Tom Usher

Went back out this afternoon and the fishing was still pretty slow. One thing that got to be a problem was that the trees decided (I know, trees don't think) to start dropping all their leaves, pretty much all at once. Consequently, I spent a big part of my time cleaning leaves out of the pump so I could run the boat. Nothing like having a 30 horse vacuum cleaner hanging off the back of the boat. Hopefully this'll be over shortly 'cause it gets nearly impossible to get out with all the leaves floating around.

Get yourself a couple cheap kayaks or something else and a buddy to go with you and put in at Robertsville and float down to Catawissa. If you leave a car at the put out you're only about 4 miles by road back up to the park. Or do the same thing between River 'Round and Moselle. Or Pacific Palisades to Hunters Ford. About the same distance between them. Each of these floats would only take about 4 hours or so without fishing so you have plenty of time to fish to your hearts content and still get out before dark. You can rent canoes at Old Cove Canoe and float from River 'Round, too.

I put in at the State Park this morning at sunrise. The river is up just a little and fairly murky. The 5" of rain we had a week ago sure moved a lot of stuff around. The river must have jumped up quick and then dropped right back down. Anyway, I fished some top water and some diving cranks with limited success. I caught a little smallie and a couple of overly ambitious pumpkin seeds but that was it. There was a lot of gar and carp activity in the channel. I'm thinking I need to bring the bow up this afternoon when I go back out. Regardless, the eagles were flying and the turkeys were doing something that resembles flying. It was a beautiful day with the river all to myself.

Looks like you had a great day. Tomorrow is the day for me. With the warm up and the front coming through I'm thinking it may be perfect. I'm going to fish out of Robertsville in the morning but I may have to run up to Redhorse and give it a shot in the afternoon. The stretch between Redhorse and Sand Ford is one of the better stretches on the river...and the most fun to run in low water. I'll let y'all know how I did when I get off the water. The river is looking just about perfect around here in Robertsville. I would imagine it's beautiful above the Bourbose. And like you mentioned, this time of year those of us that get out on the river have it all to ourselves.

Fishing was good on topwater this morning. I had the best luck on a small popper fished with an ultralight rod and 6 pound line. Largemouth and Kentucky's were the most active with the occasional smallie thrown in for fun. Fish were on current breaks in about 2-3 feet of water along the rocky banks with grass. River is clear and low. Prop boats would be a bit of a challenge. Jets or floating would be the best approach.

There's been a pair of eagles hanging around the Meramec just below Robertsville State Park this year. I've seen them often around the Shaw's Arboretum's property on the bend when I'm fishing that stretch. There was another pair, maybe the same one, up around Moselle early in the spring.

We did a little fishing last week below River 'Round down to Moselle. The river is really silty. I'm thinking that it may be left over soil from the new channel that was carved out of the woods just about 1.5 miles below the put in. A huge chunk of ground was washed out. Usually once we get above the Bourbese the water is consistently clear. There were a lot of gar rolling and a few smallies, little guys hitting in the rocks off the grassy banks. Crank baits seemed about as good as anything. The fishing was slow, though. So slow that I couldn't even get a hit on the 1/8 ounce Rooster Tail. And that's as sure a fish getter as anything on the river. But we had the kids, wives and some in-laws along so we didn't hit it real hard.

Not yet, Jim, but I know a guy that had his truck torn all to pieces so it happens. We put in at River 'Round all the time so I'm guessing it'll happen sooner or later. It's just about the best boat ramp close to home. I use Robertsville State Park fairly often, too, because it's 5 minutes form the house and there's some really good fishing in that area. The ramp is terrible in low water though the state put some rip-rap in a month or so ago and it helps a lot. We fish out of Sand Ford, too and occasionally Campbell Bridge. The stretch between Sand Ford and Redhorse has some real fine fishing and it's oh so much fun to run in the boat, too. Don't blink or you'll hit something. My buddy and I have developed a walleye lust of late so we're going to figure out a way to catch them consistently. At least that's the plan. Sometimes the best of intentions are twisted by what's biting on any given day. We're easily sidetracked.

Hey everybody. I've been reading the posts on this site for quite a while and it just occurred to me that I ought'a join it. Don't know why that didn't come to mind earlier than this but I guess better late then never. Anyway, I live near Robertsville, Missouri and have been fishing the Meramec for years. I usually run from the Huzzah down and spend quite a bit of time around River 'Round Access and Robertsville State Park 'cause they're both close. I've got a 1652 Express with a tiller steer 30 horse Yamaha pump. Nothing fancy but it'll go through almost any water I can find 'cause it's light. I'll fish for anything. And the river is pretty good at producing a wide variety of things to fish for. I'm just as happy catching a drum as I am a smallie. Pumpkin' Seeds on tiny spinners can keep me goin' all day long. A simple mind is always attracted to simple fishing. And I've got an eight year old granddaughter that was born with river water in her blood so she's always ready to go with me. Something about fishing with kids that is magical. Anyway, just wanted to say hey. I look forward to sharing a bit of info from time to time. The river is always changing but there's certain things that always remain the same. And those are the things that lead us to the fish.