Winter In The Parks

[ozark trout fisher]

Like many trout fisherman in Missouri, I tend to avoid the trout parks most of the year. From March 1st to October 31st, fishing at Montauk, Maramec, Bennett, and Roaring River State Park can be an exercise in frustration for those of us who like a little bit of quiet and solitude on the stream. But during the winter season, from the second week of November to the second week of February, it is a different matter entirely. It is often possible to be able to have long stretches of water to yourself in areas where you would be dealing with combat fishing conditions most of the year. And best of all, the trout during the wintertime are stocked a bit less frequently, which means that fly anglers can often have better success with traditional fly fishing methods, often including dry flies.

The first thing that must be talked about is the regulations you'll need to follow. During the winter, fishing is catch and release, fly fishing only. Before I go on, it's necessary to define what a a "fly" actually is in Missouri. Essentially any single hooked artificial lure, with any kind of fur or feather on it is okay to use. This means marabou jigs, egg patterns, and most types single hooked spinners are legal to use, and it's not necessary to use a fly rod. However, anything with treble hooks, soft-plastics, or anything scented is illegal. If you have any questions about what is and what isn't okay to use, be sure to ask someone at the park store of whichever state park you are fishing. Unlike during the regular season, you won't need a daily tag. You will need a valid fishing license and a trout stamp. The parks are open to fishing Friday-Monday, from 8 AM-4PM. The exception is Maramec Spring Park, which is open every day.

The fishing itself is usually considerably less complicated than the regulations. The trout during the winter season don't see nearly as much pressure as they do the rest of the year, and the trout numbers also tend to be very high. If you're fly fishing, generally the first fly you should try is an egg pattern. Whether an egg pattern is actually a fly or not is an argument for another day, but the small jig-head egg patterns sold at most of the park stores work very well. Peach, tri-color, and orange are usually the best colors, but white, pink, and other colors can often work very well. Usually the best way to fish an egg pattern is to suspend it under a small strike indicator. I like to use the small stick-on variety, because they are very sensitive to the light strikes that are so common during the winter. Set your indicator about as deep, or in some cases slightly deeper than the water you are fishing. Usually the trout are feeding near the bottom, so it is best to start this way. Other times however (especially in slow water) the fish will be suspended, so if this isn't working it's always a good idea to adjust the depth a bit before changing flies.

While egg patterns are usually the most effective way to catch winter fish in the parks, many other fly patterns work very well. Soft hackle wet flies are often very good, and fishing them on the swing can be very exciting, often resulting in vicious strikes just as the fly swings directly downstream of you. Woolly buggers also work very well fished in a similar matter, and various nymphs under an indicator are often the ticket. Among the best are Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, Princes, and Scud patterns, in #14-18.

Warm winter days can provide some of the most exciting fly fishing in the trout parks. Often on the afternoons of days that are well above freezing, various midges, mayflies, and caddis flies can hatch. This can often lead to excellent dry fly fishing. It's never a good idea to go to any of the trout parks in winter without a good selection of Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith's Gnats, and other dry flies in various sizes ranging from #14-24. Sometimes even when bugs aren't hatching, trout can be brought up to various attractor dries, like Royal Wulffs, Ausable Wulffs, Cracklebacks, and Renegades. There are few things more exciting than watching a large, brilliantly colored winter rainbow rise up and take a big dry fly.

Spin-fisherman can often do just as well as fly fishers during the winter season. Although legal spin-fishing options are just a bit more limited than those of the fly fisher, that doesn't mean that anglers wanting to use jigs and spinners can't have a great day on the water. Far and away the best option for spin-fisherman is to toss tiny, 1/32 or 1/64 ounce marabou jigs. White, pink, black, yellow, and olive all work, just depending on the day. Some fisherman prefer to dead drift them under small bobbers or indicators, while others choose to go with a more active presentation, retrieving and "twitching" them in. Spin-fisherman can also make use of egg patterns and other flies fished under small floats. Small single hooked spinners, especially Rooster Tails, are very popular. Spinners work best on warmer days when trout are more active and inclined to chase down a fast moving lure.

Although your choice of a fly or lure is important, I would argue that it is not the most important factor for success. The water tends to be very clear during the winter season, so it is imperative to use light line or tippet. 6x tippet or two pound test is perfect. While I find light line to be important, a long leader, especially when fishing a nymph-indicator rig, is not necessary and actually more of a hindrance than a help. For subsurface fishing, 9 to 9 1/2 feet is plenty, and makes casting a lot easier than trying to juggle a 12 or 14 leader. If you're fly fishing, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to mend well, and to get drag-free drifts. Often short casts are better than long ones for this reason, because when you're casting across the whole river, chances are your line is lying across several speeds of current. This doesn't allow for any kind of a natural drift without constant mending. Short, precise casts allow for good drifts, easier hook-sets, and generally a lot less headaches.

While the generally low and clear water can make the fish a bit spooky, it also allows for excellent sight fishing, and often the most successful method is to target a specific pod of fish and focus on getting as many good drifts past them as possible. Once you find a good spot, instead of trying to cover a lot of water, stay put and figure out what fly and what kind of drift the fish in your area prefer. Your patience will usually be rewarded.

This covers most of the basics about fishing our trout parks during the winter. This isn't intended to talk about the more complicated aspects of winter fishing, such as the necessary techniques to catch the larger, 4-5 pound trout. Why? because in all honestly I don't know a great deal about trophy fishing, though it is something I'm trying to learn. But I hope that this is helpful to those who haven't done much winter trout fishing and are looking to try something new.

[laker67]

Well done OTF, a good solid basic concept for winter in the parks. Following this advice will give the first timers a heads up on flies to bring and good idea how to present them.

[ozark trout fisher]

Well done OTF, a good solid basic concept for winter in the parks. Following this advice will give the first timers a heads up on flies to bring and good idea how to present them.

Thanks, that's sort of what I was looking to do.

[FishinCricket]

Yes, excellent... Keep em on those lil rainbows, nothing to see down here at the end of the park.. Naw, this isn't a baitcaster, it's just my walking stick. Carry on..

[DaveMac]

Nice description of materials and methods! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[KS - Rhino]

One of my best days was a stop over at Roaring River on my way to the White River. Found out this stop over didn't do me any favors in drive time from Kansas City. But I had great fishing on a beautiful day, then ventured on to catch trout later in the afternoon on the White for a two state trout sweep.

[ozark trout fisher]

One of my best days was a stop over at Roaring River on my way to the White River. Found out this stop over didn't do me any favors in drive time from Kansas City. But I had great fishing on a beautiful day, then ventured on to catch trout later in the afternoon on the White for a two state trout sweep.

Sounds good. I have always heard good things about Roaring River. I'll freely admit that is the only park I've never spent much time fishing...It's unfortunately located in the opposite corner of the state from me. But I'll have to get down there sometime soon.

[laker67]

Sounds good. I have always heard good things about Roaring River. I'll freely admit that is the only park I've never spent much time fishing...It's unfortunately located in the opposite corner of the state from me. But I'll have to get down there sometime soon.

RR always fishes good. If you are looking for a big fish, winter time will seldom dissapoint you.