Land a Big One When Trout Season Opens in Missouri
Trout season opens at Bennett Spring State Park
Jefferson City, Mo.– Winter may linger for a few more weeks, but the first sign of spring officially arrives Monday, when trout season opens in Missouri’s four designated trout parks.
Look for the waters around Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Montauk State Park near Salem, Maramec Spring Park near St. James, and Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, to be teeming with anxious fishermen ready to catch their first trout of the season.
- Trout fishing at Montauk State Park
Each of the waterways will be stocked with trout provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation, which operates trout hatcheries at these four parks. The state parks are managed by the Department of Natural Resources, while Maramec Spring Park is owned and operated by the James Foundation. The odds of catching a trout seem to favor the fishermen, as the four parks will be stocked at a 3-to-1 ratio, based on opening-day attendance estimates. The Department of Conservation expects 8,000 anglers to participate Monday, so 24,000 trout will be released.
Professional fisherman Scott Pauley says the opening day of trout season at these four parks marks a time-honored tradition, with many people and families who make the event an annual outing. “That tradition is important to our state and our economy,” Pauley says.
Pauley has several bits of advice for anglers who look to take to the water on Monday, and he first encourages them to be patient because so many people will be fishing in close proximity to one another.
Pauley also suggests using spinning tackle because fly casting will likely be difficult due to the crowded conditions, and he says it’s important to use lower weight line when fishing for trout.
“One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is, they’ll bring the crappie rod that they are used to, with six- to eight-pound test for crappie fishing,” Pauley says. “Because the water is so clear, the fish will see the line. You want to go to two-pound test, not any larger than four, for trout in the trout parks.”
Pauley says each of the trout parks offers unique and scenic features, but he enjoys Bennett Spring because he finds the spot beautiful. “When you come off the hill down into the park, it’s one of the most beautiful scenes in Missouri,” he says. “It takes your breath away.”
And from a fishing perspective? “I like the area between the dam spillway and the whistle bridge,” Pauley says. “It’s a really pretty, scenic area that’s always got a large number of fish.”
During a fishing trip, Pauley also suggests people stop by the hatcheries where the trout are raised and kept before being released because it is “so fun to go watch those giant trout.” He also reminds people to make sure they have their 2010 fishing license, which is separate from the trout stamp they’ll need to fish for trout.
Experience the trout fishing season in one of Missouri’s State Parks
Although they might be drawn by the trout, early risers who get their requisite hours of fishing in early should find the areas around the trout parks full of places to visit once they’ve stowed their reels and lures for the day.
Cassville is home to the Barry County Museum, www.BarryCoMuseum.org, which features a remodeled school house, a log cabin and a 1950s fire engine, along with displays that focus on the history of the region and Roaring River. Cassville is also near a section of the Mark Twain National Forest, www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain, where the beauty of the Ozarks is on full display, and it’s roughly a 20-minute drive to portions of Table Rock Lake, www.VisitTableRockLake.org, one of Missouri’s most beautiful waterways.
About an hour from Cassville, is Missouri’s music and live-show capital, Branson, www.ExploreBranson.com, where there are plenty of activities to occupy the time when the fish aren’t biting – or when the day’s limit has already been caught. Some anglers might be tempted to try their luck at Lake Taneycomo, www.ExploreBranson.com/lakes/taneycomo.php, home to some of the state’s largest rainbow trout.
Those who choose to fish at Montauk will find the surrounding area full of sights to see once they’re done fishing for the day. The state park is located on the Current River and is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, www.NPS.gov/ozar/index.htm, which stretches more than 130 miles along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. This is the first national park area to protect a wild river system.
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways also is home to a variety of caves, www.NPS.gov/ozar/naturescience/cave.htm, along with some of Missouri’s largest and most beautiful springs, www.NPS.gov/ozar/naturescience/springs.htm, including Blue Spring, Round Spring and Big Spring. Alley Spring, one of the most photographed sites in Missouri and the site of a red mill, also is a part of the system. Salem also is home to the Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center, www.ONCRC.org, which features exhibits and information on the nature and culture of the area.
For those who make Maramec Spring their fishing destination, there are plenty of other recreational opportunities to pursue along The Mother Road, Route 66 (I-44). A quick trek northeast from St. James (which is home to several wineries) toward Cuba features the World’s Largest Rocking Chair at Fanning Outpost, www.Fanning66Outpost.com, just a little off I-44 on Route ZZ.
Cuba is home to the Crawford County Historical Society and Museum, www.CrawfordCountyMoHistory.org, where displays include a one-room school and Civil War artifacts. Cuba also is home to the Viva Cuba Mural Project, www.CubaMoMurals.com, which features 12 scenes from the city’s history. Those who choose to go west of St. James will find the city of Rolla, home to a variety of attractions, including the Missouri S&T Stonehenge, http://rockmech.mst.edu/stonehenge, and the Phelps County Courthouse, which was constructed prior to the Civil War and now contains museums that focus on everything from the military to vintage clothing.
About an hour southwest of St. James, and also on Route 66, is the city of Lebanon, a key point along The Mother Road. Lebanon is home to the Route 66 Museum and Research Center, www.Lebanon-Laclede.Lib.mo.us/Museum.htm, a 3,500-square-foot museum featuring recreations of a 1950s gas station, a diner, display of antique cars and a collection of Route 66 books. The Heartland Antique Mall, www.HeartlandAntiqueMalllebanon.com, a 40,000-square-foot mall featuring antiques and vintage collectibles, along with the Heartland Cheese Outlet and a Russell Stover Candies shop, also can be found in Lebanon.
People who want to try their hand at trout fishing but don’t want to visit one of the aforementioned parks are in luck, because Missouri has a variety of streams where trout can be found. The state has a selection of Blue Ribbon, Red Ribbon and White Ribbon trout areas ranging from Barren Fork Creek in Shannon County to Capps Creek in Barry and Newton counties. For more information on those areas, and to see trout fishing rules and regulations, please visit the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Web site at http://mdc.mo.gov/fish/sport/trout/areas.htm#parks.
For more information about Missouri’s State Parks, please visit the following Websites:
• Roaring River State Park www.MoStateParks.com/roaringriver.htm
• Montauk State Park www.MoStateParks.com/montauk.htm
• Bennett Spring State Park www.MoStateParks.com/bennett.htm
• Maramec Spring Park www.MaramecSpringPark.com/maramec index.html
For more information on outdoor opportunities in Missouri, or to order your free copy of the Official 2010 Missouri Travel Guide, log on to www.VisitMO.com or call 800-519-4800.
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Contact:
Sarah Luebbert
Missouri Division of Tourism
573-522-5501
Sarah.Luebbert@mo.ded.gov
