Old Meramec Float Pictures

[huz001]

Huz001, thanks again for the pictures and info..There isnt much available on the Current River style jons. You still have the plans? They should be preserved if you have them.

Doc, that pic is my friend Jeff McGowan's Ausable boat on the Holy Waters of the of the Ausable in Grayling, MI (Main stem at Stephan Bridge, just above Gates Lodge). Fellow in the orange hat is my friend Tim...Jeff's boat was built by Bob Smock Jr. in Grayling MI...24' long 32" bottom, 11" sides, 42" beam. Its designed to be poled, and floated down river, with a big chain dragging out the back. Its beautiful river, especially the South Branch through the Mason Tract. The north, south, and main stem offer great hatches, wild brook and brown trout but the catch rate and sizes arent as good as some of our Blue ribbon waters.

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.

[huz001]

Great photos...I thought that one was at the Scotia Bridge. I remember the Scotia hog trough bridge, and the one at Blue Spring Creek.

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);

[Al Agnew]

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);

Yeah, come to think of it I remember the one at Onondaga, too. I don't remember ever seeing the others on Courtois and Huzzah, because I never fished those two streams back in those days. I think I saw at least one of those on the upper Meramec, but don't remember which one. I didn't really start fishing the Meramec until the 1970s.

There are the remains of what was apparently a hog trough bridge a bit below Dry Fork...know anything about it?

[huz001]

Yeah, come to think of it I remember the one at Onondaga, too. I don't remember ever seeing the others on Courtois and Huzzah, because I never fished those two streams back in those days. I think I saw at least one of those on the upper Meramec, but don't remember which one. I didn't really start fishing the Meramec until the 1970s.

There are the remains of what was apparently a hog trough bridge a bit below Dry Fork...know anything about it?

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 ?