Hows The Water

[ruthead]

Not to hi jack this thread.....

Wondered how Jerry was doing. Last time I heard things were going better!

Like you said Rich, plus they don't post as frequent. Brenda spoiled us!!

If it's talkin about fishin it's not hi-jackin to me. i agree it seems like it used to be better but will probly get better also.

By the way my first bird dog was a Brittany. Started winnin field trials with her and someone stole her right out of my back yard!

[DustyPockets]

Rolled into Bennett this afternoon. 4/9. Stream looks pretty good, water somewhat high as can be expected in the spring but clearing up. Caught 4 at the spring on a jig from 5:30 to the whistle so not great but not bad.

[ruthead]

What kinda size did they have to 'em??

[DustyPockets]

For the most part small and straight from the hatchery, seems like they are getting smaller every year.

Stream really cleared out last night, walked from the downstream end of the island upstream to the flow over rock dam and did not see a soul.

Fished the island this morning but quite slow. Things picked up later, sight fished on top about 50 yards below the big bridge. Very surprised, caught 4 and lost several. Not every ones cup of tea but I fished the hatchery outflow creek. Probably 30 fish within the first 20 feet of the outflow, only caught one but should have caught ten they were really hitting.

Be here till Wednesday am, need any info let me know.

[FishinCricket]

FishinCricket, goin to try some out of the park fishin this year. What kind of flies do I need to tie up for the Niangua trip end of April??

Thanks everybody for the links. Use them quite often. Guess I just like talkin about fishin down there as well as hearin from people that have been fishin down there.

Anybody fish there this past week or weekend?? Either in or out of the park?

Here's a cool pic from last year. Thats my wife that got me started flyfishin.

Cool picture! Sorry I didn't see your post until now.. I ain't much of a fly fisherman, but I never stray far from a Woolie bugger or a leech (any time of year).. Fish em deep, I'm told. Let em swing out and slow strip em in...

In the park:

Copper John works good, or elk hair caddis.. (again, not really speaking from experience necessarily)

Now if you were curious what color of stickbait is working on the river, I could offer a bit more insight...

[jjtroutbum]

Now if you were curious what color of STINKBAIT is working on the river, I could offer a bit more insight...

[FishinCricket]

Interesting what a difference changing one letter in a word can make... Isn't that right, Jan?

(hey, did you see my "I won a raffle!" thread?"

[ruthead]

Cool picture! Sorry I didn't see your post until now.. I ain't much of a fly fisherman, but I never stray far from a Woolie bugger or a leech (any time of year).. Fish em deep, I'm told. Let em swing out and slow strip em in...

In the park:

Copper John works good, or elk hair caddis.. (again, not really speaking from experience necessarily)

Now if you were curious what color of stickbait is working on the river, I could offer a bit more insight...

No problem. We like strippin wollies and cracklebacks.

We bring the spinnin outfits also so we'd sure be interested in the stickbait but not necessarily stiNkbait.

Gonna try out of the park some maybe this trip. Somewhere between the park and Barclay. Would Barclay be the place to start or somewhere else?? No boat just wadin.

[oneshot]

No problem. We like strippin wollies and cracklebacks.

We bring the spinnin outfits also so we'd sure be interested in the stickbait but not necessarily stiNkbait.

Gonna try out of the park some maybe this trip. Somewhere between the park and Barclay. Would Barclay be the place to start or somewhere else?? No boat just wadin.

Water is still up some seems the Bite is slow at Barclay better up below 64 HWY Bridge.

oneshot

[FishinCricket]

No problem. We like strippin wollies and cracklebacks.

We bring the spinnin outfits also so we'd sure be interested in the stickbait but not necessarily stiNkbait.

Gonna try out of the park some maybe this trip. Somewhere between the park and Barclay. Would Barclay be the place to start or somewhere else?? No boat just wadin.

I use floating rapalas in rainbow or brown with a black back and a white belly (Wally world specials, actually) 3 1/2 inch or 5 inch usually works best, the ones that dive to 5 feet or so.. I cast em as far as I can and work em back to me really slowly, twitching the line on occasion.. Other lures to suggest would be teeny craws or bitsy minnows (can you tell where I do my lure shopping?) or you can always go to the old maribou jig..

I'd suggest wading from Bennett down as far as you can safely manage.. There's an island about 250 yards downstream from the last boat ramp at Bennett Public access (below the bridge), that spot is usually covered with fish.. Especially the hole below it, it's a long deep bastard.. (I wet wade from Bennett all the way to NRO about once a year.. Still to chilly for that for me cause a little swimmin is usually involved) Or you can go down and pay the NRO guys to fish there, then wade upstream about a 1/4 mile, there's some really fishy water up there.. (they still stock the river there, I think... You can check at the park store to see when they last stocked the river)