How's It Been Fishing?

[ozark trout fisher]

I was just curious if anyone had been down there lately, and if so is it fishing alright? I am thinking about heading down for a few hours tommorrow, and maybe try marabou jigs or something. By the way, marabou jigs are considered flies by the regs aren't they? Also, I may make it down to the river, is anything biting there?

Edit: Instead, due to less driving distance, and the desire to see a new stream, we are heading to Blue Springs Creek in Bourbon. What can I expect?

[SamC489]

Blue Springs isn't bad, but depending on the water depth, you could have a hell of a time finding some good pools to fish in, and a hell of a time stomping through the woods getting there.

That being said, the fishing can be good, and you may be lucky enough to land a native trout, which is an accomplishment all by itself. I can't remember the exact name of the road (I think it is N) you will cross a bridge and later go over a pipe that the creek runs through. The biggest fish I have seen were is a pool near the first bridge as you turn towards the campground that is near the creek.

Have a good time, personally I would just drive to the springs and fish the end of the park and down the river towards Fagan's.

[Bman]

Have a good time, personally I would just drive to the springs and fish the end of the park and down the river towards Fagan's.

Ditto's

[ozark trout fisher]

Ditto's

Yeah, I made it there, caught some smallmouth and suckers, saw a fair number of trout in the deep pools alongside countless suckers. Didn't catch any trout, or see any big ones, but I will definitely be back. I am used to fishing small streams in Colorado, and while this is much tougher I guess because they are more pressured, this is my favorite kind of creek. I'm a small stream kind of guy, and Blue Springs certainly is small. Also, I read that Blue Springs has 290 trout per mile, which is quite good for a stream this little.

[joeD]

Just an aside, and "speaking" of smallmouth, I caught a smallie in the park last year (winter) that was easily 18" and 3 lbs. It was right below the last "waterfall" in the park, upstream of the suspension foot bridge. How did it get there? I don't remember a recent flooding event that would enable one to get past the dam. Purposely released in the park? An old fish from a long ago flood? Any ideas?

[ozark trout fisher]

Just an aside, and "speaking" of smallmouth, I caught a smallie in the park last year (winter) that was easily 18" and 3 lbs. It was right below the last "waterfall" in the park, upstream of the suspension foot bridge. How did it get there? I don't remember a recent flooding event that would enable one to get past the dam. Purposely released in the park? An old fish from a long ago flood? Any ideas?

18" is a pretty old smallmouth. It could have gotten there years ago. Plus, I have seen young of the year largemouth bass even when there had been no recent flooding. It seems that despite the cold water temperatures there is a small resident population in the Maramec Spring. I know that largemouth do better in steady, cold water than smallies though, as far as reproduction. I know largemouth do better in steady, cold water because there is a good population of largemouth in down in Lake Taneycomo, and smallmouth are much fewer.

[joeD]

Maybe they can have a special catch and release day (or week ) in the park for smallies. Hah! But that's kind of how my smallmouth fishing went last year, where one of my biggest catches was in a trout park. I tell ya, I don't get no respect...

[ozark trout fisher]

Maybe they can have a special catch and release day (or week ) in the park for smallies. Hah! But that's kind of how my smallmouth fishing went last year, where one of my biggest catches was in a trout park. I tell ya, I don't get no respect...

Hey, I can believe your story about the big smallie in the spring branch. I saw about a five pounder swimming around in the river above the spring branch.

[joeD]

Where the spring empties into the Meramec proper is a great spot. I try to fish it in the winter once or twice during the week for a quick fix. Nice smallies and big rainbows smashing jerkbaits.

[ozark trout fisher]

Where the spring empties into the Meramec proper is a great spot. I try to fish it in the winter once or twice during the week for a quick fix. Nice smallies and big rainbows smashing jerkbaits.

Big rainbow trout and smallies... You can't beat that.