Fly Fishing at Westover Farms - Steelville MO
Westover Farms might be the most idyllic setting for fly fishers in the state of Missouri. The farms covers nearly 600 acres and contains several different types of fishing locations.
We arrived through the massive front gate which opens to day trip fishers at 7:30am Wednesday - Monday. Westover is closed to day trip fishing on Tuesdays but its open to those staying in the onsite cabins or the inn.
My friend Ed and I explored most of the fishable area of the ranch starting first just behind the fly shop, making our way around the loop and back to the still ponds.
We took a short break for some morning snacks and a fresh brewed cub of coffee. Ed and I met on a backpacking trip nearly 6 years ago now and we’ve reconnected through fly fishing. He’s OBSESSED with tying flies and he’s got one of the most complete boxes I’ve seen from a trout fisherman.
The meadow, pictured in the thumbnail of the video is one of my favorite places to fish in the entire United States. It looks like something out of a movie. Crystal clear water snakes back and forth in a seductive s curve through a beautiful stretch, complimented by tall stalks of wild grasses. We spotted a “Golden”trout that taunted both Ed and I for 20 minutes each, refusing every tasty looking fly we through.
One big advantage to fishing private water, is the solitude of it all. We certainly weren’t the only ones fishing at Westover on Saturday but it often felt like we had the whole farm to ourselves. Tom and Lisa, the husband and wife team that run the resort are incredible team and make you feel welcome each and every time.
Westover is also very special to me because it serves as the host to the Gateway Trout Unlimited chapters three year study on Planting Wild Brown Trout using Dave Whitlock Vibert Egg Boxes. Walking around the farm, I was reminded of the incredible work being done in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation to increase the survival rates of brown trout in Missouri fisheries.
Check out the videos I did on that project here:
Our day got started a little slower then expected with Ed landing our only fish before lunch. We changed tactics and locations often, and found greater success in the early afternoon. Ed finished the day with 4 fish and I landed 3, including a nice sized rainbow in the meadow.
I hope you get a chance to visit Westover Farms with someone who can help you get better at fishing like Ed did for me this weekend. He’s been a great resource for me and an even better fishing buddy. I’ve found that the “community” building component of this channel is the part I get the most fulfillment out of. Look for more videos coming soon with friends and family as the central focus.
Cheers.
