February 13, 2012 Stream Conditions
The water conditions at Bennett Spring and on the Niangua river havc improved somewhat. We had two inches of rain which brought the water levels up.. The stream rose about 13 inches. The Niangua rose about 7 feet. Both are back down to close to normal. We have been receiving some smaller rains lately and I hope they continue. It will help us come summer. Please bookmark and check back with us as we will update as needed.
November 16, 2012 Fishing Report for Bennett Spring
We are having a hard frost about every morning now. The water has been low and clear, fishing has been pretty good.. Fish size has been a little sporadic ( some smal fish and some larger fish ) but overall fishing has been good.
As far as what’s working ? CRACKLEBACKS ! Gold, Blue, Olive and Chartreuse. Several have been fishing cracklebacks on sinking fly lines. But they are also working just under the surface on a slow strip. Also good reports on Olive or Black woolie buggers. San Juan worms with a small zebra midge or midge dropper have also been effective. Harvester Midge, Black Caddis and Griffiths Gnats have also worked well.. Renegades.. Yes they still work well.
Dark colors in marabou jigs have done well early and late.. We would also recommend using the Doty Raiders in Brown Black or Olive..
Tan or Gray sowbugs and scuds have also been quite effective.
White or cream thread jigs.
Also, check with us. We have a new bedspread jig in stock and ready to sell to you for your fish catching pleasure.
The Niangua River has been stocked a few times in the last six weeks .. Fishing has been very good early and late. There are still alot of brown trout being caught in the Niangua from last years 4500 July stocking. Had a report of three nice browns caught last weekend on the Niangua. 18, 20 and a 23 inch fish.
Catching some nice smallies and goggle eye also in the river.. Beetle Spins and brown or olive jigs also do well.. Rapalas and crawdads for bigger browns early and late in the day will also produce well in the Niangua River.
The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved a regulation change banning the use of porous-soled waders or footwear incorporating or having attached a porous sole of felted, matted, or woven fibrous material when fishing in trout parks and other specific trout waters. Pending public comment through the Secretary of State’s office, the new regulation will go into effect March 1, 2012, the opening day of catch-and-keep fishing at Missouri’s four trout parks.
To help reduce the spread of didymo, MDC encourages anglers to remember: Check, then Clean or Dry.
* Check all gear and equipment and remove any visible algae. Dispose of algae by placing it in the trash, not by putting it down a drain or into bodies of water.
* Then Clean all gear and equipment with a solution of 2-percent bleach, 5-percent saltwater, or dishwashing detergent. Allow all equipment to stay in contact with the solution for at least three minutes. Soak all soft items, such as felt-soled waders and wader boot cuffs, neoprene waders and life jackets, in the solution for at least 20 minutes.
* Or then Dry all gear and equipment for at least 48 hours by exposing it to sunlight.
To help anglers clean their waders before entering Missouri trout streams, MDC has installed wader wash stations at Missouri’s five cold-water trout hatcheries: Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Salem, Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Maramec Spring Park near St. James and Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery by the upper portion of Lake Taneycomo near Branson.
All anglers are encouraged to replace their porous-soled waders with ones that have non-porous rubber or synthetic soles.
Anglers can adapt felt-soled and other porous-soled waders to comply with the new regulation by sealing the soles with solutions of contact cement or marine rubber cement. VanPatten notes the cement may need to be reapplied after each use. MDC offers an instructional video for sealing waders at http://www.youtube.com/watch?
“Adapting waders is not a cure,” VanPatten cautions. “It is just one step in prevention. It is still vital to check and clean or dry all waders and all other gear that have had contact with the water.”
MDC held public open-house forums in March and April in communities near Missouri’s trout parks and hatcheries to help educate anglers, outfitters, retailers and boaters about the dangers of didymo, the need to replace porous-soled waders and to get public feedback on the proposed regulation change.
For more information, visit www.mdc.mo.gov<http://www.mdc.
Trout fishing lures thousands of anglers annually to Bennett Spring State Park in Dallas and Laclede counties and provides a vital economic boost to the area. Thanks to recently completed renovations at the Bennett Spring Hatchery, a good thing is about to get even better.
At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will hold a dedication ceremony to highlight recent improvements at the facility. MDC operates the hatchery and manages fishing operations at Bennett Spring. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages the state park.
Among the new features to be unveiled is a 4,000-square-foot production building, which will replace the old 1,200-square-foot structure. This new building will house 12 egg jars, 20 troughs and 10 rearing tanks. The former production building had six egg jars, 12 troughs and four tanks.
At present, Bennett Spring Hatchery produces approximately 300,000 trout annually. The renovation is expected to increase that output by about 20 percent, which equates to an additional 60,000 fish per year.
“The new production building, with increased production space, will help increase the production of fingerlings for use by MDC’s cold-water-hatchery system,” said Bennett Spring Hatchery Manager Mike Mitchell. “This increase in fingerling production will help the cold-water-hatchery system meet current production demands.”
Mitchell also said the renovation will help Bennett fulfill its goal to increase the facility’s production by 20 percent, a goal that was outlined in Missouri’s Trout Plan. The Plan, which was approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission in 2003, outlines the regulations and strategies used by MDC to manage this popular sport fish in Missouri.
The cost of the renovation is $2,375,000. MDC is being reimbursed for 75 percent of this cost through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Sport Fish Restoration Program.
October 7-8-9 The Clarence Holland American Cancer Society Trout Derby at Bennett Spring State Park
The registration is open to the public, please register at the State Park Store.
Please support the American Cancer Society.
New Fishing Platform for Bennett Spring State Park Trout Hatchery
Help MCHF raise $45,000 to build a fishing/viewing platform near the Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery.
The renovated fishing access will provide improved public access and reduce safety concerns. If we provide the funds, the Department will construct a new 72-foot concrete platform that will have anglers inches from the water. This structure will also enhance the stability of the bank below the dam and adjacent to the hatchery building.
