Browns at Bennett

[Greg]

I spent the afternoon and evening today (Sun) at Bennett. Had a really good day but no browns. I did see a couple though. Oh well a really nice day to be out. Towards evening they were hitting pretty well on dry flies. That's always a blast.

Greg

[troutchaser]

Where's Ho-Hum?

Autumn is my favorite season, so if there's a place to enjoy the fall scenery and catch some trout at the same time, you might have found heaven on earth!

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hey Troutchaser.

Ho-Hum is down river from Bennett. From Lebanon go past the first park entrance and right before you go across the Niangua there is a road on the right, take it around 8-10 long miles to Ho-Hum. On the way there is a fork in the road stay left. Occasionally you will see the Niangua on your left down in the valley. When you get to Ho-Hum they have a can to put your $3 parking fee in and go on down to the river.

When the leaves are turning it's awesome down there. Browns are stocked down there and that is what we catch, along with a smallmouth sometimes.

Don't bother in the summer unless you really like to party. It turns into Mardi Gras with bead throwing and drunken fights.

Snagged.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Troutchaser, coming from Springfield on 64 its the road on the north side, opposite the lower bridge entrance to the park.

The Browns fluctuate up and down the river some, depending on water temperature. In the river they have some freedom to find ideal water and I believe they use that. They also revert to a more typical Brown trout habit of using cover and feeding on minnows and crawdads, IMO.

[gonefishin]

Snagged:

I dont know how but I missed this post. Sorry I didnt reply sooner. I have been through Basalt but have never fished there. I bet it is a blast.

I have never been to Ho-Humm. Do the people at Ho-Humm allow wader access? Do they charge a fee or how does it work?

I don't live far from Bennett so anytime you want to hook up and give them a try let me know.

I am only about an hour from Taney. I like to go there in the fall and winter.

Stockton is only about 45 minutes from where I live. I have learned that there is some great wade/fly fishing there. White bass, crappie, small mouth, bluegill and an occasional walleye keep it interesting. Last spring I caught a channel that weighed about 7 lbs. Made things interesting for a few minutes.

Gas prices are a killer. Sure has put a damper on the distance I can afford to drive to go fishing.

gonefishin

Man Gone I'm jealous.

I Like to fish in a little town called Basalt CO. The Frying Pan and the Roaring Fork Rivers come together right in town. We stay at a Bed and Breakfast in town and at any time I could walk out the door with my flyrod and hit several different places to fish within a couple blocks.

You have a great setup being so close to the places I like to fish. For me it's almost 3 hours just to get to Bennett. Not only the drive time (I can deal with that) but now the cost of gas is the killer. Anyway we'll hook up this fall.

Snagged.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hey Gone.

Maybe I'll see you at the get together at Bennett.

Yes Ho-Humm allows wading access. I only go in the fall and winter and they charge $3 to park. In the summer it's a zoo, don't bother.

We'll get hooked up. For me trout season starts in October. I like to fish Taney in the winter time. Now if we can just keep gas prices down.

Snagged.

[Snow Fly]

Snagged in outlet 3 in correct, the good fishing for brown's is along the area where all the camping takes places, swimmers, parties, etc. probably a lot of the browns, regardless of size, hit the old camp fire skillets in the blink of an eye. Late fall, winter, and early spring {April, early May} the best time.

At the gate there use to be a mail box to put your $3.00 in.

[GregSTC]

I caught two browns at Bennett Springs last Saturday evening 9/9/06. I was using a #18 Black Tungston Bead Head Olive and Black Midge fishing on both sideds of the first handicap jetty above the bridge in zone 1. Both were right at fifteen inches.

7X Fluorocarbon Tippet is a minumum for fishing the park now.

GregSTC

[jjtroutbum]

Snagged

I have really enjoyed your posts on this topic. Just wondering are your choices of patterns the same in the river as they are in the park. I must admit I havent read the "Get Togethers" threads yet but, Im also in the Metro area and as you stated I also could allways use some more local fishin buddies splitten gas and such always seems to make a few more trips possible

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Went to Bennett this weekend. Saw quite a few browns up above the big dam all the way to the first handicap pier. Most of the browns, including a couple of BIG one's could be found just below the pier. Ended up catching one about 14".

John