How Is Fishing At Cardiac

[BLUEWATER]

I am planning on fishing Cardiac this weekend. Does anyone have any reports? Water levels, clarity, fish response?

[Flyflinger]

I fish Cardiac alot, as resent as last week. The fish are slow to bite and holding deep or under structure. You can catch fish but its a struggle, but its like that anywhere you go rightnow. Its going to be like this until we get that first nice cool rain of autumn. I like Cardiac even though it seems to have a bad rap, I catch alot of fish down there when the weather is nice and the water is low.

I had good strikes using a chunky san juan worm las time I went.

[jah]

I fished it last week and had some friends fish it this past weekend. I caught nothing and got mauled by the largest black flies I have ever seen. I was fishing deep as I could in the Cabin Hole and felt like I was wasting my time. I tried everything from woolies, Pats, eggs, san juans, dynamite, etc. The water was at about 350 cfs, which I always think is perfect for wading there. I wish I would have tried downstream from the Cardiac riffle. I have never been down there towards suicide hill.

My friends were also skunked and frustrated. That doesn't mean it doesn't fish well. It may just mean we suck. But for my money, I'd rather drive an extra hour and hit Baptist Camp. If I don't have an extra hour, I'll be sure to load up on the DEET.

[ozark trout fisher]

It's been too hot to expect much from the Cardiac area. The area between the park and Dry Fork should be cooler (closer to the spring and Dry Fork's warm waters aren't in the mix yet) and you should be able to pick up at least a couple there. Park at Maramec Spring branch and work downstream. Try the pool right at the junction of the river and spring. It should be full of fish as trout look for cooler water when weather is this hot. Just be responsible, if the water temp is above 70, trout more than likely will not survive being caught and released. I don't know exactly what the water temps were doing, but it's definitely the time to take a stream thermometer along.

My best advice is to head down to the Current-it's way a way more consistent fishery when it's hot. If you do fish the Meramec, fish a small gray scud pattern and get it really deep. If anything is going to work that probably will.

[Cocry]

I have been wanting to try this cardiac area/suicide hill. Frankly, I didn't even know it really existed until about a month ago. Just not to familiar with the area. I would be coming from stl, would anyone have any easy directions/landmarks to know where I was at to describe?

Thanks

[trizkid]

http://ozarkchronicles.com/where-to-go/missouri-trout-waters/meramac-river

this should point ya the right direction

[Gavin]

I've heard there are some white flies coming off at dusk.......but the fish werent on them.

[Cocry]

By the way, if anyone heading west on 44 and is wanting to hit that area up for a day, shoot me a message. I'm not sure how friendly the forums are but hey, sometimes two heads are better for one gas tank

[snagged in outlet 3]

Gavin

White flies in August? No disrespect meant here, but don't they usually come off in late fall and well into winter?

SIO3

[3wt]

The one time I stumbled across the Whitefly hatch was at Cardiac in September, not long after returning to college for the semester. Wasn't prepared for how late it would go, and had to stop fishing and get out of the water while it was still safe to wade...so bring a light...and a friend.