mhall02

Flies, Lures and Baits: The following classes of lures are authorized for use, except where restricted. Natural and scented baits—A natural fish food such as bait fish, crayfish, frogs permitted as bait, grubs, insects, larvae, worms, salmon eggs, cheese, corn and other food substances not containing any ingredient to stupefy, injure or kill fish. Does not include flies or artificial lures. Includes dough bait, putty or paste-type bait, any substance designed to attract fish by taste or smell and any fly, lure or bait containing or used with such substances. Soft plastic bait (unscented)—Synthetic eggs, synthetic worms, synthetic grubs and soft plastic lures. Artificial Lure—A lure constructed of any material excluding soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait defined in (A) or (B) above. Fly—An artificial lure constructed on a single-point hook, using any material except soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait as defined in (A) or (B) above, that is tied, glued or otherwise permanently attached. Found here: http://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/huntfish/regulations/regulations-and-permits-definitions I think they would be OK with a single hook Little Cleo. I think the metal used to make the LC falls under the "constructed of any material"', they are obviously not made of soft plastic or natural and scented bait.

Single hook Rooster tails are a good fall back when spin fishing in fly zones, and I guess a Little Cleo with the treble hook removed and replaced with a single hook would meet the fly def. Fishing with flies only doesn't mean fishing with a fly rod only

Stoneroller, read all about them here: http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/central-stoneroller

Must the that creek that is in the 'middle' (wink wink, hint hint) right? The one Ollie is taking about had a hatchery at the headwater, and had some really nice trout back in the late 80s early 90s. Private land and did strictly catch and release, one or two close to 20". One December caught a 20"+ male in full spawning colors, looked like something off the cover of Field and Stream, even jumped a time or two. Too bad I didn't have a cell phone back then to snap a pic.

Son and I fished the fly zone Saturday as well from around 930am till around 330pm and caught quite a few. I caught at least a dozen and he caught 6 or 7 on a white jig. They were nailing a #8 olive wooly bugger on my 4 wt, my last 2 I kept were 13-15" each. Beautiful day!

I would have to second this one. I've gone there 3 or 4 times, and each time when I left, I would say to myself never again. Last time I went, I agreed with myself. Will drive a littler further to Montauk, Current, or Bennett, no more Meramec Spring for me.

$15 an hour, I would say that is pretty close starting salary. Last time I worked for MDC it was as a Lab Tech with a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife from Mizzou. Yep I was making minumum wage. Tried that for a few years and moved on to much better paying, less interesting jobs. Gotta pay the bills, feed the babies and pay for the gas to go fishing, right? Anywho, at that time if I had 'identified' as a minority woman may have got my foot in the door but that is whole nother story that isn't too PC so I will stop.

That is one clean looking fish, not a beat up brood stock. Must have escaped from the big pool where the spring comes out of the base of the hill/hatchery area?

No, they didn't play for us. 1 bluegill and a few spring peepers by hand by my son, all released unharmed. Saw a few on stringers but didn't see any caught while we were there. Nice day to get out. I caught a brown one year in May in 28 as well, but anywho, guess we will try again when we head to Montauk later this year.

Any tout left? I'm taking my son out to Lake 21 or 28 this afternoon, see what happens.

28" rainbow trout in my avatar, would guess 8 - 10 lbs. Summer of '90 when I was at C of O at the Rebar hole caught on 6' Eagle Claw ultra light rod, 4 lb test line, Shimano spinning reel on a 1/64 oz black Bass Snapper crappie jig. Fought hard, got her in, Dad happened to have the camera, snapped a pic and let her go. Yeah, didn't have waders back then so wet wading in Taney, ankles go numb pretty quick! http://s37.photobucket.com/user/mhall02/media/trout.jpg.html?o=0 Caught a grass carp close to 3' long, 15+ lbs would guess and a channel cat about the same. No pics.

Yesterday the stocking began...... call 636-300-9651 for locations and numbers.

It is kind of nice to take to kids over to lake 21 or 28 out of Busch during the winter and learn how to feel the subtle hit on a jig, and it is only 15 minutes away! They don't have the chance I had growing up down by Capps Creek, Roaring River and few 'other' trout spots.

21 is smaller, what time of year did you catch it? Did it look like a typical somewhat beat up brood stocker or something that had been in the lake for a year or more (i.e. fully developed fins, no nubs or rounded, good color, etc.??).

That sounds interesting! Any stories to tell? I caught a brown out there (the year they stocked them) one time in May or June, but nothing in July or August timeframe. I don't get out there as much as I used to, but usually hit 28 at least once a year after the trout go in. Take my son and let him have at it!

I am hoping you are not thinking 'fisheries research biologist'. Been down that road, the line is long and the opportunities are few, especially here in Missouri. Perhaps another state?

#8B - old lodge at Roaring River, Johnsfolly has been there apparently! Dad and I bought our tags there for many years, I'll never foget it. Great pics.

Horneyhead chub

Same grass carp in the small family pound numerous times. Talk about fun on an ultra light!

Hey that is cool! I'm assuming that is a hybrid, didn't know they had stocked them, never heard of anyone catching them before.

Let us know of the size of what you catch. Went last summer and they were dinks, would have felt guilty keeping any of the ones I caugt, but they were plentiful and biting. Caught at least a dozen, but most 10 inches or less. Planning on going back this year for my annual middle of the week take a day off from work fishing outing, I just love that place!

They used to stock browns in Roaring River, first noticed it in the mid 80s, but I haven't been down there in years. Rainbows could have come in from Flat Creek as well, there is/was a hatchery around Casville at one time, my dad caught one down around the Stubblefield Access. Very interesting thread, keep the stories coming!

We did end up going to 28, and yes there are still plenty of fish in there. Took home 3 apeice, little on the small side compared to prior years but plenty of excitement. Rainbow powerbait and olive and yellow jig did the trick.

Any fish left in 21 or 28? Thinking about taking my son out after church tomorrow.

Confluence of _______ Spring and _______ River? (hint, ______ is the same for both)