Vacation of a lifetime: Bennett Spring - the Trilogy: Part 2 – Journey to the source

Part 2 – Journey to the source

How do you plan a trip of a lifetime? 

Same way you eat an elephant – 

Courtesy Trevor K. Nelson (http://trevorknelson.com/author/trevorknelson/)

The two tough parts were over – 

the decision to go, 

and 

where to go. 

Next comes research – I love research!

It gives you the opportunity to live the experience over and over in many different scenarios until you find the one you want for real.  It helps you learn and plan and enhance the experience.  

Our plan went something like this:

Bite #1 – make a reservation.  

Easy, right? – well, no.  

I went online to see what was available at 

Bennett Spring State Park. 

They have everything from motel rooms to townhouses to cabins.  

The website had photos and prices and details, so we had all the information we needed, plus we had the advantage of information from my sister who had actually been there.

But, we still had a few questions, so I called the park and got some answers, and was told that 

we could have whatever we wanted – 

the park accommodations were wide open.

After discussing options with Joyce and the kids, we decided on a stand-alone cabin with two bedrooms, full kitchen, large living area with fireplace and near the spring headwaters.  

Cabin 21 - our first choice.

So far so good!

Then, when we called to make the reservations we were told the cabin we wanted was already taken!  WHAT?  NOOOO!

So was our second choice, and yes, our third choice as well! 

The accommodations were getting full fast! 

Panic setting in!  

Don't lose control!  

It'll be OK!!!

And, it was. 

We eventually secured a duplex cabin near the Niangua River at the far end of the spring – exactly opposite of what we wanted – 

and, as it turned out, 

it was absolutely perfect!  

We loved it!

It might not be as picturesque as #21,
but #51 was all OURS!  Wait till you see the inside!
(in part 3)

Bite #2 – organize the fishing rods.  

Lot’s more fun and less stressful than the reservations!

I planned to fly fish the whole time and I had a good idea of the equipment I’d need, but I’m really big on being prepared for pretty much anything - just in case.  

So, I’d need my 9’, 4 weight, solid boron Don Phillips blank, that I made as my main rod, but I’d need a backup.  

So, I picked my 10’ 8”, 5 weight switch rod and my 5’, 4 weight spin/fly combo rod – both also made by yours truly. 

This is a good start.
Still need Joyce and Meghan's fly rods.

And, for good measure and for back up, another "just in case" - a couple of my Dad’s fly rods to round out the equipment list!

But, we were right by the Niangua River that had a big population of Smallmouth Bass, so I might need my 9’ 6", 9 weight, Lamiglas, Esprit Graphite, IM6 fly rod,  and if the river was really wide, I might need my freshly built 12’, 7 weight Spey rod – which had never been used.

#9, 9'6" Lamiglas top and
#7, 12' Spey that I built bottom

Plus, I needed the fly rods I just built for my wife and daughter Meghan.  

Meghan's rod top and Joyce's rod bottom

And of course, the girls would probably want the 4’ spin rods I built for them 25 years ago.  But, those are a bit short and limited, so I’d need to bring a couple of 6’ spin rods, just in case.  

A few spinning rods wouldn't hurt.

You can probably see the pros and cons in being prepared – or over prepared – for which I've been told I have tendencies toward!  

But, as fate - and really good packing skills – would have it – all necessary rods fit into three rod carriers...

These three held 17 rods - I think it was 17, might have been more.

...and, surprisingly, into the car! 

Whew! That was really more like a bite and a half.

And, over the course of a week of fishing, 

I used two rods, 

Meghan used one, 

Joyce used one, 

Kristin used two.

Over prepared? 

 I don’t think so, but you do the math!

Bite #3 – organize the flies.

Part of my research was to learn what Bennett Spring, MO trout liked to eat and have them in our fly boxes.

This was a very rewarding Bite.  Without the flies, Fly fishing is just whipping the water to a froth with your line - I couldn't let that happen.  

And while I'm interested in the minimalist fly fishing style of Tenkara (some of the masters only use ONE fly - just ONE! ALL THE TIME!), I'm definitely of the belief that being prepared means that you need more than just one of anything! - I know - tell you something new - well, I plan to... 

...in my next post: 

Bite #3 

See you soon!

Dave