Xraydude

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.

Thanks Ham. The 10-13 foot rods are light weight, and I see little flex with fish on in some videos. Appreciate the info on yours. Think I’ll try one.

I’ve been looking at the ACC 12 foot rod for crappie jigging, with the rear seat reel. Has anyone used these rods, any good or bad reviews. Does ACC stand behind their product?? Hate, hate buying a rod without handling it first. Thx.

The long boards with the nails are used for making quilts. Once the back, filler and top are fitted, it’s stretched out over the nails while it’s sewn. Usually 4 boards around the perimeter of the quilt. As a kid, used to help my grandmother sew a bit on rainy days. But when I got to Home Ec in junior high, the teacher couldn’t believe my skills.

I saw that last night too and was shocked there were three rigs, I guess 3 teams at my old school. My wife was a judge of the floats, I tried to influence towards them a little. I think high schools would be good and maybe the groups taking disabled verterns fishing might be of interest.

Thank you my friends,,,, think I feel a pulse coming back. We’re coming up to the time of year that I love to fish with temps dropping, but really do the worst at catching. I need to get down there before the dog days are over and try the flats. I saw an interesting trolling spoon at Jan’s Netcraft I may order and add a slow death hook to try. I mainly try spinners and beads set up.

Yes trout park fishing is a social thing. There was a time when they stocked 12+ inch fish minimum, a 5 fish limit and plenty of fish in the stream. There is not a focus on quality experience at BSSP anymore. Its how many little fish can we stock at the least amount of money.

Nothing but weeds in the hatchery now.

Thanks everyone for some news. I’ve been tied up with a new electronic medical record for months, just went live so I’m hoping to get that way soon.

No one has posted in over a month, what gives? -Did Phil say “Thou shalt not post about Stockton? - Is it too hot to fish? - The catching is so good everyone’s got lockjaw? - Your waiting on my report? ??????????? I need a fix, even if it’s fake news —

We made a quick trip to the park July 22 and 23rd. My nieces and nephews (one set from Las Vegas) from 2 sisters wanted to do a bit of trout fishing! How lucky am I?? The water was just slightly cloudy from recent rains, and the weather was spectacular. Unfortunately, there really are no fish in the hatchery, with all fish coming from SOH's and Neosho. I saw the stocking numbers 1600/1400 were about half of a normal busy summer weekend and new things would be slow. Nonetheless, my team did a great job getting up early for the whistle and staying late into the evening. We tried spinners early, jigs throughout the day and fur balls. There must be a lot to eat in the stream as only about 12 fish caught altogether for both days. Slowest fishing I have encountered there in 40 years. Nonetheless the Bennett Spring Special at the Lodge was tasty as ever. I sure hope the new plans for the hatchery (again) meets the needs for the fishery, as its quite disappointing. Many areas which once had a rock beach where family could hang out and watch is overgrown with vegetation. Hoping for better days for this park.

I had a great time with my uncle to Mark Twain, both first timers to the lake. Friday evening we trolled and caught about 12 crappie, half were keeper size and a white bass. Optimism was in the air for Saturday. Well, let’s just say the 3 nice drum we’re released safely back into the water. Sunday we fished for a bit, my uncle caught a nice 20” catfish on ultralight gear and I had one crappie. Not quite what we were expecting but again more exploring than anything. Had a nice stay at Southfork, and by good fortune had the opportunity to visit with Ron, the previous owner as we grilled some huge strip steaks my uncle brought. Great time, great memories.