Bennett Spring
spring creek in Missouri
Bennett Spring State Park provides walk-and-wade access along a spring creek and downstream tailwater that is stocked regularly and also holds wild trout in parts; renowned for consistent hatches and accessible trout water.
Subsurface action is strong with nymphs imitating midges
- 01Subsurface action is strong with nymphs imitating midges, scuds, and mayfly larvae in the current.
- 02Look for rising fish during afternoon Blue-Winged Olive and Pale Morning Dun hatches, especially on cloudy days.
- 03Egg patterns can be effective for opportunistic trout throughout the fall.
- 04Streamers, stripped slowly, can entice larger trout looking for a substantial meal.
- 05Focus on deeper runs, current seams, and areas with aquatic vegetation.
Past reports week by week
11 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Blue-Winged Olive Comparadun
Fall BWO hatches are a key event on spring creeks, and this low-profile dry fly is excellent for selective trout feeding on emergers and adults.
PMD (Pale Morning Duns)
Pale Morning Duns are actively hatching in fall, providing a consistent food source for opportunistic feeding trout.
Flashback Scud Wet Hare's Ear
Scuds and various aquatic insects are active subsurface year-round in spring creeks, making this a reliable searching nymph.
Zebra Midge
Midges are a primary and consistent food source in tailwaters and spring creeks year-round, effective as a subsurface searching pattern.
Buy at AmazonBlood Dot Egg
Fall often triggers opportunistic feeding on egg patterns by trout, even in the absence of spawning salmon.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger (Olive)
A versatile streamer, effective year-round for imitating leeches and baitfish, particularly good for aggressive trout in colder fall water.
October Caddis (Dry)
October Caddis hatches can occur in the fall, offering opportunities for trout to feed on larger adult caddis.
Buy at AmazonMahogany Dun
Late summer and fall often see hatches of Paraleptophlebia (Mahogany Duns), providing dry fly opportunities for rising trout.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Bennett Spring State Park Hatchery Tailrace
Primary angling corridor below the hatchery where trout congregate and hatches are reliable.
Dry Run and Upper Spring Branch
Upper spring creek section with classic pocket water and excellent dry-fly opportunities.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Weaver's Tackle Store
Reading's Fly Shop
Hoot's Custom Flies
Back Country Outfitters
Get Bennett Spring reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Missouri season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Quick answers
Common questions about Bennett Spring.
What flies work best on Bennett Spring?
Our top scored fly patterns for Bennett Spring right now are Elk Hair Caddis (80% confidence), Klinkhammer (80% confidence), Jujubaetis (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Bennett Spring?
Bennett Spring holds Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Bennett Spring fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Bennett Spring each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.