huz001

Looks nice; hope it holds for a few weeks.

I will scan and post the logs along with the plans for the Current River jon boat (1927) next week; in the mean time here is an excerpt; Jun 7, 1933 5:45 AM to 9 PM (75 years ago) Float - Walkers Ford to Ranch (our place a the junction) water slightly cloudy Pat; 36 smallmouths up to 4 pounds 2 oz (2 doubles) flies and spinners (red); Leonard 8 1/2' Fly Rod; Heddon bait rod with Charmer Minnow Ernie; 23 smallmouths (biggest 3 pounds 10 oz.) - Heddon 150's (red), 1 Largemouth of about 3 pounds; Heddon Bait rod Floyd; 30 smallmouths up to about 3 pounds - flies and spinners, Divine Fly Rod 9' also, 200+ goggle-eyes (4 were 12") or about 1 1/2 pound 50 big green sunfish (known then as Black Perch) 7 walleyes, largest (6 pounds 6 oz.) 2 channel cats on a fly (both small) Kept 12 total fish for fry more later .......

Ya know, I never heard of one being caught in the upper Meramec prior to the mid-1970's; maybe we just though they were LM bass then. Anyone know ? One day a caught and released a nice Rainbow and a Spot in the same eddy.

Yes, that was a farmers hog trough (private). The pilings have been there since the early 1950's. Used to be a pretty good place for a few nice rainbows ?

Yes, the boat ramp is just to the right of the bridge. Man, I have never seen as much high muddy water and rain and cold too.

2 pictures; on N out of Bourbon, but from the southeast side of the river.

The old days produced some great fish. They can still be had today too. These smallies (1974 - 21 1/2" (5 pound 2 oz), 1979 - 20 1/2" (4 pound 10 oz), 1982 - 19" (around 4 pounds)); also a 4 pound 2 oz 18" Kentucky from Meramec (1982). Strictly "Catch and Release for 26 years now". Even then, it was trophy fish only that were mounted. In the lodge by the river we also have 12 or 13 smallies from 1921 to 1962. Everyone of them is over 4 pounds. One is 23 1/2" 6 lbs 4 Oz (1940); the largest anyone ever caught (that we know of) on the upper section of the Meramec (1 mile below Birdsnest). I also have the float log books from the 1920's and the 1930's; which are really unbelievable but completely honest.

Yes, also Onondaga Cave (2 bridges), Butts on the Courtois, Moutray on Courtois (private bridge), Blounts on the Courtois, just below Highway 8 on the Huzzah (gone in 1946) Harper's on the Huzzah, near Huzzah Post Office, and Davisville also; Scott's Ford, Wesco, and Cooks Station on the Meramec. Scotia looked nicer before the Canoe Rentals sprung up. Al, one of the Huzzah at Scotia looking into Huzzah Wildlife Area (1971);

I do still have then plans I believe and the paperwork. I need some time to dig them up. Let me add, that this was also a great pole boat, almost as nimble as a canoe, very quiet, easy to turn, and sometimes we used a 7 1/2 Evinrude for trot-lining. The biggest issue was hauling.

You are correct, this is the Current River style boat. My grandfather got the plans in Doniphan on the Current River in about 1920 and hired local boat builder from near Steelville. These boats were built on the site where they were to be used and launched. It usually took a boat builder about a week to complete the boat and 2 paddles. Ours were always 24' x 4' (width at the center) tapering to 18" at the bow and stern. When completed they were sunk for several days to swell the wood and close any leaks. It took 5-6 men to roll them over and empty them and they would then dry for several days in the sun. Total weight was about 250-300 pounds dry. I watched the last one built in 1960 (I was 13). They used local woods; sassafras, hickory, and some quarter-sawn white oak where straight grain mattered; like gunwales. In 1960; the price of the wood was $47.50; labor was $100; total $147.50. In 1960 the bottom was made from plywood. Prior to that the bottoms were planked. We had boats built in 1906 (gig boat), 1921 (lost to flood), 1930, 1947 (broken on truck from float return trip), 1952 (lost to flood), and 1960 (sunk in 1969). Total price in 1921 was $38.00. All of our boats were built from the same pattern; except prior to 1920 we uses gig boats to float (see picture under Current River forum). They were up to 28' - 32' long and only 2-3' wide at the center with an up-swept bow and stern. As far as the pictures go; top left is our 1930 Jon Boat in the 1930's our boat at Huzzah Meramec junction; next to right is our boat in 1949 at Saranac Spring riffle, next to right in beginning of 3 boat float at Onondaga Cave before the bridge in 1926, next to right is the hog trough at the town of Scotia on the Huzzah Creek about 1947, next right is Maramac Spring Mill prior to 1900, and last is inside of Jon Boat in 1937. Dates on picture back. Getting them back after a float was hard to do without a trailer; usually on a long bed truck with additional oak 2X4" 16' long under the boat for additional bracing to keep them from snapping in half on a bumpy gravel road. Posted here is a 1914 boat on the Meramec near Onondaga. Notice planked bottom.

Gonna try to go on the 4/25. From St. Louis I've got to carry a "wait and see" attitude. Man this rain is unreal !!

Flood pics;

Look at the tapered and upswept ends;

Some pictures I found of jon boats (ours 24'). From 1897 to 1960 we had 5 made. and smallmouth fishing on the Meramec in the 1920s-1950s. Look at that hand carved paddle. One of an old Hog Trough bridge. One of the mill at Maramac springs (1898) (these are old family pictures).

Hi everyone. Just registered last week. I live in Kirkwood, MO. but own an old family homestead at the junction of the Huzzah Creek and the Meramec River. I spent a lot of time there. My family settled there in the 1850's. I am an avid fly fisherman and love trout and smallmouth fishing. Have fished most of the rivers of Missouri for almost 50 years now. I just turned 60. I also own a home and boat on Table Rock - Kings River arm. Regards and nice board, Steve