Ozark Rainbows

[Jeff Tief]

BBT,took a friend to BSS his first time to fish it back in1986.He had grown up fishing Maramac Springs as we all had simply because it was the closest to home.We arrived,bought tags and while I was putting waders on suggested he walk over to the bridge in zone 2 to look for fish.Within seconds he was hustling to get to the water to throw at what he described as a 7-8# rainbow.No luck on it so I suggested looking upstream for fish and he took off again to fish for another big fish-not the same fish this one was a little smaller.Again no luck so I suggested checking above the dam on the highway side and I would check by the hatchery side.I didn't find anything but again he had spotted a big fish.When I got to him he was trying to light a cigarette and was shaking so bad he was haing trouble getting it lit. As the day progressed we fished zone 1 starting at the dam and fishing to the spring hole.It wasn't dredged out back then and we worked our way upstream sight fishing for big rainbows.We counted 27 big fish in zone 1 alone and probably missed seeing some fish.I did catch a big rainbow at the guage hole that weighed 11 1/2 #.We fished later thru zone 2 and he had a shot at a fish at the rock hole bigger than the fish I caught.That was the kind of fishing BSS had in the early days for us and guys who fished it long before we did talk of the same fishery.Still hope that someday with all the improvements it can return to it's old glory days.If not may have to invest in a 2wt.

[mic]

so not having been to Bennett spring I'm kind of out of the loop here. What about it makes it so bad? I was planning a trip to one of the other state trout parks soon, should I pass Bennett over? and why?

BBT... my two cents. It is all about expectation. It is a park, there are going to be people around you and the fish are going to standard rainbow stockers. If you are cool with that, then don't worry about the other stuff here. If you are there to put fish in the freezer or you are about pure numbers, then be on the water at the horn and catch your stupid fish. If you are there to relax and not worry about numbers caught, sleep in and wait for the breakfast crowd to leave the water... or get up early and fish the river below the spring and not worry about the clock, the horn, or the folks standing side by side in the good holes. If you want a chance at a big'em, rent a room at Liley's and go fish in Branson.

[Al Agnew]

Keep in mind that a lot of the stuff at Bennett may not be MDC's decisions. It's a state park and run by the MO DNR, with MDC only responsible for the hatchery and stocking the fish, everything else has to be at least coordinated with DNR, if not completely decided upon by DNR. I'd venture to say the canoe rental is all DNR, and probably the lack of a catch and release area is at least in part DNR's decision. Pretty sure that DNR is also interested in attracting more people, though MDC has a stake in wanting more trout anglers to get more tag money.

I don't get the whole trout park appeal, but I'm glad that lots of people do...makes the streams a little less crowded!

[laker67]

You know Al, I keep forgetting about them dnr people, and you are right, they control most things outside the confines of the creek bank.

[Jeff Tief]

Al,I recall some good trips to Maramac when we were younger especially the one where Uncle Nip drove and had everyone pretty well car sick by the time we got there. BBt try them all and see which ones you favor, as stated it is often too crowded but it does offer some degree of a safe environment if you have a family and don't have the extra time or cash to get away on a fancier trip.We took the youngest kids off and on for years and always had a great time whether we caught a few,a bunch, or none.

[Al Agnew]

Yep, I remember those trips...I probably haven't fished a trout park more than two or three times since those days. I think it was the sequence of little hills just on the west side of Steelville that finally got most of us car sick! But the parks are great places to take the family and get some tugs on the line. Mary and I have stayed in the cabins at Montauk during the winter while fishing the river below...it's a pretty sweet deal. I'm glad the parks are there, for sure.

[Big Brown Trout]

yeah trout parks are a bit weird, the fishing is (sometimes) to easy and I hate standing shoulder to shoulder with so many people, but then again its good to see new things and to fish where there are fish. I hadn't even fished Roaring River until this year.

[ozark trout fisher]

I like the parks in the winter, especially Montauk......but in summer they are (in my opinion) good for dunking Powerbait and catching a limit. Nothing wrong with that, but I don't see them as fly-fishing waters during the regular season. I have had fun on the fly only areas in the past but they aren't (and aren't intended to be) a replacement for blue/red ribbon waters. They are still put and take.