Day trips pay off on my Blue Ribbon Trout Slam attempts

[Jthawks]

I decided to try to fish all the blue ribbon areas of Missouri in baby steps. I think Blue Springs Creek was the hardest out of the 4 areas I've been to so far. The first success in Blue Ribbon area was outside of Montauk Park at Tan Vat access where I caught a 10" brown on a griffiths knat. That was my first brown and first blue ribbon success.

On to the next Blue Ribbon area.....After many attempts at Blue Springs Creek I finally caught my Blue Ribbon Area wild rainbow trout. I was about to quit fishing and on my way back I was casting down stream with a dry fly mosquito. It was 7pm or later in mid September. I caught two little wild trout. I'm more confident in fishing this creek now.                                       

The next day I went to Little Piney Creek at Lane Spring Blue Ribbon Area access. I hooked a trout on a crackle back and it jumped out of the air and got away. The lures failed me as well and the trout were very good at getting off the hook this day it seemed. I had my dog with me so I called it a day and decided to try again another day. The next trip there I caught 3 wild rainbow (all on a small spinning lure), and others got off the hook as well. I was determined to catch a trout on my fly rod using a dry fly so I went back the next day and fished it again in the same area, and caught a wild trout on a soft hackle in a riffle near a big log, and as well as 4 other trout on a spinning lure. Some fish managed to get off the hook...it's always the big ones. This creek was action packed compared to my previous visits/attempts. Way more pleasing than trout parks! I made a two minute video summary of this trip and got a few pics.

Now it's off to the 4th Blue Ribbon Area attempt...then the 5th...so I can get the Bronze Blue Ribbon Area Trout Slam pin, and to enjoy what Missouri has to offer. Cheers! Catch ya in the stream.

[Johnsfolly]

6 hours ago, Jthawks said:

Now it's off to the 4th Blue Ribbon Area attempt...then the 5th...so I can get the Bronze Blue Ribbon Area Trout Slam pin, and to enjoy what Missouri has to offer. Cheers! Catch ya in the stream.

Congrats on your success thus far! Sounds like you are off to a great start. 

Pm me to let me know if you need help or advise on this quest. I have successfully fished (i.e., caught trout) all of the blue ribbon sections (as well as all of the red and whites too) some time ago, but still can help if you need.

[jdmidwest]

They are fun if you have the time.  Something I never seem to have any more.  Back in the 90's I hit all of the wild trout streams around the Rolla area down to Arkansas Line. 

I still am missing the SW Mo. Areas.

 

[Jthawks]

I added Spring Creek to my trout slam and caught three fish on a lure, all pretty good size too which is always great in these creeks. I'll have to go back and land a fish on my fly rod. I know lures work, and I like to catch fish while I learn the stream for the first time.

The first fish caught was 12" and at the time it was the biggest I caught so far (during early October). Caught it near the parking lot access.

Then caught two more in deep pockets/runs along the banks. This Spring Creek is the fifth successful stream for the trout slam. Mill Creek was the fourth (posted pics and vid of it on another topic on here).

After I fished Mill Creek for the 2nd time and had success, I decided to stop at Blue Springs Creek around 6:16p-6:30p. I fished with a lure there right off the bridge before the conservation parking lots where there is a very deep pool with lots of water flow. Two fish were hooked and got off...it was pretty dark by the time I had bites. These fish have plenty of oxygen to jump out of the water and fight. I almost thought about giving up around 7pm and decided to keep trying for a big one (for a creek). I finally landed a 13" trout in this creek...I was stoked. If I caught this in a trout park it would be a keeper size. So cool to see these fish in creeks around Missouri.

After getting 5 Blue Ribbon Areas accomplished I decided to try Barren Fork Creek again....and man is that place hard to fish. I started near the downstream access and didn't see one trout. I only caught shiners and a creek chub. I tried my flies and lures...nothing. I did my best to be stealthy. I then went upstream to where the springs are and when I first showed up to the upper access...I drove over a dried creek which doesn't make you feel good about fishing it. Here's my dog looking worried while studying the dried creek bed on the way to the deeper water.

I then saw beautiful pools/runs, but still no trout spotted...the whole time not one trout. Please give advice on how to catch fish here and where to go what to do use, and when to fish it. I don't plan on getting the gold trout slam if I have to fish this creek again. Here are so cool photos that I at least got out of it.

After I fished Barren Fork Creek with no success...I decided to hurry over to Current River Blue Ribbon Tan Vat Access....to remind myself what it's like catching trout. I landed one wild rainbow trout. And went home after trying an hour or so.

So far I have 5 Blue Ribbon Areas...plan on going to Crane Creek and soon after Eleven Point or North Fork. Barren Fork can stick it where the sun don't shine. Cheers.

[jdmidwest]

They don't call it Barren Fork for nothing, barren of trout it seems.

[Jthawks]

16 minutes ago, jdmidwest said:

They don't call it Barren Fork for nothing, barren of trout it seems.

Yeah I know lol

[JestersHK]

Barren Fork is easy if you don't mind hiking.  

I hit 7 of 9 creeks this year,  have nfow and 11pt left for the gold slam.

Nice job and it's very rewarding chasing those wild trout. 

[Devan S.]

Take this advice and run with it. 

[Johnsfolly]

8 hours ago, JestersHK said:

Barren Fork is easy if you don't mind hiking.  There a little sliver of public access between 2 private properties.  You have to climb down a pretty steep grade to get there though.  Don't try it in the snow either...

Wonder where you got this info 😉. Someone had to the be the first 😁

[Jthawks]

9 hours ago, JestersHK said:

Barren Fork is easy if you don't mind hiking.  There a little sliver of public access between 2 private properties.  You have to climb down a pretty steep grade to get there though.  Don't try it in the snow either...

I hit 7 of 9 creeks this year,  have nfow and 11pt left for the gold slam.

Nice job and it's very rewarding chasing those wild trout. 

I went to the upper access near the spring and saw nothing, and the lower access, I didn't bother with the part where there is a hill you can climb down...if that's where the fish are....not sure if I care to go there again. You'd think during certain times of the year they'd be more focused on the upper or lower at times. I wish there was a path down the hill...