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The only problem is the size of the park. The fishing pressure gets a little more compacted. I've had boats anchor on top of me at Taneycomo when you start to get a few fish. The guys who look like a walking Orvis catalog crowd me on the White River after I've been in a spot an hour. Been terrorized by the families who just turn their kids loose at Montauk with no supervision and found that some of the area experts at Bennett deserve Hillbilly Days. Don't even want to mention the drunks at Lake of the Ozarks. Just a question of manners and respect on all the waters. Okay - my rants over now.

Water is high but in the banks and remains cloudy but with a green tint to it so the stream is improving to the point that you can make out the top of your boots while in the water. Nothing really spectacular about the size of the fish but a weird thing. Started at the bridge and working upstream noticed that as you went from 1 pool to the next the fish would fight differently. At the bridge pool they came in with no fight and the next pool you were glad the pole didn't break. Then the next pool they would just kind of float in. Odd. Bright colors are still your best friend especially orange. Bait fisherman were doing good with DD's also. Lures you had to use the brighest things you had. I didn't have any Tinks or Doe in Heat on me but before the siren you had all the venison for fishing partners you wanted. Good Luck.

Water is high but in the banks. However the stream has the color of your favorite carp hole. Had a small front come through that but a serious case of lockjaw on the fish. Threw about everything at them and the best results were on the bright colors particuarly orange and yellow glow balls. Fish are running on the small 10" stocker side and not really even putting up a serious fight. Only saw 1 gent pull in 1 good fish in 4 hours. Sure easy to find the structure they added last winter with all the floats and lures hanging off of it. Crowds on the light side. Heard the gentleman with the thick mustache who usually handles the parking fees in the morning was having heart surgery. Wishing him good luck and a quick recovery.

I do appreciate the information Sherwood. Owe ya a beer. Don't get down there too often and now know how to start a days fishing. Should make fishing a nymph more interesting. Thanks.

It's a long ride from Ralls County just to be suprised at the work done over a winter. [Never will get over those jetties just popping up.] Any holes scoured out or structure added this winter to the stream. Thanks ahead of time.

Charlie Brown Christmas

Hoping to get down this up coming week. Hows the water and fishing with this never ending rain? Thanks.

Wasn't around the area where the brown was caught but the fish were biting even if you had to stand in the rain like a drowned rat. Had excellant luck with the green jig and the fish were sure fighting hard but just no real size. If you wanted to catch 5lbs of fish you would of had to catch your stringer and steal your buddies. Good fighters just on the smaller size. I did find out that a new set of rain gear is heading my way. Still ain't dry 2 days later.

Water has that green shade to it that actually looks like trout water after all the cloudy water from the rains earlier this year. Still some weeds on top of the water in a few locations after the vegetation was cut last week. One of the busier days at the park this year that I've seen. If you catch a fish near a family of Koreans be ready for them to crowd you out of that spot almost immediately. Don't want to sound like a racist but darn they did it to me 3 times in 3 different locations all within 20 yards. Didn't have a lot of luck with fast moving lures. Had to stick to jigs, worms and the like. Saw a few of the anglers having success on bright baits. Started at the bridge and moving upstrem the fishing became tougher until I was skunked at the flat water closer to the spring. Fish are of good size with quite a few going over 2 pounds and really making that drag play that beautiful music. Good Luck-there's nothing sadder than a dry dip net.

Probably to late for you to read this but the water is high and running hard. Went yesterday and in some locations it's lapping out of the bank. Water is the perfect color if you were thinking carp hole. Very hard to fish a lure below the bathrooms due to the current. Had best luck with pink/white jigs and fl. red worms Bait users were having luck with the bright colors. Fish are good size with a couple going over 2 lbs. Have fun.

Water is slightly up and still murky. Had luck with the green jig and red/orange nymphs. Bait fisherman only seemed to have luck fishing the brighest colors. No luck with the spinner baits. Just to let you know there is a bad batch of Tec-tan line on the market sold at Cabelas I lost at least 12 fish even with no drag. Testing the line I found that in some areas it kept its strength and in others if you sneezed on it the line would break. I'm out the $27 not including postage and handling. Don't make the same mistake.

Just to let you know there is a bad batch of Tec-Tan line currently being sold exclusively by Cabelas. Purchased the 4 lb. test last year and had good success with the theory that the products 4 lb. test is thinner in diameter than standard 2 lb. mono. This year I purchased the 3.1 lb. and had a least 12 fish break off even with the drag removed entirely. While fishing I pulled some line off the spool and in certain lengths it would retain it strength and in other length areas I swear if you sneezed on it the line would bust. I'm out the $27 not including the postage and handling fees. Don't make the same mistake.

Water levels are normal and the water is just a tad cloudy. Large turnout so I guess with the great weather everyone is getting in 1 more trip. Still no Browns and the fish are standard size. Biggest 1 went under 2lbs caught on a red/white worm. White still the hot color but the fish are picky. Had many of them chase the lures but turn or strike short all day. Better luck on the slow lures like nymphs or jigs over faster spinner lures. Old Iron Works Festival this weekend so be ready to pay $10 to enter the Park.

Water is a little high but as murky as I have ever seen it. The color of the water reminds you of your favorite carp hole. At best 18 inches before you can't make anything out. The gent I was standing next to said a 5' rain in Steelville earlier in the week had really screwed up the water conditions. Don't worry about being subtle. Use the biggest and gaudiest lures you have. The best luck we had was finally going to yellow and white baits. Fish are standard stocker size with a few larger ones mixed in. The 1 nice thing is we caught several fish getting their fall colors. Yot know that deep bronze shade where the fish look like they posing for the cover of Field and Stream. No browns yet but the water still a little warm perhaps. Hoping they come in up river this year.

Water levels and color are normal. Had a brief front move through with some showers which seemed to give the fish lock jaw. Took about an hour before anything wanted to bite. The bad news is the fish in the stream aren't the size they were earlier in the year, plenty of the 10" stockers though. Don't get me wrong- there are still plenty of good size fish to be caught but a little catch and release will be needed. Skip the spinner lures and stay with slow fishing equipment like worms and jigs. Is there anything as frustrating as watching fish bump your lures and then turn away at the last second? Plenty of folks at the park getting in the last of vacation season I guess. Had more luck with whte worms than the green jig.

Water is clear and the fish are good size. The gent at DJ's in town says his contact believes fish will remain good size up to Labor Day. White, White and more White. Thats the color of choice. Did better with white worms then white jigs and the fellow upstream was having success with marshmellows. Note; Beware the guy with the green hat, short hair and the tan waders who looks like a geek who just spent his last dollar at Orvis for every gadget. I watched him step in front of a father with 2 small boys fishing from ther bank cutting them off from a run of good luck they were having. Have some tact, courtesy and manners buddy. Just because your kids don't want to fish with you doesn't mean you should take it out on others.

The Park itself has taken a pretty good hit from the flood waters. Make sure you look at the photos of the water next to the tag windows. Lots of debris scooped to the side while piles of wood thats been sawed waiting to be taken away. Go slow in the now washboarded gravel parking lot. But if you go fast the kids will enjoy the ride. Water is still very high so that chest waders are the best answer or just keeping completely out of the stream and using the long handled dip net. Water is the color of a cloudy glass of green Kool-Aid. The fish seem to be in the faster moving water as opposed to the slower moving pools upstream. Water to warm perhaps with all the rain. Don't be afraid to use an old spark plug for a weight. Fish are of average stocker size but are biting. We found use the the wildest, ugliest colors of bait, worms and jigs gave the best results.

Okay its not 1 for the wall but brother those are the ones that make a fun day.

Water is very high and stained just barely lapping over the walk ways in some areas. Current is very strong so don't bother reaching for a spinner bait as it will just ride on top of the water as you retrieve. Better plan on jigs, worms or bait. The good news is that the fish are really biting and a good thick size! The are fighting so that you get to hear that lovely sound of the drag as line is being peeled out. Seriously its been a long time since I was actually wooried that my rod tip might snap off. Thats how much fun they are right now. On the bad side I was talking to 1 of the gents who works at the Park and when I asked him how opening day went. He said pretty good but there were 2 incidents of stupidity. Apparently there was 1 fight and in another incident somebody went to jail. I guess all I can say is good for that. Its not like I haven't had problems at other Parks or Lake Taneycomo with game hogs. It"s just good to see occasionaly an idiot who should be removed from the gene pool spending time in jail.

Went down to the park on the 5th and about the only thing i didn't throw was the kitchen sink. A small front came in with just a brief shower and the fish all got lock jaw. I know it wasn't just me because all the regulars were commenting how hard the fishing was. We tried nymphs , jigs, flies , worms and glow balls with every spinner bait you can name. I just finally ran out of different colors and lures in my vest to throw at them. Water is a little low and yes we did catch fish but boy are they hesitant to commit. Had our best luck on jigs and worms. The gent above us and a little better success with white power bait. I hope the fish we caught and saw are not how the season will continue till Oct. 31. The fish all year have been good 1 pounders and a lot heavier than that with beautiful color and really putting up some fights. All we saw and caught were the 10" silver stockers. Yeah I know I'm catching fish but I really got spoiled this year by the quality of the fish that have been in the stream. Good Luck.

Water is at the level you think it would be for July. Fish are not jumping on the hook but I think you will have good success. Seems to be a lot of families down. I guess trying to get in a trip before school starts. Caught some really nice size fish running from 1 to 4 pounds. CAUTION! If you go down early before the buzzer sound SKUNKS are hanging around the fish cleaning table in the parking lot. Had success on green worms,yellow glow balls, and white jigs. Good luck.

Went down on 5-9, water is still about a foot up and dingy. Now the question is if I ever go fishing again with my friend. You stand right next to a guy fishing the same hole with the same line and lures and he's catching 4 to your 1. Now thats bad enough but you know the rules. The guy with the smallest fish on his stringer has to buy breakfast and you've worked up quite a hunger catching all those fish did'nt you? Thats bad enough but now its 2 and a half hours home and you don't mind explaining all the details of your fishing skills. Frustarting Fish! I hate the taste of humble pie. You just wait till next time when I bring out the 4 leaf clover and the fishing hat of a thousand casts. Oh it stinks as bad as it looks but oh how it works!

Went down early on the 19th. Water is still high and stained but brother the fishing is GREAT! Have you ever really been so tired of catching good size fish that you had to take a break. I know, I know what a terrible problem to have. Seriously these were the hardest fighting fish that I have seen in a looooong time. When you wonder just how much farther your pole can bend with that fish making a 3rd run you know your having a good time. Green, brown or yellow jigs worked great. Also had success with red and green worms. Good luck.

If anyone has been to the Park recently can they advise if the ice storms have screwed the stream up [trees down etc.] or if the Foundation has done any work to the Park this year. Thanks.

Went down on Oct 2. Fish are a little larger that the previous trip and are really putting up a good fight. So be ready to smile as your line is peeled from your reel as the drag makes that oh so lovely sound. Fishing conditions are perfect but the fish seem contrary to bite. Had to switch lures, colors and tactics numerous times. Seems like if you caught 2 then you had to to change your tactics for another strike. Did pretty well though on red worms and brown wooly worms with a gold spinner [had to be a gold spinner-no strikes on a silver spinner with the same lure-now thats a picky fish!]. If you plan on going down the weekend of October 14 and 15th be advised that the park will be hosting their Iron Works days and the price to pull in the park will rise to $10. The gal behing the counter said some of the regular fisherman have given her an earful about the price that weekend so be nice. Its not like the staff makes the rules.