mic

Are you spinning or fly fishing or both?

I have not looked real hard, but the only place I have found them is at Feather-craft in St. Louis. Part number GS002

Concentrate... I do that all week at work and why I go fishing on the weekends. I've tried that approach, and I don't have the touch...yet. I'll keep at though.

I don't think you will. I just kept shorting the tippet until I didn't have any more problems, and it worked out to an average of depth plus foot to foot and a half...every hole is different though. That is why I use the ring. I was constantly changing tippet at every hole and burning through leader to fast for my taste.

As I was learning how to fish the smaller wild trout streams, I followed this length rule. I was having the same problem, or I was snagging on the bottom all the time. When I changed to depth plus a foot, it really changed the look and feel of the setup. I don't have these problems as often. Another reason I prefer to keep the tippet as short as possible is casting. On the smaller water, at least BSC, you are role casting a lot. With the longer tippet, I found that I would get the indicator in the right spot, but the fly would end up in overhanging trees, bushes, and grass. With all that said, it could be because I new to role casting, and I'm just over compensating.

I fish mainly small water, but I like a 7ft, 3x tapered leader cut down to about six feet. I tie a small ring (made for furled leaders) on the end. I cut down a foam indicator to the size of two small peas, fold them over just above the ring and super glue them together. Tie on a 4x tippet equal to the depth of the water plus a foot and a half. I tie on a foot and half of 5x, 6x, or 7x with a double surgeons knot leaving a six inch tags. Cut off the small tippet tag. Tie a size 14 brassie, weighted pheasant tail, or weighted hair's ear on the 4x tag. Then tie a size 18, 20, or 22 nymph or midge that is different from the anchor nymph. I fish this rig changing out flies until I get an idea on what the fish want and then go to a single nymph. If the fish are going after small flies, use the tag for split shot. If I'm headed downstream, I'll fish the same rig with a wet fly, but tie the smaller fly directly to the wet. I'll dead drift the wet on indicator and then swing them at the end of a run. This is a great way to fist a short riffle. I swing the flies a couple of times at the head of the run, and then extend the drift a foot at a time until you have run the full length.

Unless something crazy happens, I will head down to Little Piney for the first time on Saturday. Anyone want to meet me in St. Louis for the drive or meet me at that stream? I promise not to post GPS coordinates of the best holes.

What the he!!....thought you couldn't get away. LOL Hope it works out and good luck.

What an awesome trip. These are the times one remembers. Thanks for the report and the smile.

One might think that, but when I take my spin rod, I almost always catch at least one fish on "Rapala" type lures. Twice, it was my biggest fish of the day. Once, the trout caught by my budde was only a little bigger then the lure. PS...if you try this, cut off the front treble off and smash or file the barbs or you might not get the fish back in time...specially in July, Aug, Sept.

Can anyone recommend a good read for tying and using streamers for trout?

My dad uses a fly in colored water and any time in any deep hole (with sinking line) at Bennet. It is a greenie weenie with no tail and wrapped in grizzly olive hackle. I can't figure out what is matches and how the fish see's it in dark green water, but it works. It is an easy tie and his go to fly. He does a count down until he figures out what level they are hitting at. Sometimes its five seconds and sometimes its 40 seconds. Then he finger wraps it in upstream.

He walks slow, can't fish, but pays for the gas. What else can I say.

A co-worker and I are planning a trout hunting expedition on the 25th March. It is the start of my effort to catch a trout in every public access in the state. We are going to make a last minute decision based on the weather and water conditions. Our first priority is the Meramac outside the park. At what water level is wade fishing no good. Just to verify, I want to read the Steelville reading correct. Secondly, is the fishing any good upstream of the spring flow this time of year? The second priority is Little Piney. My question here is... how hard is the fishing in a high wind. That is one thing I like about Blue Springs Creek. The wind is really never a factor. It the LP is to open, how is it a Mill or Spring. I image it would be the same as BSC. Thanks In Advance, Mic

What is the FFFT?

Has anyone fished the Piney, Roubidoux Creek, or Stone Mill Creek? Any luck.

Thanks for the report. What a great fish.

Awesome trip... Thanks for the photos and reports.

Thanks. The only thing that sucked was the next cast she left to take pic's with Mom's camera, and I caught that one.

Thanks Eric

This is for all the dad's. No fish, but a video of my daughter and I at BSC. http://vimeo.com/20963885

That was simply an awesome video. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the advice. I should have said our place is on the Shields, so we will have direct access (a 300 yd walk). How small of a dropper nymph? Are we talking #20 midges or #14 Pheasant Tails? Here are pics of our location and the view out our cabin.

I've got to try out that C&R area. I wonder why they don't have one at Bennett. The stretch from the rock darn to the first handicap ramp would be perfect. Thanks for the report.