Hey ya’ll! It’s raining like crazy here in Southeast, Mo but I’m loving this warmer weather.

This water is great for our plants. Mama Murphy’s daffodils are ready to bloom so tell tail sign spring is here! At least, for now.

I know there is going to be some freezing temps still (last frost somewhere around April 10-20th) but the plants are ready for spring…and so are the bugs.

Ideally a hard frost hits and kills that first generation of wasps, mosquitos, and flies that tend to pop up on every 50+ degree day in March.

Today we’re covering:

Check it out 👇

Since opening day is over, the trout parks might be a LITTLE less crowded these next few weekends. The rain, cooler weather, and water levels are going to be keeping some people away too. (more on water levels in a second)

Coming up…
MARCH 7, SATURDAY – MEN'S TROUT FISHING TOURNAMENT

A trout tournament will be held for gentlemen of any age. Two classes in the tournament include fly and bait categories. Two winners in each class: heaviest trout, and heaviest stringer of trout. Gift certificates will be awarded to winners. Participants can register for the tournament in the Dorman L. Steelman Lodge. Tournament hours are 6:30 am to 2 pm.

MARCH 14, SATURDAY – LADIES’ TROUT FISHING TOURNAMENT

Ladies of any age can participate in this trout fishing tournament. Participants can register at the Dorman L. Steelman Lodge. Two classes of fishing will be allotted, one for fly fishing and the other for bait fishing. Two winners in each class: heaviest trout, and heaviest stringer of trout. Gift certificates will be awarded to the winners that are redeemable for merchandise at the Montauk Lodge. Tournament hours are 7:30 am to 2 pm.

There are a lot of conversations around this as people are traveling in to Missouri to fish for trout. The general consensus is that “we need the rain” which is true. It has rained about 16 days so far this year in the Blue Ribbon area and with the ground being dry, it is flooding however the water is receding as the rain does (as is my hairline).

But some areas are closed, like the Current River

Here is a public website to check water levels in real time.

Here are a couple videos of first hand experience with the flooding:

The best way to have a good adventure is to go with someone who’s done it before.

Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime at a breathtaking 134-mile-long National Park in South Central Missouri! This incredible destination is home to the pristine headwaters of the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers, winding through the untouched beauty of the Ozark Mountain forests.

Picture this: crystal-clear rivers, 58 magnificent springs, and even a riverfront cave you can paddle right into! Wildlife enthusiasts, rejoice! This place is a paradise for spotting trout, walleye, and smallmouth bass, and you can even try your hand at the local winter sport of "gigging" rough fish for a delicious meal. Keep your eyes peeled for black bears, mountain lions, and the recently reintroduced elk roaming the hills, alongside a herd of federally protected wild horses. Watch as turtles bask on river logs, and look up to see bald eagles, hawks, pileated woodpeckers, and great blue herons soaring above. With small mammals, vibrant wildflowers, slithering snakes, and countless other creatures, this area is a wildlife wonderland.

Ask your guide Bill Smith about the local Ozark culture as well. There are still places where your cell phone will not work (thankfully) but Eminence and Van Buren aren’t far.

Website: https://scenicriversguideservice.com/

Big Muddy Adventures, a very unique guide in St. Louis, get you on 2 of the largest rivers in the country; The Mississippi and the Missouri.

They offer:

And much more.

Truly a unique adventure.

Website: https://www.2muddy.com/trips