joeD

Kayser- I concur with Gavin. The Little Piney should be named "Little Gem," because it is often overlooked by "serious" anglers. Any stream that holds both trout and smallies is worthy of your attention. You can fish it year 'round. If you're that close to it, then you have no excuse not to hit it hard.

Or, you could go with a spinning or baitcasting outfit, throw some big "baits" - Rapalas, Pointers, Rogues, - and catch fish, generally bigger fish. And not worry about your backcast. Or the color of your thread. The length and diameter of your tippet, size of your fly, etc. etc., ad nauseum. Sorry, I had to throw it in there. P.S. I fly-fish too. The Current is just an awsome river to fish. Regardless of the method.

I told you--that hair is the bomb! Now where is that Frampton Comes Alive 8 track?

Well, you answered one question.

Great fish, great story Rick. I stand corrected. My apologies for doubting you. Now where on the Gasconade did you say? What happened to your hair?

Cabela's has both underseat and thwart bags, tough PVC in green. You can find'em at the Hazlewood store.

I'm 6'2" and overweight. I remember the cigar was excellent. Big River above Hwy 21 1998

CNR- This is what you should have posted

Bell bottoms and feathered hair!! Bring on Sabbath and my Chevelle!!

Thanks Shawncat and Steve I(1?) My question was meant more as fact-finding than a personal attack on Rick. You just don't know these days. Also, this might explain why I've been losing at Texas Hold 'Em- calling everyone's bluff and getting smoked.

(sigh) I shouldn't have said anything. "Don't pay any attention to him folks, he's just a big, dumb animal." - Richard (David Spade) in the movie "Tommy Boy" Behold the fisherman, who sallies forth in the morning, rod in hand. When he returns, he stinketh of liquor, and the truth is not in him.

Al, you are the voice of reason and experience, a gentleman to boot, and I respect, trust and value your opinions. And I have no doubt the Meramec was a smallmouth bonanza years ago. This guy didn't catch those smallies years ago. He's around my age, and wasn't fishing back then. I daresay those fish were caught semi-recently. 'Weights--I gotta assume, without evidence to the contrary..." That's just it- "without evidence to the contrary..." Just because something can't be "disproved," doesn't, in fact, make it true. UFO's, ghosts, bigfoot, Tour de France riders, John Edwards' campaign statements... One can put anything out there, and if there is no "proof" otherwise, it must be true, regardless of common sense. Sorry, I'm not railing at you Al, and I'm sure you're right, but for some reason, this article got under my skin. It's stupid of me and of no consequence . I'll stop. Maybe the scale was off.

"The stories of huge largemouths and Kentuckys that Bruder has weighed in — and released again — are legion, but his lunker bronzebacks border on the unbelievable. His largest so far weighed 6 pounds 2 ounces and 5 pounds 9 ounces and were taken while fishing the Meramec" Yes, the article and interview/fishing trip took place on the Gasconade, but the above quote caught my eye. Hence, my query on this site. Honestly, I don't believe him. I've seen 5 and 6 pound smallies (Lake Pickwick and the Tennessee River in TN), those fish are monsters and they're not in our Ozark river system. Period.

That's why scales are called "De-Liars." How many times have we been on the river and, in a random encounter with another angler, the other guy says "Well, so-and-so caught a 6 pounder just upstream from here a few weeks ago." Or a 5 pounder. Or downstream. I guess all you can do is raise your eyebrows, nod your head, and move on. Besides, you shoulda been here yesterday...

Did anyone read Kathy Etling's column in the Saturday 8/9 St.Louis Post-Dispatch, "Outdoors" section, in the sports section? Basically, she was fishing with an experienced river angler, one who fishes river tournaments often, and he had said that his biggest smallies were 6 pounds something and 5.9 pounds, both caught on the Meramec river. I have no doubt that he's an accomplished angler, but 6 pounds? In the river? I've caught my fair share of smallies in the 20 - 22" range, but they were nowhere near the 5 or 6 pound weight class, even in the spring with eggs. It's nothing really, but , is it true? I'm sure it's possible, but... I'm probably just jealous. www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/0CC1C97624930BB1862574A0000B8551?OpenDocument

Splendid fish Hank. Very special. A LOT of stream fisherman who've been fishing for years never catch one that big. Plus, if you go to the "poacher" thread in the Maramec Spring Park forum, you'll see just how special your fish is. Guys like him, and I'm sure he isn't the only one, can ruin large stretches of water for EVERYONE. Again, excellent fish.

It is a great bait. I was with a well-known (at least in some circles) ozark angler who used that exact lure and had a chartreuse and white skirt on the front treble hook. He caught a beautiful 20 incher on that lure. That sold me. So I use skirts on certain crankbaits quite often now, I'm unashamed to admit. (Too much computer typing. Must. Get. Out. Fishing!)

Splendid! But Gavin, you still didn't say if that was a rapala on the end of your line! Or is it a secret? Cheers to you too.

Thanks Gavin. Two anchors, eh? So it's more for slowing down and boat control? I can dig that. Looks like a rainy day picture of the Meramec. Is that a jointed Rapala I see on the end of your line, hmmm?

So it sounds like a do it yourself affair, instead of buying a "ready made" product. Generally, I just stick a leg out (if I don't want to get out and wade a particular hole) and hold the canoe steady whilest I fish. You know the drill, kind of pull over to the shallow side and flail away. I guess I'm just looking for an excuse to pimp my ride. I figure I'm heavy enough anyway, I AM the anchor. At least that's what my wife tells me (whether "anchor" as in a steadfast, resolute, force in the family or a weight around her life, I haven't figured out yet... Note to self: look up "albatross"). Regardless, thanks Tim and Al, but I want a yes or no answer!

Friends - I'm curious about an anchor system on a 14 ft. solo canoe. Mainly, is it worth it? Advantages? Disadvantages? Please discuss. Thanks. joe

where there'res smallmouth water, there's generally a good looking trailer nearby. why have trash service when you can dump it in the front yard.

That's some nice, uh, "scenery" there. I guess that's the crappy trailer hole. You gotta love Jefferson County.

Leonard - I agree with the others. The age of your boys, and their interest level in fishing and the outdoors IS very important. I applaud your effort in getting them out. Does your wife fish? Paddle? If not, what will she do? What if it rains? "Dad, I'm bored." Wife to husband: "You should've /shouldn't of....(insert your "supposed" mistake of choice)" IN other words, be prepared, have a plan B and C, and disregard everything else, especially me, and just go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Just go.

Who would drive a total of three hours to fish for two and a half hours? ME! That's who. I hadn't fished for two months, consequently, my eyes were starting to twitch, like Barney from "The Simpson's" when Springfield runs out of beer (sorry, gratuitous pop culture reference). I had a small window of opportunity to fish Sunday morning, before I had to be back home for afternoon softball practice, a soccer game and 2 LAX games (those with sports kids know the drill). Anyway, off I went. I put in by myself at nine, on a favorite section of the river I do pretty much exclusively in the early spring. The water was up of course, but the color was perfect. A couple casts after launching, I brought in a 14" largemouth (on a white Super Fluke, of course, no secret, my favorite lure, as you can tell by my cheesy phone camera pictures). A couple of casts later, a 17 incher, next cast, 18 incher. Same 100 yard hole, right after you put in, nothing fancy, nice bank with a good rock bottom, that produces year after year. I thought I was going to tear'em up after that start, but of course the fish had something to "say" about that. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the first few fish, since it happened pretty quickly, and I was otherwise occupied trying to light a good cigar with a cheap lighter ( go figure, thousands in fishing tackle, good cigars - cheap lighter). Regardless, I floated down, casting the fluke, plus a jerkbait and a spinnerbait, picking up the kind of fish you see featured. I caught two dinks, the rest were 15 inches and above. Not a lot, 12 total, but good, healthy fish. Not a soul in sight. I was happy. I have another motive for showing the pictures. I've caught bigger fish on this stretch (and I'm sure they're still there), and more numbers. What is important to me, however, is that after months of cold weather, snow, floods, tornadoes, and an earthquake (I'm sure a forest fire and locusts are not too far behind), the river and its population of fish are still there, despite, and because of, Mother Nature (Cue: Lightening). This section of the river HAS changed- trees blown to the bank, gravel shifting, some holes are gone, others have appeared, but it's still good. If you've never floated it, you'd never know how it has changed (Sorry,again, sounds kind of pompous). The upper Meramec is a treasure. It gives one hope. Well, that's my report (you've justed wasted 10 minutes of your life and you'll never get it back). Hopefully I'll have a digital camera next time. I hear one can get a good camera deal on the Internets.