My wife is a competitive acapella (Barbershop) singer and her singing group is competing in St. Louis for the Sweet Adeline's International Choral International Competition. I'm going with her as her "stage husband" and morale support.

Since her group is doing day-long rehearsals on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning before the competition starts Thursday evening, I was trying to decide how to kill three days in Missouri.

In the course of my search, I discovered Westover Trout Farms in Steeleville, MO about 90 miles outside St. Louis located in the Mark Twain/Ozarks National Forest. The property was initially developed in 1854 when James Westover built a millhouse taking advantage of the property's many springs and streams The old millhouse became the focal point for the town of Westover which eventually faded away. The old millhouse finally burned to the ground in the early 1980's.

Thereafter the new owners restored existing streams on the 600 acre property and created new streams to complement the spring-fed waters. They also created a trout hatchery for commercial sales and stocking their own streams. Everything is catch-and-release unless you want to purchase your catch. No Missouri fishing license required. The accommodations appear very upscale but the rooms are only $125.00 a night. The reviews on Yelp are excellent. I had always wanted to try Tenkara fly fishing and these spring creeks look like a perfect opportunity to practice in a forgiving environment. Leaving my traditional fly gear at home to force me to learn Tenkara.

There really is nothing like this in California.....

After I come back from St. Louis on 10/21, I'll post a report.

http://westoverfarms.com