6/26 Report

[MST SigEp]

Had a little business that I needed to take care of this weekend for school and thought I should make it down to fish at least one day. Rolled into the park at about 6am and it was already pretty crowded. (I'm use to going on tuesdays and thursdays so it was very crowded) If I remember right they released 1000 fish for the day. I caught 3 I wasn't the only one who was a little erked by the slow fishing but sometimes thats just how it goes. I think what really surprised me was how small the fish were. They must have just switched over to the newest batch of trout.

The first 2 I picked up were on a 1/16 skunk rooster tail with a gold spinner. Both were very small and caught in the hole down from the log crossing. I also saw about 5 muskrats. Then I decided to move around a bit and ended up scoping out an empty part of the stream with a small stump jutting out. I switched to my fly rod and tied on a bh prince size 12. First drift in the seam lands a monster trout! No not really probably only about 8" I was tired of the slow crap but decided to keep fishing for about another 2 hours. After not catching any more I decided to go home. That afternoon was even slower but since I didn't catch anything I'll just leave it at that.

I should have skipped the mac and fished the wild streams........

[trizkid]

ya a buddy and I were there last tuesday.....started fishing around 6:45 in the morn and with in the first hour and half I landed two small ones and my buddy landed a very nice 17 incher....also i lost two in that same hour and half...after that...nothing for the rest of the time..we ended up leaving by 11. caught em on size 12 olive nymph and tan scud.... i have not tried any of the small wild streams yet but plan too....id like a lil more info on them before i head out though ..so anyone thats fishing blue springs and or little piney how is it?

[ozark trout fisher]

.id like a lil more info on them before i head out though ..so anyone thats fishing blue springs and or little piney how is it?

Little Piney is fishing well as always around the Lane Spring area. #16 Hare's Ears and Pheasant Tails under an indicator is all you need, except in the morning and evening, when you'll want a few Elk Hair Caddis and Adams dries. I'm not sure how Blue Springs is fishing, but I imagine it's pretty tough right now, although I'm sure you could catch a few on dries. And that's all the more I can say about the little creeks on a public forum in good conscience.. With that said, these links should help you out quite a bit.

http://www.missouritrouthunter.com/LittlePiney.htm

http://www.missouritrouthunter.com/BlueSprings.htm

I've given up on pretty much the entire Meramec system due to the crowds, even though that is the nearest decent trout water to where I live. Just drive the extra little bit and fish the Current River or one of the wild trout streams. You'll be pleasantly surprised, I promise. If the fish aren't bigger, the experience will certainly be better.

[10pointer]

I doubt ill ever go back to meramec again. I honestly cant remember the last time where I didnt run into scum of the earth down there. I have no idea why the place draws that many number of idiots that it does. The place is a joke in my opinion. Ill fish cardiac but never the park ever again.

Had a few buddies head down that way and catch very few the past couple weeks. These guys are expert fisherman and couldnt believe how poor their numbers were. The very few fish they caught were dinks. Had another friend make a quick run through the park saturday and saw veryyyy few fish all day... when it said 1200 were stocked. I really do think they arent putting in anywhere near what they are saying they are stocking.

I could care less though because ill never go back. Ill leave that park to all the clowns, just hope them fools dont find their way down to the current.

[MST SigEp]

I think I'm with the few of you, I don't think I'll make it down to the park anymore. The last time I went to the l.p. I was in awe of how beautiful it was and not a single person was around. Sure I only caught one dink in the hour or so I was there but it was my proudest moment to date. My first wild trout, and on my fly rod to boot. (I just took up fly fishing around march.)

<rant> Needless to say there are more beautiful places with more beautiful fish to go to. Besides the mindless idiots at the park who poach their freaking butts off. </rant>

[Thom]

I doubt ill ever go back to meramec again.

I could care less though because ill never go back. Ill leave that park to all the clowns, just hope them fools dont find their way down to the current.

I went twice this year and totally agree with your comments above.

[Kayser]

I only fish the Meramec in the winter when I need a quick trout fix after classes. The idiots are all gone, it's open 7 days/week, and there are no parking/fishing fees. So many better places to go while you're in Rolla, I don't even mess with the park during the keep season.

Rob

[mhall02]

Yep, I'll be rolling right on past the Meramec Spring exit on I-44 on my way to Montauk/Upper Current Monday. No comparison at all!!

[Wormser]

It’s a beautiful spot, but not only does it attract Missouri morons, but the out of state ones as well. There was one group from Kentucky who I came across and they said they do this trip annually. I felt bad for the young boy they had with them whose dad and uncle were so drunk by the end of the day they were having him trying to snag water snakes as they were all “thought” to be venomous. I find worm containers there all the time and see people keep well over their limits. Most of this takes place below the river confluence in parts not patrolled as much.

[Randall]

I have some real fond memories from when I was a kid down there. I grew up in Cuba and bait fished the park about once a week until 2000. Now I'll only ever hit certain parts of the river during the Thanksgiving week when I'm in town. The rest of the year I go to the Current or Blue Springs.

If you're not fishing, the park is pretty neat though.