Fishing Report 12/18/24 The stream is flowing above a normal level and stained. Our tandem pre-rigged Cream and red, or Blood midge larva and pupa flies are working good. Aquatic worms, scuds and sow bugs should also work good. Blue Winged Olives and Mahogany duns are hatching. Shoot us an email for the latest fishing report on this one. sales@perfectflystore.com
Perfect Flies are designed and tied to to imitate and behave like the natural foods the trout rely on to survive as much as possible. The more your fly looks like and moves through and on the surface of the water like the real things, the higher your odds of success.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies 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. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They 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
Southern Missouri
Nearest Towns
Waynesville
Springfield
Season
Year-round
Access:
Fair, private property
Non-Resident License
State of Missouri
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
Fly fishing Spring Creek can be good any day of the year
Winter:
Fish can be caught on the coldest days of the year.
Spring:
Spring may be the best time for rainbow trout due to the aquatic insect hatches.
Summer:
The cool spring water makes it possible to catch trout even on the hottest days of Summer but fishing becomes a little more difficult..
Fall:
Autumn is a very good time to fly fish Spring 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.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
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.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Spring Creek Missouri
Spring Creek is a gem of a little trout stream that would rival any of the southern Missouri spring creeks if it were not for the large amount of private property located along the upper part of the stream. It begins from Relfe Spring, but the first few miles downstream flows through private property that’s well watched. This isn’t to say that you can’t gain access on any of the upper portions of the creek. You will just have to obtain permission and or pay to do so.
The trout in Spring Creek are all wild rainbows. The fish can go up to as large as 18 inches but probably average about 12 inches. Fly fishing Spring Creek isn’t exactly for beginners. The trout can be difficult to catch. The water is very clear and the trout are very easy to spook. They get a very good look at your fly and aren’t easily fooled by unrealistic imitations.
The relatively high pH of the water provides a good habitat for many species of aquatic insects, crustaceans, small baitfish and minnows. The fish have plenty to eat.
Access can to the public section can be gained from Highway “J” which leads off highway #44 and crosses the stream. At the bridge, you will find a small unpaved road that follows the small creek.
The trout tend to roam around in Spring Creek according to the varying water temperature throughout the different seasons of the year. The tend to move upstream during the spring spawning season into the private section of the creek. During the summer, the lower section of Spring Creek can become a little on the warm side. During the hot summertime, the rainbows will seek the highly oxygenated sections of the stream. The water is still cooler than normal because it flows from a cold spring and trout can still be caught, it just becomes a little more difficult.
The public section tends to fish best during the Spring from about the first of April through June. Fishing again picks up during the Fall and Winter when the water cools down.
Spring Creek Missouri Fishing Report:
05/13/20 The river is high and stained but
that is a help as long as you can wade in
places or have room to cast. Lots of insects
are hatching.
05/29/20 Stream levels are high and and the
water stained. Good hatches are occurring.
06/12/20 Levels are still a little high but it
should be in good shape very soon.
06/24/20 The creek is still a little stained
and high but trout are being caught. There
are some good hatches taking place.
07/07/20 Good conditions exist. We are
getting good reports from customers.
Good hatches are going on.
07/20/20 The stream is high and stained
from recent rain. Trout were being caught
by our customers before the high levels.
08/02/20 The stream is a little high but that
helps. Good catches are being reported by
our customers. Good hatches.
08/22/20 The stream has been high much
of the time. Trout are still being caught in
good numbers by our customers. There are
good hatches and terrestrials like our
Japanese beetles, carpenter ants and
hoppers are working.
09/13/20 Stream levels are up but should
fall down fast. We are getting some good
reports from customers when the levels are
okay.
10/02/20 The creek is in good shape and
we are getting some good reports. Tere
are BWOs, Mahogany duns, cinnamon
caddis, midges and other insect hatching.
10/21/20 More good reports from
customers. Good hatches and good
conditions.
11/08/20 We didn’t receive any reports this
past week but the conditions are good. Shoot
us an email for a recommended fly list.
12/26/20 The stream is turning out some
good reports for our customers. Good midge
and BWO hatches. Our scuds are working
as well as aquatic worms.
01/12/21 The creek is in good shape and the
warmer spring water keeps the trout active.
We continue to get a few good reports.
01/27/21 The stream is in very good shape
with water slightly stained making it easier to
catch some good ones. Good hatches.
02/10/21 The creek is in good shape with
slightly stained water in places but that
helps. Good hatches are taking place and
you should be able to catch plenty trout.
03/07/21 The stream is in very good shape
with good midge and BWO hatches. Scuds
and brown sculpin streamers are working.
03/20/21 The stream is still in great shape.
Let us have your reports.
04/24/21 The stream is in good shape with good levels and lots of insects hatching. We didn’t receive any recent reports but you should be able to catch plenty trout.
05/04/21 We are getting some good reports from customers. The stream is high right now but will fall out soon. Good hatches are taking place.
05/13/21 The creek is still high due to lots of recent rain but should be good when it falls some. We don’t have any recent reports.
05/29/21 The creek is high and stained some but you should still be able to catch plenty trout. Call of send us an email for a recommend fly list.
06/08/21 The stream is turning out trout in good numbers for our customers. Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations.
06/21/21 The stream is in good shape with very good hatches including Sulphurs. We received one good report this past week.
07/04/21 The creek is a little high and stained. Some areas can be waded safely with caution. The stain actually helps the “catching”. There are good hatches and terrestrials are working.
08/22/21 Sorry for the missed reports. We now have a local back working with us. Good hatches of Cream cahills and scuds are working good.
10/12/21 Well, sorry again. We hope we can get more regular reports. We did get two good ones for the past several days. Levels have been a little high and stained but it doesn’t hurt the “catching” unless it is too high to wade safely.
10/23/21 The stream has been high a lot but we still received several good reports this past ten days. There are good hatches taking place and scuds are also working good.
11/01/21 Rain has the stream levels a little high but we get good reports when it is okay. Good hatches continue to take place.
11/16/21 We received a couple of good reports from customers fishing the past ten days and as recently as yesterday. Conditions are pretty good right now.
11/25/21 Conditions continue to be good. Good stream levels and clear water. We received another good report this past week.
12/06/21 Conditions remain very good. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Midges, & BWOs are hatching and scuds/sowbugs and our sculpin streamers are working good.
12/14/21 Conditions are still good but we didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week.
01/07/22 The stream is a little high and stained but that is okay. We received one good report this past week. Good midge hatches and scuds and sowbugs also work.
01/23/22 Conditions are good but we still didn’t receive any reports from anyone this past week. Let us hear from you.
02/08/22 The stream is in okay shape with some stain which helps. We still didn’t receive any reports from anyone this past week but is should be good.
02/24/22 We have been getting a few good reports but the stream level is high and the water heavily stained at this time.
03/12/22 The stream is a little high and stained but that actually helps. We received a good report from a customer fishing this past week.
03/20/22 Stream levels are still above normal but okay. There are some very good hatches taking place.
04/05/22 The stream is still a little high but that doesn’t hurt that much. The stain in the water can help. There are some very good hatches taking place.
04/21/22 The stream is a little above normal but just fine. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Good hatches are taking place.
05/07/22 The stream level is still high but that makes little difference in many places. The stain helps. Good hatches are taking place.
05/15/22 Conditions remain about the same as last week. Stream levels remain a little high but okay. Excellent hatches are taking place and you should be able to catch good numbers of trout.
05/30/22 Conditions are pretty good with okay stream levels. There are good hatches taking place including Sulphurs which have just begin to hatch.
06/14/22 Good hatches continue to come off and we are getting a few good reports from customers fishing it. Scuds and sowbugs are also working good as well as terrestrials.
06/28/22 The stream is giving up a few trout for our customers. Good hatches are coming off. We received two good reports from the past week.
07/05/22 Conditions are very good. There are good hatches taking place and our terrestrial imitations are starting to work good.
07/19/22 The cool water still has the trout active and feeding. We received two good reports from customers recently.
10/21/22 We finally got a new report and it is a good one. Sculin streamers, BWOs, Mahogany duns, and midges are hatching. Scuds are also working.
11/05/22 Stream levels are a little high and the water stained. Give it two or three days to drop and clear. Good hatches continue to take place.
02/09/23 The stream is high and stained from recent rain but has been turning out some nice catches. Wait until it drops and clear.
02/23/23 We have received a couple of good reports from locals this past week. Midges and little BWOs are hatching. Scuds and Aquatic worms will also work.
03/14/23 The stream is in okay shape. We have one good report from a customer this past week.
04/06/23 The stream is a little high and stained but we did receive two good reports from local customers this past week. Good hatches are taking place.
04/24/23 The stream is in good shape with good hatches taking place. We received two good reports from local customers fishing it this past week.
05/04/23 Very good conditions exist. There are lots of insects hatching and we received two good reports from customers.
05/22/23 We received a good report from a local customer fishing it this past week. Conditions are good and there are good hatches taking place.
09/05/23 The stream is still in very good shape turning out good numbers of trout for our customers.
Send us an email for a recommended fly list. sales@perfectflystore.com