Meremec Spring Park, Phelps County, March 4th 2010: First Trip of new year

This has been a very unusual winter we are coming out of in Missouri. Usually by this point, I had quite a few trips either to Busch Wildlife to fish the winter trout, or the trout parks for the weekend catch and release season. Seems like the last time I went fishing was in November. This has to be the coldest winter I can recall in a real long time.

This is a short report....fished the spring for a couple of hours in the afternoon after work. Used the fly rod.....all I have to say is that you would think that I had not ever used one. My casts got better towards the end of the day, but really was rough the first hour or so. Threw some wooley buggers and a copper john nymph with no success....the day was most beautiful, however, and the tranquility was just what I needed.

This is going to be the best year ever in regards to fishing and kayaking.....see you on the water!!

Fish ON!

MLT

Nigangua River, Laclede County, MO, September 1st: In search of Browns-Found Chubs!

I wanted to do something a little different, so I decided to fish some of the "White Ribbon" trout area located on the Niangua River (about 1/2 mile downstream from where Bennett Spring empties into it) for a couple of hours.

As you know, I am always trying to spot out areas to take my fishing Kayak, so I thought I would fish it with the fly rod and see what I could stir up. I was having a conversation with a local a couple of weeks ago. He said that the MO Dept of Conservation stocks this part of the river with Brown Trout. Seems like great habitat for Brownies and for Smallies. Waded in downstream from the boat launch....lots of structure and current and shade...great combo! The problem was the pool is too deep to get close. Did the best job I could to get near it. Caught several small chubs on a green crackleback w/ a real small piece of split shot attached. Cast out some wooley buggers as well with no success. Started with a nymph and yarn strike indicator, but did not have any success with that either.

I think next time I come back to this spot, I will go for smallmouths and bring my Kayak!

Fish ON!

MLT

Bennett Spring, Laclede County, MO Aug 7th 2009- Park still real crowded. luck with Zebra Nymph

Was able to get to park around 2:00. I was suprised how crowded the park still is...should start to settle down in a couple of weeks once the kids start to get back to school. I have been having some real challenges with fly fishing lately...have been "0-fering" a lot. Went to backcountry outfitters in Springfield (one of my favorite fly shops) and had them re-load my fly line. The rod I have is a good White River rod from Bass Pro, but I think the line had finally served it's purpose. I noticed an improvement in casting right off the bat.

Was trying a lot of different things in the beginning....started off by the spring and worked my way down. Tried some white jigs and different types of nymphs...probably should consider a San Juan worm next time--did not try it here.

Past the falls caught a nice one in the grass on a silver Zebra nymph....my slump is officially over! Please dig the cool underwater photos taken of trout from my underwater camera as well

Fish ON!

MLT

Roaring River, Cassville, MO. April 15th, Tippet made all the difference!

Weather was really nice....got a chance to hit the river around 4:00 p.m. or so, so I only had a couple of hours to fish. Started off with the normal spot I like to hit, but with no success. I hiked across the overgrown shoal and hit a nice run w/ structure. I knew they were in that spot, I just could not figure how to get on them.

Here is what I decided to do....tie on some #7 tippet to the end of the leader. When I get these leaders out of the package, I just assume that the line is thin enough from the package. So I figured, why not, nothing else seems to work- let's see if this theory is correct. Within less than a minute, I had a trout on the other end.....I realized a valuable lesson- you need to have thin tipped on the end of the leader, even if it is new. Lesson #2: I do not really care for the 9' leaders...for now on I am going to get the 7.5' leaders.

Great day of fishing!

Fish ON!

MLT

Bennett Spring, Laclede County, MO April 14th: Fishing a little slow, nice day to be out

Turned out to be a really nice day, a bit chilly, but nice. Was out a few hours and stuck w/ the fly rod....threw nymphs, San Juan worms, white and brown jigs, with no success...seemed like the fish were scattered about.....there were some people catching them right below the falls.

The muscrat video is pretty cool....these guys are getting busy! Spring is here!

Fish ON!

MLT

Montauk SP, Current River, April 11th: Great day to get out!

Great day to get out on the water at Montauk SP. Trout are looking good, the weather was the best you can hope for. Started off in the fly zone, fished the deeper pool first with a nymph. No success, so I hiked into were there were some runs and pools. Lost one on a nymph, and later in the day in the fly area lost one on a red San Juan Worm.

What I like most about fly fishing is you learn something everytime you go out. My knots on the flies were improved cinch knots....I know that if I would have tied a Berkely knot (just like a cinch, except it goes throught the eye twice) I would not have lost as many. I was using a really thin tipped (8x), so I am going to try that next time.

After lunch, grabbed my spinning gear and fished from the bridge down. Last year, this was the spot that had all of the trees shoved under it......caught my biggest trout of 2008 at this spot. The trees have moved and it is much different now...not much success

The family came with me, so it was great to do some other things as well (took a hike around the upper spring area, Lake Montauk, etc). The weather could not have been any nicer- 70 degrees and sunny.

Fish ON!

MLT

Roaring River, Cassville, MO. April 8th: Fly Fishing Excellent- I think I am becoming a Nymph....Oh!

Here are some nice shots from Roaring River. The weather was absolutely beautiful and warm. I fished the normal "haunts" in Zone 1 the first hour or so with my standard, go to gear (Ultralight rods, Little Cleo Spoons, Panther Martin spinners) but was not having a terrible amount of success...lots of bait fishermen in the area- hard to get a spot to fish.

I decided to break out the fly rod for the first time this year. I was in the parking lot getting it rigged up. It was kind of funny, because I was attaching some real, real thin tipped (I believe 8x) to the leader, and it was like I forgot how to tie a surgeons knot....must have tried for a good 10 min. or so before I finally got it to work (people get rusty just like gear!)

Got my hip waders on and my vest and wandered into the water. I was using some really small nymphs (the photo w/ my thumb shows size) and found a nice little spot...first one I got on I horsed and lost not only the fish but the nymph. You have to really be able to play these fish if you are going to use that thin of tippet!

I started to really get on some. If you watch the video, the tree clumpet to the right is where I was catching them at. Caught and released all of them (about 5 fish total)....I did a better job playing them out. They were exhausted, so I had to rock each one back to life when I got them in the water- they all recovered after I did that.

A few observations: They have some of the biggest crawdads I have ever seen- look like mini lobsters! Have a dark shale color- may have to get some crawdad crank baits in that color- the crawdads at Bennett seem to have a redder hue to them.

Second thought: I really underestimated how incredible the fly waters are at this park- I really was under-utilizing what was available.....goes to show you never want to assume you know everything about a spot. I will wear my chest waders next time as well- we had a little issue w/ the hip waters towards the end of the trip (interpretation: I got too deep and a little water poured in- looked like I pissed myself when I left the park).....I am glad I do not take myself real serious!

I am really stuck on Fly Fishing and especially Nymph fishing...cannot wait to get back out on the water!

Fish ON!

MLT