Jetboats Above Cardiac

[stlfisher]

I ran into 4 jet boats today zipping around and above Cardiac. Is this normal? The boaters had chain saws and were removing trees extra etc from the stream so they could travel further upstream. The noise and debris was very annoying. They passed us three times with one guy accelerating through the holes as they passed us blowing them out. Totally @#$#ed me off.

Is this normal that far up?

BTW I caught one trout and my buddy caught one, both barely fought. The fishing was very tough and the water seemed very warm...I would say warmer than the air.

[joeD]

Since I'm not on that part of the river on a daily basis, I don't know if 4 jet boats on a September Sunday is normal or not. But I do know that the Meramec has remained consistently full all season, more water on average, on any given date, than in years past. That's why you saw jet boats that high up (probably launching from Scotts Ford). As for them removing tree obstacles with a chainsaw, I'm glad. They may have done a public service for canoeists. Your lack of success had nothing to do with jet boaters. It was your fishing locale choice. I just don't understand why people go to Cardiac and/or Suicide and expect to catch trout with any consistency. They just aren't there in any appreciable numbers. But fisherman still go there in droves, fish hard, then leave disappointed, puzzled with their futility. If you want to catch trout, you have to go where the trout are. They sure as hell ain't at Cardiac.

[stlfisher]

Regardless if there are trout in high numbers or not is besides the point. No doubt the fishing around Cardiac is tough, which we expected, but that is not an excuse to blow through someones hole....regardless if there are fish there are not. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. To be honest I am surprised they didn't sink a boat dragging out those root wads.

[Mitch f]

I take my jet boat all the way up to hwy 8 if the river is high enough, the guys with the chain saws are just cutting down new trees that are in the way. I try to slow down when I pass a trout fisherman but sometimes it makes it worse. Sometimes you cant slow down at all because you cant keep your boat on plane. I do know that it is sometimes impossible to get through a riffle with a guy standing in the way and the fly fisherman sometimes refuse to move. I wouldn't fish on the upper Meramec if you don't like jets.

[stlfisher]

We moved out of the way when they passed us and gave them plenty of room. We weren't going to make the situation dangerous for anyone. Sounds like maybe it is more common than I thought in that area. Maybe I will head to other areas that have less boat traffic.

[flytyer57]

BTW I caught one trout and my buddy caught one, both barely fought. The fishing was very tough and the water seemed very warm...I would say warmer than the air.

Down here in Arkansas on the Norfork River, the water temp was 58° yesterday and the air temp was about the same. The fishing was slow and the fish didn't fight much either. Probably had to do with that nasty cold front that came through here.

[Gavin]

Jets are pretty common up there this time of year...Its gigging season, and some folks like to run up the river to deer hunt.

[stlfisher]

Down here in Arkansas on the Norfork River, the water temp was 58° yesterday and the air temp was about the same. The fishing was slow and the fish didn't fight much either. Probably had to do with that nasty cold front that came through here.

Yeah, that cold front certainly did not help much. We spotted a few trout, but I was really surprised at how warm that water felt. I wonder if high water warms it up. I seem to remembering hearing that it does. There may not be many trout in that area, but I bet there are some huge browns roaming around.

[Smalliebigs]

Since I'm not on that part of the river on a daily basis, I don't know if 4 jet boats on a September Sunday is normal or not. But I do know that the Meramec has remained consistently full all season, more water on average, on any given date, than in years past. That's why you saw jet boats that high up (probably launching from Scotts Ford). As for them removing tree obstacles with a chainsaw, I'm glad. They may have done a public service for canoeists. Your lack of success had nothing to do with jet boaters. It was your fishing locale choice. I just don't understand why people go to Cardiac and/or Suicide and expect to catch trout with any consistency. They just aren't there in any appreciable numbers. But fisherman still go there in droves, fish hard, then leave disappointed, puzzled with their futility. If you want to catch trout, you have to go where the trout are. They sure as hell ain't at Cardiac.

There are plenty of big Browns from Scotts Ford to Hwy 8, I catch at least two to four 5 pound plus Browns out of that stretch every fall. You just have to slow down and take your time, watch the weather and fish at night if you have to. I don't catch many big Bows though, I'm using baits that most people would think are way too big for trout as well.The big Browns hold so tight to the wood that most guys don't get near them...you have to be very observant and patient.

[cwc87]

Jet boats on the Meramec around the red ribbon trophy area always on a increase this time of year due to gigging season started on September 15 and Archery season is open now too. The log jams just above the confluence of Dry Fork and the Meramec has been a jet boat stopper and (hopefully) still is. I know just downstream of the Confluence down to suicide or cardiac these are the log jams that were recently cut out. I have a small jet boat 16 footer and it throws a big wake especially at a slower speed than at full throttle. I aways throttle down when i see others but it does cause alot bigger wake so it's kinda a no win situation. Most non jet boaters don't realize that a full throttle is needed in the super shallow riffle's. It was a common practice that when a jet boat sees a canoe he idles or no wakes by them if the water is deep enought to do so. Now, with the rafts is totally different I just go at it like they are not even there cause the wake has little effect on a raft. The jet wash caused by boat traffic is what really gets the water stirred up and I can see why fisherman hate this. Shoot I hate my own jet wash cause it kills my topwater bite. I am very cautious on how I approach the best fishing spots in relation on how I stay ahead of my own jet wash when coming down the river or when I hear other jet boats on the same stretch of water. Enough of my ramblings hope I put a little unknown info out. See ya on the river.