sms_alum

In the park it is pretty easy to find where they are stacked up. There are 4 sets of riffles that always hold a nice pod above and a few below. The other spots are fairly easy to find with a hat and a pair of polorized glasses. There are a few real nice trout holding on some of the edges but they are pretty spooky. I would keep moving if your not seeing trout. As long as you have a few hours you can cover the length of the park. Remember inside the park is fly or single hook. If you take a bass rod I would wait to rig up until you are below the park. Also, even below the park their is no soft plastics.

Alright I think it looks like I have the go ahead for this Saturday. Looking forward hanging into a few nice whites and checking out some new water. Thanks again for all the info.

Made a trip down this past saturday. Did pretty well in the park stripping wooleys and drifting glow balls. My dad, who does not fly fish, was nailing them on a single hook rooster tail. The trout are definately stacked up in certain spots. Took a spinning rod down below the park to try for some smallmouth. Caught 3 smallmouth and a largemouth on a jerkbait, but no real size to them. There was only one other car in the lot at 8:00 when fishing started and when we left around noon there was still only about 10 cars in the whole place. If you have someone learning how to fly fish this is great time to take them down.

Man, just committed to fishing Maremac Springs in the morning with my father. I am going to have to try to get a trip for next weekend if this weather holds up. You have have me a little scared with all the warnings about a great working motor. Knock on wood I have not had any problems, but colder weather and not having run the boat in a few weeks has me second guessing. Thanks for all the insight, I really appreciate learning about new areas to fish and don't require towing a boat 3 hours.

I have been thinking about hitting up that Columbia Bottoms area for a while. Never been on that part of the river anything I should be aware of? Also, you really have me interested with the crankbait pattern you are describing, any certain type of structure you focus on in this area?

We have a lease not far from where that buck was shot. They hunt near Ewing, I think his name is Tony? We definately have not seen anything like that running around so far. Good luck in the rest of your season. The should be up moving around this weekend.

If you are fishing the upper Meramec the two spots I would focus on are right outside the park and further down stream where another creek comes in. Those spots usually hold smallmouth and trout in the winter. I have caught a few goggle eye in those areas, but not really targeted them. Along with you spinners and rapalas, you may want to pick up some hair jigs and work the bottom. Also, I would beef up your normal trout gear for winter fishing there. You have a decent chance of hanging into some really nice smallmouth, but you did not hear that from me.

Harris, There are some spots you should be able to fish sitting. There are people there every weekend sitting in lawn chairs that catch fish. You would probably be limited to powerbait fishing off the bottom because of the current. Not to say you couldn't use a bobber (it's called a strike indicator when you trout fish) but in most places there is at least some current. Your best bet would be to get down there during a week day when the crowds are low and pick out a nice spot on one of the rock jetties they have. Good luck and I hope you have a speedy recovery.

Had much of the same experience this weekend. Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning were all nuts around the twin bridges/Mutton Creek area. I have never seen the whites stay up all day with a full sun like they did on Saturday. All sizes of whites including a few 18 inch beasts. We actually had to stop in Mutton Marina and buy the rest of the rooster tails since every one I had in the boat was unusable by mid day Saturday. Caught a few largemouths in the mix but probably only one or two that were keepers. Caught them on gruds as well, but had to keep them moving and the hook-up ratio was not as high. This was the best white bass fishing I have ever experienced for anytime of year. I was down last weekend and found them as well, but not nearly in the same numbers. My nephew and father-in-law are definately hooked on fishing after this weekend.

How deep are you running your crankbaits?

We caught a pretty nice smallmouth this weekend right near monkey island on a shad rap. Thought we had a solid trout for the tournament until we got it close to the boat.

Never had a good experience at Feather Craft, but I stopped going there about 5-6 years again. T. Hargrove is more my style of fly shop.

Thanks for the advice, hopefully I get to use it next year. I get those sort reactions from most of my nieghbors, especially when their kids start coming out to check out what I brought home.

Our group had fairly good bow/rifle season. Ended up with 3 does and 4 bucks, one buck was a real nice 10 shot the weekend before rifle season. I was hoping to get one more bow hunt in this year but its not looking good. ciRe, I got a question for you. When you cap a buck you are mounting, where do you cut off the neck from the body?

Headed to Meramec Springs for a few hours on Sunday. It was a little cool when I first got there but the weather continously warmed up all day. The water is extremely clear and there were not many clouds in the sky so you could see fish everywhere. They were doing their typical winter schooling near the surface and it looks like they stocked it pretty well for the season. Did see a few nice fish along inside edges, but with these conditions they definately saw me first. Did catch a few dumb ones out of the schools though. If you are new to fly fishing or are introducing some one to the sport this a great time to take them to MS. It is usually not crowded and loaded with rainbows. Also, I take a walk below the park looking for some smallies but did not see much.

I would definately recommend fishing this. Weather can be an issue getting down there. I come from St. Louis and have had to drive through some interesting weather before. Phil puts on a great tournament and usually has a good turnout. It is much more laid back than bass tournaments I fished in the past. As long as your son has enough warm closes he will have a great time.

I have limited experience with eating drum, but an old timer told me one time to get them on ice while they are still alive. Apparently this draws all their blood to the vital organs and out of the meet. I tried this on a nice size drum we caught on the piney one time and it was pretty good. They other times I have tried drum they have been a struggle to eat.

We have had the mineral blocks out since spring and they have been hitting them hard. Just moved a few stands over the weekend and gave the other stands a quick check. This is also a good time to trim up shooting lanes since last season. I plan on staying out of the woods until late Septemeber when we start to bow hunt them. With these cooler temperatures maybe fishing will be a little better.

I also noticed no soft plastics for the tournament. This will really make bass fishing interesting. Is this correct or am I reading the to much into the rules on the flier?

What is the legnth limit for bass on Taneycomo? I assume 15 inches but can't find much information on it. Anybody planning on fishing this?

Sorry having trouble loading this yesterday.

We had a good opening weekend. We have 4 hunters and everything shot a buck this year. Heading back out this weekend to get a few does,

Hargrove all the way. I don't fly fish as much as I used to, but when I was in college and had time to fish more I would always stop in and get a few things even though I didn't have much money. When I was buliding my first rod, they helped me out by selling me some older St. Croix blanks for extremely cheap and even lent me the rotating gadget for while my rod dried. Always extremely helpful and go out of their way to answer any questions. Great people and a great place to hang out and BS.

My dad and I got caught out in the first part of the storm. Fishing was awesome and we just wanted to stay out for a few minutes longer. The boat handled everything alright but when got back to Mutton Creek our tent and the rest of the campsites looked like they took the brunt of the wind. It seemed like there were gusts over 20 mph, but I could be wrong. I have never seen tent poles just snap like they did. After trailering the boat and packing up a campsite in the dark with heavey rain, it was a long ride back to St. Louis. On a side note from 6:30 till about 8:15 we fished the edge of flats and we caught the widest variety of fish I think I have ever caught in freshwater, all on crankbaits. 5 largemouth (one was keeper size), 2 monster blue gill, 2 short walleye, 3 keeper size crappie, 1 channel cat, and probably a dozen whites.

I fished the Niangua Arm near where the Little Niangua comes in this weekend. I really only fished a few hours each morning but was surprised at the quality of bass we caught, especially monday morning. All of our keepers (released) were caught on carolina rigged plastic worms in red shad. Mainly had luck around points and tried to find areas with less docks. Water clarity was about 2 feet, and seemed to be clearing up as the weekend went on. This was my second trip to LOZ this year and I am really surprised at the amount of 4-6lb fish. Good luck and look out as the big boats really start coming out around 8:30 or 9:00.