713lefty

Thanks guys. i just love rapala's. i usually catch and release anyway.

I believe i read no bait but artficial only. does that include rapalas with trebles or not?

I plan to be in Branson January 30th to february 2nd. Is there any suggestions on fishing from bank and where. Is the water too high yet? Should i just go to roaring spring for an afternoon of catch and release. I haven't been to Taney in many years and have never been to roaring spring at all. Easy bank access and my wife would fish with me. She is also happy reading a book in the parking lot. I usually fish ultralight. Not too handy with a flyrod but i have a few anyway. Any help would be appreciated. thanks.

an arrow hunters dream.....good point. like an arrowhead point.... It could help the fishing a lot. Just bring it back 5 feet a year and flood some more grass each year. several good spawns in a row would do it a heck of a lot of good. I tend to wish big, really big....

I have heard you can catch decent smallies on the lower river this time of year in clear water by the wing dikes or other large current diversions. throw a jerkbait upstream and twitch it back. I have not been able to get out and verify that as a fact or not. That and a small hair jig would be the right approach. Now to find a small watercraft and test it out............. I would expect a mix of largemouth, spots and smallies. The spots taste really good. The smallies taste terrible, just throw em back.... You can take a picture first of course....

This time of year a jon boat is first just to stay dry. Room for a duffle with extra clothes also. You can also troll back upstream to hit a pool again. A canoe is second. I will wait till summer to try a kayak. Never got close to one. The Meramec is probably no. 1 choice. It can then be a day trip. The Steeleville to Onondaga area has a lot of holes. Upstream is good but draws more of a trout crowd. They are a nice group, just less people further down. Beaching the canoe (if chosen) would be best and work the hole. Then float to the next. Beaching the boat means one can work a jig better. We will have to call around and see who would rent us a craft. I have fished the Gasconade (awesome) but it is quite a drive. Caught numbers in the Bourbouse but few over 12" long. Not much depth so winter would be a concern. The current is good but close to the trout areas and can be busy. The eleven point is good but also a drive. I have no problem in the front or back of a boat. I ok with alternating or just hopping in the back. I can steer a canoe from the back ok, not real good but safely.

I've used small hairjigs, I believe Buds hair jigs from bullseye tackle in O'Fallon Mo. About 1/8oz. I added a felt trailer about 1.5" long. I hunted through a pile of scrap felt and found some crawdad pieces in brown/black. A few years back I caught some rainbows, a brown and a few smallies from the same deep hole from the upper Meramec in the trophy area, hence the single hook and felt.

I agree that a 6 will not be tops. Just my best. I have caught one about that size the last 3 years on a jerkbait at the LOZ. This was a few ounces bigger, technically my best winter fish on a big lake. I had a 7.07 on a jig in a 3 acre pond on February 20, 2011. That was one of those 65*F windy days. Hooked and lost one that I could not turn in a big laydown about a half hour later on the same jig. Never saw it. Maybe this year I can beat a 6 pounder myself.

I caught a 6 pounder in mid December at LOZ Gravois Arm on a Megabass jerkbait! Photo now attached!

I better dig thru my boxes and see how many I still have......

Is there going to be a second annual event........

I've used small hairjigs, I believe Buds hair jigs from bullseye tackle in O'Fallon Mo. About 1/8oz. I added a felt trailer about 1.5" long. I hunted through a pile of scrap felt and found some crawdad pieces in brown/black. A few years back I caught some rainbows, a brown and a few smallies from the same deep hole. I need to get back there again. Somewhere above suicide.

If you are looking for someone to go along in the Meramec, st. louis area, I'd try to open a hole in my schedule and hop in. My smallmouth friends are fair weather only, or at least warm temps.

I have had a 6# (or so) smallie blow up on a spook in the Meramac River right next to the canoe. It knocked the spook 4 feet sideways. We estimated it at 24 to 25 inches long and came up with 6 pounds. I watched it come up from the depths and glide up and clobber the spook. I managed to walk the dog right to the blast at the end. It was one of those long deep bluff holes. I have landed many 24 inch largemouth in the last 4 years and i am confident in the length. I would vote on Table Rock or Taneycomo though. Lots of water in TR and lots of depth. The times i have been down there i noticed lots of baitfish.

If the water drops the photography opportunities abound. I may now know why the fish were there and not somewhere else......OH boy. Now if we can only get them to hold the water level at MTL during the spawn...... A possible bargaining chip....