Montauk

Even an outdoor writer needs to get away from it all occasionally. Such feelings prompted me to journey to Montauk State Park recently for a few days simply to relax and enjoy a change of scenery.

Montauk is located at the headwaters of the famed Current River, much of which is administered by the National Park Service as part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Montauk’s springs combine with the minuscule Pigeon Creek to supply more than 40 million gallons of water to the river each day.

The cool spring waters provide perfect habitat for rainbow trout. Montauk is one of four trout parks in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Conservation, in cooperation with the parks, provides a trout fishery that is very popular with anglers.

Picnic areas and two picnic shelters provide the perfect place for a quiet lunch or a family reunion. Three trails provide hikers and bicyclists with an easy way to explore the park. Tours of the gristmill, built in 1896, give visitors a taste of the past and help them learn about the history of the Ozark region.

For visitors wanting to spend the night, the park offers a variety of choices, including a modern campground, rental cabins and motel rooms. The modern dining lodge will satisfy any appetite. Montauk's campground offers basic and electric campsites. For a little extra space, try one of the park's family campsites.

The park’s store carries a variety of camping supplies. You are now able to reserve your Missouri State Parks campsite up to 12 months in advance, expanding from the previous six-month window. To make a reservation or view campsites details, photos and availability, go to the reservation website by clicking the "Make a Reservation" link below and start planning your trip today. Reservations may also be made by calling toll free 877-ICampMO (877-422-6766). Printable campground maps are available for your reference by clicking on the "Map" links.

I arrived at Montauk on Sunday afternoon. Check-in time is after 3pm, with checkout at 2pm. I met a number of campers leaving the park, after a weekend stay. As I drove through the spacious campground, well over half of the campsites were vacant. I pulled my popup camper into my chosen site, which I reserved several weeks in advance. It was located very near to the stream that courses it way past the campground. I could literally walk 40 yards to start fishing, if I wanted.

I quickly set up a comfortable camp and started a fire. Temperatures were chilly and predictions were that it would drop into the low 20s during the night. A little warm up felt great. Too, one of the major attractions of camping is enjoying a camp fire. Most camps within sight of my site had plumes of smoke rising as well. Everyone enjoys a campfire.

After settling in, I drove to the park store to purchase a daily trout tag. I had a couple of hours to fish before dark and looked forward to casting a few flies to the wary trout in the crystal clear waters of the stream. I brought a selection of fly rods, but chose to use a 4-weight Sage rod, which is small. A 5-weight fly rod, reel and line are the standard for fly fishing in the trout parks and small rivers of the Ozarks. I love the challenge of handling fish on a rod a bit lighter than normal. It adds to the thrill of playing a fish gingerly and bringing it to hand.

I rigged the rod with one of my favorite trout patterns, a pink San Juan Worm. It sported a small, gold bead head, which would help get the fly down in the soft current. Drifting free in the current the tiny worm resembles the real thing, as it tumbles and wriggles its way downstream.

I could watch the worm pattern as it made its way downstream. Several feet into the drift, a brightly colored rainbow made a mad dash toward the worm pattern, and I inhaled it before I could set the hook. It always takes a few minutes to wake up my reflexes. The old saying that he who is slow on the hook set eats less.

Back at camp, I cooked an evening meal to warm my bones, then sat by the campfire with a cup of coffee while being serenaded by a pair of Barred Owls. Life was good. While I had been fishing, two families moved into adjoining campsites across from me. It proved to be great fun watching the kids play with the family dog and the families interactions.

They were camped in tents, but well clothed and prepared for a cold night ahead. And I became pleasantly surprised to see how quiet and respectful the two families were of other campers. Just to be neighborly, they brought me over a couple of Rrice Krispie treats.

Jimmy Hanger, of Salem, was the campground host at Montauk. A friendly sort, he stopped to visit. He indicated that most people are very respectful of others, but that a few do like to play music a bit too loud. That’s when he steps in to ask offenders to quiet down. Hanger performs his duties well, keeping the campground tidy and in order. “Trash in the fire pits is another problem,” Hanger said. “People just don’t realize the problems it causes for park staff.” Day two on the trout stream began at noon for me to avoid the extreme cold. A cream colored midge hatch began and I had a blast catching trout on the fly. Steak and trout by the campfire that evening sure hit the spot. And I’ve got two more days to enjoy Montauk.

Bill Cooper

Cover Top - The cool spring waters provide perfect habitat for rainbow trout. The spring branch is stocked daily from March 1 through October 31. Cover Bottom - Montauk State Park is one of four trout parks in the state of Missouri. The daily limit is four trout. Top - Three trails provide hikers and bicyclists with an easy way to explore the park.