Hog Wally

I'm not saying it couldn't be better but the meramec around stclair is awesome right now. I'm not worried about saying this on the forum cause you will tear everything you own up running it right now. I seen three boats today on the river two were anchored off cat fishing and the other was probably some of you guys that catch and release. I'm guessing that because of the fancy garments and nice truck they rolled up in I know dang near every local and even the hillbilliest of em don't keep smallmouth. Just a select few and they do exactly what the guy in the picture does. I'm not onboard with the river being in decline I guess I think big ones are harder to catch most the time. If you fish every other day like me you would experience that rare treat when every fish in a hole opens his mouth and you realize what's down there. Just saying. Maybe I'm an optimist about your beloved smallie. Walleye is what really needs attention IMO

Put in at 7 pm yesterday. Ran down below 30 bridge. I observed a fall pattern emerging chrome ratltraps chrome anything in the flats above riffles. I haven't taken a picture of a fish in a while but there was some photo ops. Be careful if u go River is back down to river pro only level

I have never caught one. Where bouts they tag em at?

There used to be gravel digging all up and down the river now there is a select couple of giants that really getrdone large scale I'm not sure of anything in this discussion other than if you eat the fish they are gone. Don't eat them you bunch of dummies:)

I haven't eaten a bass in a few years but if I was gonna eat them I prefer 10 inchers. Therefore I go to a lake I have access to where the rule is let everything over 14" go I can fill a bucket up with dinks in a couple hours. After they get over 12" I don't care for the texture. Smallmouth numbers IMO are exceptional in my area- overall. Numbers key word.

Yes that was the crank. And right now the 1 to 5' water with good current and a chunky bottom are hot. Above riffles

Okay, so it's time to hit the river boys. I'm telling you they are biting. I ain't worried about a mass of people showing up cause the water is treacherously low still. I ran from red horse down to river round after church today and had the river basically to myself. Big black smallies readily grabbed my walleye crank. One really really big walleye thrashed off at the boat when he took the lure with 3 ft of string out By the way, nice to meet blazer man

I ran to pickles ford and back this morning. Water is perfect color now and dog days moss is nearly gone. Caught one really nice smallie on a crank. Unfortunately I only had a short window to fish. Not a single other boat out. Water is up 8" but still pretty sketchy for outboards because of all the hairpin turns in shallow spots. I don't think I've seen a prettier meramec than what it was this morn

All clear! She came up 8" or so. Easy running again. I was getting used to having the whole river to myself. A lot of top water chases going on. A Slugo or buzz bait ought to get em

I ran from 30 bridge to plum ford twice this weekend. Never sucked a rock one.

Let's go. 76 degree water this morn should be biting

There is a spot just like that up from k bridge on the meramec. I was there last weekend and watched in horror as a boat came flying up through it and I knew I heard one coming from above. I thought everyone had the brains to stop let the waves die down , listen cautiously proceed. Nope not these guys. Nothing happened but I didn't like the crowd so I decided to get

Back in the day when l had only a canoe I dispised jet boats now I dispise idiots in either craft. Yes you can be a idiot in either. Then there's the weekend warriors and the citiots

By the way- I did not catch a single fish this morning.

Ha! I with you on that. It's very difficult to go down.

Blazer- I was wondering if you ever run down? A lot more water without as many hazards. The dredge is running heavy at 30 bridge also. They got a 15' hole started that is gonna keep going up river. Be a good future spot anyway.

All day. Absolutely no problems This morning put in at legal run time and ran several miles up then down several. If your not on this river every other day right now, just stay home. You are gonna tear up your stuff and possibly get hurt. Inboards are done til it rains I can't count how many smaller jets I've seen doing clean outs at riffles. I bought a river pro after 20 years of this problem Problem is solved for me. I haven't even cleaned a single pebble out of my grate. I ain't cocky. I just have a awesome boat that I can drive 18 mph through bad spots The rest of you all gotta go full throttle and hang on. Good luck! I'm safely going fishing again

Most riffles are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 " right now. That's no problem for a river pro boat

I hated hearing about all that mess. For the last week or so every time I hear a boat go by I stop to listen as they navigate the two bad spots by my house. It's becoming a pretty constant to hear a impact and the engine high rev noise. Saturday before that wreck I witnessed 4 boats at one riffle cleaning out their jets and underwear

To look at and let go of course. Seth , your a guy who has hooked me up with fish in your area. You deserve a 20 incher plus for all your good deeds you do

I love 20 inchers!

The fish aren't getting bothered too much. Water is toooooo low for the average boater.

My biologist teacher always said a black snakes mouth is more poisonous than a copperhead ? Botulinum Lock jaw blood poison Not sure about all that but he was quite the nature guy. Maybe I google the answer to that.

I have a special needs daughter that will pick up anything. Therefore any and all possible harms to her are dispatched on sight. From put bulls to yellow jackets. Red death to em all.

I am down here at port st Joseph Blind as a bat to this environment and I have clobbered the fish off the bank.