Blog - Missouri Trout Fisherman's Association - Springfield Chapter

What’s going on at Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery

By Bob Randall on Monday, July 4th, 2022 in Fishing reports, No Comments


I’ve been hearing stories about at fishing at Bennett Spring: poor fishing, good fishing, low stocking numbers, fish washed out to the Niangua, remodeling in the hatchery, bringing stock trout from other hatcheries, and finally how it will be a year and a half before the fishing will be back up to par at BSSP. […]


Barbed or Barbless, That is the Question

By Bob Randall on Sunday, June 26th, 2022 in Fishing Wisdom, No Comments


Fishing Barbless or Barbed: You may not hear much discussion of this idea unless you’re a fly fisher. Some of us are pretty snooty when it comes to our sport, equipment, techniques, and most of all, favorite fishing spots. If you are a spin cast fisher who has an opinion, I have to warn you […]


Missouri Blue Ribbon Trout Slam by John Bush

By Bob Randall on Thursday, December 31st, 2020 in Fishing reports, Fishing Trip, No Comments


A couple of months back, Mike Kidd from the MTFA Branson chapter sent out a message about the Missouri Blue Ribbon Trout Slam. I’m always interested in finding new places to fish, and especially those that are a little less crowded so this sounded like something that would be enjoyable to do. A blue ribbon […]


Hook Retention in Northern Pike Study

By Bob Randall on Thursday, November 5th, 2020 in Fishing Wisdom, No Comments


The Short Explanation: –Deeply hooked crankbaits with barbs were typically free from the fish’s mouth in a couple of days -Barbless hooks usually came out of the fish’s mouth in 24 hours or less The Longer Explanation: “This research has demonstrated that retained lures do have an impact on northern pike. In the laboratory setting […]


Catch, Release, Dead

By Bob Randall on Tuesday, January 28th, 2020 in Conservation, Fishing Wisdom, No Comments


Catch, Release, Dead (Hooking Mortality): “Catch, photograph and release fishing has become so entrenched in our fishing psyche in recent years that it’s almost hard to remember that keeping nearly every fish caught was once the norm in our father’s and grandfather’s days. “ “How and how long you handle fish determines their fate.” “Bob […]


Steelhead in Missouri

By Bob Randall on Sunday, January 12th, 2020 in Fishing reports, Nature, No Comments


Kim Schultz recommended a program topic of “Best Steelhead Waters in Missouri”. I thought he was kidding or maybe testing me to see if I really read the program topic suggestions on the membership applications. I emailed him a message that was something like, “What are ya, nuts?” and “The closest place for steelhead to […]


WOTUS

By Bob Randall on Sunday, January 12th, 2020 in Conservation, Nature, No Comments


WOTUS: Acronym for Waters of the United States, also known as the Clean Water Act There is a particular farm near one of my favorite trout fishing locations. It is a small cattle operation. I wouldn’t call it industrial scale. It is, however, intense enough that the feeding area is a mud hole after a […]