Andrew324

As I said in Tim's earlier thread about Opening Day, I had the catch-&-release zone 2 all to myself as a fly fisherman. That doesn't mean that will happen this year. I would spread out and go further down from Zone 2 into Zone 3 and you can find some space; more than Zone 1. I would suggest throwing basic nymph patterns from 12-16, wooly buggars, soft hackles, egg patterns, etc. Nymphing seemed to be most productive for me. Bird's nest nymphs and princes work well along with PT & HE.

I had a good time at opening day last year. Despite what everyone had warned, I was the only soul in zone 2 that I could see at the buzzer and I had a great day bring many fish to hand. I will try again this year, although I I might have to take off work. Maybe this is my impression only but it seems like more fly fisherman would go to Bennett?

Thanks for the reply fellas. I will probably try it out Sunday morning if not bypassing it for Roaring River. Looking to get away from Crane for the time being, and its getting a little too cold to night fish Taney for me.

I've been to Capps a few occassions, but I wasn't all too impressed (because it was summertime). I'm thinking of trying it in a few days. Anyone fished it lately? Or have all the put-and-take dudes cleaned house? I would do the usual nymph setup, but might also throw some streamers for a brown.

I hope I understand Trout Commander's post correctly. I didn't mean to start the of annual debate about the "ethics" of fishing during the spawn, or accidently cause more fishing pressure. I really just meant to alert folks who may be thinking "should I hit Crane or Taney?" that there are redds now so that they can either avoid the stream or be careful. Yes people talk about this every year, and maybe beat it to death, that's why I titled the thread as such.

Photos are not that great. Hope we can tie at the coffee shop again, that was fun.

I have some photos from the day I met you there AJ. Really though, the photos do not do them justice. At first I was skeptical about whether they were redds but yesterday my thoughts were confirmed when I noticed them all in the same types of places and actually spotted several females sitting on them. There were also more yesterday then the day I met you. The water was so shallow that you could see their dorsal, adipose, and caudal fins breaking and swirling the water surface. Like I said most of them are in areas of the creek where the water quality is the best. This is usually at the very head of a run/riffle in the smooth water (this could also be called the tail end of long shallow runs and pools). Not all are perfect "dinner plates" but there are a few that are. I will post some pictures when I'm off work just for the hey.

Was in the park for a little today. Didn't fish much. Water is low. Lots of redds. At the tops of riffles and runs where the best water flows. No signs of spawning at lower wire. Almost lost my $$$ good polarized lenses. Had to find them in the dark!

I think Lao Tzu once said "Those who know, do not speak. Those who speak, do not know".

I might be mistaken, but I think its just one dude. But yeah, I'm with you, I made a mountain biking movie with the GoPro with his song "Finally Moving". I can't sit through a whole CD though. His remixes are good. Anyway I really liked the video, as always!

The song is by Pretty Lights right?

That's a fat Mill Creek wild bow! Congrats Mic! Was the creek up and pumping?

Nice report Mic! Did you go all the way to Wilkins spring? The first time I hiked to it I thought it would be cool, but its really just a big blue pond. Glad you had a good time, I always access Little Piney off Hwy 63 at the Lane Spring Access, and have only ever caught fish on it nymphing the runs more than fishing the pools. I fish Crane Creek about once a week, and I still think Mill Creek is the best wild trout stream (that is public anyway) in Missouri. It just has a great combination of wilderness, no trash, plenty of good water to cover, etc.

Thanks Buzz actually thought it was a brown but under closer inspection it is a rainbow. The two gentlemen (one who took the picture) standing near me thought so too; we were all surprised, looked like a brown in the water.

The winter season has been good for me this year. I fished the park all day today. Threw mostly bwo's 18-22 some that I tied and some that I picked up from Tim. I did have luck on a purple wooly bugger that I got from the shop, but caught this nice one on a midge. I have enjoyed fishing the small dries - I pick up lots of healthy, fighting fish.

Mic have you have been there to Mill before? I would park at Forest Road 1581 off AA and walk the road down to Bohigian then fish the stream up. I have never fished as far downstream as 1576. Might be interesting to park at Bohigian, walk down to 1576 and fish up, if you knew the Bohigian water well.

So I was walking home from the bar last night and found a piece of tinsel on the ground. I stuffed it in my pocket and my girlfriend asked "what are you doing that for?" and I told her I was saving it for fly tying. The tinsel will make good flashabou for tails and some legs. Which brings me to my question: why kinds of Christmas decorations make good material to save for the bench?

Winter is also a good time to read. Joe Humphrey's "On the Trout Stream" is one of my favorite books. Dave Whitlock, Joan Wulff, George Harvey, Lefty Kreh, and Nick Lyons make for a good buffet of reading material.

I woke up this morning surprised by a light snow, and this picture has already made my day! Awesome fish! I think those larger ones get less reserved around night time. BTW Phil - I have a good deal of pictures of the stream from different seasons - including this year's flooding. Let me know if your interested.

I'll put the plug in for the Lamson Konic. I love that reel and I didn't spend a fortune on it. I fish the heck out of it too. Hobbs Creek makes a good reel for the girlfriend. I slapped one on her pink Dogwood Canyon that gets used once or twice a year.

Agreed, not every little wild rainbow needs to have a mugshot! I took the photos on an Iphone 4s. The picture with the round hole-in the ground spring is right off AA near Bohigian. I would have never noticed it if I hadn't parked and walked the road down.

I wear Korkers and like them a lot. Simms makes great stuff. Just make sure that you get an appropriate size. Buying small wading boots means risking having to replace neoprene stockingfoot (because your toenails dig more and you wear the seams out) THEN you have to buy another pair of boots. It sucks. Speaking from personal experience.

It had been since July that I had last visited Mill Creek. Spent Friday afternoon on the stream. I usually fish it on my way back from Vienna, Missouri to Springfield. Had a great day on the water bringing to hand maybe 16-18 fish, nothing large. Mostly came on nymphs but dig snag some on streamers, midges, and few dries. I was using 6-7x Fluorocarbon. Fishing a 7' 3wt. Biggest was maybe 12-13 inches. Took some pictures. I apologize if they are huge. Went to Roubidoux afterward and hooked up with a large fish but lost it. Was hoping it was a good brown. Broke my tippet before I could get a good look at it.

Thought I would post this in this section as well as Crane. Lots of good historical fisheries reports. I believe I made all the documents public for your viewing pleasure: MDC Fisheries Reports, Stocking Records, Reproduction Studies, Robert Behnke Contains much information on wild trout in Missouri.

This thread is turning into "Fishyleaks" I scannedthe Turner fisheries reports and they are available for viewing on Google Docs: Life History of Wild Rainbow Trout in Missouri An Evaluation of Redband Trout in Missouri Waters The McCloud Rainbow From Behnke's "About Trout" Rainbow Trout Literature Review by S. Turner Natural Reproduction of Rainbow Trout in Missouri Part 1 Natural Reproduction of Rainbow Trout in Missouri Part 2 The creek that was near Big Buffalo was called Pole Hollow Creek wrench if that rings a bell. Hope some of this information is of interest to people on the forum.