grizzly

Guys, it's only a fishing report. Don't shop there if you don't like how this guy does business. As far as a hatch chart goes, I never really thought that Bennett was really a "match the hatch" stream. Most of the trout have been in the stream for about as long as you have on that day, so something small and bug-like is going to work. If your patterns not working, then move on to the next riffle or hole and try it out there. And I don't get all of the frustration about what Bennett is. I never fished it back in its glory years, so I guess I can only speak about what it is from the last few years. It seems like Bennett is a family orientated fishing area. A place I can take my girlfriend and daughter to. It's not the Gunnison, the Firehole or Gibbon. Bennett is somewhere you can be social, take your family and grill out. If you want "hard core" fishing, then the North Fork of the White, Current, Norfork Tailwater or the White below BSD should be on your priority list. Bennett is what it is, a place that is user friendly. Having said all of that, Trout parks really aren't my thing and I only go to them 2-3 times per year,mainly C&R season or with family.

Hans has a lot of patterns that work in the Ozarks. I say give it a try and let us know how it performs

Only thing is Blue Springs Creek is not a "secret" trout stream. While I agree with some of what you are saying Larry(research) you are also coming off as a bit harsh. Look, it is probably too cold to wet wade Blue Springs Creek as far as this time of the year goes. But if you go, I would use your standard arsenal of trout flies(think top 20 Orvis flies selection that you can buy for 10 dollars). I didn't expect to see this type of secretive behavior on here. I hate to tell you, but I can tell you where I fished, what I used, but there is more to fishing than that. I never tell about my rigs I use for nymph fishing (amount of weight, weight placement, depth etc.) and there is a lot of skill (approaching fish, reading water, drag free drifts) that you cannot understand unless you get out. Last time I checked this was a fishing forum, not solely a gear review forum and a spot to throw out Walmarts cheapest prices. If you didn't like his question you could have ignored it, or pm'd him. What you did was backhanded in my opinion. Shipman, I don't know much about Blue Springs Creek. I know Mic posted some reports on it under the other trout waters thread. Let me know if you head over to Crane, Capps or Roaring River's White Ribbon Section. Sam

No love for the Adams? Here's mine, but I wouldn't limit myself to 5 flies Adams Elk Hair Caddis Barr's Emerger Pheasant Tail Zebra Midge

Could have had me. However I've been to Steelville a few times and never heard of Top Dog Pizza. And the names on there, Brandy and Martini.

Nick, one more thing. I made the switch to crimping barbs on my hooks years ago and think that my hooking ability improved. I honestly cannot think of the last time I lost a fish because of a lack of a barb. Plus it is easier to release fish. So it is a win win in my eyes. Try it the next time you are out, you'll be surprised. Sam

Well, approach them cautiously as you won't see a trout otherwise. As for flies: #16 pheasant tail nymph, #16 GRHE, and I would bring in some caddis larva and pupae patterns. I like Oliver Edwards Rhycophila Larva and Sili Skin Caddis. Like Ducky said, the aren't line shy. I usually fish no smaller than 5x, and if the water is up a 4x fluorocarbon will work fine. But, I use long leaders to avoid "lining" trout, and I think your approach and drift are the most important things.

I have fished Taney quite a few times. The drive from Harrisonville keeps me away from it more than I like, but I do venture down to crane and taney about 5-6 times a year. I went down this last weekend and was royally skunked on Taney with it generating a unit I was wondering what the local experts are using rig-wise when there is a unit to one-half unit running and you are limited to wade fishing. I tried my "river rig" and was ticking bottom with a scud dropper hanging about a foot and a half from a midge emerger with a BB or two weight on the line, yet still nothing. Is there something I am missing? Any tips would be appreciated. BTW, willing to trade tips on Crane over a PM message for help. Sam.

Looks like you might be getting what you pay for here. Their feathers on the capes seem awfully wide, at least to me.

My first post! But I have been tying for years, and I don't think you need a case on the fly. One of my friends up in Montana uses brown antron yarn for the tail and legs. He uses a strip of flashback for the wing case. He call's it a "guides pheasant tail" because it gets the job done and is easier to tie. Hope this helps.