March 1st marks the big opener at the Missouri trout season at state parks. No matter what the weather is like there will be a huge turnout and lots of anglers catching fish. If you are not there to catch fish then it's a good idea to wait a few weeks for the crowd to cool down. Later in the season, on any given day you'll find people trout fishing at these parks.
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In this video Chris Russell is fishing on Crane Creek, which is just west of Springfield, MIssouri. This is a special “catch and release” area because of the species of trout that have survived there. Here's a little from the MDC website:
Trout are not native to Missouri. In the latter part of the last century, fishing enthusiasts released all kinds of non-native fish in Missouri waters, including eight different species of trout and salmon. It was even hoped salmon might establish a spawning run on the Mississippi River. No thought was given to the fact that salmon and trout are creatures of the northern regions of the globe and require the cold water that goes with long winters and streams fed by slowly melting snow banks.
The colorful Crane Creek “McCloud strain” rainbows have a reputation for skittishness; they have persevered in the stream because they seek shelter at the first sign of an approaching predator, be it two-legged or four. The Conservation Department protects them with catch-and-release regulations-you can fish for them, but you must release them unharmed immediately once caught.
These fish provide a wonderful challenge for anglers willing to fish with artificial lures or flies and approach the stream with stealth. They are also a genetic reservoir should Missouri's trout hatcheries be decimated by calamity or disease. Even now, the McCloud fish are used to produce offspring for a “wild” trout section of another Missouri river. Biologists use sperm collected from a few of the Crane Creek fish in late November to fertilize eggs of the regular hatchery strain of fish, then stock the resulting offspring. As adults, fish bearing the McCloud genes should flourish and reproduce naturally.
Source: https://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2000/01/rainbows-crane-creek
Trout season opens at 3 major trout parks – Bennett Springs, Montauk and Roaring River State Parks. There are also many other trout fishing areas around the Ozarks. March 1st opener for trout season ranks right up there with opening day of firearms deer season with Ozarks outdoorsmen (and women).
For catching rainbow and brown trout in the clear Ozark streams you must use special tackle. Small ultralight spinning rigs work great, and of course fly rods. Depending on the area you fish you will either want to use flys only, other artificial lures or live bait. In areas that allow it many fishermen like salmon eggs, which is actually an artificial lure.
Fly rods are really fun to learn to use and catch fish with. It's hard to believe that you can land such a large fish with light tackle. Although it looks like a hard skill learning to use a fly rod is not that hard. Once you get in an area like is available at these state trout parks you can get proficient really fast.
I have had trouble finding fly line locally to refill my rig at a decent price. It seems like I can nearly buy a new fly outfit for the price they want for new fly line. So I set out to find a better deal and then I put it in the store. It seems like the local stores take advantage of you when you want something special.
Trout fishing is on most of the year in the Ozarks, and most anytime you'll find a place to fish. There are great opportunities with other species here, too. Both Missouri and Arkansas have many clear and clean streams to fish, float and camp.
