Maries Report

[creek wader]

Managed to make it out for a few hours this morning. When I pulled in under the bridge, there were two guys in waders gearing up.They were there 1st, so, I gave them the choice of up or downstream. They chose up. Rats!! I've always had better luck upstream. So, I headed down.

I had big plans for the day but, got called into work, soon after I started fishing. The river was up a little and slightly stained, but not too bad. The current was moving at a pretty good clip. Anyway, since I was short on time, I left the fly rod in the truck. I caught 4 largemouth right out of the gate, less that 25 yrds., from the truck, on a yum dinger. I waded on downstream about a 1/2 mile and casted my arm off, to no avail. There were plenty of fishy looking spots but all I caught was a green sunfish. I had fished this stretch last year and didn't do well either. The better fishing is in the next mile, downstream. But, time didn't allow it. I can't wait to get a full day in, on the Maries. wader

[KCRIVERRAT]

Wader... I've crossed the Maries many times on 63 hwy. Read about it a lot too. One of those Ozark "border" streams. I've always been interested in fishing it, but living in K.C., I tend to head to the rivers down south that have always produced for me. You being from St. Joe, what makes you head to the Maries... working around Jeff City, or just the love of that stream, with little pressure also? Nice fatties on those LM bud!

[creek wader]

My work takes me to Jeff, every couple of days. I usually get a few hrs. of free time. The Maries is the closest stream to Jeff. with smallies in it. I've fished it for 4 yrs, I've found several accesses. I also, fish the North and South Moreau, Osage, Big tavern Creek, Cedar creek, Little Piney, Meramec, and several other streams.

Maries River

Big Tavern Creek

[KCRIVERRAT]

Thanks Wader, just wondering. I'm usually heading to the Big Piney if I'm heading that way. The Maries always intrigued me though. Do you like the Maries better than the Moreau?

[creek wader]

Thanks Wader, just wondering. I'm usually heading to the Big Piney if I'm heading that way. The Maries always intrigued me though. Do you like the Maries better than the Moreau?

Yes, I like the Maries much better than the Moreau. This is what I found. ; ... The Moreau is more of a border stream, than the Maries. The Maries has a rock bottom, gravel bars, riffles, some chunk rock, googleye and smallies. It's probably the first real southern stream, from Jeff.

The Moreau has a mud bottom and mud banks for the most part. It takes a lot of runoff drainage and rarely clears up. Except in a dry year. It"s more like the Platte river near KC. However it does have bass in it.(largemouth, Kentucky, and crappie). More of a catfish river. The South Fork of the Moreau, is much clearer and does have some gravel bars and some smallies. The Kentuckies have really taken over all parts of the Moreau and are crossing with the smallies. The South Fork is what I would call a crossover stream, between north and south.

As far as the Maries, goes right now it can be floated but, in 2 mos. it'd be a wade only stream. Right now I can wade it anywhere I want to go. So, that makes it shallow and some places you have to walk 100 yards or better, before there's enough water to cast to. It has it's gives and takes.

If you had some free time passing through, it'd be worth a few hrs. But, I wouldn't make it a destination smallie stream. I just fish it out of convenience. There are much larger smallie streams with much larger smallies in it, that I haven't fished, yet. Every year I try a different stream for my main annual outing. This year it looks like the Big Sugar and the Elk rivers.

S. Fork of Moreau River

[Chief Grey Bear]

Really nice fish there wader!

Now if you two want to do something crazy...Lets take a float down the Blue River and see what we come up with. Ahh...well...lets use a different term... maybe...see what kinda action we can find...fishing wise that is.

[creek wader]

Really nice fish there wader!

Now if you two want to do something crazy...Lets take a float down the Blue River and see what we come up with. Ahh...well...lets use a different term... maybe...see what kinda action we can find...fishing wise that is.

lol, your not far off there, cheif, .. actually the Little Blue don't look too bad for a skinny river. ... How's Shoal Creek looking these days. We're taking your advice and looking hard at the Big Sugar and Indian Creek. Thanks.. wader

[Chief Grey Bear]

Oh yeah yeah. The LITTLE Blue. I moved to KC after I left the MNA to work for the IMRL. I always wondered what it be like to float form say Swope Park to the confluence of the Mighty MO. I wondered about the Kaw from Argentine to the MO too. BTW I worked out of Knoche. I had the luck of going to all yards except the NS and the old SLSF Rosedale.

[creek wader]

yeah, the little Blue has a lot of access points. It has walking and bike trails all along it. I'm afraid I'll never have the time to do it. The Kaw don't move much through the area you described (backed up by the Mo.) It's more of a cat and carp river. Still would be fun.

"Knoche". Now there's a place I haven't been for sometime. Sounds like you've been all around the KC terminal. Me too, I did a lot of transfer work and hosteling. Back when I was forced into the yards, in my younger days. Sounds like, between the two of us, we've covered the whole KC terminal. I'm still running around all over there. Believe me your not missing much. .. lol

[KCRIVERRAT]

Really nice fish there wader!

Now if you two want to do something crazy...Lets take a float down the Blue River and see what we come up with. Ahh...well...lets use a different term... maybe...see what kinda action we can find...fishing wise that is.

Good friend of mine fishes the Blue. Vicinity of interstate 435 on downstream I think. Not sure where he launches, maybe on the Mo. He catches channels and carp, all the while with a clothespin clamped to his nose while "tasting" that clean, fresh air...