Corb90

Was down there a few days ago and left a pair of nice Patagonia neoprene gloves on the hood of my car and drove off. If youre down there and wouldn't mind helping me out id appreciate it. Fell off the car at suicide access

Like new lamson konic 2.0 Fly reel. Legendary sealed drag, very few scuff marks, super light weight. Large arbor would balance out a 4-6 weight rod really nice. PM me with interest and Ill send pics. Price is 100 firm. Comes with box and original papers.

I went to the river a couple days ago. It was my first time and was more of an exploring trip than anything. I never knew how beautiful of an area it was. I parked at the steepest access a few miles down from the spring branch. I started off drifting a small wooly and couldn't get a hit. Switched over to the meaty stuff just for practice mostly and ended up getting a few hits but nothing materialized. Overall great experience and I'm glad I was able to get out and explore some new (to me) water. Easy wading too which is always an awesome find.

Ive been trying to get into them there as well. What part of the park did you catch them in?

Went yesterday...no luck with smallies. Ended up breaking my 7 wt on the first 15" trout on the ross rod. Sent it back for a refund and got a tfo pro series 2. Hopefully I have some better luck

Anyone ever have luck going after smallmouth at meramec springs? It would make sense to me that the fish would move up the branch since it generally has warmer water than the main river this time of year. Just curious...got a new 7wt I want to test out and can't think of a better fish to try it out on

Yeah I figured that'd be the preferred tactic. Which area this time of year...above or below N?

Thanks Mic. Do you tend to have better luck casting upstream to riffles and letting it float back to you or stand a ways up from the riffle and just let some line out and allow the fly to float down the riffles and the pool before retrieving it?

Im still pretty new to fly fishing. I tend to make a trip about once a week to either BSC or Meramec springs, lately its been a lot of MS because of frustrations on BSC. I have a couple questions regarding trout location on BSC. Meramec spring is easy, you see the fish, you put the fly near the fish, you catch the fish. BSC is a little trickier. Where should I spend time casting to at BSC. Riffles? Pools only? Runs? Ive gotten lucky a few times at BSC and have actually caught more fish than I have seen. I know theyre spooky so its not like youll see them either way, but without seeing them, where should I try and put my fly?

It's pretty cold for smallies. I've been multiple times in the last month, fished mostly streamers (which smallies love) and didn't see one. Water might just be too cold. As far as cranks go I'm pretty sure you can use whatever you want on the meramec itself. Also MS is perfect practice for a fly rod, they've got every kind of casting area (brush close behind and open casting spots) also it's an awesome place to practice mending and line control as well as line handling when you have a fish on. This is what keeps me driving the extra 30 past BSC every week but once i get better it won't be necessary.

With the wool gloves don't your hands freeze once you land a fish or touch the water?

Winters here. It's cold. What do you guys wear on your hands when you fish? Specifically fly fish. I hate FF with gloves on because I can't feel the line between my fingers and it makes tying anything on darn near impossible. Not to mention the moment they get wet your day is ruined. I've been thinking about using some real snug insulated glove liners underneath some medical grade rubber gloves. Wanted to get Some more input

Went yesterday morning. Only stayed about 2 hours because my hands almost froze off and I hate FF with gloves on. Caught 2, one dink and one pretty good size one. The bite has changed a lot in the past week to say the least. Went last Monday and caught 20 plus from about 10-4. They pretty much hit everything we threw, started out with a flash bugger under an indicator and then switched to dries. Griffiths gnat, EHC, Cracklebacks and even snagged a few on adams. My buddy was pulling BIG fish with a foam beetle which shocked me because its so late in the year. That was last week, this week it was either too cold so my technique lacked or the fish really weren't biting as much. Tried dries, nothing. Switched to a bugger, got about 5 hooked and landed 2.

What size split shot?

Great report. En route now! Which areas did you have the most luck? Did you do any fly fishing at all?

When I used to go to Johnson shut ins and I would have a ton of luck on un weighted senkos. Texas rigged, thrown against log piles and downed branches and just let them sit, give it a few jerks and repeat. Caught some nice sm and lm there

Ill also trade for an echo solo or ion, or tfo signature or pro series. Gotta be a 7wt though

Catch and release season is really the only time I like going to MS

4 piece Ross essence fw 7wt 9 footer. Only used once. Paid 140 for it. Willing to sell for 110. Comes with rod tube and sleeve. Message me for pics

I have an itch to get out and do some small stream fishing for some trout but with little time it is very inconvenient to drive an hour and a half to Meramec springs every week. I frequent BSC but am looking for another option. If anyone wants to PM me about some streams that are hot right now (ESP with trout) that would be fantastic and Id be forever greatfull. Im pretty tight lipped. Fish alone 90% of the time. Your secret is safe with me, I promise. HELP A FF BROTHER OUT!

Yeah with the weather getting cooler I don't see these smaller waters being very active. I really have an itch to do some smallie fishing though. Might head out to one of my favorite secret (Very French Sounding) streams sometime soon. Hardly any pressure so maybe the fish hide out there, doubtful but how sweet would that be?

Hey thanks for the responses bros. All the info will be put to use next year when the water heats up again. I'll keep making the drive to Meramec springs this winter, just wish there was somewhere closer in addition to BSC

Also what about terre bleu creek??

Anyone ever fish the mineral fork? C&R fly fisher just looking for a decent place to strip some streamers. Maybe even hook into a few smallies close to home (STL). I've heard it's pretty dangerous down there in regards to leaving your car unattended. I've scouted the forum for threads on the fork but they're few and far between. I usually hit Meramec springs and BSC but the springs is quite a drive and BSC is too frustrating to go to every week. Looking to do a little exploring in the next couple weeks. Any info would be appreciated. P.s. Is it too cold to even consider the mineral fork this time of year?

After my hiatus from fly fishing, I had a few hours of free time yesterday to do with as I pleased. I decided to get some fishing in. Originally I had wanted to go to Blue Springs Creek as it is exactly one hour away from my house and I wanted the most fishing time I could have before I had to be back in STL by 2:30, however after doing some thinking, I decided it would probably be a better confidence rebuilder to drive the extra 30 mins and catch the "easier" ones. I got to the park at around 9 and there wasn't many people fishing. Granted it was a Wednesday and with only one day left in catch and keep season, most are probably thinking all of the fish are table scraps by now. Weather started out really nice, around 60 with a few clouds in the sky, but we did get some sun the first couple hours. I started out at the section of the park where the fast water is, inline with the rope and bridge. First up was a crystal flash BH wooly bugger in black. Started tossing that up near the faster riffles and letting it dead drift down to where the two waters meet (Sorry I'm horrible at explaining locations), Id let it swing then start the strip. Within the first few casts I had one hooked and right when he came up to the water to thrash a bit, I heard my line snap. I grabbed the snapped end and looked closely, poorly tied knot. That's what being out of the game will do to you. Looked in my box for another black crystal flash, nothing with a bead head, so I moved onto olive. A few casts I had hooked and pulled him in (PIC BELOW). Real nice. Probably in the 12-14" range. Really typical stocker size but the colors have changed ALOT since the last time I was there around March probably. Anyway I kept throwing the Crystal Flash Olive BHWB and had another one about 2 dozen casts later, same spot, bit at the same time, after the swing on the strip. I pulled him in, basically same fish, same size and color. Let the little guy go and kept at it. Anyway I didn't have much luck so I decided to move around a little and eventually down to the bathroom hole, I usually do ok with a Y2K down there. Casted a few times and didn't get anything. It was getting time for me to head home so I figured id try the first spot for a little longer. Tied on a mohair leech and about 2 casts in I had something hooked, once again on the strip. He felt big, and made a huge splash. I let some line out because I didn't want him to come off my 5X leader, but a few thrashes, he won the battle. Broke off my line. Put on a 4X and another Mohair but didn't even get a bite. I guess the leader size does matter when the waters that clear. Oh well, Netted 2 and broke off 2. Not a bad first trip out after not being able to get after it for about 5 months.