Hello... And Looking For Smallies

[Salt Water Fly Tier]

Hi, new to the forum and happy to find it. I work and live in St Louis, and have 2 young kids so the times I get to go fishing in the Ozarks are few and far between.

Looking for more info on Smallmouth bass trips close to St Louis. I fished LaBarque creek pretty heavily about 10 years ago, and Crooked Creek (in Cherryville) before that. Looking for similar small creek or small stream opportunities, the closer the better.

Thanks and tight lines,

Jeff

[eric1978]

It would help us to give you ideas if we knew:

A ) Do you have a canoe or other type of watercraft, and if not,

B ) Do you plan on renting and floating or wading?

C ) Do you plan on keeping any smallies? Just kidding. Kinda. Not really.

You may have trouble getting people to tip you off to their favorite small creeks, but there are plenty of other more popular waters you can fish. A good starting point is the Missouri Paddler's Guide. It's only 6 or 7 bucks and it gives you most accesses for many MO streams. Living in St. Louis, your closest smallmouth rivers are the Meramec and its tributaries, Big River, the Bourbeuse, and Huzzah and Courtois Creeks. There are other small streams and creeks nearby, but accessing them can be more difficult. If you don't mind driving a little more, your options are nearly limitless. Need more info from you to get any more specific.

[Salt Water Fly Tier]

It would help us to give you ideas if we knew:

A ) Do you have a canoe or other type of watercraft, and if not,

B ) Do you plan on renting and floating or wading?

C ) Do you plan on keeping any smallies? Just kidding. Kinda. Not really.

You may have trouble getting people to tip you off to their favorite small creeks, but there are plenty of other more popular waters you can fish. A good starting point is the Missouri Paddler's Guide. It's only 6 or 7 bucks and it gives you most accesses for many MO streams. Living in St. Louis, your closest smallmouth rivers are the Meramec and its tributaries, Big River, the Bourbeuse, and Huzzah and Courtois Creeks. There are other small streams and creeks nearby, but accessing them can be more difficult. If you don't mind driving a little more, your options are nearly limitless. Need more info from you to get any more specific.

Sorry, looking for small wadable streams. Catch and release only. Size of the fish and species less important than quantity and prettiness of stream, and close proximity (so I can fish in a morning or afternoon, and dont need a whole day for the added travel). Love to catch goggle eye and pumpkinseed as well as smallies. Last time I went to Labarque about 3 years ago the stream had multiple beaver dams in it and was flooded back into the woods, so not easily fished or waded. Was curious if was still in that state, also are the streams in Castlewood Park (besides the Meramec) fishable?

Thanks in advance.

[Gavin]

There isnt much thats close to town. Might try the Mineral Fork around Potosi and Washington State Park, Upper Big River around Desoto and the Upper Bourbeuse. Some of the creeks that flow into the Missippi south of Arnold are possibilities too. Good luck.

[Salt Water Fly Tier]

There isnt much thats close to town. Might try the Mineral Fork around Potosi and Washington State Park, Upper Big River around Desoto and the Upper Bourbeuse. Some of the creeks that flow into the Missippi south of Arnold are possibilities too. Good luck.

Thanks for the leads. I also heard about the "T" (or possibly "Tea") conservation access on the Bourbeuse river. Anyone have any experiences - positive or negative to share on that one? I am going to try and hit that one on 6/26 assuming water level cooperate, and will post my results here.

Thanks,

Jeff

[storkboy]

There isnt much thats close to town. Might try the Mineral Fork around Potosi and Washington State Park, Upper Big River around Desoto and the Upper Bourbeuse. Some of the creeks that flow into the Missippi south of Arnold are possibilities too. Good luck.

Washington State park, is a VERY nice place, and real close to the STL.

[eric1978]

Thanks for the leads. I also heard about the "T" (or possibly "Tea") conservation access on the Bourbeuse river. Anyone have any experiences - positive or negative to share on that one? I am going to try and hit that one on 6/26 assuming water level cooperate, and will post my results here.

Thanks,

Jeff

Difficult wading at the Tea access. There's a deep pool right at the canoe launch, and you have to walk through the woods (I think private property) up and around a feeder creek to get downstream, and it's equally as difficult to wade upstream. The Mint access is one higher, and it's a little better wading. The problem with wading the Bourbeuse is the riffles are separated by long, deep pools. I would recommend upper Huzzah, Courtois or Joachim Creek (Smallmouth Managament Area) for the easiest wading nearby. Most streams above Hwy 44 hold few to no smallmouth, but they certainly have other species to pursue.

[Gavin]

I'm sure that you'll find something if you bridge hop up above Tea, but I also agree with Eric. The BB is typified by really long slow deep holes, and short riffle sections so its best to float it even though you know your gonna drag the boat through almost every riffle. The Huzzah & Courtois offer good wade fishing and convienient canoe rentals... but I'd fish way upstream on the weekends due to all the rental canoes. Mineral Fork is good wade water, but access is limited and it gets crowded near the access points. Cheers.