Meramec River At Route 66 State Park, Pacific Palisades, Or Allenton?

[TroutRinger]

Anybody ever fish this area. I drove over it yesterday on 44, and the water looked pretty good. I just bought a kayak and am looking for a place close by to test it out. If you have fished there, what can I expect fish and floating wise? Thanks

edit....Also what about Allenton Access, Pacific Palisades, or Dr. Heny A Uhlemeyer Access on the Bourbeuse?

[Al Agnew]

That part of the Meramec still has the character of an Ozark stream, with some long, still pools but some nice riffles and moving water. It holds all three species of bass, with spotted bass probably more common than smallmouth and largemouth. You can also catch lots of catfish and the occasional walleye. It's actually a pretty easy stretch of river to use a kayak to paddle upstream and float back down because it's mostly pretty slow and the riffles are fairly deep. Although it's pretty civilized water with lots of cabins, there are still some pretty places along it that make you think you're deep in the Ozarks.

Once you get much below Route 66, you get into the part of the river where back-up from the Mississippi more frequently occurs when the Mississippi floods. This seems to change the character of the Meramec...more silty banks and backwaters, fewer gravelly and rocky riffles. Big River also enters a little ways above Route 66, and the Meramec below Big River is wider and slower. But the whole stretch from the mouth of the Bourbeuse to Route 66 is a surprisingly nice piece of river.

[Bman]

Anybody ever fish this area. I drove over it yesterday on 44, and the water looked pretty good. I just bought a kayak and am looking for a place close by to test it out. If you have fished there, what can I expect fish and floating wise? Thanks

edit....Also what about Allenton Access, Pacific Palisades, or Dr. Heny A Uhlemeyer Access on the Bourbeuse?

I would suggest putting in at Pacific Palisades, and a take out at Allenton Access. There is a floating service available for this area now. Forest 44 canoe rental.

http://www.forest44canoerental.com/