January 30, 2016

Date: January 30, 2016

Body of Water: Bennett Spring State Park

Weather: part of a warming trend, mostly sunny, and no recent/predicted fronts

Air Temperature: 40’s in the AM and 60’s in the PM

Water Condition: still falling from recent flooding and still murky in deeper holes

Wind Speed & Direction: out of the southwest and under 10 mph but some gusts up to 20 mph

Moon Phase: Third Quarter

Fishing Equipment: 9 foot 6 weight Echo with floating line

Flies/Lures/Bait: White floss

Hatches or Fish Behavior Observed: s very small hatch in the afternoon but fewer fish rising than maybe I have ever seen

Species Targeted: Trout

# of Fish Hooked: 60

# of Fish Landed:  50

# of Fish Released: 50

# of Fish Kept: 0

Largest Fish Description: 17 inch rainbow that weighed around 2 ½ pounds

What Happened: 

I needed this.  I needed to go fishing.  It had been months since I went fishing and over two months since I got to go deer hunting.  Essentially, I had been cooped up for too long and was getting…edgy.  The daily grind of a career, a family, and other responsibilities were starting to wear on me consciously and subconsciously.  I needed to go fishing.  I love fishing.  It makes me happy.  It reinvigorates me and can, at times, be a religious experience that my soul needs.

I woke up Saturday morning at 4:45 without an alarm clock.  That’s when you know you need to go fishing.  You wake up earlier than usual without the necessity of children, alarm clocks, or other duties.  I was on the road with a cup of coffee and sleeve of cheap donuts about 5:00 and made it to the Bennett Spring Park entrance around 7:45.  The catch and release horn sounded at 8:00.  Perfect.

After getting rigged and geared up, I stepped into the stream at about 8:10.  I started fishing a few pools downstream of the spring and immediately noticed some differences in the stream that I have fished for 14 years.  The recent flooding had widened out the bottom of the stream and the pools that seemed so deep and wide seemed a little narrower.  I missed a few fish early, which I always seem to do and a condition that seems to worsen the longer I go between excursions.  Some call it rust.  That sounds about right.  

I landed a few small rainbows and some others that seemed really long without much girth.  Regardless, they were beautiful and I had the first few fish of 2016 in my hands.  The sun was out, the wind was down, the fish were biting, and life was good.  And it was about to get better.

I waded down toward the spillway and was standing on a small peninsula when something nudged me on the thigh.  I jumped because I thought I was alone and when I turned to see who had tried to get my attention, there was no one there.  I thought I was going crazier for a minute until it happened again and I looked down to see a husky that had followed me from the parking lot.  I felt both relieved and silly.  Also, it should be noted that I saw not one, but two kingfishers while on the early part of the stream.  To me, kingfishers are a sign of good luck.  Yes, I know they are common, especially at Bennett, but my grandpa always called me “kingfish” growing up, so they are a symbol of his affection and love.  They tell me that he is watching over me and maybe able to throw some good fortune my way.  I also watched one dive and grab a fish for breakfast.  In case you were wondering, this is double good juju.

I made my way up to the hatchery intake where I usually land a few fish and only got one bite.  I then fished the pool on the east side of the upper part of the spillway.  I didn’t get many bites but soon found out why.  I started walking up the incline towards the handicapped access point downstream when I stopped to take a look at the pool above the spillway.  I could see A LOT of fish towards the surface and near the top of the spillway.  I realized that I had not been casting close enough to the spillway and then a thought that a wise man once taught me crossed my mind.  “Don’t leave fish to go find fish.” he said.  I applied such knowledge and it paid off immensely.  I think I caught about 10 fish after I got back in the water and cast towards the spillway.  It was almost routine after four or five fish.  I guess it got the attention of the guy to my left.  He asked me what I was using and come to find out, he was using something similar.  I told him where the fish seemed to be holed up (pun intended) and he immediately started catching fish too.  He was grateful for the knowledge and his spirit seemed to improve and that made me happy.

After deciding that the water was clearer on the other side of the spillway, I decided to head downstream.  Along the way I met an older gentleman that was fishing the same hole and we discussed how good the fishing was and what a beautiful day it was.  He also told me about a three pound rainbow that he caught earlier in the morning and it was obvious that he was both happy and proud.  It was the largest trout he had ever caught in the park and while I tried to pat him on the back, I was a little jealous.  That would have topped the scales at Bennet for me as well.  Oh well, I couldn’t be too upset.  Bad karma doesn’t get you very far!

Next, I was out of ideas.  I didn’t know where to go or what to fish.  The pool above the bridge but below the spillway had worked out well in the past so I headed up the bridge to do a little scouting.  Some guys were fishing on the west side of the stream but the east side was open which was good because A LOT of fish were holding near the eastward arch.  I eased my way down the incline and started casting close to the bank.  I hadn’t seen a lot of fish holding to the particular water but didn’t want to go for the homerun right off the bat.  I quickly got a bite that seemed to come from somewhere out of the depths and reeled in only my second brown trout I had ever landed at Bennett.  I was on cloud nine.  What was there to not be happy about?  I had just caught the most beautiful freshwater fish in the world (in my opinion) and some beautiful rainbows.  I cast out again to roughly the same place and landed a second brown.  A third brown came a couple casts later.   I struggled to comprehend my good fortune.  That’s when I noticed the young man to my left. 

I saw him earlier but didn’t really notice him until now if that makes sense.  He was casting to a spot that I didn’t think was holding any fish from my scouting, and I felt bad for him.  Now before anyone starts to fill out my application for sainthood, let me go on record as saying that if this person would have been an adult, I might not have been so generous.  

I thought about the possibility of trying to catch every fish in this hole but that seemed both selfish and redundant so I hollered at the kid.  “Hey buddy, do you want to catch some fish?’ I asked.  It didn’t take long to get him to reel up and move downstream to where I was located.  It also didn’t take long to figure out that this was a very polite and respectful young man that loved to fish and had the bug that so many fishermen suffer from.  He missed a few short strikes like we all do when the prospects of improved fishing present themselves but it didn’t take long for him to settle into a groove and start landing fish.  He was obviously happy and that made me happy as well.  Seeing our fine sport spark a passion in a young person should fuel us all and make us take more young folks fishing.  But I digress.  

For the record, I believe in luck and karma.  By now, that shouldn’t be a surprise because I am a fisherman and most of us believe in both.  What happened next, in my humble opinion, would not have happened had I not given up my spot to this young man.  It should also be noted that while I have never actually gotten in a fight, I did get into a hotly disputed confrontation about a fishing spot at Roaring River one time.  I’m not saying that it almost came to blows, but it could have…maybe.  Anyway, here’s what happened.

I moved downstream from my new buddy, let’s call him Rick.  I found myself under the arch of the bridge and watching him land fish as much as I found myself watching my own indicator.  That’s when I noticed the biggest fish in the pool. He looked to be about three pounds and was active.  There were a lot of other fish under the arch and I didn’t think that I had a very good chance of hooking him but it definitely got my attention and got my hopes up.  After all, sometimes, the biggest key to catching a big fish is finding a big fish.

I landed a few more browns out of the hole and couldn’t believe that I had caught four times as many browns in a matter of minutes as I had in 14 previous years combined.  Rick was happy for me and he was also hauling them in which made us both happy.  I couldn’t believe my luck and fortune and decided to give the big rainbow a cast or two.  I decided that I wouldn’t throw the kitchen sink at him but I would try a few drifts with my jig, switch to a scud, and then move on if I didn’t elicit a response.  I cast upstream from him and had some smaller fish move in and investigate my fly.  Honestly, I can’t remember if I caught one or not, but on the second drift, the big boy (later I found out he was a she) moved into position and gently mouthed my fly.

“Did that just happen?” ran through my mind right before I set the hook.  She twisted in the water, tried to spit the hook but didn’t, and that’s when I realized that I had a pretty decent shot of landing this lunker.  I was still a little dumbfounded that I had hooked the biggest fish in the hole but quickly engaged the part of my brain that deals with landing a big fish.  This is not a very large part or very experienced part of my brain mind you, but it DOES work!

I was careful to not horse the fish in and was ready for a run and ready to apply SOME pressure to the fish if necessary.  My sudden silence and the bend in my fly rod must have got Rick’s attention because he seemed to automatically recognize the severity of the situation.  He asked me if it was a good one and I told him that it was one of the biggest trout I had ever caught.  I wasn’t sure if this was going to be one of those large fish that fight’s its tail off or it if was going to be one of those fish that looks like a million bucks but only has ten cents worth of fight in it.  It never really ran, but did bulldog some and used its weight and the current to resist being landed.  Rick asked me if I wanted him to come take a picture and my response was that of relief and gratitude.  My exact words were “That would be awesome!” if I remember correctly.  

I ended up landing the fish and it was by far the largest fish I have ever landed at Bennett and I am convinced of one thing.  I know in my heart and in my soul that if I had not given my spot over to this young man that I never would have even hooked that fish.  I can’t scientifically prove it, but there is this part of me that believes this opinion to be unequivocal fact.  To you karma, I say thank you.  

I ended up moving further downstream and landed about 10 more browns and a hard-fighting rainbow that acted biggest than it actually was.  I love both of those fish!  I landed 3 more fish near the Niangua and decided to head back to the bridge and fish the upstream and downstream sections before heading home.  Somewhat to my surprise, Rick was standing in the same spot that I left him and still landing fish.  Young people like Rick make me smile and warm my heart when I see their enthusiasm and excitement for our beautiful sport.  Fly fishing will live on as long as we have young men like Rick even it is with a GoPro strapped to their heads!  Hey man, different strokes for different folks.  By the way, if you are reading this Rick, I would love to see the video that you took.  Okay, maybe these kids are onto something with their technologies and their Instatwitters and Facepads.

I ended up landing another brown and a few more rainbows downstream from the arch and I knocked off about a quarter till four.  I had already had an incredible day and I was ready to get home and see my family.  Along the way, I stopped at a sports bar and had a hamburger.  The evening was topped off by falling alseep while watching Jaws with my wife.  The following day I wondered was this the perfect day?  The only answer I can come up with is that if it wasn’t perfect, it is as close as I can get.  Thank you Lord for all of your bounty, generosity, and good fortune!  Amen!

Notable Fish #1- Rainbow Trout

Time: 12:00 PM

Size: 17 inches, and around 2 ½ pounds

Fly/Lure/Bait Used: white floss

Location: under the arch on the east side of the bridge

Notable Fish #2- 15 browns.  I had only caught 1 brown at Bennett in the 14 years that I have been fishing there.  I thought 15 in a day as noteworthy.

Time: From 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Size: all were around 12 inches approximately

Fly/Lure/Bait Used: white floss

Location: from below the spillway to whistle bridge