Trout Fishing Report for Bennett Spring
Brought to you by
Weaver's Tackle Store
January 18, 2015

How's Fishing?

We have had some great reports from the anglers we have talked with. Of course, it is catch and release for the trout park this time of year. Typically we are hearing of catches of about ten per hour. These are, of course, experienced anglers, and, as they say, results may vary. Suggested flies would be a pale morning dun or a black caddis, size 18. A small renegade would also be a good choice for this time of year.

There have also been quite a few people picking up trout stamps to fish the Niangua. If you like to keep a few fish to eat, this is a good choice.

Fishing Times

The beginning of Catch and Release season began on November 14, 2014. It runs until February 9, 2015. Fishing is permitted from 8 am to 4 pm every weekend on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

If you would like to keep a few - (4 or less per day, 8 in possession) you may buy a trout stamp and fish in the rivers of Missouri such as the Niangua. An easy way to buy this license is to use the website to buy and print one.

Thanks to fellow angler Paul Hardin for providing the easy link.
https://www.mo.wildlifelicense.com/start.php

Water Conditions

Bennett Spring:
For January 15, 2015
Gage house level is 1.85 feet

Discharge levels are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was in 1974 - 73
today - 88
25th percentile is 97
Median is 128
Mean is 169
75th percentile is 174
Max was 662 in 1937

Niangua River:

January 15, 2015
Gage House reading is 2.03
Discharge levels are measured in Cubic Feet per Second (CFS)
minimum was 56 in 2013
25th percentile is 72
today's reading is 91
Median is 115
Mean is 247
75th percentile is 232
Max was 1390 in 1995

Lunker club - Caught after the report was sent,
on the last day of the regular season.

10-31-14

Stacy Long
Ottumwa Iowa
2-3/4 pounds on a brown nymph in zone 2

Weather Forecast

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 54. Wind chill values as low as 24 early. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. South wind 7 to 9 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56. South wind 9 to 14 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 51.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.

M.L. King Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.

In Memory

The following is an email that I received from Weldonna Shetron, Vee's daughter.

Vaviel “Vee” Suits was a 40 year resident of the Bennett Spring area. She first came to Bennett with the love of her life, Bill McEwen, back in 1968, to try her hand at fishing the stream. That was the beginning of a wonderful, friend-filled journey. For many years, Vee was known as “The Fisher Woman” at Bennett. People would come to watch her fish, and she would teach those who wanted to learn.

For over 25 years, the home that she and Bill shared at Weaver’s Campground was filled with life. People would come to view their beautiful home, and be awed by flowers blooming everywhere during spring and summer…every holiday marked with lavish decorations inside and out.

Sadly, in 1996, Vee’s beloved Bill went Home, and she was never the same after. She remained a wonderful hostess and friend to so many in the area--but grieved for Bill until the day she passed.

Vee busied herself with her church work…taking on more and more responsibilities as opportunities were presented. She recorded a CD of her own gospel works, “From My Heart To Yours”, and gave it freely to anyone and everyone. The music from this CD has gone from coast to coast, and is still being played on the air and in churches. She was always available to solo at her church, and also for revivals, other churches, and events anywhere--whenever she could. She was happy to serve for several years as a representative for her church, Lebanon Church of the Nazarene, at District Assemblies in the Joplin area. And anyone-young to old-could come to Vee for advice, and cookies, cake and coffee, if they had the time!

Vee continued to travel, but not always alone. One or another of her wealth of friends often went with her on her travels, especially Wade and Eva Earls. Eva would become one of Vee’s very best friends.

In 2007, Vee’s daughter and son-in-law, Donnie and Jim, and her granddaughter, Katrina, and grandson, William, gave her an 80th birthday surprise party at her church. Friends old and new, from all over the country, came…and her remaining brother and sister. It was a joyous occasion; over 300 people came to visit and celebrate with her that day. Things were going well with Vee, and it was hoped that she’d just go on forever.

On November 24, 2010, William Jameson Shetron, Vee’s grandson, passed away unexpectedly of complications from Crohn’s. Her health continued to decline after this, limiting her ability to travel, or even go into town.

On June 26, 2014, Vee was diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer while at the emergency center at St. John’s in Springfield. Her pain was finally more than she could handle. On July 3 she was placed on Hospice care. Vee’s friends and family rallied around her, especially many at Weaver's, like Lois Schremp, Don & Marge Moor, and many others. Friends from church and town did, too. They sat with Vee, and prayed with her, brought her food and tokens of love. Her church even held a Wednesday evening service in her home. On August 6, Vee was placed in Christian Health Care South. She was given only a day or two to last. But she had a different idea. Vee waited until everyone who could had a chance to come for one last visit, one final prayer, and say one last farewell on this Side.

Vee went Home around 3a.m. on Friday, August 15. Her daughter and granddaughter were with her. She passed quietly and peacefully from her amazing, full life here on earth, to a far more wondrous life, reunited with loved ones who'd gone before, in Heaven. Vee was in love with the Bennett area, and its people, from the first. A part of her will always remain here…her little Heaven on earth.

Quote of the Week

A trout angler should always be asking questions, even in reading a book. The mistake of many is to blindly accept the opinions and writings of others. There is a tendency to become too stereo-typed in methods and approach. This tendency is encouraged by writers who lay down hard and fast rules.

Author: Tony Orman

Published: Trout on a Nymph


Thanks for reading! Lucy

Contact Information for Bennett Spring Area http://mostateparks.com/content/trout-cam  - trout camera
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?06923500  - real time water levels and cubic feet per second as well as historical data
http://www.mo.gov/Recreation/Outdoors/Fishing/  - official Spring site
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Weavers-Tackle-Store/371940309303 - Weaver's Tackle Store Facebook Page

Phone numbers for Park Agents:

Dallas County: Matt Hitchings 417-733-3876 or Jarrad Jewell 417-733-0286
Laclede County: Walt Hutton 417-718-1111 or Jarad Millican 417-288-8744

OUR PREVIOUS REPORT:

Trout Fishing Report for Bennett Spring
Brought to you by
Weaver's Tackle Store
November 12, 2014

How's Fishing?

The beginning of Catch and Release season begins on November 14, 2014 (Friday). It runs until February 9, 2015. Fishing is permitted from 8 am to 4 pm every weekend on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

If you would like to keep a few - (4 or less per day, 8 in possession) you may buy a trout stamp and fish in the rivers of Missouri such as the Niangua. An easy way to buy this license is to use the website to buy and print one.

Thanks to fellow angler Paul Hardin for providing the easy link.
https://www.mo.wildlifelicense.com/start.php

The hatchery manager, Mike Mitchell, has provided the tag sales for the year. If you need to contact him he can be reached at :
     Bennett Spring Hatchery
     26142 Hwy 64A
     Lebanon, MO 65536
     phone 417-532-4418
     fax 417-532-5507
     cell 417-718-3000
     email: Michael.Mitchell@mdc.mo.gov

Bennett Spring Monthly Tag Sales Comparison - October  

Year         Adult             Kids          Total       Fish Stocked        Fish/Tag

2014        13,047          1,324        14,371       31,715                2.21

2013         12,742         1,221        13,963       31,800                 2.28


Tag Sales Year-To-Date

2014                   133,260
2013                   127,474
Difference                5,786


2014 Yearly Summary by Month

                      Total          Total            
Month            Monthly      Fish                  Fish/Tag
                      Sales          Stocked                         

March           14,182         44,755              3.16
April             10,997          26,595              2.42
May             16,326          39,275              2.41
June             18,826          42,520              2.26
July               24,577          53,600             2.18
August          19,690          44,300             2.25
September    14,291          29,860              2.09
October        14,371          31,715              2.21

Totals         133,260         312,620             2.35

If anyone would like to remember a fellow angler in the last fishing report of the season, please email me with their information - a little bit about them and maybe how Bennett Spring was a part of their life. I would be pleased to include them.

Water Conditions

Bennett Spring:

Gage house level is 1.83 feet
November 8, 2014
minimum was in 1938 - 66
today - 86
25th percentile is 93

Median is 115
Mean is 144
75th percentile is 150
Max was 504 in 1985

Niangua River:

October 22, 2014
Gage House reading is 1.85
minimum was 26 in 2008
25th percentile is 23
today's reading is 53
Median is 77
Mean is 515
75th percentile is 261
Max was 4930 in 1997

Weather Forecast

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Friday Night: Occasional flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Saturday: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 37.

Quote of the Week

Fish in the water represent pure potential. If the water is not clear, we do not know if they exist at all. To get them to bite something connected to a line and pull them into our world is managing a birth that brings these creatures from the realm of mystery into the world of reality. It is a kind of creation.

Author:
Howell Raines

Published:
A Meditation on the Midlife Crisis

Thanks for reading!
Lucy

Contact Information for Bennett Spring Area http://mostateparks.com/content/trout-cam  - trout camera
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?06923500  - real time water levels and cubic feet per second as well as historical data
http://www.mo.gov/Recreation/Outdoors/Fishing/  - official Spring site
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Weavers-Tackle-Store/371940309303 - Weaver's Tackle Store Facebook Page

Phone numbers for Park Agents:

Dallas County: Matt Hitchings 417-733-3876 or Jarrad Jewell 417-733-0286
Laclede County: Walt Hutton 417-718-1111 or Jarad Millican 417-288-8744