Spotted / Kentucky Bass Moving Up!

[cwc87]

Just looking for anyone's report from this year's trip's after the big spring floods of 08'.

Spent about 12 hours fishing on Meramec that past couple days and seen lots of big drum, giant redhorse, and caught some spotted bass (6) and just curious if anyone has had any trips lately. The spotted bass were caught about 4 miles up from Onondaga Cave. Largest spot was a 13.5 incher.

I've have heard from a credible source that the flying carp are in the St. Clair Hwy 30 area. With the water flowing over what would normally be shallow riffles now these trash fish seem to be working their way up river at a steady pace.

One this is for certain the trash fish will get worked over when gigging season starts on Sept. 15.

By the way bass fishing has finally picked up or the river has cleared up enough so the bass can see my lures!!!!!!!

[snagged in outlet 3]

Those asian carp are terrible once they invade. I hope they don't tolerate spring water or they'll be all the way up the trout park by winter.

SIO3

[drew03cmc]

Those asian carp are terrible once they invade. I hope they don't tolerate spring water or they'll be all the way up the trout park by winter.

SIO3

Have you hooked one on a fly rod? Try it, and your opinion will change.

[Al Agnew]

Spotted bass are notorious for moving upstream in high water, so it doesn't surprise me that some have moved upstream on the Meramec. I'm not TOO concerned about it, since they've had many years to get well-established in the upper river but have not, so apparently something about the habitat is limiting them. Hopefully the ones which moved up will either die out, languish, or move back downstream. However, I hope you killed the ones you caught. I can't stress enough that spotted bass should be harvested up to the legal limit (12 fish, no length limit) anywhere on the Meramec and tributaries where they are not already the dominant species, if you care about the smallies!

[bclift65706]

ware does the Meramec river go I dont know any thig about it other than just heard of it .does it feed directly to the missouri river or does it go to another watershed before entering the missouri or mississippi rivers.

[shawncat]

The Meremec River flows into the Mississippi just south of St.Louis.

[hank franklin]

Al, would you agree that the spotted invasion has slowed, or possibly even retreated? I really haven't noticed as many spots on the Meramec and tribs in the past couple years. Wondering if you've had the same experience.

I've been keeping spots since the regs were first changed BTW. Good eating.

[RiverRunner]

You don't want the flying carp. I'm convinced that they are the absolute worst thing that can happen to a fishery. They have destroyed numerous fisheries in AR, TN, MO, & MS. They have moved up the White River in AR and into the Black, so I fear that they will be in the 11 pt and Spring Rivers before long.

I don't care how fun they might be to catch, the asian carps must be eradicated.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Have you hooked one on a fly rod? Try it, and your opinion will change.

Yes sir I have. I've caught them up to 3 feet long. They are a nasty invader that needs to be eradicated. I think they would decimate a stream like the Meramec. In the place I caught them we used to catch hybrids now we never catch hybrids anymore. The river is choked with asians and nothing else.

SIO3

[trouthunter777]

Have you hooked one on a fly rod? Try it, and your opinion will change.

im fine with your opinion .. next time u catch one on the fly rod make sure it is realesed where u got it from. same with catching bait.