Missouri Trout Fishing

[Wander]

Hi all, my wife and I live in KC and want to spend a weekend trout fishing for our upcoming anniversary in May. We've never fished for trout before, but I've read about Bennett Springs, Roaring River and Meramec. I'm unsure where to start and I'm hoping to get some recommendations from the folks on this forum:

 

1. Which park (or other location) would provide an easy starting point for two beginners?
2. Do you have any recommendations for hotels/air bnbs?
3. What gear should we be taking?
   • We have a 5' and a 6'6 UL rod - what lures should we be using?

 

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

[Dutch]

I directed him over to this site.  Will some of you trout gurus give this guy some good tips please.  Thanks in advance.

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I would go to Bennett if I were you.   Marabou jigs and stop in weavers for the latest “hot” lure.  I don’t know much about rooms around there.  

[Johnsfolly]

I would also recommend Bennett's.

I would also recommend that along with the Marabou jigs that you.pick up a couple of tricolored weighted eggs and green and yellow John Deere and/or white microjigs from Weavers as well. Fish those under a weighted float casting upstream of the whistle bridge, the bridge downstream of the hatchery. That is an easy way to get into some bites and should land a few fish. I like fishing two pound fluoroclear Pline but you'll still get bites with four pound line. If you can cast those small jigs you can also fish them without a float. Cast out and let it sink then give a slight rise if fishing the egg or a couple of quick jerks if using the John Deere (or one of the white microjigs from Weavers) then let it fall then repeat. The white is much easier to see in the water. Watch the fish react to the bait. If you get one following the bait as it drops, set the hook if you see it's gills flare. Those trout see every kind of bait. So they will often quickly suck in the bait and just as quickly expel the bait. Don't be afraid when using the Marabou or the microjigs to change up the type and speed of the retrieve. Most of the water will be clear enough to see lots of fish responding to your baits. 

I also like fishing up near the handicap spot near the spring both above and below the waterfall. I fish the same baits and techniques as down off the bridge.

Have decent polarized glasses. A long handled net helps landing those fish off the bridge.

Doesn't hurt to watch and talk with others that are having success. Many are willing to help others catch some fish.

Good luck😉

[Wander]

57 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

I would also recommend Bennett's.

I would also recommend that along with the Marabou jigs that you.pick up a couple of tricolored weighted eggs and green and yellow John Deere and/or white microjigs from Weavers as well. Fish those under a weighted float casting upstream of the whistle bridge, the bridge downstream of the hatchery. That is an easy way to get into some bites and should land a few fish. I like fishing two pound fluoroclear Pline but you'll still get bites with four pound line. If you can cast those small jigs you can also fish them without a float. Cast out and let it sink then give a slight rise if fishing the egg or a couple of quick jerks if using the John Deere (or one of the white microjigs from Weavers) then let it fall then repeat. The white is much easier to see in the water. Watch the fish react to the bait. If you get one following the bait as it drops, set the hook if you see it's gills flare. Those trout see every kind of bait. So they will often quickly suck in the bait and just as quickly expel the bait. Don't be afraid when using the Marabou or the microjigs to change up the type and speed of the retrieve. Most of the water will be clear enough to see lots of fish responding to your baits. 

I also like fishing up near the handicap spot near the spring both above and below the waterfall. I fish the same baits and techniques as down off the bridge.

Have decent polarized glasses. A long handled net helps landing those fish off the bridge.

Doesn't hurt to watch and talk with others that are having success. Many are willing to help others catch some fish.

Good luck😉

Johnsfolly, this is amazing advice and exactly the kind of help I was looking for, thank you so much!

[Johnsfolly]

11 hours ago, Wander said:

Johnsfolly, this is amazing advice and exactly the kind of help I was looking for, thank you so much!

@Wander you're welcome. There are lots of ways to catch those trout, e.g., in-line spinners like roostertails, Mepps, small spoons, all kinds of flies, then a whole bunch of natural and artificail baits, but the techniques that I mentioned work really well. I hope that you catch a bunch. Looking forward to a fishing report with photos 😉

[Foghorn]

Roaring River is easier to fish  because the only areas you need waders is their C&R area and the section below it to the start of the fly zone. Susie and I fished both Roaring and Bennett last Friday and Saturday and they fished about the same. The flies/lures that the guys here recommended will all work well. Bennett has a lot of construction going on above the big bridge upstream to above the dam that knocks out some quality water but there's enough water still yet to have a good day fishing. There are a lot of decent and reasonable places to stay around both parks. We stayed at Roaring River Resort  while at Roaring and roughed it at the Holiday Inn in Lebanon. With Bennett's hatchery shutdown, the size of the stockers are a little on the small size . Good luck and let us know how you do.  

[Terrierman]

The best tip you'll get today is be there ready to fish when the whistle blows.  Fish in a frenzy for the first fifteen minutes or so.

Edit:  Use 2-pound test mono.  Weaver's can spool you up.

[WallBry88]

You could also consider staying at Lilleys Landing and getting a guide through them, renting a boat or wade fishing below that dam

1-Youd avoid that chaos that is a trout park

2- Taneycomo is a much better fishery

Good Luck!

 

[ollie]

I would recommend Bennet as well. Only because of the shorter travel time and you may or may not like trout fishing since you haven't done any before. I am a jig guy so that would be a big yes on that lure for sure. Rooster tails work wonders at the starting whistle too!