Missouri Catch and Release Fishing

October is the last month to legally catch and keep trout in the Missouri trout parks; the parks will close October 31^st and re-open March 1^st of 2012. In my humble opinion the catch and release season is the best of the best…true you don’t get to keep any fish but I still have a few fillets left over from this past summer and even better…the crowds are always way down which means more room for me and no matter how selfish that sounds more room is a better time.

This past year (2010) we were in Missouri and more specifically Bennet Spring a few times for catch and release and on one cold December day, the air temperature was between 15 and 20 degrees, the boys and I were on our own; never before had we ever been to the park and had the place to ourselves. It was a day to remember as I had dad drop us off at the head of the spring and 4 hours later I made my way to where the Suburban was parked. I had caught fish after fish and had done so with my 3 weight rod and type 2 sinking line with various colors of wooly buggers in tow. The big thrill of the day came later in the afternoon as I stood in one spot just above the dam and caught one fat trout after another and did so….all by myself as the boys had wimped out and joined grandpa…eating and doing whatever it is the three of them do while I am still hunting and fishing; it was a grand day, chilly and cold, with an overhead sun that warmed my bones well above the afternoon 20 degrees.

There are four trout parks in Missouri, east to west they are: Meramec Spring (573-265-7801) and open for fishing during catch and release the second Friday in November to the second Monday in February; Montauk Trout Park (573-548-2585) open for catch and release Friday to Monday from the same time period as above; Bennet Spring (417-532-4418) also open Friday to Monday; and last is Roaring River (417-847-2430) Monday to Friday.

This is not new news….but my favorite of the 4 parks is Bennett; it is hands down the best of the trout parks. I like it for many reasons but the access to the different zones is very easy and if one wishes to, you can fish the Niangua at a myriad of access points. As for catch and release season you can count on a crowd, it doesn’t matter what day or how cold (excluding the coldest days)…however the crowd is a distant crowd from that of a regular summer day. I love to jump in the stream and work my way from one end to the other and really pound those areas that during the summer may just be too crowded to enjoy. There are still trout there and in big numbers; the real key is that they are cold water fish and while things here in Indiana slow down or draw to a stop, the trout fishing can be and is usually very good.

Some gear tips…pack your good waders. This is not the season for thin, cold or leaky waders. I have 2 pair of neoprene waders; one is 3mm and the other is 5mm. I also have and use more than one pair of wading boots because there is nothing more chilling than to have to go to the water’s edge to put your wading boots on…so, I allow one pair to air dry while wearing another and so on. I am a streamer fly-fisherman and always carry with me a wide variety of weighted lines from floating to full sinking type 4 line that aide in getting your line and fly down quickly. I pack along a wide variety of colors of flies knowing that the truck is not nearby and the last thing I want to do is find the right fly and not have enough to keep on catching. Lastly…and I know this is a little personal, go to the bathroom each and every chance you get. There is nothing worse than having to go, having a long walk and having a lot of clothes on…you can guess as to how uncomfortable it can get and if you can’t wait until you get a little older!

Bennet Spring has several ways to spend a night during the winter; hotel rooms, cabins or my favorite, a duplex that is just a hundred yards or so from the head of the spring. All are very affordable in the winter and the duplex has everything you will need…just bring your food to cook. Bennet is about 400 miles one way and takes about 5 ½ to 6 hours, most of which is interstate travel.

I hope that you get the itch…the itch to fish and find the time to enjoy one of the 4 trout parks that Missouri has to offer; you will not be disappointed as we all find time to Enjoy the Great Outdoors.