (2¼# - chartreuse Rooster Tail).
 
.  Don Novy, Dittmer, MO (3#, 14 oz. -- Cap'n America Power Bait).
 
.  Fred Hangartner, St. Joseph, (2# - black & yellow jig)
 
.  Brian Brittingham, Pleasant Hill, MO  (2½# - kapok).
 
.  Brandi House, Hillsboro, MO (3#, 14 oz. - Yellow Power Bait).
 
.  Chad Hangartner, St. Joseph, MO (2# - white chamois).
 
 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 
 
 
 
 
And that brings us to a stopping point in our latest all-in-a-summer's day report from beautiful Bennett Spring.
 
We'll see you again online next Sunday.  Hope you'll join us then for more fish stories, remembrances, and sight and sound memories.
 
Meanwhile, if you're dreaming of sunshine on your shoulders, nothing on your mind, and doing some first-rate trout fishing, grab a pole and come on down.  Around here, it's all possible!
 
'til next time . . .
 
Jerry & Brenda Miller
Weaver's Tackle Store  

 

 

Weaver's Tackle Store

11388 Highway 64

Lebanon, MO  65536

Phone: 417-532-4618

e-mail: weavers@missouritrout.com 

 

 

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