Columbia Winter Trout Area
Bethel Park Lake
Fishing Reports This page was updated 5/30/9
This report was submitted by Karl Althage of Columbia on 2/1/09
Date of Trip: 2/1/09 Times Fished: 7:30am Air Temperature: Chilly Weather: Sunny Water Level: Above Average Water Quality: Slightly Clouded What Worked: Wax Worms
Ice was just thick enough to allow ice fishing. I don't know how it was by the
end of the day. The east side was even more marginal. About 50 people fishing
with corn, power bait and salmon eggs. A couple of 3lbers caught. Caught and
released 15+ on ice jig and wax worm.
Thanks Karl. Welcome aboard.
This report was submitted by David McGowan of Columbia on 11/4/08
Date of Trip: 11/3/08 Times Fished: 8:00am - noon Air Temperature: Comfy Weather: Sunny Water Level: Average Water Quality: Slightly Clouded What Worked: Wooly Buggers, Prince Nymph
A big thanks to Mid-Missouri Trout Unlimited for keeping the winter fishing program
alive in Columbia. The city recently announced they were discontinuing the program
due to lack of funds and TU, along with a batch of private donors provided the
$2500 needed to continue. I know some purists may scoff at trout fishing in a
city lake but it has been a great way for me to introduce several of my friends
to flyfishing for trout. Needless to say, once they have on one the line, they
are hooked. Fishing is pretty easy right now, the trout are a little shocked and
hungry, hopefully will become a little more challenging as they acclimate. Gotta
run, heading for the voting poll! Keep up the great site. Thanks
My pleasure! And thanks for the update on Columbia's winter trout fishing.
This report was submitted by Al Vargesko of Columbia on 4/5/08
Date of Trip: 4/5/08 Times Fished: 8:00am - 9:00am Air Temperature: Chilly Weather: Sunny Water Level: Average Water Quality: Slightly Clouded What Worked: Mohair Leech
No trout today... I think it was too sunny. Caught a 10 inch largemouth on a Mohair Leech before
I went home. Three other folks fishing the same time and I did not see anyone bring any trout in
Thanks again Al.
This report was submitted by Al Vargesko of Columbia on 3/29/08
Date of Trip: 3/29/08 Times Fished: 8:00am - 8:45am Air Temperature: Chilly Weather: Overcast Water Level: Average Water Quality: Slightly Clouded What Worked: Mohair Leech
Finally caught my first trout on a fly rod this morning at Cosmo-Bethel. It was my second trip there this year, no
luck the first trip. It was a chilly 37 degrees and a light wind. The 17 inch rainbow was full of eggs. Two other
fisherman out on the lake. Fish dinner tonight!
Congrats Al! Hope to hear of more successful trips.
This report was submitted by Kris K. of Columbia on 11/1/07
Date of Trip: 11/1/07 Times Fished: 2:00pm Air Temperature: Comfy Weather: Sunny Water Level: Average Water Quality: Slightly Clouded What Worked: Brown Roach, Mohair Leech
Had a quick lunch break on the lake. 7 fish in one hour. Size was 12" to 14". Kudo's to this program. Fish were a plenty. I am sure
some will die because the moss is about 6 to 8 feet at shore line, so releasing was tough. Lots of weeds to contend with after you strip
in and try to roll cast out. Backcasting is ok but the lake bank causes problems. Here is where our tax payer dollars are doing good.
Good to hear from you Kris. There are a bunch of us out there that agree with you.
This report was submitted by Mike Kruse of Columbia on 3/15/07
Date of Trip: 3/11/06 Times Fished: 5:00pm - 6:00pm Air Temperature: Balmy Weather: Partly Cloudy Water Level: Average Water Quality: Slightly Clouded What Worked: #8 Mohair Leech
I actually intended to target the bluegill at Cosmo-Bethel, thinking that the recent
warm days would get them feeding. Instead, I found a lake full of actively-feeding
rainbow trout! They were leaping clear of the water and hitting the fly hard! It didn't
take long to string a limit of four fish, with the largest about 15.5 inches. They're
stomachs contained a wide range of urban trout food items (a cigarette butt, pieces
of styrofoam cups, etc.) but the most common bugs were size 18 or 20 midge pupae,
which explains the leaping feeding behavior. The occasional cased addis larva and
one spider were also in the mix. 'Course you can never go wrong with a mohair leech,
no matter what they're feeding on.
Good to hear from you Mike. And you're right. That leech of your's
is definitely a winner.
This report was submitted by Neil Carr of Columbia on 3/31/06
Date of Trip: 3/31/06 Times Fished: 8:20am - 10:30am Air Temperature: Comfy Weather: Sunny Water Level: Average Water Quality: Slightly Clouded What Worked: Dough Bait
My father and I spent a couple hours at the Columbia Winter Trout area this morning, and aside from a sunny day
didn't have much success. We and one other gentleman were there fishing on power bait and salmon eggs, but the
only thing that had any success was the other fellow's homemade dough bait, made from cream cheese and dogfood.
He caught one smallish rainbow.
Thanks for the report Neil. Things are going to start getting tougher at the city lakes around the state from here on out. The trout that remain are
moving closer and closer to the coldest parts of the lakes, which are usually on the bottom of the deepest hole not far from
the lake's dam. As the water continues to warm, that area is their best chance at surviving the summer.
This report was submitted by Seth Larson of Columbia on 1/30/06
Date of Trip: 1/28/06 Times Fished: Afternoon Air Temperature: Comfy Weather: Cloudy Water Level: Average Water Quality: Slightly Clouded What Worked: Olive Wooly Bugger
Had some time today to go fishing. The weather was not that great but the fish were biting. I was able to catch
4 fish in about 45 minutes. Three of them came in about 7 minutes. One of them was a really fat 20" rainbow. What a nice
fish. The others were in the 14-16" range. It was a great time at Bethel Park in Columbia, Mo.
Nice fish, Seth! What a lot of people don't know is that the urban lakes
are stocked with a higher percentage of big fish than the trout streams, so the opportunity for a
trophy is real. The rationale for this stocking practice is likely the fact that most of the
lake & pond trout do not survive the summer to continue growing year after year.
This report was submitted by Seth Larson of Columbia on 1/9/06
Date of Trip: 1/7/06 Times Fished: Midday Air Temperature: Comfy Weather: Partly Cloudy Water Level: Average Water Quality: Slightly Clouded What Worked: Olive Beadhead What DIDN'T WORK: Everything Else
I went to Bethel Park in Columbia, Mo. There were about 15 people fishing the lake. I was there for about 3 hours and
caught 4 fish. They were the first 4 trout that I have ever hooked into. It was a beautiful day to be fishing. Hopefully we
can get more people to send in reports from Bethel Park in Columbia. It is a great place to go catch some trout if you can't
spend the whole day or weekend on a trip.
Amen to that, brother! Thanks for the report, and congrats on your first trout!
If you go fishing at Bethel Park in Columbia, be sure to send us a
Fishing Report!
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