Blue Springs Report

[eric1978]

That's where most of the MDC employees do their, uh...work??

later on

Yeah, really. If I could go back in time I'd try my hardest to become a conservation agent near some Ozark stream. You'd find me most of my time knee deep in river with a rod doing, uh....research.

[ozark trout fisher]

The closest MDC office is right there in the park by the entrance gate to the right.

They also have some sheds for equipment and stuff on the backside of the park. That's where most of the MDC employees do their, uh...work??

later on

Wait.... I think we may be a little on different pages as to what stream we're talking about. You're talking about Maramec Spring right? Which is about 30 river miles on the Meramec from the creek where I was fishing.

Maybe I'm just confused.

[eric1978]

Wait.... I think we may be a little on different pages as to what stream we're talking about. You're talking about Maramec Spring right? Which is about 30 river miles on the Meramec from the creek where I was fishing.

Maybe I'm just confused.

Blue Springs Creek is actually more like 50 miles downstream of Maramec Spring. I guess they stock trout at Blue Spring OTF? Never been there...

[There will be trout]

I got down to the area, and sure enough the Meramec was high and muddy... Not really fishable at all. So instead I went to Blue Springs upriver of the N slab. I brought my 6 weight along just in case the Meramec was up, and I was sure glad I did. I tied on a #14 Hare's Ear Nymph, and never had to change the whole day. I only caught five (the biggest was 14") but that's good enough for me on a little creek like that. The water was blue-green, right at the perfect stage for wild trout fishing. The brush made fishing more than a bit frustrating, but the rewards were definitely worth the trouble.

On another note, I saw a dead, cleaned trout in a plastic bag just above the slab. Maybe 10" long. I didn't know who did that, and I'm glad. I'm not sure my self control extends far enough to be gracious to some one who did that. That pissed me off so bad, kinda ruined my day.

I hear ya man, that's both shameful and detrimental to a fragile spring creek like Blue Springs. We can only continue to be vigilant of this activity and report any violators to the MDC.

Great to hear of your success at Blue Springs! Those spring branches can sure be hot during high water.

[ozark trout fisher]

Blue Springs Creek is actually more like 50 miles downstream of Maramec Spring. I guess they stock trout at Blue Spring OTF? Never been there...

I guess you're right about the distance. They stopped stocking Blue Spring a number of decades ago, they're self-sustaining now. It can be tough as hell to fish at low water, but it's a lot of fun when it's up like it is now.

[ozark trout fisher]

Great to hear of your success at Blue Springs! Those spring branches can sure be hot during high water.

I have to agree with you there. You gotta love that fast moving, blue-green water when you're fishing a creek like that. It makes the fish a little easier going, I know that for sure.

[eric1978]

I have to agree with you there. You gotta love that fast moving, blue-green water when you're fishing a creek like that. It makes the fish a little easier going, I know that for sure.

"]"Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters." Norman Maclean

One of my favorite movies of all time. Watch it about once a month on rainy Sundays like this one.

[Gavin]

Dunno who your poacher was, but there were alot of folks on that creek, including me on Saturday...fished the same stretch you did as well..

Stayed at Onandaga CG with the family Friday-Sunday...was hoping to float the Meramec, but it was up so I high that I was leary of pulling in to the state park CG on Friday afternoon...Apparently they closed the CG road due to high water for a couple hours on Friday night.

Fished Blue Spring on Saturday AM. The lower creek had a car at every turnoff when I got there at 8:30 am...so parked at the top of the CA, hiked down to N and started fishing up....I drew a blank at the first good looking spot. Then my heart sank as another angler approached heading downstream...Some young oriental dude with a fly rod and indi setup and a bright orange fly line..Said he caught five. Didnt see any fish on him...

r

Took three fly changes to figure em out...after that it was eggcellent.... Upstream cast,no indicator, yarn egg 18" behind one or two AA shot. Not sure how many..probably 20-25 before I had to head back to Onandaga at 11am. Pretty 8-12" fish for the most part. Cheers.

[brownieman]

Well, guess I'm the idiot here once again...I'm talkin about the park near St. James.

Guess I'm not familiar with Blue Springs. That's ok, I pride myself in showing off my ignorance...bout all I got left worth showing off, lol.

later on

[ozark trout fisher]

Well, guess I'm the idiot here once again...I'm talkin about the park near St. James.

Guess I'm not familiar with Blue Springs. That's ok, I pride myself in showing off my ignorance...bout all I got left worth showing off, lol.

later on

It's fine. Blue Spring is small. Not all that many people except have heard of it, except locals and those who like to fish it.