hank franklin

Great pics, thanks for sharing. Just got to say, that load of wood looks like you were preparing for a cold front to move in.

Not sure the name of that spring, I caught a fat rainbow there once. Was the river crowded?

Uh, it's my job to teach my kids the value of wildlife? Are you sure? I keep waiting for the government to do it for me. I've been away from the computer, uh, catching crappie with my kid. You oughta try it.

The main point I would like to make is we need regulations that clearly value smallmouth bass. The 6-creel, 12-inch limit does not value smallmouth. The special management areas are a start in that direction but in my estimation MDC still has a long ways to go. MDC clearly values trout; huge resources are directed at trout and regs are almost stream-by-stream. Deer are hugely valued; again, county by county regs here. A kid growing up with an outdoor ethic will value deer almost intrinsically. The state and its sportsmen clearly value deer. We all want deer to grow and prosper. When it comes to fishing, clearly trout are king. They are closely managed and protected. Smallmouth in this light are second-class citizens. A kid growing up on the middle to lower Meramec probably won't have an ingrained sense of the value of smallmouth; to him they are just bass. Not a highly valued species. I want smart, science-based regs that clearly values smallmouth. MDC so far in my opinion hasn't got there yet.

I got two different family members with places at Grus's. Unfortunately our paths haven't crossed down there yet this year. Another in-law down off Pickle's Ford. This weekend we're going to float Sapp bridge to the park, just recreating. A sunset cruise you might say, putting in late tomorrow afternoon.

We weren't running fast, believe me. A little cleaning station pic for fun....Spots do have their upside.

Oh yeah, all spots got killed and eaten. Yum.

Below Grus's.

My cousin and I hit the Meramec hard this past weekend from Bird's Nest to Onondaga. Threw everything we had at them. Fishing was decent, good at times, but never great. One theory was it was a full moon weekend, which in lore of course means the fish are more active at night. Don't know. We don't count fish but a good estimate would be about 80 percent smallmouth if not more. The spotted bass invasion really does seems to have cooled off. Main point is we had absolutely no fish of any size to speak of between Bird's Nest and Huzzah confluence. Not sure if this was bad luck, bad fishermen or what, but we caught 100+ easy through here and not one over more than 12.5 inches. For whatever reason our luck changed some below the Huzzah, where we got into a few of bit larger size. Question to the group is is anyone having similar experience on the Meramec? In some ways it's disheartening to absolutely pound this prime habitat and every catch is a 10-12 incher, with NOT EVEN ONE of any size. Again, could be bad luck or we're just not that great an angler, but our ridiculously liberal length and creel limits has to have something to do with it. No doubt this six-fish, 12-inch limit crap is just stupid. The reg favors a small part of the fishing population to the detriment of the rest of us.

Al, great post, excellent reading. I trust you are saving some of these posts for a book publication sometime, somewhere? If not, you should. I have limited experience with Meramec River walleye but have caught two while smallie fishing. One near a spring the other in a deeper hole near a riffle. Both probably only 18 inches or so. Both on a crankbait as I recall. It would surprise me if they are abundant or even common in the Stanton-Sullivan-St. Clair area. I know some guys who gig / catfish that area regularly and I'll ask them.

What OTF said. Great trip idea, but not in the summer.

I'll take your word for the white bass. I've caught them in the Meramec and of course they are unmistakable. These Boeuf Creek fish had the distinctive black stripes. My first thought was it was a crappie, then I thought it was just a large shad, then upon bringing it to hand it was clearly a bass. What kind who knows. Guess I'll have to go down to the Bouef again this time with my camera. Also caught a small gar, small catfish, one (yes!) smallmouth and the rest either spotted or these mystery bass. Not one largemouth. Also a few green sunfish and one classic bluegill.

This picture is a close approximation to what I caught. The fish pictured is bigger but they look very similar.

I was fishing Boeuf Creek in Franklin County this evening and caught several small striped bass. I'd never caught this kind of fish in a stream (or anywhere) and really wasn't sure what to call them. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera. Upon returning home I checked the MDC website and the fish are dead ringers for striped bass. However MDC says striped bass are generally only found in reservoirs and larger streams. Do any of you have experience catching striped bass in smaller streams? Boeuf Creek is quite small and silted in mostly. Fair to possibly poor quality, which apparently striped bass don't tolerate well. I'm sorry I don't have pics but I know what I saw. I've caught white bass before and it certainly wasn't that, didn't have the humped head for one. The black stripes were prominent and distinctive. Boeuf Creek is a Missouri River trib but I was well above the Missouri, at least 10 miles if not further. But maybe that is the explanation.

Al, visibility on Saturday-Sunday was maybe two feet at most above the Huzzah. You would have noticed the difference, or the "departure from normal." I've fished this stretch several times in last few years and the contrast between Huzzah and Meramec was never greater. What's odd is there's no apparent explanation. Dry Fork and spring, possibly, but no big rises on the Meramec for at least 10 days preceding. The Meramec was definitely not its usual emerald green color. Below the Huzzah it was a little "sweeter" but still kind of opaque.

I fished the same water you did on Saturday and Sunday. My experience was exactly the same as yours. I wondered about jet boat traffic being responsible for the stain but felt that was pushing it. Not sure what another explanation would be though.

Thanks Al for that great explanation. I figured that old channel downstream of the present confluence was a remnant of an old channel divide, and not actually the former main channel. I'd nevrer really noticed how the present channel looped so far out to the left of the previous one, it's apparent from the aerials.

Al, my bad, meant to put it in general forum. My first time at this spot was probably 1995, I recall a little stretch of gravel but mainly just a wooded peninsula. When was the big gravel bar there? We swam out to the peninsula yesterday, just hard clay now. Hard to say how long before the river claims it. I wouldn't think very long. The clarity of the creek vs. the river was like night and day. Not sure why the river was so stained, didn't expect that.

Happy 4th of July everbody!

I know that place OTF, sorry I don't know the story behind it though. That's a bit above where the old clubhouse was. Yes Goode's Mill or Guth's Mill used to be a fishing bazaar. Haven't been there in years though. The only time I've ever been between Noser's and Reiker's was 1982 in near flood. We were young and stupid and floating chocolate milk. Camped overnight on a grassy bank. We actually ran past Reiker's and luckily the friend who was picking us up had the sense to look for us at Mayer's. I think we did 30 river miles in maybe 10 hours floating total. Which for the Bourbeuse of course is huffing it. I was thinking about Al's post on Saturday night whilst trying to sleep in a hot tent. It wasn't bad enough to get out and sleep in the river but it was close. I might need to invest in a battery-powered fan to hang in the tent. I was dying for a shred of breeze but never happened. After all this Bourbeuse talk I dang near wound up there but went on the Meramec instead. River was a bit stained, I was surprised. The clarity of the Huzzah vs. Meramec at the confluence was like night and day. Fishing wasn't very good for whatever reason.

Love all this Bourbeuse talk. It is my home river and though I don't see the girl near as much as I used to, she was my first love and always will be. Love your reports on the Reiker's to Mayer's stretch OTF. About halfway through that trip is Massey Ford, though it's been gone for probably 25 years. That's where we used to have our clubhouse. A section of riffles, big rocks etc. that can be good fishing. Hope you caught something there. The stretch immediately below Mayer's (basically to Hartmann's Bridge) was always quite good for me. I caught one of my biggest smallies ever in a deep hole there. Funny OTF mentions a drum; I caught probably a 10-pound drum on a crawdad crank at the riffle right above the Mayer's ramp. I thought I had a monster smallie, then a big catfish, and finally heaved out this huge slab of drum. Fun catching. He was utterly wore out by the time I hoisted him up on my 6-pound test. Rather stupidly I released him into current and he kind of floated half-dead a ways down before finally coming to and disappearing. The stretch from Peter's to Noser is actually quite bad, with the exception of a small bluff and rocky area not far below Peter's. Caught some fat largemouth out of there. Most all stretches above Peter's can have excellent water, but as Al says YOU HAVE TO HIT IT AT THE RIGHT TIME. Floating the Bourbeuse at low flow in summer is rather pointless. Go somewhere else. But in spring flow or after some soaking summer rains the Bourbeuse comes to life and can be really great. Yes you will still encounter the dreaded Bourbeuse dead sections but you can also find quite fast action in the riffles, literally ANYWHERE there is current, no matter how slight. There's a section around Indian Bend where there is just slow gurgling current that barely even roils the water but man is it fish-holding. Yes the spotted bass have invaded but in my experience it seems their advance has slowed. Smallies still rule in the upper stretches IMO. Spotteds can be quite fat as well, very good meat fishing. So I guess I've made peace with them. The one thing I hate to see is what I call "blondes" or these light green smallies, most likely a hybrid. They're clearly more smallie than spotted but are quite pale in color compared to the classic deep green bronzeback. I've found these blondes above Peter's and in the Mayer's, Reiker's area. Yes I love the Bourbuese but for all that the lack of outfitters, lack of consistent flow / fishing, etc. usually leads me elsewhere. But when the Bourbeuse is right it's as good as it gets. Thanks OTF and Al for the Bourbeuse threads.

Thanks guys for the feedback. My question was at least partly tongue in cheek, as I've fished in Colorado way back in the day and got a sullen look or two then. In Summit County I imagine my gear will be low-dollar compared to the guys at the fly shops. But I'll fling my cranks and try to spook one of the bigguns out. Question to OTF and any others who may know: What about whitewater rafting this time of year? The family (5 total) would like to try it though it's very early in the season and I fear wouldn't be a high-quality experience. It's also quite costly (we would be using an outfitter). Might be a fun splurge but I don't want to kill myself and family in ice cold raging snowmelt. Any pointers? Thanks.

I'm gonna be in Summit County this spring and want to spin-fish the Blue River and tribs. No fly rod here, just Missouri hick crawdad crankin'! Okay, maybe a little Cleo or Mepps for sport. Assuming this is legal (I've looked at the regs, no specific prohibition on spinning gear that I see), my question is how much grief if any will I get from the fly rodders. Pile on if you wish, you're not gonna stop me. Just want to know what to expect.

This bill didn't pass the legislature, if anyone's wondering.

There's no question the NRA is challenging MDC, and there's no question that Legislative control of the MDC would be a bad thing. I'm not going to debate that. What's interesting to me is why NRA is doing this? I would agree that if handguns during muzzleloader season is as innocuous as it sounds, then MDC oughta do it and wait for the next challenge. Fighting on these grounds would cost a lot of legal fees with an uncertain outcome. Why is NRA doing this? Is it just lead shot? Maybe. Their strategy may be to make MDC squirm a bit on this one in hopes of staving off lead shot ban for a while. Certainly I think NRA would salivate over a Nixon veto. Nixon though would never be so stupid IMO. Does NRA truly want Missouri conservation management wrested away from MDC and put in the hands of the Legislature? If so, why? I really have no idea. I can't imagine how any reasonable conservation-minded person would find this to be a good thing. Maybe it's about lead shot.