Hatches?

[jdixon]

I have not fished the meramec before but read threads about what works there, seems like nymphs, san juan worms, etc. I was just wondering if there was any dry fly action (hatches). really enjoy the current wondering if they are similar streams. thanks

[Gavin]

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site...065,63160,00060

Looks like its a bit high for wade fishing and dry fly fishing right know..Might be able to wade a bit below the park at this level, but I'd wait till it dropped down to 500cfs or so before making a trip to Cardiac or Suicide..Its at a good level for float fishing with cranks and streamers though. 250cfs is about perfect for wade fishing.

As for hatches...The Meramec has a some, but its not like the Current...The Meramec's channel shifts alot and its got a fine gravel bottom..Accordingly most of the insects are small..midges, scud, aquatic worms...Sometimes you get a decent mayfly hatch..Early in the year...Hendricksons come off sporadically. This time of year...I'd look for sulphurs at dusk..fish a size 16 pheasant tail before the hatch, then switch to a comparadun, or rusty spinner during the hatch. Later in the year...August/September time frame you may run into a White Fly Hatch..big white mayflies, usually around a size 12 at dusk. Seems there are always a few fish midging around dusk in the Summertime. If nothing is going on, I usually do pretty well with a streamer/nymph combo fished deep under a bobber. Cheers.

[jdixon]

Thanks for the info, good to know about cfs and wade fishing down there, at 722 that does seem really high if 250 is ideal. I have heard about the white fly hatch and if you hit it it can be alot of fun. meramec is a little less of a drive than the current, but i haven't seemed to make my truck turn left at rolla yet.

[ozark trout fisher]

Thanks for the info, good to know about cfs and wade fishing down there, at 722 that does seem really high if 250 is ideal. I have heard about the white fly hatch and if you hit it it can be alot of fun. meramec is a little less of a drive than the current, but i haven't seemed to make my truck turn left at rolla yet.

I don't know Cardiac or suicide, but I have caught some decent trout down in the mile below the park, especially at Dry Fork about 1/2 mile downstream. The junction pool of the spring branch and the river is also an excellent place to catch trout. Don't know much about the hatches to be honest, the only flies I've ever caught trout on down there were woolly buggers, glo-bugs, and san juan worms. The CFS isn't ideal right now, but you could walk alongside the river and go down and hit the "fishier" spots. I believe it is public for a ways below the spring.

Really though, you'll do better in a week or so when the water goes down. 550 cfs is generally my upper limit.

[jdixon]

how far is the walk from cardiac or suicide whatever is closer, to the park. Is it walkable?

[bikehikefish]

Probably less than 3 miles from Cardiac to the park. Kind of a long walk, slogging through the river. Make sure you respect the "no trespassing" signs just upriver from the Cardiac access - the owner prosecutes.

[ozark trout fisher]

how far is the walk from cardiac or suicide whatever is closer, to the park. Is it walkable?

Cardiac is closer about 2 1/2 miles. You might just be better off to start at the park though.