cwc87

Just a fresh report for what’s it worth creeks are flowing above normal but are getting crystal clearer each day. With the constant rains every few days the fish have really shot upstream to spawn. With that being said the fish are in the quiet spots (where pollen is visible on top) bass are slurping topwater. Crushing spinnerbaits and cranks. If you throw plastics just look for your line to swim off. There has been no pressure and a person can enjoy a trip Be prepared to walk craft around newly fallen trees. Be smart about footing and footwear. Don’t let the current sweep you away

Couple Meramec units.

I haven't posted in a long time. Since this trip was about Agnew and me here are my 02cents. Al pretty well covered the whole trip. But, I wanted to add that Al is a true fishing machine. His age and ability to go from 7:30am to 8pm for three straight days. And not even get his feet out of boat is just fishing sickness. We compliment each other really well. By the third day we were so dialed in on what where and how to present our lures made the trip really feel self rewarding. Being a father of three and having a full time job makes my fishing Windows very small. This trip gave me more than what I needed . I may have run down my physical batteries but I recharged my life. Also, I do have to mention my friend bill who sent me this direction three years ago and he absolutely made these trips become a success.

Pressure. One day a friend told me "if X amount of fisherman tells Y amount of fisherman that equals Z (zero) fish wil be around". Jus saying. Enjoy your right to post or not it's part of life.

The solid body soft plastic Zara puppy was a great creek bait in September on a trip quite a few years ago. It wasn't solid white it had some gold faded into it. I fished it like a sub walk. Anyways, I haven't tried it lately

The huzzah at Hwy 8 beat March 18 2008 by four inches. Since the new bridge was built in 1993 it has changed our water mark the way we measure it. By guessing it was. Lose to the flood of 93. But not quite as big as the flood of 82. Either way this time last week was water every where.

Al hit the nail on the head that from birdsnest to Onondaga the Meramec has Great Potential to produce some big smallmouth. BUT we still have the gigging issue The eleven point has the right regulation no gigging in the trophy section The smallmouth tagging/movement study taught everyone how fish migrate. The real statistics I and everyone want to know when citations are issued for harvest of smallmouth gigged and over limit harvests What rivers ( areas) citations are issued. Breakdown on zip codes who received citations. What really bad is the archaic six fish twelve inch length limit for smallmouth is that it's gonna still exist when we all know it's time for a change.

Tears of joy come thru my eyes cause of the happiness that fishing trips like yesterday brings me. Even though I fish as hard as I can as i get older I don't take these trips for granted.

so going fishing from 10 am to 7:3o pm in a canoe without any human contact is really what I like to do this time of year. The fish are getting grouped up and with some stealth the action can be nonstop. Top water and a wacky rig is all it takes for smallmouth fishing. My trip started slow but as the habitat got better the fish numbers climbed. Yes, logjams where encountered but to get away from people it's worth it. Omg I'm still in a haze from the much needed fishing therapy I endured.

Rover I picked up two two years ago at a bass pro in Florida. One of them got broke off on a LOZ hawg this spring (sucks). Had 20lb test mono. Other rover still catching fish. Btw. I like the sexy shad color and the chartreuse color. They are pricey. But caught my eye and had to try them.

Facts of how we know what needs to happen versus the way MDC biologist stats prove. One time I had all the stream biologist on a float / meeting on the lower six miles of both huzzah/courtois creeks. We talked over a lot of issues. One of the top guys out of the Sullivan office looked in amazement at my 3/8 oz spinnerbait and could not believe how it caught smallmouth. Difference what fisherman and biologist view in our world. My take on regs. Two fifteen inch fish Or two 14inch fish statewide. Let's get this right

The Meramec is dropping slowly. Water color is brown at steelville turning green in the shallows. Above Meramec springs it's clear to green with a strong flow. The huzzah and courtois still have a nice flow with both being crystal clear.

What's the color of the tray. Or tackle box?

All rivers and creeks have a clear flow on there headwaters. This is the time to try new areas and stay away from large crowds that outfitters normally service especially on Saturday and Sunday

Headwaters are fun right now.