Browns at Bennet

[JestersHK]

So heard there's a bunch of browns in the stream from one of my buddies and also from Weaver's article.  

Never caught any browns at Bennet before, but did they used to stock them regularly and then stop?

[laker67]

16 minutes ago, JestersHK said:

So heard there's a bunch of browns in the stream from one of my buddies and also from Weaver's article.  

Never caught any browns at Bennet before, but did they used to stock them regularly and then stop?

The answer is "yes" to there being several browns in the creek right now. Most, if not all, are small. By that I mean 6 to 10 inch with an occasional 12 incher brown trout. Keep in mind they are below the legal length limit for the majority that you will catch. They  escaped from the rearing pools as did several par marked rainbows 3 to 6 inches long. As sure as I am telling you this, someone will start talking about all of the stream born, natural reproduction, watch out for the redds, and all that wild trout crap at bssp. Hope you catch some browns.

[laker67]

39 minutes ago, JestersHK said:

So heard there's a bunch of browns in the stream from one of my buddies and also from Weaver's article.  

Never caught any browns at Bennet before, but did they used to stock them regularly and then stop?

To answer your question about the stocking, they mostly stocked the river, with a brief stocking or two in zone one. Occasionally they would stock the creek with brood stock, but most big browns started out in the river and migrated into the park. Over the years several 10 to 18 lb brown trout were caught at bssp. John Goad caught the first really big one at 15lb, followed by Jeff Tiefenaur at 17 lb, and then Jack Bushacker at 18 lb. A handful of other from 14 to 16 were caught as well. The last big one that I caught at bssp was in 04 at 12.5 lb. 6 and 8 lbers were pretty common in the  80's and 90's. Hopefully we could see that again with new management. 

[JestersHK]

That's really cool, and I hope we see some more often.  I didn't realize they even had then in the hatchery for river stocking and just assumed they only raised rainbows there.  Thanks for the info.

[Foghorn]

Laker and I like catching big browns don't we Laker!

[snagged in outlet 3]

I grew up going to Bennett and I'm 54.  We used to catch real nice browns all the time.  Never weighed one because I don't keep them but a lot were 25 inch plus.

Laker is right but I haven't been there since they put that hideous pipe in below the main bridge.  Which coincidentally is where I used to catch the nicest fish.  Although I avoided the main hatchery outflow it usually has some big browns in it in the fall.  I just don't like that kind of fishing but you can certainly catch the biggest fish that come into the spring branch there.

Pete

[JestersHK]

I've chased the big browns at Taneycomo these past 2 winters, but have yet to land one.  

I hooked into something big one night down by the dam which I'm sure would of been my personal best, but never got to see it.

Biggest fish I've personally seen caught out of Bennett was about a 4lb rainbow.  

I've heard the stories of years past, but I'm still a trout noob going into my 4th season.  

[laker67]

34 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I grew up going to Bennett and I'm 54.  We used to catch real nice browns all the time.  Never weighed one because I don't keep them but a lot were 25 inch plus.

Laker is right but I haven't been there since they put that hideous pipe in below the main bridge.  Which coincidentally is where I used to catch the nicest fish.  Although I avoided the main hatchery outflow it usually has some big browns in it in the fall.  I just don't like that kind of fishing but you can certainly catch the biggest fish that come into the spring branch there.

Pete

Fortunately that hideous pipe has not run enough water to make much difference there. It attracts more people than fish, which is a good thing. Keeps them out of good part.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Rick,

I miss going there and so does my family, but man it went down hill a lot.

I guess I'll have to give it another go this year since they have a new guy on board.

Pete

 

[flyfishmaster]

I have to agree with Laker...  Back in the 90's and all the way up to 2005, during every trip we made to BSSP somebody caught a 4 lbs or better Brown, usually in Zone 2.  During the Winter seasons we would catch multiple Browns in Zone 3 as well.  But since then, if I could find a 16" Brown per day, I would feel lucky.   

SIO3.  The pipes in Zone 2 will not effect you if your fly fishing.  The people that fish that section are only working about 30' of the bank because everything else around that area is nothing but thick moss.  I fish from the opposite bank anyway.

later,

 

FFM