Somewhere On The Meramec

[Bman]

Saturday. I took my daughter who is expecting a son on Labor Day, her husband Joe, and granddaughter Cadence out in the boat yesterday, to a nearby location on the Meramec River that doesn’t see floaters in large numbers. Saw 4 kayaks. The fish were biting. We caught one Largemouth, several small Smallies. Then I spotted a couple large Drum tailing in the rocks probably chomping on crawfish. I told my son in law, watch this I’m going to catch a big drum! (What the heck, they pull hard) I made a cast upstream of it, but landed a little further upstream than I wanted. I instantly felt my line go solid tight! Thought I was hung on a big rock. Then “the rock” started moving! Then I saw the biggest Smallmouth on the end of my line I’ve ever had on! It was huge! This massive Smallie was stripping line off my reel and making my line “sing” through the water. Got it turned and coming head first to the boat looking straight down the throat with its mouth wide open. Joe got a good look at it, and said WOW! Then the hook came out. GRRRR! I wanted my hands on that fish! I even had a digital camera with me. I would have released it after a pic. I had to behave myself and watch my mouth with my granddaughter on board. At least I had a witness to this fish story.

A couple years ago, I caught and released a 4 lb Smallie on the same stretch of river. This one was way bigger! I will be back!

[DoctaJ]

Saturday. I took my daughter who is expecting a son on Labor Day, her husband Joe, and granddaughter Cadence out in the boat yesterday, to a nearby location on the Meramec River that doesn’t see floaters in large numbers. Saw 4 kayaks. The fish were biting. We caught one Largemouth, several small Smallies. Then I spotted a couple large Drum tailing in the rocks probably chomping on crawfish. I told my son in law, watch this I’m going to catch a big drum! (What the heck, they pull hard) I made a cast upstream of it, but landed a little further upstream than I wanted. I instantly felt my line go solid tight! Thought I was hung on a big rock. Then “the rock” started moving! Then I saw the biggest Smallmouth on the end of my line I’ve ever had on! It was huge! This massive Smallie was stripping line off my reel and making my line “sing” through the water. Got it turned and coming head first to the boat looking straight down the throat with its mouth wide open. Joe got a good look at it, and said WOW! Then the hook came out. GRRRR! I wanted my hands on that fish! I even had a digital camera with me. I would have released it after a pic. I had to behave myself and watch my mouth with my granddaughter on board. At least I had a witness to this fish story.

A couple years ago, I caught and released a 4 lb Smallie on the same stretch of river. This one was way bigger! I will be back!

Very nice Bman, wish we all could have seen it. I've seen them in there when the boys take me out at night gigg'n in the fall. I just laugh when people tell me there aren't big ones in the meremac. You'll get em next time! =)

[Bman]

Hey Doc, I hope to post a pic of that one this year. I sent you a PM.

[Bman]

We went out yesterday before the front came through to search for the one that got away. Guess what nailed my bass jig, a channel cat! The cat had my hopes up for a second or two, maybe I thought. Drifting and pitching further downstream, suddenly something huge hit my jig. Whatever it was felt bigger than anything I’ve ever had on in this particular river, it had my line singing and striping drag with a strong fast run. Then the jig popped out almost nailing me in the head. Never saw it. This fish story will be continued.

Mr Whiskers with my favorite Bass jig in the snoot.

[DoctaJ]

Set that hook Bman, its not a fly rod =) You'll get em. Nice cat even though you weren't fishing for him.