Larry's Sporting Goods at Bennett Spring State Trout Park

Cleated wading shoes in stock at Larry’s

2012-05-07T15:50:21Z

For those who haven’t heard, starting March 1 you will be unable to wear porous sole (felt sole) shoes in the park anymore.. You can treat your wading shoes with contact cement as they show you on the Department of Conservation website. Follow the youtube link to view application instructions.. If you wear felt soles, expect to receive a warning the first time and a ticket the second time you are checked. If you are looking to purchase new boots, you need to look at cleated or a vibram sole that is nonporous. If you have questions about what and what isn’t acceptable, give us a call at 417 532 8678.

Bennett Spring Stream Conditions

2012-05-07T16:37:17Z

May 7, 2012 Stream Conditions

We received about a half inch of rain this morning. The water is right at normal height and clarity for this time of year. we are getting reports of 13 to 14 inch fish here in the park.

Overall, fishing has been very good.

Cubic Feet per Second flow 200

Gauge Height = 2.26 This is about four inches over a normal stream height.

The niangua river is about ten inches high right now with water being a little off color.. Great condition for a float trip and the fishing has been good .

2012-05-07T16:51:57Z

We had the first 2012 fly tying class last thursday night here at the shop. We had twelve tyers in attendance that night.. Our next class will be May 17 at 7 p.m. Give us a call or stop by to sign up. We have a beginners and an intermediate class for tyers with different experience levels. We would love to have you stop in and tye or observe if you wish.. We will be offering classes on every thursday night in June and July.. Give us a call for more information.

Bennett Spring State Park Fishing Report

2012-05-07T16:30:24Z

May 7, 2012 Fishing Report for Bennett Spring

The start of the 2012 trout season got off to an incredible start this year. The weather this spring has been one of the warmest recorded march and april months on record. The temperatures this week are supposed to be in the 70′s all week with a few scattered showers in the forecast.

We had about three inches of rain last week which brought the stream up about six inches but it is now back down to about normal levels. The water is in great condition with just a slight milky cast to it. Fishing has been good with several reports of 30 to 80 fish days for several fisherman. We are also seeing a lot of nice fish in the stream. Several 13 to 14 inch fish are being reported. Still catching some smaller fish, but the Department of Conservation says that the smaller fish are ones that were left over from last year.

As far as what’s working ? BLUE CRACKLEBACKS ! CHARTREUSE CRACKLEBACKS ! Several have been fishing cracklebacks on sinking fly lines. Blue, Chartreuse or Gold have been good. 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 Midges , Black Caddis and Griffiths Gnats have also worked 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.

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.

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.

Bennett Spring State Park – Trout Fishing Opening Day 2012

2012-03-30T17:53:12Z

Felt Sole Ban – Bennett Spring State Park – Effective March 1st 2012

2012-01-07T15:20:19Z

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?v=n_udcfZqA_w

“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.mo.gov> and search “didymo.”

Bennett Spring State Park Trout Hatchery Renovation Video

2011-09-20T18:02:12Z

KY3 Video:

Bennett Spring Hatchery Renovations

2011-09-18T11:42:48Z

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.

Clarence Holland Cancer Fund Derby at Bennett Spring State Park

2011-09-16T01:14:15Z

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.

Rose Holland Heart Fund Derby at Montauk State Park

2011-09-16T01:30:46Z

OCTOBER 1 – 2 THE 48th Annual ROSE HOLLAND Heart Fund Trout Derby at Montauk State Park

The stream will be stocked with tagged fish and prizes will be awarded on Sunday just after noon.

Additional events are:

Classic Car show at the Searcy Building on Friday night at 4:00 p.m.
Nature Bingo on Friday night at 6 p.m. at the campground amphitheater.
“Hikes for your Heart” on Saturday.

Please see this Missouri Department of Conservation page for additonal details:

http://mostateparks.com/event/59054/48th-rose-holland-trout-derb