Bman

Wishing I was there as well. I will hopefully get in some quality time with my grankids catching big 'Gill looking fish like this one.

I have sent this pic to the MDC. I will report the findings.

In this economy, be thankful you have a job.

Guys, Thanks for the replies. Some are bigger than the one in the pic. Mira was catching them on worms, I caught a few on my 9' 5wt.

Went fishing with my son & granddaughter Mira today. We got into a bunch of these. Some were HUGE! What are they? Do Crappie cross with Blue Gill? Hope someone can clue me in. Quite a day, lost the biggest Bass I've ever lost! quite the fish story

Thalweg, I share Al's sentiments. Please don't toss all jet boaters into the same bunch, just because of some bad apples. I've been in a canoe up around Onondaga and had some dude with a 225 hp jet john buzzing me within feet of my canoe and daring me to call water patrol. We are not all like that.

Hang in. My place of work for the past 35 yrs has cut us back to 32 hr work weeks, with a week off with no pay in Aug. Wishing you good luck in all things.

A big atta boy. Thanks for what you do. The agents need our help. And to anyone else who takes the law and ethics to heart.

I hope my above statement about years of practice, and a lot of time on the water didn’t come off as egotistical. It wasn’t meant that way. I’m still just learning. I do know of some individuals who amaze me. Sure, a great set of eyeballs help. But they have an instinct, and never cease to amaze me. They can approach the water and say, look. There’s a 25 incher! I look, and look, and say duh, where? Right there under that leaf drifting by, see? And then maybe, just maybe I will see him. In addition to what I have already mentioned in my previous post, try staying out of the water as much as possible. Waders are for chasing. Try going to the water without your rod, this is a tough one I know. Take a walk and observe.

Well, I didn't say how many years.

Who was your guide?

Meramec, and Big River, Gasconade, anything goes. The Current river has HP restrictions. The further up ya go, the less HP allowed. The rivers you noted are the ones I'm aware of.

Walk and look. Don't just walk out into the water. Approach slowly and look carefully before you step. Try to keep the sun behind you. Find a perch to stand on. Sometimes they are right under your nose , and folks just don't know it. Being able to see big fish where they hide, and see your flies that you are drifting to them takes years of practice, and a lot of time on the water.

See my report. MSP did get more rain after I left.

Got to the park mid morning Monday. The spring is up a bit and milky cloudy, with about 2 ft of visibility max. Depending on sunlight. Overall fishing with the fly rod was tough, with just enough people to make it difficult to find a spot with the long rod. I covered the whole park making at least one lap around the place , and a trip down into the river. I would find a spot to fit in, catch one or two and move on. Made a deal with two fish that would barely make 3 pounds. Poor things had at least three hooks and line broken off on them. This one male had a 1/32 oz jig in his upper lip, a plastic worm in the corner of his jaw, and a bait hook inside his mouth. Well I stuck him in his free upper lip with my size #20 scud. Brought him to the big net, and freed him of all those hooks. After a period of time recovering in the submerged net,(and a scolding) I let him go in a deep place of hiding. He was wore out. I did find a few unmolested lunker sized fish. One of them would go about 6 pounds, the other about 4. I will be back later this week to see if I can put my name on them. (catch & release) with a pic. Trizkid, You wanted to see the water condition. The stones along the farside are still visible. You can see the clarity. Good luck Tuesday.

Hey laker, The Caverns are at Stanton, the State Park is at Sullivan. Very close. There are a few probable reasons why you saw this: A: They were fishing for Smallies. B: There are some private springs that may have been in trout production in the area, or just up stream.Escaped trout do end up in the area. (shhhh) C: They got confused as my post pointed out and thought they were at Maramec Spring Park , of course in '73 this wouldn't have had anything to do with O.A. On a side note notice the difference in spelling..." Maramec Spring Park " different from"Meramec River". Which is correct according to the James Foundation that owns/operates the park. Another note: The water above the hwy 8 access, (the start of the trophy trout area) even a days float up, does contain some trout as well mainly from private springs. This area is floatable mainly in the spring, tougher during lower flows. The section of the trophy trout water between hwy 8 (above MSP) down to the point the spring branch enters is often passed over by floaters & fishermen in their haste to get to where the spring branch enters. Get the hint? It is very wadeable. Contains a lot of crawfish, and Sculpins. Nice trout and smallies might be found there as well...but I didn't say that.

Wow. Love to read your posts! I've got to rig up a canoe with one of those back rests you've described. I don't think I could get away with a solo rig though, between my son and gf.

Wondering if you saw a massive evening hatch of caddis, or did the water conditions keep it down.

FFM, Thanks for your posts, you sure had some great weather and beat the holiday crazies.

Yup, Just my point. Thanks for your reply.

Al, A usual your writings paint a wonderful picture in our minds, and inspire our hearts. Makes me want to park the jet boat and get a canoe out! bad back and all. After looking at your post on your solo canoe set up, that back rest would do the trick for my abused spine.

Laker, Thanks for the heads up.I'm taking my grandkids out fishing local today. Sat, Sun, & Mon, are open for me. Altough I'm spooky of trout parks between Memorial day & Labor day. I'm thinking BSSP will be packed this weekend. I learned of the parks location nick names, such as the high bank hole from Ed & Kay. But you are tossing a few out there I've never heard of.

Seth , Do ya run your jet boat on the Meramec much? If yes, where? I'm close to the Pacific area, so thats where I run most(close to home) or over on the Big River.

Taney is a tailwater. Big difference. Lets say you have an anchor out and the Dam is running 1 unit, they suddenly go to 4 units. You are fishing, maybe really catching good, having a great time and don't notice the rising water. Keep that sharp knife handy, just in case. The issue isn't heavy current, the issue is the Drastically rising water level. In addition, you have to watch when fishing the upper end during high flows because when they shut the generators off...there is no warning horn. I've seen boats get stranded. There's lots of tricky stuff to get hung up on. Rootwads, rocks, REBAR, gravel bars... Trick is, be constantly very aware of your surroundings.

2 units means that 2 of the 4 generators are running, not gates. Generators flow cool water from down deep from Table Rock. Gates(bad) bring warmer water from the top.