Brown Trout Stocking

[brownieman]

I can't answer about the meramac but do know about the current...#s, stocking technique if that would help.

I have always had good luck year round on the memamec, seems to be plenty of holdover fish...nothing huge but have caught lots of fish in the 15 to 20 inch range, nothing huge but a few 5 to 7 pounders.

The stocking area is comparable in length to the current but not sure the meramac being red ribbon and the current blue ribbon.

[little bronzie]

1. Brown trout stocking for the Red Ribbon Trout Area of the Meramec River is usually done in May every year. It is possible to catch holdovers. The 15 inch minimum length limit on brown trout statewide helps.

2. Some stocking is done below the park within the first mile below the junction of the Meramec River and the Meramac Spring confluence. Some are stocked at the Cardiac area upstream on a private landowner. The rest at another private landowner. All this taking place between the Woodson K. Woods highway 8 access and Scotts Ford Access. All stocking is done by truck but in the past was done float- through -style.

3. 5,800

4. After stocking last year, I tried to catch some with small jigs. Had a lot of followers but caught a few on the jigs and had better luck with a jerk minnow. Caught a couple of the previous year's stockers too. These two went about 12 inches with beautiful colors. The recent stockers will be about 6-8 inches.

5. I used a spinning rod for my trip but didn't try spinners or spoons but give a shot. Fishing is all about experimentaion and learning.

[ozark trout fisher]

1. Brown trout stocking for the Red Ribbon Trout Area of the Meramec River is usually done in May every year. It is possible to catch holdovers. The 15 inch minimum length limit on brown trout statewide helps.

2. Some stocking is done below the park within the first mile below the junction of the Meramec River and the Meramac Spring confluence. Some are stocked at the Cardiac area upstream on a private landowner. The rest at another private landowner. All this taking place between the Woodson K. Woods highway 8 access and Scotts Ford Access. All stocking is done by truck but in the past was done float- through -style.

3. 5,800

4. After stocking last year, I tried to catch some with small jigs. Had a lot of followers but caught a few on the jigs and had better luck with a jerk minnow. Caught a couple of the previous year's stockers too. These two went about 12 inches with beautiful colors. The recent stockers will be about 6-8 inches.

5. I used a spinning rod for my trip but didn't try spinners or spoons but give a shot. Fishing is all about experimentaion and learning.

Thanks a lot. I have caught a few down in the Meramec River on spinners, but they were all stocky rainbows within a few hundred yards of the park. All of these times were side trips where I had come to fish the park, and had just decided to take a few casts in the river. I think I want to try to spend a whole day on the river this March, which is apparently before they stock. Does anyone have any spin-fishing tips? I'm willing to try anything, (as long as its legal), and I don't particularly care whether I catch browns or rainbows.