Fishing Report? Really?

[Wayne SW/MO]

Maybe it's just me getting old, cranky and resistant to change, but BS has been transformed into nothing but a cheesy roadside amusement park IMO.

I miss what it used to be.

I agree, I fished it the first time in '59, I believe, and the only things that look the same are the bridge, the dam, and the tower. The spring doesn't even look the same, but the biggest change is that most of the holes are gone. Most of the places that are named as holes, were actually holes, and you couldn't see the bottom, the rest couldn't be waded. The spring has slowed and that has changed the speed of the water.

I miss the old CCC store, Henry's, Vogels, the campground above the spring, even Springview, maybe the old Charlie.

[NoLuck]

I'm fully aware that there are other sources of info for water conditions at Bennett. I just find it makes me irritated that they intentionally post on Thursday the water conditions of Tuesday. They don't want to hurt any business that they may get. Dishonesty at its simplest level. Seriously, how long does it take to post that report?? I know it don't take 2 days. I watched the previous owners do it when I was there one day.

Yeah maybe I'm just getting old and cranky too. Honesty goes very far in this world. Credibility also is questionable after stuff like that too. The previous owners would even do a bulletin if things changed on short notice. I guess I shouldn't complain about a free service. But then again..........

[Gavin]

Havent fished it in a long time. Took my wife down there when we were dating 7-8 years ago...and she hated the place.

2nd to last trip...was with my Dad right before he passed. We went down to Sand Spring the day before winter C&R opened at Bennett. Ozark Fly Fishers Outing, was on the board back then so I thought I'd give it a go...Great float that first day! Probably 60-70 trout and a couple bonus bass between the two of us..Nobody out...lots of eagles.. Dad got best fish with an 18" brown...Fished the park the next day. Guess we caught 5-10 each in the first hour our two till Dad slipped and got wet. We retreated to our hotel room for a bit. Dad dried his waders, and I tied some flies...Dad suggested that we put the boat in again. We were glad that we did! Saturday came, and he woke me up early to run the shuttle before breakfast.

Its probably not as miserable as Meramec Springs....but that is no claim to fame.

[brittsnbirds]

Still not as bad as RRSP. Talk about commercialized. I was down there a couple years ago for the first time since college. Ton's of obvious changes, but the biggest was the "vinyl hatch". OMG, standing in the stream in the Park working some holes and here they come. SWIMMERS on rafts, tubes, etc. in the same stream that I was trying to fish in. I thought it was a State Trout Park?? I would understand it if it was below the bridge but not in the park for god's sake!! I guess the Niangua is the same way but your not actually in the Trout Park.

What scares me with all the concrete that they are putting in is it will eventually look like RRSP.

I agree with you NoLuck on the water conditions. This site is the most up to date that you can hang your hat on as long as someone posts the conditions. The other sites that I use is the USGS water data site and the trout cam.

However until June that will not be an issue.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't believe they are suppose to swim in the spring branch. They can swim in the creek that enters it, but I believe that's it. The park fishing rules apply down to the whistle bridge below where the lake was.

[brittsnbirds]

It was above the bridge by a long shot and just below the last concrete walkway area , believe me I couldn't believe it. Blew my fricking mind. When I asked someone about it they said "yep, been like that for years".

[NoLuck]

I use the USGS site all the time before heading out fishing. People just need to be truthful that's all. Even though the truth may hurt business a little it will be thanked too by some.

Pat,

I've seen them swim in Bennett too. But it didn't last too long as they were notified Real quick of the rules.

[brittsnbirds]

That's why I check this wonderful site out. Numerous readers and plenty that are happy to report on their experiences all over the state. Best part about it is you can decide where you want to go by checking the different reports and help you make a better decision.

The particular report that you are referring to Rich is just a side post that I check. Mainly for the pics of the water, like the troutcam. What they post as the "hot" flies usually are not what we use! Actually I don't think I have ever observed them post your preferance as a hot fly (good thing)! And you can bet that the yellow and black jig, john deere, white mini jig, bedspread, red and green Cracklebacks (never post the color of hackle), power bait, etc. etc. are always on there. No use looking at what the top producers are because they are usually the same every time.

What I would like to see is a report that talks about the hatch, what type, when it occurred, where (as they occur in different spots of the stream) and possibly what was used to replicate the hatch. Several of the "ole timers" know what, when, and where the hatches are. I don't get down there enough to remember. Maybe we need to start our own journal of BSSP hatches and create a hatch chart?? Might have to start working on that this year!!

[NoLuck]

A hatch chart specific to Bennett would be cool. But if I can see what is coming off the water and how the fish are acting is pretty much all I need. You just need to have all the bullets in the supply. If not you can usually find something close enough. Size to me is the most important factor. Then presentation then color.

You can bet if they sold what people were using to catch fish other than the usual trout park stuff they would certainly be posting it. I myself am glad they don't. I never pay any attention to what they say is working really. I stick to about 5 go to flys every time I go. None of them are ever mentioned thank God.

Once again I could care less for their fishing report for fishing advice. I look at it for a people flow report mainly. You can get an idea if the amount of traffic that the park has seen by the pics. But who knows when they were actually taken. I just know BS when I see it. They do provide a look into what is going on but it is only a small fraction of what is reality.

[fishinwrench]

Every fishable mayfly 'hatch" in the Spring branch is either cream or celery colored and size 18-24, they are baetis and hatch out of weedbeds (if you wanna get technical about it) and the spinner fall happens over land.

The "pale evening dun, and the PMD" that you hear about all the time (via Weavers report and from JR) doesn't even exist at BS.

The Caddis's are coffee bean brown with slate wings, and #20 (they are divers so the "hatch" really isn't a hatch, it is egg laying. And they die mid-stream or in the surface film after laying their eggs. The crawl to the bank to "hatch".

Midges are creamy gray and smaller than any hook made...but a #26-32 works.

There's a lime green/red legged hopper hatch in June (#10)

Those are the only dependable/fishable "hatches" at BS as far as I know.....except for the "Gut hatch".