Xraydude

Right, just like all the other “fixes.” Why am I picturing broken pieces of concrete in the spring hole after a big flood?

What you need is a real killer, a great white hunter type. I know a guy,,,,has experience with vermin.

I’m in 100% agreement with Wrench (😳) that Bennett is not the same. There used to be a nice pool for families that’s gone. Festivals were held in the park, gone. Gravel wash-in from the roads dredged out occasionally, gone. There used to be areas along the stream where families could set up some chairs and watch their folks fish and give backcasting room. Yeah, say it with me, gone. The natural hatchery runs with gravel bottoms instead of a concrete were beautiful and gave a more natural setting. I’m sure a dread to clean, so gone. The hatchery water used to cascade over large rocks entering the stream, gone for industrial sized “toilets”draining into the stream. Last time I stayed in a cabin, I had to kill 70 plus flies before we could settle in. I’m gone.

Interestingly, I read recently on OFF newsletter that the project was scheduled to wrap up in January ‘26. It’s called oversight. If you have a multi million, multi year project, someone from MDC has to sit in on progress meetings and validate. I feel the MDC treats this park on scale with a dried oxbow along the Mississippi.

My daughter-in-law is from Cuba, Mo. Missouri Hick was sold, the new owners products aren’t as good as it once was. We would stop years ago, but our most recent visit last year or 2 years ago was awful. Bandana’s in Rolla is consistent with their chain menu, about the only BBQ I can recommend on I-44 since Tiny’s went out of business years ago.

That’s good news about Bob’s. We’re up and down I-44 fairly often, but never stop to eat coming east of Rolla, just hammer on. I’ll have to see what else we’re missing, looking at you Bourbon.

My sister and nephew are in from Las Vegas and he gets little fishing time, so we ran down to Maramec springs for the day. Didn’t arrive until about 10:30am and by the looks of it, any fish stocked were already on a stringer. We had a great time though, fished for a bit with artificial lures, bait fishing not really my thing. Gavin had one fish to the net before it got off. I caught one punny rainbow. I did find a new restaurant - Country Bobs in St. James. It looks kinda sketch but was good. After I ordered a burger, I discovered they had a lunch buffet with FRIED CHICKEN. 😳. I think they intentionally steered this big boy away from the chicky lol. Fished after lunch, only saw 2 other fish caught today. This park fishes a little differently for me than the others, can’t really but my finger on it. Maybe it’s all the shallow water or the regulations, or less fish in the stream from natures rath, looked like a somewhat recent high water event - bath ring in the trees about 8-10 feet up. All in all a beautiful day hanging out with family in God’s country!!

Maybe they are just hugging and swaying,,,,,,were you listening to Coldplay by chance?

Charlie’s been working on his place for decades, hope that doesn’t end up the case in the park. I just keep thinking it’ll be 2-3 more years before stocking their own trout best case scenario.

I’ve searched for construction updates on line. It seems all updates stopped in 2024. Anyone have a link or update on this slowest of all projects? Thanks in advance.

Custer state park has several lakes that have rainbow, brook, cutthroat, brown and maybe a few tiger trout. Sylvan lake seems to have a healthy population, we were hiking but watched a family pull fish after fish out like a trout park. It’s beautiful country. Check out blackhillsvisitor.com

I used this route through there, not the best route if pulling a big camper. I and 11 family members visited the park this weekend. Fishing was the worst I can ever remember. I guess that’s why I was able to get 2 cabins by the spring on short notice.

Crappie tourneys are where the money is. Not even gas money for the weekend.

Are they replacing with another wooden bridge? They need a pull ferry like in The Outlaw Josey Wales. Just tie it up in high water. Cheap.

Southwinds resort is off H Hwy on the south end of the lake has kitchens. Plug-ins outside each cabin or unit. Very similar to what you described at Owl Haven. On the north side The Cabins at Stockton lake are in Stockton and very nice cabins of varying size with kitchens. Parking at some of the cabins with a rig can be a challenge to plug in. State Park Marina has lodging with kitchens and plug ins mid-lake. Also in Stockton is Orleans trail with a motel and cabins.