Bman

Al, Thank you very much for sharing that with us. Question, why do you watch the cfs, instead of gage height? I was running up from the Allenton ramp today, the water temp was 57-58 degrees. Caught & released three smallies with plump bellies, now I can't ell a female smallie from a male, I'm wondering if they were full of food or eggs. Caught two largemouth... and two thick Drum wow they give me a thrill at first before you realize what ya have on. Thank you, OB-Wan!

Welcome back Leonard! I've missed your posts.

"But try to give the fish a chance.. it could take a minute or 2 to recover.. or it could take a half an hour.. " Well put Leonard, I couldn't agree more! Bman

Ryan, One tip about running rivers, try to run upstream of your boat ramp! If the motor quits ya can at least troll/drift back. That Allenton ramp I mentioned is a good one to run up from, the only vandalism I'm aware of was when operation clean stream floks were floating by canoe down to it. They spotted their cars down there and left wallets and purses in cars. The cars got broke into. What a bummer, folks doing a good deed and thats what they got. Wish the police would set up a sting for the deadbeats! Bow fishing for Carp? In the spring when the cottonwood trees are dropping their fuzz ball seeds, carp tear them up where the Big River dumps into the Meramec just upstream of Rt 66 ramp! If you fly fish you might try some big dry flys. A big ole carp on a fly rod is a blast! I plan to do that this spring when the cottonwoods are doing their thing, missed it last year because of floods. A member of OA that goes by the nick JJTROUTBUM knows how to target big carp on a fly, search his posts. Maybe JJ will share a secret fly or two. If you are ever running the Meramec around Allenton up to Pacific, and see a Bass Tracker inboard jet with a dude running it by himself, thats Mike. Mikes a cool dude and targets and does well with the smallies all the time. Pull over and talk to him, he's always willing to help with about running the river or fishing. Try not to run over his line like I have.

I didn't bite too hard, thats my favorite Taney rod!!!

Atta boy Mr Doty, Take kids fishing and give them life long memories. Get a kid hooked...on fishing. Thats how it started for me when my Dad brought me to Taney fishing from a boat in the 1960's!!! I'll never forget.

Two units were running most of the day, they bumped it up to three late afternoon. I decided to try fishing from the boat today. It was a slow day for me, picking up 2-3 fish per drift,(some of the drifts were pretty long) some of those crazy silver bullets, and a couple of the most awesome colored ranbows I've seen for a while. Phil, are there cutbrows in Taney? Fished the fly rod for a while, but with the wind and fishing from the boat by myself I like it simple, what this really means wimp chickened out after smacking self in head with long tippet and dropper rigs too many times ,so I switched to the spinning rod using some jigs I picked up at Lilleys. Had my best luck through the old KOA area & clay banks and just above lookout pt.

Hi Ryan, I run a jet on the Meramec, and put in at the Rt 66 ramp a lot because it is just one exit west of where I live on Antire Rd. It is a good ramp and is safe as far as vehicle vandalisim like you might see at more remote ramps. At low water levels, you might have some trouble getting above Big River, which enters just upstream from Rt 66. I know what you mean about the Drum, when they first hit, you think wow! nice bass!then you realize YUK, a Drum! All I can say is the further upstream ya go the less Drum ya catch. Another close ramp is the Allenton ramp close to the Six Flags exit. But it is a more remote ramp and I am aware of some vandalism there. I have caught some decent Smallies up stream from there, running up to the Pacific Palisades area.I caught and released a 18 inch smallie there the other weekend. If you don't mind a bit of a drive, less than 1 hour west on 44, go to Campbell bridge near Bourbon, or to Onondaga State Park...but watch out! those areas can be PACKED with canoes & floaters during summer months between Memorial day, and Labor day! Another choice is Browns Ford on the Big River near Hillsboro, but that water can be real skinny on low flows in summer. You might do a search on this website for posts by Al Agnew. The guy is a wealth of knowledge for smallie fishing on the Meramec! and that in my opinion is an understatement. How about it Al, if you see this post, could you grace us with your knowledge? A P.M. ? Ryan, maybe we can hook up some time and run the river, what kind of a rig ya run in case we are both on the water in the same area. Hope this helps, Bruce P.S. The only place on the Meramec where I've caught decent White Bass was down stream of Winter Park during high water flows.

Yup

Welcome! Enjoy!

Nope, not all my days are those days...I just don't talk about them. Thanks.

Best bugs were size 16 & 18 ice scuds, with size 20 midge droppers. 6X to the first fly, and 7X to the dropper. I was spot fishing most of the big boys, and saw 4 of the big boys take! Exciting!

Whew, shoulders, fingers are sore, waders wet(on the inside ) Just had one of those days when ya could do no wrong. I was fishing by myself so I was only able to get a pic of one fish,I know you're thinkin ya right...fish stories. Caught one AWESOME male rainbow, 24 inches, didn't get the girth,I didn't want to put him through all that after a long fight. ALMOST got a pic, bribed a passer by with some flies to get a pic of this handsome male. Held him up for the money shot...and flop! he got out of my hands before the dude could snap the pic , I was on my knees for the pic, so I dove for him taking water down my waders,gasp that waters cold! He was gone. What a day tho, awesome weather! and one of those days to remember on Taney, lots of fish on otherwise. Sore fingers, Bman here's the only pic I got from a kind passer by

Thanks, I am of Scot/Irish blood. I'll take luck over skill anyday lassie.

Well put, I couldn't agree more. Keep those chinass trout!

I envy you folks that live close to Taney, a four hour drive for me from High Ridge. I forgot to mention the awesome weather. I might check out the water down stream a bit tuesday, I brought my boat.

I crossed over the Dam late morning and wow the area below the Dam was full of waders! Reminded me of Fall fishing crowds. I found good numbers of healthy rainbows full of fight. Started off right with two back to back 20 inchers! Both were on Adams bug, a midge created by Adam Gries of Anglers & Archery. I didn't hook any of the silver bullets tho (chinese acrobat fish) all of the 'bows were full of color like this handsome dude below.

Just the right size for baking! Good stuff!

I will be at Taney that same time too Ready for an early spring break! I will have my lap top as well, will be posting.

I usually have a jet boat with me when I'm at Taney in case the water's runnin. You are welcome in my boat anytime, if you wish. Bman

Welcome Joe, St James is the nearest place to me for a trout fix. I have a jet boat also, any advise on jetting the Gasconade? Regards, Bruce

Welcome!

Sweet Feesh!!!

SWEET Thanks for the eye candy, way to go!!!

Thanks all for the good advise!