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Can anyone recommend a multi-piece UL spin rod that would fit in a backpack?

Chief, you want to take that one???? Welcome to the forum, post, read, and enjoy.

Gents and Ladies, Going to be sunny and 70 plus...a perfect spring day. I will be inside a building with no windows. Catch one and drink one for me. Good Luck and Good Fishing, Signed "This Sucks"

Now that you say that, I remember reading that somewhere. I forgot all about it. I'll keep that in mind next time.

I'll have to try that idea.

I was looking a wet fly patterns last night. Does anyone have any favorites without wings?

This is exactly what I was doing, but was getting nothing on the dead drift...only the swing and lift.

Can't remember, but it is the first building on the hill (to the right) outside the park. Last summer the smoker was in the rear of the parking lot.

I was all alone below the park which was good...no one to laugh at my bad casting and bad language.

I don't know if it is still open, but that smokehouse right outside the Bennett park on the hill is really good.

Thanks...I'll try that approach. How long of leaders are you using with that setup?

How much an hour to ride in it?

Was coming back from Piney Creek and stopped at gas station, ice cream bar, and restaurant called Cookin' From Scratch at the Newburg I-44 exit. The food was great and the prices were fair. If you have a huge appetite, they have one of those get a 66 oz burger for free if you can eat it all and fries in 66 minutes. If you are fishing the area or just passing through, give it a try. The gas station section also has a supply of chocolates from a local chocolater. I got the cereal and nut clusters...very good.

I stayed at the Days Inn in Saint James this weekend. This is a nice family owned hotel with reasonable rates, clean room, helpful employees, and indoor pool. For those with a military ID the rate was $60 a night plus tax. They also take pets for an extra $10. If there was a negative, ask for a room on the south/west end. The north/east end is close to the ramp for the interstate and could be a little noisy. Didn't bother us but might bother you. It was about 10/15 minutes from the Spring.

Thanks for the report and the fish. Did you fish the upper or lower half?

Well let's just say that I did more learning then catching. Which isn't all bad. I've never fished water that big before. I noticed that the fish I could see were sipping or jumping clear out of the water and figured that they were chasing risers. So I tried swinging a wet fly I read about from the upper Missouri and had some really good hits. However, everytime I got a hit my line would snap. I don't know why. The breaks were not at the knots and the line is new. I did learn my leaders were not constructed correctly (didn't have a butt end thick enough). I guess I never noticed because I fished Blue Springs all winter and the casts were short. So, maybe my line had got tangled up without me knowing it during casting (that I was struggling with). So this month, I'm going to learn how to correctly make leaders and a varity of wet flies. I wish I lived closer to the trout water so I didn't have to go so long between lessons. FYI...the Missouri river special is size 12 - 16 with a gold beadhead, red or green holographic body, silver wire wrap, peacock thorax, and dry fly hackle instead of partridge (don't ask me why but it works). I started fishing it in December and my best hits of the year of come off it. All hits have been in colored or turbulent water and none in clear/calm water. I've lost all three fish...one to a rock at BSC and the two on the Meramec.

Tried out the indicators this weekend and they all worked fine. The one made from the micro-flash works great with a little floatant and doesn't stick out. It will work great for skittish fish.

I tried out the Meramec this weekend for the first time and was using a wet fly swing. My question is on big water like that should one complete the wet fly swing with floating or sinking line. I've been reading up, but really haven't read anything one way or another. Thanks In Advance

Thanks

I thought I read this somewhere on the forum, but I can't find it. What is a safe, good water level on the Meramec to wade below the park? I thought I remember it being below 500 cfs. Thanks In Advance

I've been wanting to try the little joes...now I'll have to.

I've had a lot of luck on Blue Springs Creek with Bitsy Pond Minnow (#35 CHARTREUSE BLACK BACK and #31 BABY BASS). I took off the front hook and de-barbed the back ones (personal preference). Chuck it up a shoot or pool and retrieve or let it float down a riffle and reel it back up stream. I've caught my biggest wild trout on this setup. If the water is a little deeper Rapala makes a 1" sinking minnow. I started with that, but I like being able to float a lure through a hole, and the Bitsy is cheaper. If you go to a bass pro store, they are in the crappie/panfish section not the lure section (at least in St. Louis). http://www.basspro.c...t/29847/-855819 The marabou jig recommendation is a good one too, but I found it best to have a micro-reel setup and go as small as possible with the rod tip shacking during the retrieve. If that doesn't work, try different start and stop retrieves. If there is casting room, I have a 8' rod and a 5' for the thick stuff. Finally, if you are in a spot where you can control the line...and...there is enough current to move a medium split shot...and you can stand in the middle of the run...then you can use any nymph fly. Put the split shot 18 to 24 inches above fly and quarter cast upstream. Reel in the line until it is just tight enough to feel the split shot bouncing down the run. Watch and feel the line for any dead weight or quick movement. When you find the sweet spot you can stop reeling in line and keep the line tight by raising and then lowering the rod tip. (PS...this is a great technique with worms where legal). Again, a micro-reel is the best set up for this. It doesn't work on the real small steams. I load all my micro-rigs with hi-vis four pound test and then tie on six to eight feet of 3x tippet. This allows me to see my line as it passes through the hole. Basically, it is like cat fishing but with your line moving down the stream. I've found the 8' rod works best. Good Luck.

That's a good fish, congrats. Sent you a PM.

I thought Westover was closed. How much was the day's fishing.

I just bought a custom three weight from an OAF member, Mark from RDP flyrods. I'm still breaking it in, but the workmanship was first rate and the price is very competitive. When I say breaking it in, I've only had it out at Blue Springs Creek so haven't really pushed full cast lengths. It did work great for short side arm and roll casts on little water. His customer service is first rate also. http://www.rdpflyrods.com/