fishinswede

Thanks for the suggestions. It was a good learning experience for me--apart from the partiers, it gave me a chance to learn some things about that area. One thing I learned apart from avoiding peaking rafting times, is that there's a very long pool of slow water that I'd have to wade through to get to more productive areas, making it less appealing for a wade fishing trip. Next time I'll try the upper Huzz, if I can determine where to access it. One of the things I love about fishing is that even the learning process is fun!

Made the 1 1/2 hr drive to Scotts Ford Saturday morning to do some wade fishing in the smallmouth management area, and discovered what a mistake that was. If I ever fish that area again, it will be in the late afternoon-evening, or when it's too cold for rafters! There must have been a hundred or more rafts, kayaks, canoes, and tubes, many in large boisterous groups I could hear a long way off. I worked my way about a mile and a half or so downstream and then back upstream, and in between groups going downstream I did manage to catch a couple rock bass, a smallie, and a bluegill that somehow managed to get a whole treble hook in its mouth from my Rebel Crayfish. However, I spent a lot of time waiting for groups to pass, and when I got to the long pool section I wished I had a kayak to get me through to the next good section. I did see some largemouth fingerlings and bluegills there, but it wasn't good smallie water. The wade upstream was better as there were few floaters in the afternoon, although there was one knucklehead nonfishing jetboater who kept going up and down the river until he got hung up in the riffles--I'm not used to seeing jetboats in narrow and shallow creeks like this, but I guess I'm going to have to get used to it. Anyhow, once I got back to the faster water I started connecting with smallies again, but nothing bigger than about 10". This being new water to me I tried all the soft plastics and crankbaits that have worked well on smallmouth in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and had my best success with my old favorite, Zoom Fat Albert curly tail grubs. Ended up the day with about 10 smallmouth, all quick C&R, a couple rock bass, and one overachieving bluegill. I love wade fishing for smallies, but it's clear I'm going to need to invest in a kayak if I intend to do much fishing in the Meramec. Anybody want to contribute to my kayak fund, LOL? By the way, thank you Al Agnew, for the breakdown of the Meramec--it's given me a lot of helpful information.

Just moved from Virginia to Missouri, and always love talking fishing--especially river smallies! Grew up in PA fishing the Susquehanna, Juniata, and Shermans Creek for smallies, then moved to Georgia and sampled those big greenies before moving to Virginia, where I was blessed to have an 80 acre lake on my doorstep, the Shenandoah 10 minutes away, and the Potomac 20 minutes--a fisherman's dream . Now I find myself south of St Louis, minutes from the Meramec, and I just know there's got to good fishing somewhere around here. I sold my jon boat before moving, so until I can save up money for a kayak, I'll be limited to wading, but I don't mind that, having had good success with that in PA and VA. Looking forward to exploring this area every chance I can, and hope I run into you on the river. Tight lines! Fishinswede