Big Tavern Creek

[creek wader]

I just bought a new Pflueger President combo and was itching to try it out. I got to say, It worked well and is a very smooth reel. I've been trying to hit sections of the local streams that I haven't fished yet, or haven't fished for a few years. I decided to access a section at a "swing bridge". I fished it once several yrs. ago. When I started fishing the area 4 yrs. ago, there were 4 swing bridges, but, now I only know of two still standing. It was easy access below the bridge. It looked like it had been frequented a lot by the locals. Usual trash and tracks. Still the hole below the bridge looked fishy. The stream had been out of it's banks several times this year. But, it was fairly clear and back down.

I started with 3" Yum dingers and the Green sunfish were loving it. I caught a handful before I finally caught several "sport" bass. The first was a smallie, followed by a couple of lg mouth. I then headed down stream and ran out of gravel bar and started wading the long pool. I caught several more sport smallies and lg mouth, before it got too deep for me to wade. This is why I bought my inflatable yak. But, I haven't brought it down yet, this year . So, I had to take what I call the "poison ivy trail". I climbed the bank and made my own trail through the brush/trees. Clad in only swim trunks and wading shoes. I busted through the trees, poison iy, itching nettles, thorn bushes, and downed limbs. Not to mention the tick infestation. Then I climbed back down the bank and came out in the middle of a shallow run. I p/u mix of sport bass. Below the riffles was a beautiful long deep pool. It had a good current on the opposite side against a steep rock bluff, lined with chunk rock. It looked very inviting. I realized that I'd have to finish my trip here because the hole would be too deep to wade any further.

I alternated between the dingers and a twister tail. I caught quite a few sport smalies and lg mouth with some redears and green sunfish, mixed in. The sunnies were on the nests and I noticed 3 lg mouth cruising along the weed line. One was about 3"- 4" bigger than the next largest and the other was a few in. smaller yet. I seriously under estimated thier size. I thought the largest was around 15", I was wrong. I tossed a dinger by them and the middle size one ripped it off the hook. I put on a 4" senko and waited about 5 min. till they came back by, again. I tossed the senko, in front of them. All 3 went for it, but the middle sized one took it, again. I got him that time. He wound up 17"+. I was really suprised. The largest one had to of been over 20". Wished he'd of beaten out the other one. After leasing the 17"+, I waited for the big one to come back by, but all the splashing scared him off.

I then headed back through the poison ivy trail, to the truck. Yes, I got some on my ankles. Suprisingly, I only found one tick on me, so far. I'm going back in a few weeks and taking the yak with me. All in all not a bad day. In a little over a half mile of water. I caught over 30 bass, and quite a few sunnies. Also, caught a sport Kentucky. Hate to see them that far upstream. The lower section has been invaded by them, I figured the high water allowed them to move up.

[Guest]

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[creek wader]

Siusaluki, I agree, I really like this combo, so far. Time will tell.

I think I read a post where you said that you fished the Tavern before. I counldn't find it though.

This bridge is on Kemna Road. South of St. Elizabeth, Mo.

This stir any memories?

[Guest]

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[Chief Grey Bear]

After leasing the 17"+, I waited for the big one to come back by, but all the splashing scared him off.

What kind of "lease" rate are you getting on this big fish? Sounds like something I may want to get into!

Great post though. I am gonna have to come that way and check out the swinging bridge. Not sure I would drive across it though.

[creek wader]

What kind of "lease" rate are you getting on this big fish? Sounds like something I may want to get into!

Great post though. I am gonna have to come that way and check out the swinging bridge. Not sure I would drive across it though.

"

Ok Chief, I deserved that one. I told you my spelling/typing is not any better than yours.

I liked your recent post on "Shoal creek". Looks like Dylan had a real nice goggle-eye. On a road runner, hmmmm. I got about a million of them and never hardly use them on a stream.

Ok, what color?

[Chief Grey Bear]

Thanks for the kind words wader. Dylan really had a great time showing the ol' man how it was done. It was great to nose him into the rootwads and watch him jig that around. Most times I think they were hitting on the way down.

It was flou. orange with a minnow/curley tail. I am not sure that just about any jig wouldn't have worked this day.