Eric82

That's a nice fish man!!!

wow!!! Thanks for the report kelroy.

I heard about boiling springs being destroyed but how did wilderness ridge fair?

Thanks for the info Al. I'll look into complaining to to the govenor and my state senator. i was just surprised that this was happening is all. it seems like they provide a service to a lot of folks. 15,000 a year seems odd but then again i have no idea on what it takes to up keep those. It seems to me that the gauges in national riverways could be taken over by them? I wonder on the other streams where there is multiple outfitters that they'd want to work to keep them going? i was just curious on info. thanks for the responses!

I've been checking a few different stream gages lately on USGS and it had a note in yellow that this or that gage may be discontinued as of July 1st? Does anyone have any info on this? That would be a shame to me at least because i use them a lot... Thanks.

I was on the way to lane spring yesterday but at last minute continued on to mill. Hadn't been there in along time. Just got a euro nymphing centric rod and wanted to try it out. It was good to see mill running with some better flow and color. Caught 15ish little guys on pheasant tails and Hare's ears as a double rig. Swinging peacock soft hackle on way back downstream. I agree that fly pattern isn't that important you just got to be confident with it and stick with it if that makes sense. Also as mentioned above stealth is key.

I've had a few killer days at mill over the last couple years. As they mentioned above not many of size but they fight!!! Soft hackles and hare's ears mostly. Some of the prettiest wild trout I've seen in MO. Spring creek I haven't had much luck, however, I haven't fished it very much. It's a pretty stream and I'm eager to return.

Great report!!!!! Thanks!!!

Good luck sir!!!

Very nice!!!!

Let me know when you planning on going if you want i could meet ya there. Unless you want solitude which is also understandable...

I'd have to second ness when he mentioned the Little Piney. My favorite smaller stream. You can park under the 63 hwy bridge or, as i do, park at the parking area at the gate at Lane Springs since the park is closed. Although its closed people are welcome to park at the parking area at the gate and walk down the hill thru the field to the river. The fish are wild and most of the time are eager...

Mighty fine!!!

streamers? nymphs? Good job!!!!

That would be great Chief!!!

You're right John. My favorite looking parr marker was the 2nd to last pic I posted. Beautiful! Funny enough I caught that guy in the c&r section of montauk up near the spring. Also I had to put barren fork on the back burner for this winter or next spring. It's funny I think of fall and winter as my main trout season. Well spring too but by middle spring I'm getting excited for smallies and summer. Do any of you feel this way? Haha. ?

Well guys I'm a week late with this report but busy busy busy. This was the second year I did a trip around my birthday and it was a great time. I stayed with my uncle who lives in Neosho and fished streams in that area. All but montauk were new water to me. Started out Wednesday below the park on Roaring River. Was low and clear and caught a few parr marked trouts. Next I fished Hickory creek in Neosho. Caught a nice one out of there. Thursday was the main event. Crane creek. Like all streams I fished it was low and clear. I met up with a good guy I met through the forums and he showed me the ropes. I caught 3 and he caught many.. Haha. He actually caught a couple nice ones and his way of fishing the creek was totally different than the way I would have fished it if fishing alone. It was a learning experience which is always welcomed. Friday I met u with my dad at montauk for opening day c&r. Which is always fun. It was a great way to spend part of my week off.

Haha you know it man!! Good to see ya on the forum!!!

I'm gonna sleep in my truck up in the Iowa driftless in 2 weeks. Keepin it cheap!!! Haha!!

looks like an awesome and successful trip!!!!! Did you stand at the 3 corners spot in SW City? My uncle and aunt used to live across the border near Sulpher springs Ar.

I totally agree with what you stated. In regards to the LP matching the hatch, or lack of, has not kept me from catching fish when using nymphs or wet flies. As long as I could get a good drift and getting the nymph down quickly using BHs. As far as using wet flies I try to control the speed of the swing constantly rod and line mending when needed. The most important thing I'd say is not scaring them. This doesn't mean crawling around on your hands and knees but taking your time and moving slow and as deliberate as you can. As I posted in the wild trout section I got skunked last Sunday due to not approaching the streams like I usually do thus scaring the fish.

it was probably just an off day. i've had success with nymphs as well but they really go for a well controlled swing of a wet/soft hackle fly. I'd like to get a few of us guys together to fish sometime!!!!

Thanks! i hope to have a cool report to give. In regards to the LP i've found the most success concentrating on moving broken water. In riffles and just below riffles. Broken water has been the key for me. Along with soft hackles and small small streamers on the swing.

Looks like a fine trip!!!! Eleven point is on my list. I'm making preparations for my Iowa driftless trip in 2 weeks. i hope to catch the grand slam of Browns, Bows, and Brookies up there!!!

Skunked!!! I fished Spring and Mill Creeks yesterday and did not bring any to hand. However, I would like to give some thoughts on this in hindsight... First I didn't spend too much time on either creek. I should have probably chose one and gave it the attention needed to fish it properly. Second I didn't bring my ninja game. This is related to only fishing each creek briefly since my time was limited yesterday. With the clock ticking I didn't proceed with the normal stealth I try to incorporate on these small creeks and fumbled around probably spooking all the trout in the area. I also didn't take the time to rest a hole when I got to it. Lastly perhaps I was using the wrong patterns but that didn't matter if had spooked the trout anyway.. I did see some deer at spring creek and went upstream of where I fished before. I've only fished Spring once before, briefly as well, and got skunked that time. Spring is a beautiful creek though and now is going to haunt me until I can give it the proper attention... Mill was just not getting to the water downstream that I wanted to fish and lack of stealth. Both streams were low and gin clear. I guess the moral of the story is don't fish somewhere half-assed... Haha!!! Happy Monday! ?