6-8-2008 Report

[Dave Cook]

Hey CC hate to be a wet blanket but spoons are illegal in zone 3. Flies and lures are prohibited. It's the only place I know where it is illegal to fly fish.

The regulations for Bennett can be found at - http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/12001.pdf

Trout Lure Definitions

Fly an artificial lure constructed on a single point hook, using any material except soft plastic bait and natural and scented baits as defined below, that is tied, glued or otherwise permanently attached. Artificial Lure a lure constructed of any material excluding soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait as defined below. Soft Plastic Bait synthetic eggs, synthetic worms, synthetic grubs and soft plastic lures. Natural and Scented Baits a natural fish food such as bait fish, crayfish, frogs permitted as bait, grubs, insects, larvae, worms, salmon eggs, cheese, corn and other food substances not containing any ingredient to stupefy, injure or kill fish. This does not include flies or artificial lures. It does include dough bait, putty or paste-type bait, any substance designed to attract fish by taste or smell and any fly, lure or bait containing or used with

[FishinCricket]

Hey CC hate to be a wet blanket but spoons are illegal in zone 3. Flies and lures are prohibited. It's the only place I know where it is illegal to fly fish.

The regulations for Bennett can be found at - http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/12001.pdf

Trout Lure Definitions

Fly an artificial lure constructed on a single point hook, using any material except soft plastic bait and natural and scented baits as defined below, that is tied, glued or otherwise permanently attached. Artificial Lure a lure constructed of any material excluding soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait as defined below. Soft Plastic Bait synthetic eggs, synthetic worms, synthetic grubs and soft plastic lures. Natural and Scented Baits a natural fish food such as bait fish, crayfish, frogs permitted as bait, grubs, insects, larvae, worms, salmon eggs, cheese, corn and other food substances not containing any ingredient to stupefy, injure or kill fish. This does not include flies or artificial lures. It does include dough bait, putty or paste-type bait, any substance designed to attract fish by taste or smell and any fly, lure or bait containing or used with

While I am sure that you are right I have had people kick me out of zone two with that little spoon, and when I showed it to the park ranger he confirmed that I needed to stay in zone three! Weird huh?

So do the rules mean that if I put a feather on the lure then I can take it to zone one?

This is exciting, I thought I was restricted to Zone three (which is why I usually stay out of the park!)

[Dave Cook]

The park ranger has no enforcement powers for the fishing. Park on his grass and that's another story. Your best bet for questions about a lure are the people at the hatchery. They are not conservation agents (the final authority) but they are always there and the conservation agents are seldom there. At least as far as you know. Also, the tackle shops around know all the rules. Your spoon is perfectly legal in zone 2. The stretch from the hatchery outlet to the whistle bridge is a great place to fish that kind of lure.

[FishinCricket]

The park ranger has no enforcement powers for the fishing. Park on his grass and that's another story. Your best bet for questions about a lure are the people at the hatchery. They are not conservation agents (the final authority) but they are always there and the conservation agents are seldom there. At least as far as you know. Also, the tackle shops around know all the rules. Your spoon is perfectly legal in zone 2. The stretch from the hatchery outlet to the whistle bridge is a great place to fish that kind of lure.

Thank you again Dave for the helpful information, it's amazing how many people (like myself) are misinformed...

So if I could construct that lure and action in a soft plastic it would be ok? And are Sinkers considered "constructed of any material excluding soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait as defined"... and therefore illegal in this zone?

[smoke20]

your spoon legal in zone 2 i have seen the park ranger write people tickets for fishing sevral times and got checked by him for my licsense every time i went catch and release last winter

[Kyle]

I was down on friday afternoon and thought the river to only be up about a foot and thought that the water was just a little off color. Then again I only fished zones one and two. Fly fished the whole time and did pretty well caught about 15 in about 5 hours. Took me awhile to figure them out and wound up hitting them on san juans with rusty midge droppers in the faster water below the dam and below the rock dam in zone one. Some of the best fighting fish I have caught out of there in a long time.

[DoveTail]

I think if you had plastic on a "lure" that may qualify in Zone 3? I have asked similar questions but is it kind of a fine line there. I would take your actual lure into the hatchery and say "where can I fish this"? I have always stayed away from having any soft plastic legs and things although I heard that is okay. Just reading the rules, you never know how that could be defined.

[FishinCricket]

I think if you had plastic on a "lure" that may qualify in Zone 3? I have asked similar questions but is it kind of a fine line there. I would take your actual lure into the hatchery and say "where can I fish this"? I have always stayed away from having any soft plastic legs and things although I heard that is okay. Just reading the rules, you never know how that could be defined.

That's sort of my point.. I guess I understand if there are limitations to what you can use where, but it doesn't make any sense.. I am sure with enough engineering I could manage to make a soft plastic bait that would have the same action as this metal spoon.. So if that can be done, what's the difference to the park?

Don't answer that, it's a rhetorical question....

However I am actually excited at the prospect of fishing zone two... I haven't been in that zone in years (remember i usually buy the yellow tag go to the river where it's all legal in the same spot)

Now the second part of that question was... If I attach a feather to it does it become legal in zone 1 and not in zone 2?

[Trout Stalker]

I went once on free fishing day at Bennett Springs by mistake. Never again. I seen more rule breakers and mules than I ever want to fish around.

[FishinCricket]

I went once on free fishing day at Bennett Springs by mistake. Never again. I seen more rule breakers and mules than I ever want to fish around.

And at least a couple goofs like me that are inadvertantly breaking the rules due to confusion...

It looks like it would be a good time for the kids though..