Steelville Area

[huzzah22]

Does anyone have experinece jet-boating this river as high as around the steelville area? I went up to Scotts Ford last fall to canoe and I seen a truck with an empty, high-dollar tandem-axle boat trailer behind it sitting in the parking area.

There was absolutely no deep water that I could see that he/she could have launched it in, so I was just wondering, does anyone run their motorboats up there, and if so, how is the navigation? Obviously there would be enough water anywhere on the river now to run a boat but, c'mon, realistically...

[Bman]

Are you talking about running from Scotts Ford up through trophy trout area? or down stream?

Personally I would run upstream from where I launch,in case something happens you can drift back.So if you want to run the area below Scotts ford,put in at birdsnest.I'm not sure if you can put in at Indian springs.Yes there are some who will run their jet boats anywhere,sometimes run where a jet boat shouldn't oughta go.It's all runable with normal river levels.After the river drops there will be a lot of trees down,the canoe rental folks will chainsaw through the down wood,I would plan on going then,or carry a chainsaw with ya.Or plan on jumping some logs.

I look for the rivers to be more runable after normal levels return,we've been needing a good flushing for many years.The rivers will be totally different.

Always remember to be respectful of wade fishermen,and canoes.I always do whatever I can to minimize my impact on them when jet boating.

[Gavin]

Folks put jets in above the bridge at Scott's Ford on fairly regular basis even when the water is fairly low (250-300 cfs at Steelville or so). Mostly folks going deer hunting or gigging in the fall. I'd be hesitant to get on the water at its current level though..Its had a good flush, and it hasnt come down enough for folks to log the channels yet. Cheers.

[DoctaJ]

the part I fish in cuba close to steelville you can't get a jet boat though....very shallow light rapids on both ends

[Bman]

the part I fish in cuba close to steelville you can't get a jet boat though....very shallow light rapids on both ends

Just exactly what secion of the river is that...where do you put in take out?

[Al Agnew]

If you run the Meramec anywhere above the mouth of the Huzzah in normal to low summer water levels, you're taking a chance of sucking gravel at best, and hitting rocks or logs. The guys who really know the river can run it at less than 250 cfs on the Steelville gage, but I wouldn't do it if I didn't know the river well. I saw a guy running up in the trout water above Cardiac when it was really low, and even though he made it through the riffle where I was, it was a really stupid (and inconsiderate to others, including me) thing to do.

I own a jetboat and I have run the river up to Garrisons (5 miles or so below Birds Nest) late fall to early spring, when I know there will be nobody swimming, tubing, or in rental canoes and rafts. There are a couple of very tricky rocky riffles above Garrisons that I wouldn't attempt unless the water is up above winter normal. And I won't run anywhere above Meramec State Park at Sullivan in low summer water levels, not because I can't (although there are some very shallow riffles above the park that are tricky) but because I don't care to dodge all the other river users. It ain't fun to have to shut down in the middle of a riffle because there are a bunch of kids swimming at the head of it that you couldn't see until you were in the riffle.

[DoctaJ]

I wade it, I have access off of the property. The part I wade is right in the middle of Scotts ford

[Bman]

If you run the Meramec anywhere above the mouth of the Huzzah in normal to low summer water levels, you're taking a chance of sucking gravel at best, and hitting rocks or logs. The guys who really know the river can run it at less than 250 cfs on the Steelville gage, but I wouldn't do it if I didn't know the river well. I saw a guy running up in the trout water above Cardiac when it was really low, and even though he made it through the riffle where I was, it was a really stupid (and inconsiderate to others, including me) thing to do.

I own a jetboat and I have run the river up to Garrisons (5 miles or so below Birds Nest) late fall to early spring, when I know there will be nobody swimming, tubing, or in rental canoes and rafts. There are a couple of very tricky rocky riffles above Garrisons that I wouldn't attempt unless the water is up above winter normal. And I won't run anywhere above Meramec State Park at Sullivan in low summer water levels, not because I can't (although there are some very shallow riffles above the park that are tricky) but because I don't care to dodge all the other river users. It ain't fun to have to shut down in the middle of a riffle because there are a bunch of kids swimming at the head of it that you couldn't see until you were in the riffle.

Sound advise, well put Al.

Would you have any advise as to where to put in and run in the summer time,and still have decent Bass fishing? While avoiding the aluminum hatch,and conditions you mentioned.

Really appreciate your insights you share with us on this board.

Bruce

[Al Agnew]

Well...to tell you the truth, I don't really use the jet much in the summer. Most of the stretches I don't mind running seem to be pretty poor fishing compared to stream stretches that are too small for easy jetboat use. The Meramec below Meramec State Park is worthwhile all the way down to Moselle (mouth of the Bourbeuse) although you can have some tough days below St. Clair. There are some pretty nice stretches of the Gasconade below Jerome. And the Current above Van Buren can be nice as long as you can do it during the middle of the week when you won't be dodging too many party animals. Even so, Two Rivers puts so many canoes and other craft in above the mouth of the Jacks Fork that I don't feel real comfortable running up there even on weekdays.

[Brian Jones]

We have put in at the MDC access at the end of Hwy O before during this time of year. We didn't have any trouble running but we don't venture that far up unless the river stage at Sullivan is 3.8 or above. I'm not sure what that equals as far as cfs flow though.

Bman: You can put in at Sand Ford on a summer weekend and fish down stream and avoid the "commercial" canoe traffic as all of the commercial liveries take out at the Meramec Caverns boat dock.

Also, what we used to do to avoid the canoe traffic was to put in at one access and run up to the next access that the canoe liveries use and then drift back. That way we were always in front of the canoers. An example on the Meramec would be to put in at Campbell Bridge and run up to Ononadaga Cave and float back. Or put in at Meramec State Park and run up to Sappington Bridge and then float back. You can do this between Sappington Bridge and Campbell Bridge as well, but Blue Springs Ranch throws a wrench in this as they put canoes in at their place. This is not a fish all day in solitude type situation, but if you are on the water at daylight and the fog doesn't hinder your running, you can fish for usually around four and half or five hours before you start seeing the pleasure floaters.

The Gasconade between Jerome and Rollins Ferry is great as well. There is only one guy that puts in canoes through this area and I have never seen them put in more than 10 or 12 canoes and or rafts on a weekend. He usually puts them in at Bell Chute and they take out at Moreland's or Indian Ford (Hwy 42) which was washed away by the big flood last month. The guys in the big pleasure/go fast jetboats can be a nuisance at times, but the past couple of summers, they mostly stayed below Hwy 63 bridge once we got into summer, because of the low water levels. I suspect that will all be different though this year with the extra water that it looks like the rivers will have.