Wornica

We did a four day camp out arriving for fishing on Tuesday after Memorial Day. Mainly fished in zone 2 were the hatchery stream meets the main stream. While nymphing caught a few on the peach glo ball and the red san juan worm. For some reason they did not like my tan scud. On Thursday and Friday we noticed that the rainbows were midging below the surface and caught several on dry flies (adams parachute, green crackleback). This was a first for my son who actually tied his own renegade and caught one. I'll be honest, it was an ugly looking fly to me but not to the trout! My son was very happy and so was I. The fly fisherman that did the best were able to double haul all the way across the stream and strip back a green crackleback or an olive woolybugger. They really caught a lot of fish!

The brains of the Cardinals are owner Bill DeWitt and general manager John Mozeliak. They deserve a lot of the credit for the stellar state of affairs that the Cardinals find themselves in. One classy organization!

An exceptional report! Thanks so much for the video!

I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes! That is awesome!

We will be going during the week right after Memorial day. Leaning now on just staying in the campground at Bennett Springs. Thanks everyone!

We are thinking about pitching a tent for a few days and would like to ask if there are any campgrounds that you recommend near the State Park?

Definitely a keeper! Congratulations! (I was thinking before I saw the photo, that must be one fat trout!) LOL

Arrived on Monday at 2:30 in the afternoon on a sunny day and saw quite a few anglers. The stream is still high and fishing was very slow. I put on one split shot on my 6x leader and used a red san juan worm with a gray scud size 12 dropper. Caught two keepers in zone 2 and only saw two other anglers catch fish the rest of the afternoon. The weather was nice in the lower 80's.

I'd smile too if I was out on the river and caught that fish! Two thumbs up!

A great article about a great man! Enjoyed hearing you at the MTFA meeting in Springfield back in February and appreciate so much the Ozark Anglers Forum!

Wow, that Helios 2 rod is an outstanding prize!

I mainly fish Taneycomo and Bennett Springs: 1. Renegade 2. Griffith Gnat 3. Scuds 4. Primrose and Pearl Midge 5. San Juan Worm (Also trying to learn to tie all of these...)

A beautiful day to fish with no generation and wading below the dam with my son. After catching a few fish on size 16 gray scuds in both hatchery outlets one and two we decided it was time to take our fly fishing to the next level and waded below outlet 3 towards the KOA campground. I threw out a size 16 orange soft hackle and let it swing just like I have read in forum reports. Had a hit but wasn´t able to set the hook. About 5 casts later I landed my first rainbow (small but who cares)! Later changed to a size 16 green soft hackle and caught another one. My son also caught his first non hatchery outlet rainbow on an egg pattern. It was great! The day before we were skunked as it was about the third day in a row with generation. Seems like the fishing really slows down below the dam after a couple of days a continual generation.

Went for the afternoon and the water was high and the fishing was slower than normal. Not a lot of anglers to be seen. Took a break around 3 pm and sat on the bench below where the hatchery outlet meets the main stream and the whistle bridge. There were a few fish surfacing so I threw out a griffith gnat and caught two. Saw a guy catching fish left and right in the small outlet right between the hatchery and the main stream. He was using a tan hexegenia.

Arrived around 1 in the afternoon and when I bought my tag they said they had sold around 150 that morning. Lots of room to fish but my son and I went to zone 2 below the hatchery outlet. Everyone was catching fish that were around 12 inches. Just a few bigger than that. Caught about 10 fish in 4 hours on a red san juan worm, black soft hackle and small tan scud. Other folks were doing well on egg patterns. First time to take home my limit on the fly rod and had a good time.

Enjoyed seeing the governor use a fly rod and catch a trout.

Just heard on the radio that 1200 showed up at Bennett Springs and 1500 at Roaring River.

I was surprised this morning to see that there is now live video in black and white on the Bennett Springs Troutcam. It used to be just a color photo that refreshed every 60 seconds. It has a slow frame rate but was nice to watch as the siren blew this morning and the anglers started catching fish. There is a camera pointed above the dam and another one below it. Here is the link: http://mostateparks.com/page/58502/trout-cam

Wow! Way to go!

Truly awesome! Enjoyed seeing your son also do well in 2012!

I was also at Bennet yesterday and did well in zone 2 around 2:30 in the afternoon where the hatchery creek enters the stream using a 6x tippet, size 18 black soft hackle about 18 inches below a small strike indicator.

Great report and pic! Thanks!

I use an Orvis Access Rod that I got with a substantial discount.

I took my son to Bennett Springs yesterday to teach him how to fly fish. He caught 3 trout before I even brought one in! We started just below the dam and used a size 18 rusty midge below a tan scud and strike indicator. Then went up to zone 1 and caught a few more on a primrose and pearl midge, renegade and green crackleback. Not a lot of fishermen in the park on a beautiful day. The new fishing ramp just below the dam is now finished.

Excellent!