Greasy B

Indian Creek access closed, another brick in the wall between the public and public waters. Sad news indeed.

If the small fish can leave them alone long enough give the better fish a chance to eat them they would probably work great. Maybe an oversized hook would help.

Sweet fish. With the spawn winding down the prime stream fishing is right around the corner. Thanks for getting me fired up.

The bass regulations are promoting quantity rather that quality. A slot limit would go along way to balance the size structure.

While I haven't been fortunate enough to fish them I know there are some sweet Smallmouth streams in northern Illinois. The loess substrate and prairie soils of central Illinois don't appear to support many Smallmouth. I didn't figure the streams in the Shawnee hills had enough water. I don't often fish walk and wade streams but I sure spend a lot of time thinking about them.

Understood, heck I wouldn't tell my own mother about a place like that.

The Bluegill have been a little spotty this last week. I think it should pick up as we approach the next full moon. I haven't been pestered by the usual herds of 10" bass this year, maybe with less small bass we'll see some better size next year, probably wishful thinking.

Some great pictures, fine fish and a cool creek. You don't see water that clear In IL very often. How about a hint on location? North, South or central Illinois?

I've had uncanny success with spooks in that same pattern.

Great catch. I have yet to catch a carp on a fly. My nephew Art who is something of a veteran at carp on the fly says they can only be caught when actively feeding or tailing. Was this fish tailing?

School administers who think that people obey rules for fear of punishment do not live in the real world. In the real world people do the right thing because it's the right thing.

IMO you would be better of floating in a tupper wear bucket than a Coleman anything.

Thanks for the report. You got me thinking about the big holes between Bay Creek and Alley.

They might call you weird, look at you funny and keep their distance.

Good lord, the very first "if" got me. I am a Smallmouth Snob.

Ouch! You guys are killing me. Oh well I guess anyone going through the trouble of reading this will tread lightly on our home waters. The boats are a bargain at $ 5.30 per day. The folks that rent them are great, they will even stay a little past past 9:00 pm closing to allow you to turn in a key. Way back the folks the ran the concession were jerks, the seemed to relish slamming the door on you at 9:00 sharp forcing you to come back the next day to get your drivers licence. Be aware that they now go around checking boaters to see that they have a key. So if you find a boat unlocked I wouldn't just take it.

Scott, You wlll find as the season progresses the fishing will get more predictable. About mid or late may the fish on Meramec will go onto a summer pattern that will hold through September. As the weather heats up the fish will become much more active especially the smaller bass. If boat traffic is light you can often find feeding fish in every likely spot. Another peculiar thing is the predictable time of day the bite happens, if you catch a lot of fish during a particular time of day you can often find the same holds true day after day.

I enjoyed the report Scott. I think there are a fair number of MSA folks on this forum including myself. Joining would be a great way to gain friends and knowledge. One of the most enjoyable aspects of stream Smallmouth fishing is that it can be such a challenge. I'm looking forward to more of your reports.

78 cfs at Buck is fine water. Might be a little skinny below Bay Creek.

Slab Queens, now that's scary. I don't know about monsters in the water but know for fact there's a colony of flying monkeys living up Dry Fork River.

Great fish! What part of the river is your favorite?

There are none that fluctuate as much in area for sure. There are probably few in the whole country. The white does suffer from an unstable substrate, maybe more than a natural river due to the extreme fluctuations.

The things we did every day in high school would now get you kicked out, probably make the news paper too. Field trips were crazy affairs that you would make good comedy movies. Hell I remember mooning a police helicopter. When it landed and the police stepped out they took pictures of us while we were pulling up our pants. They threatened to have us arrested but in the end they laughed it off. Why has our society become so intolerant of fun?

For many years I considered the three day float from Adams Ford to G H the sweetest in the ozarks. Very quiet water, gravel bar camp sites are hard to come by the closer you get to G H.

I enjoyed your post Blazerman, the meramec is a treasure for sure. Do you have a theory about the gap between 10" and much larger