joeD

I may have to rethink my position on Blue Spring Creek. I always pass it on the way in and out of the Campbell Bridge to BSC smallmouth excursion. But it is always v.low and clear. Does the higher water help? I've never heard anyone really fish it "seriously." By the way Gavin, it is "Asian" dude, not "oriental" dude. Just to be PC. Just sayin'. Sorry.

jah- I feel your pain. I fished ALL day Monday the 19th and from 8-12 Tuesday the 20th. Tan Vat up and Ashley Creek up to Baptist. Probably my least productive days on the Current. Ever. Now granted, I was very specific and unvarying in what I was throwing, because I wanted a "big bite", a big brown ( 4+ pounds). I threw big jerkbaits spin fishing, and big streamers fly-fishing (Sex Dungeons, e.g.). I'm sure that's why I didn't catch fish, they didn't want it, and I didn't want to change (or "adjust"). Even so, I usually come up with something. I hardly saw any fish, let alone have many chase my offerings. There were other fly fisherman on the water, and they were just as flummoxed as I was (nymphs, cracklebacks, buggers, EHC, etc). On Tuesday I saw a number of browns paired up, so they could be spawning. There was a monstrous caddis hatch both days, but I did not see ONE rise or any surface or sub-surface activity. I caught a 2 1/2 pound rainbow and a 3 pound brown (about 20 inches). That's it. I know I could have been working or some other drudgery, but still... Ahh, the Current...she can be a fickle mistress...

OOOF! Good one Eric! HAH! Honestly, that...that "thing" is quite good to fish out of, shockingly so. I know two people who want to pay top dollar for it.

Sorry about your accident, glad you're OK. I agree, mostly, with all the previous posts, regarding canoes that is. But one thing that wasn't mentioned, and I believe it is critical, is your body size. Some of the higher end solos (Bell, Dagger, for example) are made for people who are less than 6 foot and less than 180 pounds. They're wonderful crafts, but they may not fit YOU (like Armani suits don't fit me... (ahem)). I have a Mohawk 15 solo, and I love it. But I'm also big and fat, so it suits ME perfectly. I also have a Penebscot 17 tandem, a workhorse of a canoe that does just about everything, for what I WANT to do. So, just because something is more expensive or lighter or faster or wider, doesn't mean necessarily that it is the right canoe for YOU. By the way, my first canoe purchase was a 16 (15'8" actually) Buffalo. I had it for 10 years and it served me well. It was relatively heavy for its size, but it was very manoeuverable in the water and could handle a multi-day load. If you wanted to paddle solo, you could turn it around and paddle from the front seat ( I had cane seats). But, because of the re-curve design, it did not track well, and was hellish in the wind. Plus it was less expensive than others (not a deciding factor though). Anyway, that's my 2 cents, mostly. Remember, it is YOUR choice for what YOU want to do. There is no right or wrong.Good luck with your canoe search.

Speaking of Buffalo canoes...

My apologies. I did not look at the date of your original post.

It's fine, if you like mudholes.

"Hey, careful man, there's a beverage HERE..."

Doak?

Yeh, I was just kidding anyway, I don't care. It's all good. I'm just pissed at myself, because I chose to go to the Current on Monday and Tuesday. I thought trout fishing would be better than smallie fishing, given the erratic weather. WRONG! I did not choose wisely, my young apprentice. I flailed away haplessly with hardware and flies 2 hours away while you caught fish closer to home. DOH! BM - I don't know what Skip knows, but I do know that whenever I see him or talk to him, I give him the business, because, well, because that's what I do. He loves it.

I'm gonna have to have a talk with Skip.

See my previous post.

Skip told you about me? Ruh roh. That doesn't sound good.

Big jerkbaits. For big trout. For big smallies. For the Current. For the Meramec. For winter.

Picture number 2 is Fishing Spring on the Meramec and number 1 is again the Meramec, I think below Riverview Access or just above it.

Anything above Twin Bridges, Hwy. 14. Hebron Access. Hale Ford, Topaz. I've only floated these sections, and that was back in the days of yore, so I don't know how far up or down from the accesses you can wade. You might want to consider Bryant Creek, which is nearby. Bertha Ford is a possibility. Weather and river levels will be key. I should probably mention that my brain cells are expiring at an alarming rate.

1. St. Francis 2. Buffalo, Lower Wilderness Area 3. Middle Meramec 4. Mineral Fork, above F. ( or upper Meramec, above Cook Station). 5. I don't know. I haven't been in your neck of the woods. 6. Love the quiz. 7. Now where is this AL?

Sometimes fish porn gets me more excited than "regular" porn. (Regular being subjective, that is). Is that normal? Is it right? I do like stories with pictures, though. Thanks for sharing fellas.

Green's. Bring jerkbaits for the smallies ( and trout for that matter). Last couple miles of that stretch is pretty blah, at least in the winter, which is when I've done it.

Hog- Where did you take out, Buffalo City? How do you rate the water, fishingwise, compared to the middle part of the river, around 65? I might do that LW area in a couple weeks. Thanks

Skip at Green's Canoe Rental will shuttle you anywhere on the upper Meramec for 20 or 30 dollars. 1-800-815-6721. Tell him big joe sent ya.

Why is the provenance of smallies and spots, in a particular river system, so important? Why are humans never considered "part of nature" or "natural" or "native," when one is arguing about the "natural order of things?" Eric, what DOES the earth intend? If you do know, I'm sure the Christian Coalition would like a few words with you, because they know too. Boxers v Briefs, Stones v Beatles, Apple v Microsoft, Jay v Conan, bottom v top, Smallies v Spots. Intractable differences, with seemingly no resolutions in sight...

I concur with Al (except for the part where he states his "methods are really pretty simple" and "have subtle nuances." Anybody who designs, whittles, lathes, blacksmiths, paints, tweaks, and generally conjures up his own lures, has gone beyond "simple." Now I feel like a dilettante buying lures at Denny Dennis. Thanks Al). Kidding aside, you have no reason to apologize, Creek Wader. Unless you threw that spotted bass back in the water.

When you wear your heart on your sleeve, expect it to get trampled, especially in an anonymous setting. Remember, rehab is for quitters.

Al- Stay off my section!!! I was there first! There is no potential there! Seriously though, I,and my partners, have caught a lot of big fish in that section ( we usually stop at hwy 19 ). I did a Sunday- Monday overnighter two weeks ago, I caught a 19 incher above Indian Springs, and my buddy caught a 20 1/4 " er about a hundred yards below Fishing Spring, in the slow water ( I haven't figured out how to post pictures ). I vouchsafe that the water between Fishing Spring and Hwy 19 is extremely productive. I used to paddle through there in days of yore, but not anymore. A couple notes: The 20 inch fish weighed 3.6 pounds. According to my stream thermometer, the water temp throughout the trip was around 65 degrees. Thought it curious that late in August. Thanks for the report Al, but you might have better luck in St. Gen., I hear drum are on the feed on the Mississippi.