Ken1949

What is that cone shaped optical devise that some of the anglers are using?

I fished Coffeen about three weeks ago. Bass fishing was pretty slow. I saw a few crappie fishermen, but they did not appear to be productive. I had two real good trips there back in June, with a couple of 20 inchers. The bite seems to be slower since then. The aquatic vegetation has been worse since the power plant shut down about a year ago. Not sure why. Lots of shad in the lake. If you can find the bass busting shad, you will do well.

Coffeen Lake has a 25 hp limit.

Access at Mayers is difficult. The last time we were there was four years ago. It probably has not improved. The channel was about 1/4 mile from Mayers because of the channel relocation. I would put in farther upstream on the Bourbeuse or try the Meramec.

Thanks for the tip on the used Motorguide. Trying to buy a new one.

Can't locate either one. Dealers say it may be several months before they receive a shipment.

Asking for a friend in the STL area. A new Motorguide or Minnkota with a 36 inch shaft, 12 volt, either 45 or 55 lb. trust. All local dealers/stores in the STL area tell him that inventories have been depleted for those lower end models. Apparently, the covid virus shut down factory production for several months.

I have floated that stretch many times except that we take out at Sand Ford. It's a pretty nice float with a few high bluffs and deep holes. It should take about 5-6 hours if you take out at Meramac Caverns. Saturdays are probably crazy with floaters through the State Park. If you are wanting to catch numbers, I would use a small spinnerbait like a beetle spin or throw a ned rig or soft plastic crawdad. Good luck.

The power plant at Coffeen Lake will be retired at the end of the year. It will be interesting to see how the fishing will be affected with no more hot water discharge from the power plant.

Rend Lake is primarily a crappie lake. If you are pursuing bass, I would drive about 45 minutes south of there to Lake of Egypt south of Marion Il. There is a small motel about one mile from the lake. Rates are about $75/night. There are no good public docks available. So, you need to pull your boat out each day. The lake is a power plant lake with about 2200 acres. Most of the good bass fishing is in the northern half of the lake. Crankbaits and topwater are my preferred lures.

Water temps are in the low to mid 50's. Stained water throughout the lake. The generators were not operating. Not sure how long that has been the case. I caught three keeper bass 15/17/15. Two on a ned rig and one on a chartreuse crankbait. No short fish. Fishing should pick up when the generators start operating with warmer water temps.

Fished Coffeen for the third time this spring. Water temps already in the mid 80's to low 90's. Not much of a bite in the morning. It did pick up mid day, which seems to be the pattern at Coffeen. Had fair success using a junebug colored ned rig. Not much action on anything else. The main lake is mostly clear with stained water in the hot water arm. Could not find any significant shad action. I saw a bobcat there a few weeks ago. That was a first for me.

We fished Mark Twain in the Lick Creek and Big Indian Creek branches on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Crappie were slow. The best bite was shallow along the shore mostly near stick weeds. Very few were caught on stumps and flooded trees in deeper water. We were using 1/16 and 1/8 oz. jigs. Our largest crappie was 10+ inches. Falling water levels and high air pressure was a contributing factor. Water color is dingy to stained and about six feet above normal pool.

We had a fairly good day on Coffeen. The lake is at full pool. Water temps are low to mid 70's in the main lake and mostly clear. The hot water arm is low 80's and dingy. Most bass were caught on ned rigs and curly tail soft plastic lizards in shallow water. Observed lots of wildlife, eagles, geese and fox. Also saw catfishermen having good catches. Now is the time to be on Coffeen before the water temps start to skyrocket during the hot weather months.

I was able to get out in 60 degree weather on my birthday. Not too many past birthdays that I have been able to do that. Lots of other fishermen had the same idea as the launch ramp was busy. Coffeen is at full pool and mostly clear. Water temps ranged from mid 50s in the main lake and mid 60s to low 70s in the hot water arm. Bass fishing was fair on billed crankbaits and a ned rig. No report on other species. Looks like it is shaping up to be an early spring.