Remember those days a couple of weeks ago when the weather was amazing?

The temperature was in the 60s, the wind was calm and there was no rain in sight. Days perfect for a fishing trip. Unfortunately, I had no free time that entire week until Saturday. The forecast was for a high of 59 degrees, perfect for a day of fishing at the creek. Unfortunately, a weather front moved in on Friday night, raising the chance of rain to 100 percent and bringing with it high winds.

I called a few pals to see if they’d like to join me, but their reactions were similar, and I realized I’d be going alone. I had some new line from Orvis for my six weight rod that I was eager to try. It’s a long distance casting line and I felt the strong winds we were having would be a great test.

The truck was loaded with foul-weather gear, and my tackle included the heavier rod with its new line. I drove through the pouring rain toward Pierce City, eager to fish the 725-acre Capps Creek Conservation Area and Jolly Mill Park. I rarely fish that area, but I should fish it more often. It’s not far from Joplin, you can catch both trout and smallmouth, and it’s a great place just to get away for an afternoon.

I was seven and a half miles west of Monett on highway 60 when I turned south near the big lumber mill on Wallaby Road. One and three quarter miles south there is a Y intersection where Wallaby meets Jolly Mill Road. If I took a left at the fork I’d end up at the Jolly Mill Park, and a right would take me to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s access on Capps Creek.

I wanted to check out the MDC access first, so I turned right. The rain had lessened but the wind was still strong and the water was muddy and swift. I put on my rain suit and hiked the bank to check out the set of rapids just a short way upstream from the bridge. The muddy water didn’t look appealing for fishing, so I decided to see if the mill was in a more fishable condition.

When I arrived at Jolly Mill, the parking lot was almost empty. There were two trucks in the lot, and I assumed those belonged to the two anglers fishing near the old bridge.

Capps Creek empties into the large mill pond at the beginning of the park. The pond spills over the dam and into a straight half mile section of water under two bridges and finally under a fence which marks the end of the park and the beginning of the conservation area. Near the boundary fence is the “new bridge” which currently carries the car traffic. A few yards up from that is the “old bridge.” It’s an iron and wood structure from long ago and is used strictly for pedestrian traffic, fishing and picnicking.

Jolly Mill began as a whiskey distillery and grist mill in 1848. The grist mill continued operation until 1975. The mill was purchased in 1983 by a private group called “The Friends of Jolly Mill.” They’ve restored much of the mill and built a park surrounding it, all free to the public.

The clouds were thick and gray, and the rain had picked up. There had been no sign of lightning, so I put on my waders and rain jacket and began fishing my way upstream from the old bridge toward the dam and its waterfall. I was careful to stay on the park side since the other is posted private property.

Columnist: Silas Gray

'Local Waters'



The dam that originally channeled water to drive the great mill wheel now holds water back, allowing it to build up and drop ten feet into the creek and aerate the water for the fish. A solid line of water was pouring over the top of the dam which was a welcome sight after our recent drought. The swift current was washing a lot of the silt from the stream which had built up while the creek was low.

Starting near the bridge, I tied on an olive woolly bugger and began to work my way toward the bridge. It wasn’t long before I caught my first trout, but I’d made it halfway to the dam without catching another. I switched to a San Juan Worm and fished all the ambush points that were formed by the vegetation and rocks in the stream but caught nothing. Finally, I caught another small fish near the dam after switching to a size 12 crackle back dry fly. I caught my final fish after changing to a size 16 gnat with a fluorescent green bead head.

It’s hard to brag on an afternoon of catching only three fish, but with the high winds, the muddy water and intermittent rain, I think it was a good afternoon.

The portion of Capps Creek managed by the MDC is a White Ribbon Trout Area and is stocked periodically with rainbow and occasionally brown trout. It provides several miles for wading, and it’s home to some 20-plus inch resident brown trout. There are some nice smallmouth, especially near where Capps joins Shoal Creek just a few miles downstream.

I usually start at the MDC access and wade back up to the park. It’s a great spot to drag a float tube along to easily cross the deeper holes and to carry supplies for the day.

The Jolly Mill and Capps Creek Conservation Area are not far away, they’re easy to get to and have a lot to offer. They’re a great place for a mid-winter escape, so grab someone or come alone and spend time walking the bank, or wading the stream and catching fish or having a picnic.

Remember — rain, wind and cold are not valid excuses for not fishing.