The Moon Tonight

[eric1978]

I just took the trash out to the curb, and the bright, full moon reminded me of this trip on the Meramec a few years ago. It was late summer, just like this, and we were doing an over night on an upper-middle stretch. It was a weekend so the idiots were out pretty thick. Not bumper to bumper, but enough to put a damper on the fishing. We put in a little later than the bulk of the party floaters, so we were behind them for the most part. But it still made the fishing tough. Only caught small fish all of the first day of floating, nothing over 14 inches.

A little before dark, we found a nice spot to throw up camp right next to a short pool between some riffles and a logjam. Put up the tents, made a fire, cooked some dogs and drank some beers. A couple hours after the sun set, it came back out in the disguise of the moon. It was BRIGHT. I didn't even need my headlamp to walk around on the rocks away from the fire. Decided it was time to do some night FWI (Fishing While Intoxicated), tied on a black buzzbait, and walked down to the logjam. First cast, 17 incher. Second cast, 15 incher. Fourth cast, 18 incher, all out of the exact same spot! I guess they were hungry after hiding from the drunken morons all day. Ironically, that's who was currently tricking them into eating a prickly meal of silicon and metal. Caught fish consistently for about 45 minutes until a giant beaver slapped his tail on the water so hard I just about pooped my pants. What a night.

What are your favorite night on the river memories?

[Wheatenheimer]

Eric,

Thanks for sharing a great story! It's funny how something that most people take for granted, like the way the Moon looks or the long awaited feel of Autumn will bring back memories, that we would otherwise not consider, to the kindred souls like most of us.

I have so many great memories of camping and fishing, I'll have to reflect for a bit and get back to ya! Thanks again!

Kevin

[esox niger]

what did you catch on the upper middle? smallies or cats?. little surprising to be cats with a buzzbait i think...

[eric1978]

what did you catch on the upper middle? smallies or cats?. little surprising to be cats with a buzzbait i think...

Smallmouth. I've never caught a catfish on a topwater bait and wouldn't expect it to happen, but I'll bet it has somewhere at some time. Maybe a popper in a shallow, muddy pond.

[Bird Watcher]

Smallmouth. I've never caught a catfish on a topwater bait and wouldn't expect it to happen, but I'll bet it has somewhere at some time. Maybe a popper in a shallow, muddy pond.

Lake SWEPCO in early Feb. You can catch Flatheads, big ones on topwaters while you are bass fishing at night. One night a few years ago we had 5 over five pounds on Spooks.

I guess that is a good nightime memory now that I think about it!

[eric1978]

Lake SWEPCO in early Feb. You can catch Flatheads, big ones on topwaters while you are bass fishing at night. One night a few years ago we had 5 over five pounds on Spooks.

I guess that is a good nightime memory now that I think about it!

Had no idea cats were that interested in topwater, thought it was just a fluke when it happened. Interesting.

[ozark trout fisher]

Had no idea cats were that interested in topwater, thought it was just a fluke when it happened. Interesting.

I've had many enjoyable and interesting evenings on the Bourbeuse and the Meramec. Great night fishing for smallmouth bass and brown trout at night. A big rapala will do nicely.