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Fly Fishing On The Mill Creek, Missouri

Mill Creek Missouri Fly Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us  at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.

We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.

Type of Stream
Spring Creek

Species
Rainbow Trout (Wild)

Size
Small

Location
Central Missouri

Nearest Towns
Rolla
Fort Leonard Wood

Season
Year-round

Access:
Good

Special Regulations
Yes

Non-Resident License
State of Missouri

Weather
National Weather Service Link

Seasons:
Fly fishing Mill Creek is good year-round.
Winter:
Winter fishing can be good on warm days.  
Spring:
Springtime is the best time to fish Mill Creek but you should make sure you check the water levels.
Summer:
Since the water is cooled by springs, it stays cool enough in the prime area but it can get very low at times.
Fall:
Fall may be the best time to fish Mill Creek.

Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or  6X Nymphing:  
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X

Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X

Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six

Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators

Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.

Copyright 2013 James Marsh


Fly Fishing Mill Creek Missouri
Mill Creek can be a good little trout stream but its population of trout rises and falls like a roller coaster from year to year. It’s a tributary of Little Piney Creek. The small creek has ranged from having a large population of wild rainbow trout to only a few. The good
thing about it is the fact that the trout are wild versus purely hatchery stocked trout that’s common in Missouri. Fly fishing Mill Creek can be a rewarding experience.

The Blue Ribbon Trout Area from Yelton Spring to Wilkin Spring has problems during the hot summer months. Even so, there’s still some years the creek’s water levels remains acceptable and it’s often possible to have good days where several wild trout are taken. The fairly recently acquired Bohigian Conservation Area which used to be privately held has offered some advantage. The stream habitat has undergone some improvements.

During low water years, the best area of Mill Creek is usually below Wilkins Springs. The water above that area can dry up in bad water years. The Yelton Springs source of water doesn’t dry up during low water years. Up to 3 million gallons of spring water a day flows into Mill Creek from the springs. There’s a good mile and a half of water below Wilkins Springs even in bad water years. The remained of the creek is managed for wild
trout and sometimes the fish population remains good and some years it doesn’t hold up as well as the upper part.

Mill creek is accessible from the Mark Twain National Forest’s Mill Creek Recreation Area. It’s located in the best area of the creek. Although most all the trout are wild, some stockers from Little Piney Creek move up into Mill Creek. Fishing can only be done using artificial lures and flies. Most of the rainbows are between seven and ten inches in length. Fish up to fourteen inches have be taken.

Keep in mind this is a small stream with tightly enclosed areas that hinder casting. It requires stealthy movements and delicate presentations. You need to use longer than normal leaders and tippets and flies that are as realistic as possible, such as our own Perfect Flies.