Bman

Dude, I'm hip to your wording for zone #4, just not sure of the regs. in the river. I used to flyfish zone #3 with a nymph with rubber tied in, but that was a few years back. I knew it was legal then, but I'm just not sure if regs have changed. I think the middle of zone#3 is the prettiest part of Bennett, and hardly no one fished it. Kay who co-operates Springview motel, and works now at Larry's made the cover pic of the Missouri Conservationist Mag ( March 1991) the pic was taken right smack in the middle of zone #3 with Kay fly fishing. Cool cover pic, I've got it framed in my tying room. Ed & Kay & Charlie got me started fly fishing. Bman

Cricket, If your jig had rubber legs on it, I'm thinking it would have been legal zone #3. But would it be illegal zone#4? Right?

Hey folks, Does anyone own the latest St Croix Legend Elite 9ft 4wt? Have you tested it? Thinking about a rod in this price range that will protect lighter tippets. Thanks, Bman

DoctaJ, Thanks for your report.

dipydog, If you are going soon you will have high,cloudy water! Check this out http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=07013000

You got some great advise from Mr Agnew there. I see you are in Pacific? The RT 66 State Park ramp has a good section running upstream to practice in. If the river level gets below say 2.5 ft it will get shallow (inches)in spots, like where Big River enters. What rig do you run? have a pic? I'll look for you on the water. Have fun with your new ride!

Matt, ya dropped a dime on us, now we're in the cheese chuckers class...folks we never do that Unless I have Matt's lil sister with us or maybe the grandkids "ive thanked my lucky stars I had it and a big net more than once down there!" don't thank your lucky stars...just thank yer 'ole man...

Hey, no problem. We just hope you have a good visit. If it's a crowded day you might get to do a little Missouri trout park combat fishing. For your spinning rod, I would put some 2# test Maxim ultragreen on there, and keep a spool of 7x or 8x flourocarbon tippet on ya. Use a triple surgeons knot to add the tippet to your spooled line. These trout have good eyeballs on them. If the water's high and cloudy(probably) 2# will be ok. Well FFM, You had ta bring it up (this time) The Bosco Bait, long story short, use the search at the top right of this page. A little good natured fun between FFM and myself. Turn in at the St James exit on your way to the park (I normally use the Hwy 19 exit at Cuba) Look for DJ's Sporting goods and booze on your left, ask for "Double D" trout bait. It's in the 'fridge freezer by the front window. Get white and yellow. Get some floats, the cheap ones with the tooth pick will do as long as they don't sink with the jig hook and bait on them. Get jig hooks small, like 100th oz - 120. Some times they want a small piece, some times, like higher cloudy water, they want a bigger piece. Don't put too much bait on there! Take a SMALL piece in your fingers and flatten it out and fold it like a taco from underneath the belly of the hook bringing it together on the point side so the hook has an escape route. It will look like a grub body on the hook when done right. Vary the depth by sliding the float up or down. With the rains water will be high and cloudy so fish deep, if you can't see fish. If it's so high and cloudy that you can't see hardly any fish, they will be deep and pushed up to the bank in places. If ya fly fish, don't spare the lead, and the tippet. Get those bugs DOWN. Same with the bait. Oh ya, with the bait after you make your cast mend the line upstream leave your bail open using your finger to mend and let line out for long DRAG FREE DRIFTS! use your finger and jig that bait a little as it drifts. Same goes with the fly rod,,,drag free drifts, don't let the bugs swing unless you're fishing soft hackles, or skipping woolies. Give us a fishing report when ya get back! Unless ya git skunked...we don't talk about that...

don't forget the seven secrect formulas But he did seem to prefer flyfishing, so I wasn't going there.

I should have included the 6wt, thats what my son uses. It's also the only one he has,(used to be mine)

Ditto's on the Tarpon. Guide said it was 100 + 2nd was a Brown at Taney. Hooked him with 2 units coming on. I had to head for the bank...and he went to the other bank. He looked like a railroad tie in the water.

Tim, Thanks for the great report. Whats up with those Browns? Which zone you catch them in?

Hi dipydogg, Check through the posts on the Maramec Springs pages there is a lot of info there. Unless you really want to stay closer to StLouis, Maramec Springs is'nt set up with fly only zones like Bennett Springs Sate Park or Montauk State Park. Bennett has many fly shops in and just out of the park, such as Larry's, Weavers, and Readings Fly shop. Bennett also has two zones that are very fly friendly. The bait fishermen have their own zone #3. Same goes at Montauk. But you asked about Maramec so having said all the above, Maramec is anything goes through the park and it hasn't been set up to be fly casting friendly. Where the park water dumps into the river below the park, there starts a Trophy Trout area...artificials only, and a trout stamp is required. So if you don't mind fly fishing among bait fishermen ( I do it all the time) stay up in the park. Flies to use at Maramec Springs. I'm thinking with recent rains the spring water will be up and cloudy. I would suggest a fly rod 3wt-5wt max as light tippets will help you. I usually use a 5wt with 6x, 7x, & 8x. I would try using dropper rigs drifted below a strike indicator. Your first fly an attractor fly like a San Juan worm or egg fly, with the dropper a small nymph sizes #18 - #22 try scuds (lots of scuds in that water) midges like wd-40's or zebra midges. You could try skipping woolies, using the local fav Crackleback. Evening down in the river there can be a decent hatch if the weather is ok, if you want to fish dry's. Fly shops in St Louis. Feathercraft on Manchester Rd between Hanley and Brentwood Blvd, and just west a few blocks down Manchester is T J Hargroves fly shop. Either one can help you. I know you posted about Maramec, but for example Bennett is only another hour and a half drive further down 44, and has fly shops that will really help you. That with fly rod friendly landscaping. The two shops there I would highly recommend would be Larry's right on the rd leading into the park. Ask for Ed Ellersik. He will set you up for good fishing, or Readings Fly shop just outside the park. Charlie Reading is known for his custom fly rods around the world. Since you fish for Tarpon, Snook, and I suspect Bones on the fly you might really want to see Charlie Reading and talk to him about your saltwater fishing. Hopefully some of the local experts will chime in here and help ya as well. http://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft& http://www.thargrove.com/ Check out this Bennett report. http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?s...c=16695&hl= Tight Lines, Bman

06-01-09

WOW!!!

Thanks for the fly tips. Those sound great! I was thinking of CDC...

After some searching I found this http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?s...ic=6441&hl= Ok JJ, Just what fly did you use??? c'mon buddy throw us a bone.

Rio's latest line http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?s...610&hl=carp

I will be giving Carp on the fly a shot anytime now. The closest Trout water to me is a 1 1/2 hr drive. There are several boat ramps within minutes of where I live near the Meramec River. Soon the Cottonwood trees will be dropping their puffy little seeds, and in past years I have seen pods of Carp taking them from the surface. I'm thinking a size 12- 14 dry fly. I was on the river yesterday, and the Cottonwoods were just starting to drop a few, but I didn't see any fish taking them yet. I am eager to get a big Carp on the long rod! Carp on the fly is big sport in other parts of the country/world, I've seen it on TV. Aren't there Carp fly fishing clubs in England? Used the search button and found this http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?s...p;hl=jjtroutbum there is even a mention of the Cottonwoods. There is a post by JJTROUTBUM somwhere on this site with a big Carp.

I have unless I downsize the the pics, beyond what is allowed. There is the note " Max. single upload size: 2MB" I have not been able to make a single upload of 1MB, if I am interpeting things correctly.

Wow, I hope you are able to download that pic! The 20 plus fish I have had on got the best of me. One 20 plus male took me to the other bank at Taney when they turned on 2 units! He looked like a rail road tie in the water. I ended up on one side of the big hole, he went to the other bank.

#1 The 17 lb Male Brown pre spawn pictured in my avatar. Hooked and played the big guy at Taney, about 15-20 minutes into the fight the Dam turned on 1 unit fairly hard. Had to chase him nearly to the MDC boat ramp before bringing him to hand. Rising fast water and a mad male Brown, had me deep into my backing so many times I couldn't beleive it. Glad I had my running shoes on that day. #2 A 100 lb Tarpon on a spinning rod with 30 lb test down near Miami Fl. After each of these fish I was shakin and worn out for the day.

We might have to do that sometime. My work has gone to a 32 hr work week till this economy improves. So friday is fishing day! My son works where I do as well, but if Matt can't get a pass from his wife, and my management can't make it we might have a deal. You're in Oakville? is that next to Webster Groves? I'm at the Antire Rd exit. Next to Rt 66 State Park (and boat ramp). Gas ain't bad in the River Pro believe it or not it gets better gas mileage than a 90 hp Yammie! Bruce