Tobey

Catch any bass??

Yes the bass seem to be a little less picky! I'm hoping to get out Saturday morning, thinking about trying Castor this time. I just hope the water levels and clarity will be back to normal by then. Have you done any fishing in Joachim creek around the Desoto area?

What??

Well said my friend.

Thanks JB I'll check into this. You have been a huge help. I've always been a lake fishermen for the most part and learning how to fish these rivers has really been a challenge for me. Any help always appreciated. One other question that pertains to wade fishing. I would assume that the more successful direction to wade would be going upstream correct? Don't the fish typically face upstream to catch things coming down river? I also figured they would see less of the debris being kicked up by my feet. I ask this because it is much easier to fly cast going down stream when the current is fast but I figured it is also easier for the fish to know I'm coming looking up river.

Thanks again for the the info last week. Do you know a good website to check water levels?

Well I ended up running down to Kingston access Saturday morning. I found it easy enough and got there about 5:50AM. Pulling into the parking lot there were two old boys that said they fished all night long and didn't catch anything, said the water rose close to 2 feet overnight and it was super murky. Well this was discouraging information. I headed down to the river and unfortunately those guys were right with very murky water and the first hole looked deep. As I started to wade in heading down stream I quickly had water up to my chest, that woke me up! I then backed out and headed down a trail since I wasn't ready to swim that early in the morning. I ended up wading down a little further only to come to another deep hole with no way around so turned back and headed up river. I came across a guy that fishes here often that said he's been fishing since 4AM without a bite and he confirmed the high murky water was the issue and he told me he was heading to Plattin creek. I waded up river the rest of the morning casting variety of baits until I hit a broken up low water bridge without a single bite. At the bridge I ran into a family setting up canopy and chairs for a day of swimming and he told me how he could see some big bass in the same spot yesterday and that the water wasn't even coming over the bridge once again confirming I just picked a bad day to go. From that point I headed back down river and came across 3 more fishermen wading upstream tight lining worms without any luck either. About this time it was 11AM so packed up and headed home, it was getting hot and the swimmers were filling the banks. Even though the fishing was pour I'm looking forward to going back when the water is clear and normal level. It is a very nice looking river and I look forward to going back. Since I just got this new rod I was determined to catch something so I headed down to Plattin creek Sunday morning after talking to the guy at Kingston that told me it's been decent there. I fished this creek probably 20 years ago so I was somewhat familiar with it and it's only a 35 minute drive. I got there about 5:30AM right when it started getting light. I tied on a big chartreuse popper and started throwing into the fast current and boom 4 cast in a landed about a 10" smallie! Well this already tops yesterday! About 10 minutes later in the same pool I caught the big boy pictured below. I didn't have a tape measure or scale but I'm guessing he weighed around 2 to 2 1/2 lbs??? Anyway this made my day and I didn't care if I caught anything else. Well I ended up wading up and down the stream until about 11AM catching fish all morning. I caught 4 smallmouth total, a couple rock bass, and a ton of bluegill/sunfish but surprisingly no largemouth or spotted bass. The bass bite really turned off by about 8:30AM and the rest of the morning was just playing around with the panfish. All and all it was a good time and I got to catch some fish on my new fly rod that worked awesome by the way! I'm hoping to try either Kingston again next weekend or maybe Castor river but I need to figure out where to look so I can check the water levels before I go. It was kind of disappointing Saturday morning to see the water up so high.

Lol I haven't heard of that law but I like and will not break it!

Thanks again JB, you gave me some good suggestions. My new Orvis Clearwater outfit showed up yesterday and I'm ready to wet a line. I'll give a report Monday morning.

JB thanks for all of the information, I really appreciate it. I think I'm going to run down to Kingston Saturday just because it's 1/2 hour closer and then hopefully I can sneak out Sunday morning too and then I'll try hitting Castor. Thanks again!!

Unfortunately with work and kids I don't have a lot of time to run all over the place and honestly I have not had a lot of success in the past fishing these rivers that is why I'm trying to get some suggestions. I'm not trying to muscle in on anyone's honey hole just trying to get some suggestions.

Great thanks for the information. Now I need to decide which one to try. I was thinking of doing St. Francois state park saturday morning and then castor sunday morning but maybe I'll try Kingston over St. Francois. My new Orvis is being delivered today so I'm just anxious to get out there catch some fish. Any preference on the better bite out of these 3 places?

Thanks Jeff I know where that's at but have never been there. Have you done any fishing and wading here?

Thanks for warning on Bootleg Smalliebigs! I'm not familiar with upper Castor River, do you know an access point I could look up? Yes fly fishing only.

Well I'm thinking about trying either St. Francois State park access or going a little further down to the Bootleg access outside of Potosi. Anyone have any recent experience with these places and recommend one over the other?