10pointer

my family has a house up in estes, and i usually make a two week or so trip each year but unfortunately not going to get to go up there until fall or winter break because of college and working this summer. RMNP is absolutely awesome and ive had plenty of awesome days in morraine park, the st.vrain, big thompson, etc. You cant beat lilley lake for the greenbacks though...i caught 20+ one evening on dries up there on an unbelievable hatch. Another great hike is the alluvial falls, sky, and lake of glass etc. Those lakes up there are stellar fishing! They take a little hiking though but theres nothing like standing in snow o the banks and fishing in june and july! needless to say i really am contemplating a move up there once im finished up with school!!!

its been fishing well for sure, i did get to go down thursday and absolutely tore the fish up! It seemed a little too easy lol and the bite stayed good the whole time. Ill be down there with TC for the MWT gtg/ tourney, im 10pointer off of MWT, and im assuming you are talking about that tourney?

I had a great time down there this weekend, and this morning (sun.) 8-9:30 am was crazy! i stood on the dam and caught 60+ it was absolutely insane. I was throwing a small white mini jig and i hooked up every cast for quite awhile. My buddy said it was like fishing in the hatchery. There was a gentleman also on the dam with us and he was tearin em up just the same. The higher flow made it a little more hairy to walk that dam thats for sure!!! It was really odd that it was that good, but the rest of the park seemed fairly slow compared to saturday. The derby was a good time, i caught a tag but was surprised i didnt land any others with as many fish as i caught this weekend. Out of 100 tagged fish released, only 19 total were caught and only 2 of those being tagged in sunday which was very odd. I rarely fish bennet but a good buddy who is president of our chapter lives at bennett and we had a great party weekend with all of the MTFA st.louis chapter guys. Im more of a montauk guy, but bennett really impressed me this time!

It should turn out to be a pretty nice weekend, the river is still up a lil bit but clearing. It looks like the weather will hold up for the derby. Regardless it will be a good time to relax and see everyone Im actually Vice President of the MTFA State Council and Secretary of the St.Louis Chapter Do you belong to the association dovetail? If you happen to be down look for me, black honda civic, black wheels. Ill be wearing a grayish simms vest and waders and wearing a blue and white loomis hat. Keep an eye out and say hey if you see me! Ill be at the meeting saturday too

scenic rivers taxidermy out of salem mo is where ive had my past 7 mounts done at, heath does excellent work and you can check out his website for pictures.

i would have been on the phone all day with an agent, it was rediculous with all the rookies thinking they could catch a big one that was running end to end..............then you had the meremec "experts" who didnt have a clue about fishing or anything giving me advice and acting like idiots. Im not cocky but ive landed more big fish than 99.9% of the people fishing that park, i dont want to come off like i ride a high horse though and i think im better than everyone ya know. The one punk who was like 18-19 who my buddies harassed to release the fish he snagged for the third time even had the balls to tell em "what are you an f^$$@%$ agent or something?" I would have snapped had he told me that. I would have tossed him and his little friend right in the water. I dont take well to people running their mouths... It just got super annoying with all the know it alls and people blatantly trying to snag em. I literally saw 100 different people trying to snag fish, unless they were blind and couldnt tell the lures were nowhere near the fishes mouth and it didnt try to eat it. All the "OH MY GOD HE TRIED TO EAT IT" remarks when the fish didnt give one look at the lure, and the lure was going over its back or tail. Montauks derbys are fun and although theres a few idiots its nothing like maramec, and never will be. Out of all the trout parks it seems montauk is the best as far as decent people IMO. Ill stick to fishing there

I was excited to get down to do some last weekend catch and keep, so i went with the boys down to meramec for derby day. It was the worst experience ever let me tell you. The biggest bunch of no skill fishing hoosiers ive ever seen in my life. I was disgusted with all the trashy people i saw down there. I can honestly say ill never go down there again unless its c&r. I had a lunker 3 feet from me and the other people didnt see it, then some guy in a "tsunami" vest snagged him in the side of the head. If it was me id cut it loose right away if i had it foul hooked but not him, he fought the darn thing for 10 minutes until it broke/got off. I left and went downstream only to see another one gett snagged in the side and kept. I went upstream and there was one fish that everyone and their brother was trying to snag. Id say almost every minute or two it was getting hooked in the side/head/ tail and breaking people off. Then some joker upstream from that hooks a broken off line and fights another lunker for 30 minutes and conservation came down to make sure he let it go. DONT these idiots know that fighting a fish all the way till its on its side will only kill the darn thing? U cant fight a big fish like that and expect it to live. What a joke. Then some kid is standing next to my buddies and snags a lunker for the 3rd time (it already had two of his worms in its side). He nets it and wont let it back in the water for 4 or 5 minutes. He tries to keep it and my buddies throw a fit and tell him they were gonna report him. He got all pissed off and threw it back and was mouthing off. What an idiot. Then i see some bosnian guy with 4 fish on his stringer still fishing. Then he catches a tagged fish....puts it on the stringer and lets a dead one off the stringer and it floats downstream. He walks away only to come back later with less fish on the stringer!!! It was absolutely horrible, it was my first time and ill never go back down there for that hossier snag/law breaking fest. It was loser central. /end rant sorry guys i was just frusterated. Anybody else make it down there for it?????????????

^ very true, most people dont take the time to walk the stream and focus on the big ones, that and alot of people frankly dont see them. Ive been fortunate enough to usually catch a lunker on most of my trips to montauk. it take years of practice of knowing how and what to use to catch them

so did he keep it? im guessing maybe with just the pic of the fish in the net that he let her go? I wish i could have made it down to stay at rudy's to fish the holland down there this weekend. Oh well ill be at montauk next weekend and derby day at meramec the following weekend which is the last weekend of catch and keep. I cant wait for C&R!!!

Congrats ekl-stl on your lunker, on a fly rod im guessin? You happen to catch that biggun just below hudson corner? I heard a guy cuaght a nice one on a flyrod down that way! Had a great time down there as usual for the holland. I ended up with a 8lb 4oz male with a big ole hook jaw. It was a beautiful fish for sure 27" long. Those males are always a couple lbs smaller than they look, ill post a pic a lil later. I lost 2 more lunkers so i should have had 3 total but stuff happens and i was glad to land that one big ole guy. I also ended up with 2 tagged fish Great weekend and i cant wait until c&r season!!!!!

it was pretty crazy watching the water roll over the island and drop into the spring branch. I talked to my buddies rudy and chris who fished into the afternoon and they said they hammered the fish and stayed until the siren at the end of the day. The great thing about montauk is that as fast as the water comes up it goes back down and they said it turned out nice. Chocolate milk but nice nonetheless As for saturday there were some big fish caught i just couldnt catch up to one. Started at the mill hole and had a 5 lb sitting 5 feet in front of me and what do ya know she flipped out a couple minutes before the siren and went over the ripple and downstream. By time i tried to find her to no avail downstream it was already an hour in and the other bigguns were either caught out or spooked. There were a few left but they sure were spooked and on the run, once the water goes down theres two monsters in the bait area at that last hole below the second wooden bridge, and they will make somebodies day! I had the one follow and close in on my jig for about 15 feet but i couldnt slow it down anymore. The guys saw her following and were like omg shes gonna take it but she surely ended up running out of water. But i caught a ton of fish all weekend it turned out nice for the most part, just a sprinkle friday and saturday but mostly sunshine. Sure went down thinking that the weelend would be a wash.....but it held out until sunday which was awesome! I cant wait for the holland in a few weeks it oughta be an awesome time but im taking the lady down with the rest of our family so ill have to do boyfriend stuff and family stuff for alot of it. U know gotta keep em all happy!

Just a warning to those heading down to the current/ montauk....it is beyond flooded. Pretty much like the big flood earlier this year. the water was over the bridge in the park and the MTFA tounry was forced to be cancelled because the park was closed. It was really scary down there, we were up top the hill at reeds and it was like a hurricane last night. The head park ranger told us licking had over 6 inches of rain over night. I have some pics ill post up of the flooding but i just got home and got no sleep last night so a nap is in order. Just thought id pass this report along....i dont see it being anywhere near fishable till at least next weekend!

cool, ill be down there for it, we usually give out some good stuff. I think i was the reason scott the president made the rule you can only get one prize. I ended up with 5 tags over the 2 days year before last. Alot of people are against the fun tournaments and the MTFA but theres alot of good people in it (myself being one of course ) Its definitely a great time for sure, there oughta be quite a few nice ones stocked for the weekend

Ill be down there shout at me if you see me, ill be wearing gray simms waders and a gray/dk gray simms vest. Should make the buzzer friday morning and ill most likely cover the whole park friday at least once over Just a FYI the mtfa tourny is this weekend so is you are staying longer than just friday the stream will be a little more crowded than usual this weekend.

sorry to hear that, montauk gets alot of that. It definitely ticks me off, i know montauk has the same problems mostly from people who havent been there before and go to the springs. Last trip i bit my tongue as the spring area isnt worth a hoot anymore, but i had a whole family walking up and down the stream right by me grabbing big rocks so they could try to dam up pigeon creek coming in. I could tell they didnt know any better so i just let them have their fun and i moved downstream. BUt i definitely know exactly how you feel!!!!!!!

ive been checking up on the guage down there as ill be down there next weekend thurs-sun. The stream looks like it only came up a few inches and im definitely excited about that. I surely hate those flash floods where it takes a few weeks to clear. Good luck to you guys, i wish i could get down there but i have to hang with the lady this weekend, but im excited for next weekend! I expect a great report from you guys!

ha yes, my other vest has everything plus more i dont really need in it, it always seems when you are miles from the car you need something or dont have the right box of flies so the more pockets the merrier for me. I think i might even have a kitchen sink in one!

Picked up the g3 vest this week, a little pricey but it seems to be one of the best vests on the market IMO as far as durability/ space/etc. Do any of you guys use this vest? Any pros or cons? Eh im just still trying to justify why i bought a $180 vest when i already have the simms classic vest already. Oh well its only money i guess Ive been more than impressed with everything i have bought with the simms name on it. its the only vest, waders, and boots ill wear!

ive fished long branch quite a few times and the best spot i believe for the walleye is off of the main dam near the put in. We have caught quite a few right in that area. That lake is loaded with crappie, with some giants around a couple pounds. Ive caught a couple bass in the 7 lb range so the big boys are out there for sure. You cant beat minnows up there for crappie but the grub tails and small inline spinners are my favorite up that way.

ive had numerous pairs of bps waders and these guys are right, they dont last very long at all heck i wish i could have gotten a year or so out of mine, most didnt last 6 months, and i did take good care of them too. the seals are junk and will leak shortly, and this was for the highest end bps breathables. yea yea the one year warranty thing was okay, but who wants to get a leg full of icey cold water frequently and then have to deal with the customer service up there! i have a couple pairs of simms now and couldnt be happier....my suggestion get the simms and you wont have a complaint

went down friday and saturday, fishing was awesome again like my last trip i reported on but the stream was alot clearer this time compared to last time on the 24-25 ish. Its amazing how it could come up then drop so fast and the water clear up pretty quickly. I guess the last flood washed all the junk out and there wasnt much to wash in the stream this time to muddy it up nearly as bad. But the fishing was just as good the last time. Caught a ton! I dont know why everybody gets bummed about high water? Im begginning to love it!

you will most likely lose a bit of sensitivity in the blank with it being a 2 piece, but some manufacturers are better at making multi piece rods though...that being said a 2 pc rod has its place because they are easier to travel with etc. But to get the most sensitivity out of a rod, a one piece is the way to go. just my .02

the campground looked great from what i saw! there were some folks camping but not the usual amount... i guess some were scared off from the flooding. I wish i would have gotten to see the whole park but from what i saw alot is going to be different! Im curious what the stretch from behind the lodge through the end of the park will look like. I really like having the park change because things will be somewhat of a challenge to get used to. the whole flywater area looked to be changed for the most part lots of wood and sand all over, like with every flood though some holes get dug out and some fill in. I really cant wait to get back down the second weekend of april and the water will hopefully be clear then. I checked on the brood stock and hatchery areas and they looked great didnt seem to be missing any numbers since my trip the 15th of march! Went through the small c&r area below the montauk lakes and did notice 2 dead bows 4lb-5lb. Im guessing the flood had something to do with that?! I have more pics too, ill go through them and post a couple more! I really was more than pleasantly surprised with how well the park fished! Again kudos to the excellent parkstaff who cleaned the place and were still working while we were down there!

Sorry if thats too many pictures but i thought id give an update. The stream looks to be in good shape and i cant wait to see the new holes created by the flood once the water clears up a little more! The park staff did a great job with the cleanup everything looks great considering!

And now one of the most amazing pictures that show what power the river can hold! This is walking through the woods toward the hwy bridge from the mill hole (downstream from the hwy bridge). Most of the wodded areas are covered with a TON of sand! And i mean a ton!