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Dry?


ozark trout fisher

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I haven't been by the Bourbeuse in awhile, but according to USGS, it's only running 2.2 CFS. I can't help but wonder if this is going to cause a fish kill. Has anyone seen or fished the Bourbeuse lately?

It's odd, because the MDC fishing report says its still fishing well. Surely this can't be true, considering it is flowing in the single digits.

Any update would be appreciated.

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The problem is that the gauges extrapolate from river level in feet just what the flow in cfs is, and then they are periodically checked to see if the extrapolated flow actually matches the true flow. Changes in the stream bottom and banks at the gauge can throw off the extrapolations, and until some employee of the USGS comes along and measures, the computer just keeps giving the wrong flow. These changes in the river bottom don't make much difference when the river is higher, but once it gets down really low, they can really make for some false readings. I haven't been on the Bourbeuse lately, but I suspect its true flow right now is somewhere between 20 and 40 cfs.

I "floated" a section of river Saturday that the gauge readings were saying was flowing less than 1 cfs. It wasn't flowing much, but it was probably flowing about 5 cfs in reality.

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You really have to visit the river to get a feel for the guages....Dont think I'd worry about it being dry...Summertime floating on the BB usually means that you will drag more riffles than you will get to float. sometimes you might drag for a considerable distance, or have obstuctions to portage....Even so there are always plenty of those long deep pools for the fish to use when the riffles get skinny. Cheers.

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You really have to visit the river to get a feel for the guages....Dont think I'd worry about it being dry...Summertime floating on the BB usually means that you will drag more riffles than you will get to float. sometimes you might drag for a considerable distance, or have obstuctions to portage....Even so there are always plenty of those long deep pools for the fish to use when the riffles get skinny. Cheers.

Thanks

Interesting... That kind of had me concerned. Glad to hear it's mostly likely just a gauge problem.

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Fishing really hasn't been too terrible lately. I have been able to catch a limit of bass mostly every night. I do however fish my stretch every day so I kinda know the productive spots to hit. I am still running my jet boat, but I have been told I have no fear when I go. I do agree with you though that the river has been REAL LOW this year.

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Fishing really hasn't been too terrible lately. I have been able to catch a limit of bass mostly every night. I do however fish my stretch every day so I kinda know the productive spots to hit. I am still running my jet boat, but I have been told I have no fear when I go. I do agree with you though that the river has been REAL LOW this year.

I have a cabin just above 44, very seldom do I run the Bourbeuse above Union. I also fish the upper Meramec every week and there are some pretty shallow areas up there right now also. I would have to say if you are not very confident in your driving ability it could be dangerous.

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  • 3 weeks later...
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I have a cabin just above 44, very seldom do I run the Bourbeuse above Union. I also fish the upper Meramec every week and there are some pretty shallow areas up there right now also. I would have to say if you are not very confident in your driving ability it could be dangerous.

Do you have an alweld with a yamaha jet? My brother and I alway fish that strecth from 44 to the mill. My grandpa actually had a lot right where I think you are... If that's your boat. Do you you think there is enough water to run a small jet from 44 up by you this week end. We pretty much have no fear too. How's the fishing by the way. The lower meremac by allenton has been real slow. It seems like the bourbeuse techniques don't work quite as well on the meramec... Maybe it's just the river, or me

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Do you have an alweld with a yamaha jet? My brother and I alway fish that strecth from 44 to the mill. My grandpa actually had a lot right where I think you are... If that's your boat. Do you you think there is enough water to run a small jet from 44 up by you this week end. We pretty much have no fear too. How's the fishing by the way. The lower meremac by allenton has been real slow. It seems like the bourbeuse techniques don't work quite as well on the meramec... Maybe it's just the river, or me

Are you a Herbst? You may be able to get up from 44 to my place but after that the river is shot! This is the lowest I have ever seen the river by far. I can not really make it up to Huggamite the river is soo low. Fishing has been pretty slow. I have been able to catch a limit of bass every night but it is difficult. I am using the same techniques that I use on the Meramec you just have to fish slow.

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