Unable To Figure It Out Today...

[Al Agnew]

I knew it was going to be windy. I knew from the river gauges that the Meramec was high. I figured it would be pretty murky as well. But geez, when you have 80 degree weather at the first of April, you just gotta go fishing, don't you?

The plan was to take the jetboat, pick up my dad, and head for the river to arrive about 9:30. I told Dad when I picked him up that I still didn't know exactly where I wanted to go. In fact, I didn't decide for sure until I had to make a turn or stay straight on the highway. I made the turn.

Sure enough, when we got to the river, it was MOVING. And barely green instead of brown, visibility about 18 inches. In fact, at over 2500 cfs on the Sullivan gauge, I couldn't remember ever fishing it when it was this high. But it WAS green, and I HAVE caught lots of fish when it was about this murky.

The temp gauge said 57.5 when we put in. I thought wide-wobbling crankbaits and maybe big spinnerbaits would be the ticket at that temperature. I figured that the fish should be in little slack water pockets off the strong current. I didn't expect them to be IN the current; it was just too strong. I planned to fish runs along rocky banks, the bigger, slower pools, and a few larger backwaters for largemouth, and if none of that worked I'd try the slack water behind islands and off gravel bars, which sometimes works under these conditions. I thought that surely Dad and I would eventually find some fish, and expected to catch a couple and let them tell me where to fish.

I tried it all. Even tried some other stuff, like tubes in a couple of places that "always" hold fish. We fished parts of about 8 miles of river, the optimum parts. I stayed on the trolling motor, from 40% to 100% power the whole time to keep the boat in position in the current. I fought the wind, which at times was strong enough that even within the confines of the river and 100% power on a 24 volt 80 pound thrust trolling motor wouldn't hold the boat against it.

At 2:45 PM, I turned to Dad and said, "You know, I ain't normally a quitter...but I think we're wasting our time."

Final tally for the day...Dad caught one 12 inch largemouth and a small goggle-eye. I caught two 10 inch smallies and three goggle-eye.

We had to fall back upon the old, "Well, it was a great day to be on the river." mindset. The river's banks were pretty, with the serviceberry in full bloom on the hillsides and the redbuds just starting to show.

But the fishing was...BAD.

[flytyer57]

But the fishing was...BAD.

How?

I usually say the fishing was bad if I didn't catch anything.

[Jigggg11]

Al, my grandpa, used to say chicken one day feathers the the next, at least you were on the water, where i'm at the wind blows everyday, today we had 40mph gusts,( what a drag) at least you didn't get skunked,thank the good lord I do not have any clients,but I'm going in the morning come h'' or high water,you know the old saying the wind is your friend(whatever), thank god for the minn-kota maxium pro an optima batteries,LOL good knonest report, kudos to you AL,there will be better days cuz!

[cwc87]

Sure am glad I didn't get on the meramec all week even though my boat was hooked up to go. From the smallies I've seen and caught on the Huzzah this week they are breaking up out of winter schools and some are traveling and some are hanging out under spawning logs. Individual fish can be caught out of a current ambush break. Now that rain is in the forecast off and on the next few days it's the river level gauge watching time. Or, doing little head water floats is in order?

[Ham]

The fishing was great, but the catching was terrible. Hey man, you got some bites and another day on the water with your Dad. I'd bet there are a lot of guys who wouuld take that in a heartbeat.

I've already been skunked twice this year and come VERY close to other times. Its been strange.

[fishinwrench]

The fishing was great, but the catching was terrible. Hey man, you got some bites and another day on the water with your Dad. I'd bet there are a lot of guys who wouuld take that in a heartbeat.

I've already been skunked twice this year and come VERY close to other times. Its been strange.

Yep, I got my butt handed to me a couple days ago in my home creek (beautiful day, 59-60 deg. water). I blamed it on my 8 month old Lab (whom I don't quite have a handle on yet) for crashing through some spots I wanted to fish, but something just wasn't right, I could "feel it". Very few baitfish visable, and a dying algae bloom along the bottom. Next trip will be "the one", I just know it.

[eric1978]

Grrr...I hate to hear that report. I have a Meramec float scheduled for next weekend, and I'm guessing the thing will still be high and murky. Maybe a few degrees warmer will make a difference.

[Bman]

I knew it was going to be windy. I knew from the river gauges that the Meramec was high. I figured it would be pretty murky as well. But geez, when you have 80 degree weather at the first of April, you just gotta go fishing, don't you?

The plan was to take the jetboat, pick up my dad, and head for the river to arrive about 9:30. I told Dad when I picked him up that I still didn't know exactly where I wanted to go. In fact, I didn't decide for sure until I had to make a turn or stay straight on the highway. I made the turn.

Sure enough, when we got to the river, it was MOVING. And barely green instead of brown, visibility about 18 inches. In fact, at over 2500 cfs on the Sullivan gauge, I couldn't remember ever fishing it when it was this high. But it WAS green, and I HAVE caught lots of fish when it was about this murky.

The temp gauge said 57.5 when we put in. I thought wide-wobbling crankbaits and maybe big spinnerbaits would be the ticket at that temperature. I figured that the fish should be in little slack water pockets off the strong current. I didn't expect them to be IN the current; it was just too strong. I planned to fish runs along rocky banks, the bigger, slower pools, and a few larger backwaters for largemouth, and if none of that worked I'd try the slack water behind islands and off gravel bars, which sometimes works under these conditions. I thought that surely Dad and I would eventually find some fish, and expected to catch a couple and let them tell me where to fish.

I tried it all. Even tried some other stuff, like tubes in a couple of places that "always" hold fish. We fished parts of about 8 miles of river, the optimum parts. I stayed on the trolling motor, from 40% to 100% power the whole time to keep the boat in position in the current. I fought the wind, which at times was strong enough that even within the confines of the river and 100% power on a 24 volt 80 pound thrust trolling motor wouldn't hold the boat against it.

At 2:45 PM, I turned to Dad and said, "You know, I ain't normally a quitter...but I think we're wasting our time."

Final tally for the day...Dad caught one 12 inch largemouth and a small goggle-eye. I caught two 10 inch smallies and three goggle-eye.

We had to fall back upon the old, "Well, it was a great day to be on the river." mindset. The river's banks were pretty, with the serviceberry in full bloom on the hillsides and the redbuds just starting to show.

But the fishing was...BAD.

Al, My son and I were out yesterday as well, and experienced the same results. I don't feel so bad now, it's comforting to hear the Pros were struggling as well. I thought that our problem was that we were fishing in the Guru's tracks.

Better luck next time!

[zipstick]

Can't pass this up but maybe I should. I took an old friend out from TX and we fished the Meramec Friday. Only caught 16 bass, but the biggest 5 would have weighed a good 17 lb. Just one of the bass was a smallie if that makes you feel better. Here's the pic of Al L. with his bass. There was a pattern to the larger bass, but the smaller ones were spread out shallow sand somewhat out of the current. Didn't mean to ruin a bad catching day for most of you. With the rain we got last night, I calling off a trip on Monday. You can see by the background that this is not your typical smallie water. Nick

[eric1978]

Geez Nick. How am I supposed to decide whether or not to switch rivers for my float next weekend when you keep posting pics like that? Do you mind saying if you were above or below the Huzzah?