I had a two fold reason for posting a trip on the Team-Up calendar, one, the need to get out and fish and two, wanting to check out the Ozark Hills Lodge that is available to FATC members at a very good price. The cabins are located on MO-64, 2 ½ miles from the stream. Very easy to find, it’s on the left as your coming from Lebanon. The cabins are great for overnight trips or multi day trips to Bennett. They are very roomy and easily accommodate 2 to 4 guys and 5 if an air mattress is added. The only downside is that the kitchen facilities are not really suited for a full meal prep. Limited counter space, small sink with a 2 burner stove, no oven, best served for heating something in the microwave or in a pot and an under counter refrigerator. Sandwiches work out fine and a cooler for beverages. Good bathroom shower facilities.
Don Varner, Vernon Preston and I met at Don’s house at 5:45 and took MO-100 to I-44 and then down to Lebanon. It started raining by St. Clair and it rained very hard till we were past Rolla. As we got closer to Lebanon we could see the sky starting to lighten up and the rain had stopped. We got to the stream about 8:30 and it didn’t take long for us to get ready since it was a great day to wet wade. The temps were in the upper 70’s and low 80’s. The rain they had Monday or Tuesday increased the flow rate and depth but the water was still crystal clear. There weren’t many people at the stream early because of the rain so we had our pick of spots to fish We all started out across from the restrooms with little action in the beginning. I finally got a hit on a beetle with a Barr’s emerger dropper and netted a nice 18” fatty. I ended up with two more on the Barr’s emerger and one on the beetle. I saw I few fish come to the surface and tied on a dry fly. I’m still asking my self “Why you would switch from something that was working?” No luck with the dry.
Vernon started out fishing from the bank because of a bum knee but after a while put on the boots and wandered out into the stream. I then saw him again just below the upper ADA pier. Last I heard he wasn’t having much success.
Don started fishing across from the bathrooms and I thought I saw him working his way downstream, but you know how sneaky Don is. The next thing I know he had moved up by the spring. He caught 3 fish there on a dream sickle San Juan worm.
Our stomachs told us it was time for lunch so we met up at the picnic tables. No, Dan, not the famous Staggenborg Tables at Montauk, the ones at Bennett. After having a quick lunch and some fellowship we all wanted to get back to it and see if we could improve our numbers.
Don went downstream, and Vernon fished above the Holland Dam and I ended up by the gage house. The numbers of fishermen had increased but it was still easy to find a spot. I tied on a Bennett Spring Killer with a midge dropper and worked that area with limited success. I switched to a blonde “Montauk” Murderer on the bottom fly and I was able to bring another 5 fish to the net in the afternoon. Apparently that fly didn’t know where he was.
We had decided to call it a day at 6pm and met up back at the car. It was a nice relaxing 2 ½ mile drive to the cabin. We were able to relax for a while, eat our dinner and get a shower and a good nights sleep for another day of fishing. Sometime during the night the thunder and lightning started, followed by rain. It was still raining in the morning and we decided to wait it out since it would be done by around 10-10:30. We made our way to the stream a little after 10 and there weren’t many fishermen around. Of course that didn’t last long at all.
Vernon decided he was going to get serious so he put his waders on and headed to “my” honey hole across from the restrooms. I think Don decided to go down towards the dam and I went up above the Holland Dam, where I had the area to myself. I was quickly joined by a few more guys. I had my fly rod rigged with what I had finished with the evening before: a Bennett Spring Killer with a Tan Crain Fly on the bottom. The first cast I made I missed the strike, threw it again, nothing. The third time was a charm and wham! a fish hit it and when I set the hook, it took off. The fish ran deep so I let him run holding steady and not trying to muscle it in. Finally after about 5 minutes I was able to bring it to the surface and get a look at him. I was pretty excited and it looked like I had a surf board on my line! The guys fishing next to me even commented with “WOW that’s a big fish”. At that point the last thing I wanted was to lose this fish so I carefully worked him to me and was able get it in the net. The first thought in my head was that I should have built a bigger net and the next was, I’ve got to get a picture of this. I held the net close to my body and worked my way to the side of the stream almost losing him a couple of times. I was trying to keep the fish in the water till I could give the guy next to me my camera for a picture. Wouldn’t you know, he says “I don’t know how to use that thing”. Fortunately there were other people around and a young lady was able to take a few pictures. I was eventually able to release the fish and with a little coaxing he swam off to fight another day. I could have stopped fishing at that time and been totally happy with the trip but hey, I’m no quitter. I continued fishing and moved up to the spring area where I added a Barr’s Emerger as my dropper and got a few more fish in. This worked well and I ended the morning with 12 or 13 fish. It was getting to be about 12:30 and the need to eat came around.
I was on my way back to the car and saw Vern by the ADA pier and hollered at him that it was time to eat. Next I texted Don to let him know, but he must have been to busy catching fish and didn’t show up till 30 minutes later. Vern reported that he had caught some fish and was happy not to be skunked 2 days in a row. Don reported that he had good success and had netted 13 fish mostly on the San Juan Worm. Before getting back to it after lunch we agreed to call it a day at 4pm.
After lunch I was done and ready to go. I went across the stream to my honey hole with a Y2K egg and a brown midge dropped down with a split shot above the egg and the fish liked it. I added 6 more fish from that area but wanted to give the spring another try. I entered by the road above the spring and noticed a pretty big hole where the rain water rushing over the road had washed the rock away and created a nice deep bowl that made for a good feeding place. The fish were gathered there just waiting for food. I dropped my line in and instantly had hit after hit, pulling 6 fish from there in about 10 minutes. Vern was there with other fishermen in a circle around the big blue spring eye. (I think it was a social event). As I moved down from there I hollered to Vern to turn around and fish that hole. Not sure if he did any good there or not. I wanted to try the egg pattern with a HOP midge below and sure enough Scott, it still works. I picked up a few more fish as I walked back across the upper area, knowing it was about time to call it a day.
We met back at the car just before 4pm, I for one feeling like it was a really good day. It was time to pack it in and head home with plans to stop in St. Roberts to eat at a German restaurant there that I had found to be fairly good a couple of years ago. Not any more. Why is it that restaurants are so inconsistent? Oh well, another one off my list. The drive home was pretty quiet but we did have the Cardinals game to listen to. We arrived back at Don’s house around 8pm and went our separate ways.
After looking back over this trip report it seems as though it’s just all about me. Well, if you want it to be about you, post a trip and you can write the trip report. It’s not that hard and if I can do it, anyone can.
Steve Baker
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Life is like a short putt, don’t miss it and don’t leave it short!
