Mineral Fork

[joeD]

Just curious. Has anyone been on the Mineral Fork lately?

[Brian Jones]

I haven't floated it for quite some time but crossed it at Hwy 47 on Saturday and the water looked pretty decent. It was high and dingy, but not even close to being muddy.

[joeD]

Brian- What is "quite some time?" Month's? Years? I haven't floated it since John Pyzyk (R.I.P) and Kohner Properties bought everything around it a few years ago. For awhile it was one of the best streams around for both numbers and size. My friends and I hit it hard for a few years while the fishing was hot. But after the developments, I haven't really fished it or heard of anyone that has. (I'm talking about smallies by the way).

[Brian Jones]

Joe:

The last time that we fished it was in June of '01 and that was the "lower part". We put in at Hwy 47 and took out at Mammoth on Big River. We had a good morning that day as we caught 11 "keepers", the biggest one being right at 17 inches. I used to float it a bunch with my father in law back in the 90s, but I bought a jet boat in 98 and my father in law sort of lost interest in floating so we haven't canoe fished much at all since then. I am supposed to float this spring with a guy that I used to coach against. If we go, I will let you know how we do.

[joeD]

Thanks. Please do.

Joe

[Al Agnew]

I've fished the lower section a few times in the last few years. Did fairly well.

The access at Hwy. 47 sucks, of course. The last time I was there, the big landowner had strung a fence across the path leading to the river from atop the bridge, with a big sign that said something to the effect that you had to have a valid fishing license to cross the fence, and that there was no swimming. I think they are trying to put a stop to the partying and littering that has always gone on underneath the bridge.

[B-unit]

The Mineral Fork is probably the stream I've fished the most for the past few years, but I haven't been "lately" (not since this past Fall). I usually wade from Kingston access up to the low-water bridge and back, or occasionally from 47 bridge down and back. I have some trepidation about leaving my car parked at the side of the 47 bridge but I haven't had any actual problems. I have, however, heard reports of several "smash and grabs" at the Kingston lot (...again, hasn't happened to me though, knock on wood). I've been lucky enough to land some 17"-20" smallies over the last few Springs before they disappear for the dog days of summer. I don't bother trying to fish there during summer weekends anymore due to its popularity with bathers and beach partiers (that's not a complaint per se, since they have just as much right to be there as I do... just wish they were a bit better about cleaning up after themselves, but I digress...). By mid-summer I rarely (if ever) manage to pick up any smallies over 10 or 12 inches... just goggle-eye, ambitious sunfish with mouths big enough to take a stab at a Sneaky Pete or hair-bug, and 8"-14" spots (seems like more and more of those every year).

[Gavin]

My folks used to stay up at Trout Lodge in Potosi a lot when I was a kid and we fished the Fourche below Sunnen Lake and MF a lot back then..Nice little stream. I've floated it several times from F down to 47 and from 47 down to Mammoth on the Big River...Fishing can be good at times, but it gets a lot of traffic. Especially from Hazel's Camp down to the Big River..Fishing has been on the decline fo the past couple years...many of the better holes graveled in.. Long day float with lots of dragging and usually some wood in the water to carry around, drag your boat over..Best time to do it is when the days are long. Usually takes me about 12-13hours to float and fish between F and 47.

Met a few folks that gave me the creeps down there a few years ago.. Two skinny dudes with bad teeth and a bunch of tats, fishing with crawdads. Saw em down there on several occasions..They were always really chatty and jumpy like they were all methed up slurring their words like they were drunk too. Probably dead or in prison by now but who knows....If you fish it, dont leave anything in your car, and watch out for cottonmouths...I can tell the difference between a water snake and a c-mouth and there is a pretty good number of them on that creek. Cheers.

[joeD]

Yes, these are the reasons why I'm asking about the Mineral. We're all talking about it in the past tense. When I was fishing it alot, I'd have Pat at Rivermont (I have a few stories about her and that campground, by the way) take me to Hazel's or F and float down to 47. Just great fishing. Even on Friday afternoons floating past Rivermont with Lynrd Skynrd blaring, Busch beer flowing, tatoos glistening (on the women) I'd still catch 16"-19" fish. The Mineral was usually just a springtime destination for me, I'd move on to other streams by June. Now I'm usually on the upper Meramec in the early spring, but with all the water, I haven't been at all. I talked to Skip at Green's Canoe Rental recently, and he said the upper Meramec (Short Bend to Hwy 8) isn't clearing out as fast as in years past. Too much water, too often. Anyway, that's why I'm curious about the Mineral. It was usually good to go pretty quickly after a rain event.

Al- How did you put at 47? Throw the canoe over the fence? Did you leave your vehicle on the shoulder of the bridge(east side usually)? There used to be "NO Parking" signs there.

And Na Zdarovye! to you too Gavin.

[Al Agnew]

Yep, just kinda dropped the canoe over the fence. Parked on the shoulder...didn't see any no parking signs when I was there. Could be a problem, however, as the county cops seem to be cracking down on parking on road shoulders. This really, really ticks me off. I'm getting pretty sick and tired of county commissioners making it difficult to access streams, even when it should be legal. There is plenty of room to park there at Hwy. 47, and no safety concerns, since you can get well off the highway. It's a highway right of way, and should be public.