Smallmouth, Trout, And Two Days Of Fun

[big country]

I,m taking a two day trip between highway 8 and scotts ford (day one) and scotts ford and ? (day 2). I,m going during the last week of september. I'll be fishing for trout and smallmouth primarily, using a six weight, and nine weight fly rods as well as some spinning gear. I have done a lot of trout park fishing and some limited smallmouth fishing on the bourbeuse (have used mostly soft plastics for the smallies and know I can't use these lures on this stretch of the meramec). I just started cutting my teeth for trout outside the parks last year. Does anyone know what would be a good takeout point for the second day that with an early start would get me off the water around mid afternoon without a shuttle from a third party? If anyone has any advice, fly tips, cautionary tails, or any type of information for this stretch that would be useful to a novice on the meramec I would appreciate it. I'll be fishing from a canoe, something I rarely do, but would like to do more, so if you know of any dicey stretches of water where a beginner would be better off to focus on boat control and less on the fish that info would be appreciated as well. I've heard this might not be the best stretch to fish but a family member is going with me and it's his turn to pick the location. All the same, trout, smallmouth, gogle eye, and who knows what else all in the same stretch gets me pretty excited.

[ozark trout fisher]

I,m taking a two day trip between highway 8 and scotts ford (day one) and scotts ford and ? (day 2). I,m going during the last week of september. I'll be fishing for trout and smallmouth primarily, using a six weight, and nine weight fly rods as well as some spinning gear. I have done a lot of trout park fishing and some limited smallmouth fishing on the bourbeuse (have used mostly soft plastics for the smallies and know I can't use these lures on this stretch of the meramec). I just started cutting my teeth for trout outside the parks last year. Does anyone know what would be a good takeout point for the second day that with an early start would get me off the water around mid afternoon without a shuttle from a third party? If anyone has any advice, fly tips, cautionary tails, or any type of information for this stretch that would be useful to a novice on the meramec I would appreciate it. I'll be fishing from a canoe, something I rarely do, but would like to do more, so if you know of any dicey stretches of water where a beginner would be better off to focus on boat control and less on the fish that info would be appreciated as well. I've heard this might not be the best stretch to fish but a family member is going with me and it's his turn to pick the location. All the same, trout, smallmouth, gogle eye, and who knows what else all in the same stretch gets me pretty excited.

Sounds like a good trip at about the best time of year.

I would probably take out at Riverview if you are going all the way to Scotts Ford day 1 (which you should know is a pretty full day, as that is 9 miles and that stretch of river has plenty of slow water.) That will give you about 7 miles on day two. For trout fishing, it should be pretty good for 3-4 miles below Maramec Spring Branch. Above and below is mostly smallmouth water, although there is the possibility you could catch trout all the way down to Scotts Ford and below. Woollies, egg patterns, #14-18 Hare's Ears, Scuds, and Pheasant Tails, and Prince Nymphs usually work for the trout. Focus on the riffles and fast runs, don't spend much time on the deep slow water. Woollies, crayfish patterns, and conehead muddlers #4-8 for the smallmouth, as well as some surface bugs. That stretch of river is a pretty straightforward, easy float (certainly no places harder than class I), unless the water is high , in which case it can be very dangerous. In any case strainers (trees that have fallen across the river) are going to be your main hazard on that river. Watch the weather beforehand and have an escape plan in case of a flash flood for a two day camp trip, and have a good time. The Meramec is often pretty fun this time of year, with most all of the party crowd gone and the fishing about as good as it gets, especially for trout.

[mic]

That run is an alternate for me next weekend. I've been calling around and are being told Hwy 8 to the Spring should be considered more of a wade then a float.

[Gavin]

Guess you could go from Hwy 8 to Riverview...but its a long shuttle (Riverview is on the other side of the river) and youll have to portage the bridge at Scott's Ford.....I'd probably just go from 8 to Scott's and take my time..or go from Cedar Ford down to Scott's...Camp someplace in the trout water and paddle out in the AM... Have fun.

[big country]

Sounds like a good trip at about the best time of year.

I would probably take out at Riverview if you are going all the way to Scotts Ford day 1 (which you should know is a pretty full day, as that is 9 miles and that stretch of river has plenty of slow water.) That will give you about 7 miles on day two. For trout fishing, it should be pretty good for 3-4 miles below Maramec Spring Branch. Above and below is mostly smallmouth water, although there is the possibility you could catch trout all the way down to Scotts Ford and below. Woollies, egg patterns, #14-18 Hare's Ears, Scuds, and Pheasant Tails, and Prince Nymphs usually work for the trout. Focus on the riffles and fast runs, don't spend much time on the deep slow water. Woollies, crayfish patterns, and conehead muddlers #4-8 for the smallmouth, as well as some surface bugs. That stretch of river is a pretty straightforward, easy float (certainly no places harder than class I), unless the water is high , in which case it can be very dangerous. In any case strainers (trees that have fallen across the river) are going to be your main hazard on that river. Watch the weather beforehand and have an escape plan in case of a flash flood for a two day camp trip, and have a good time. The Meramec is often pretty fun this time of year, with most all of the party crowd gone and the fishing about as good as it gets, especially for trout.

[big country]

Sounds like a good trip at about the best time of year.

I would probably take out at Riverview if you are going all the way to Scotts Ford day 1 (which you should know is a pretty full day, as that is 9 miles and that stretch of river has plenty of slow water.) That will give you about 7 miles on day two. For trout fishing, it should be pretty good for 3-4 miles below Maramec Spring Branch. Above and below is mostly smallmouth water, although there is the possibility you could catch trout all the way down to Scotts Ford and below. Woollies, egg patterns, #14-18 Hare's Ears, Scuds, and Pheasant Tails, and Prince Nymphs usually work for the trout. Focus on the riffles and fast runs, don't spend much time on the deep slow water. Woollies, crayfish patterns, and conehead muddlers #4-8 for the smallmouth, as well as some surface bugs. That stretch of river is a pretty straightforward, easy float (certainly no places harder than class I), unless the water is high , in which case it can be very dangerous. In any case strainers (trees that have fallen across the river) are going to be your main hazard on that river. Watch the weather beforehand and have an escape plan in case of a flash flood for a two day camp trip, and have a good time. The Meramec is often pretty fun this time of year, with most all of the party crowd gone and the fishing about as good as it gets, especially for trout.

Thanks to all for the info. Good luck to anyone wetting a line soon. I'll get started on tying some of those flies, and will try report my results after the trip.

[big country]

Thanks to all for the info. Good luck to anyone wetting a line soon. I'll get started on tying some of those flies, and will try report my results after the trip.

Well I went on my trip over the last couple of days. The first day (hwy 8 to Scotts) was a pretty good day. Caught several smallmouth goggle eye and a couple of largemouth before hitting the spring. Once we got to the spring we caught several trout and I lost a HUGE smallie on the fly rod. Actually I'm not sure if it would qualify as a lost fish since it took my fly so hard it broke my line before I could even set the hook. Best guess on the weight would be around 5 lbs. It was kind enough to swim around us until we left with my fly dangling from the corner of its mouth. Next time I will fish this area with the 9 weight and heavier tippet before switching over to lighter gear for the trout. A good learning experience that definitely got the blood pumping. After the spring we picked up a couple of fish on the way to dry fork. Caught several trout spots largemouth and smallies in that area. After that we started moving at a pretty good clip and not fishing much as we realized we used too much time in the upper reaches. Our biggest smallie landed on day one was around 16" with most of them in the 7" to 12" range. Saw several larger ones but couldn't fool them. As far as trout go my brother in law had a nice brown maybe 5 or 6 lbs. offer at his lure but didn't hook up. We did catch a handful of trout that would have been legal to keep but since we had steaks in the cooler they all went back for another angler to enjoy. This was a fantastic float with decent fishing. I have to feel that with a few more trips through this stretch and a little more experience gained I would upgrade my assesment of the fishing in this stretch to fairly good. Day 2 (Scotts to indian spring campground) was a nice float but the fishing was truly lousy. We didn't catch a single trout (not real suprised that far from meramac spring) but were hoping that maybe we would as I know some do show up down there. We had 2 goggle eyes in the upper reaches and not another fish until we had Indian Springs in sight. That stretch did give up several bass in short order. I think we may have just hit a day with a bad morning bite. We also had some trouble with a wind that seemed to conspire to push us right over the prime spots instead of allowing us to stay back aways regardless of which direction the whole was moving. Next time I will bring an anchor. All in all over the two days we had a great time caught some nice fish and when the fish weren't biting enjoyed the scenery. Thanks too all for the information that helped on this trip. I think we may make the Hwy 8 to scotts trip again. If so we're probably going to turn it into a two day trip so we can still fish as thoroughly as we wanted to this time. I did notice dry fork looked like it might hold some fish. Anyone ever try to fish it?

[Gavin]

Sounds like a good trip....FWIW...I've never done that well between Scott's & Indian Springs....not my favorite stretch by any means...lots of river traffic, eroded mud banks & cows....

[ozark trout fisher]

Well I went on my trip over the last couple of days. The first day (hwy 8 to Scotts) was a pretty good day. Caught several smallmouth goggle eye and a couple of largemouth before hitting the spring. Once we got to the spring we caught several trout and I lost a HUGE smallie on the fly rod. Actually I'm not sure if it would qualify as a lost fish since it took my fly so hard it broke my line before I could even set the hook. Best guess on the weight would be around 5 lbs. It was kind enough to swim around us until we left with my fly dangling from the corner of its mouth. Next time I will fish this area with the 9 weight and heavier tippet before switching over to lighter gear for the trout. A good learning experience that definitely got the blood pumping. After the spring we picked up a couple of fish on the way to dry fork. Caught several trout spots largemouth and smallies in that area. After that we started moving at a pretty good clip and not fishing much as we realized we used too much time in the upper reaches. Our biggest smallie landed on day one was around 16" with most of them in the 7" to 12" range. Saw several larger ones but couldn't fool them. As far as trout go my brother in law had a nice brown maybe 5 or 6 lbs. offer at his lure but didn't hook up. We did catch a handful of trout that would have been legal to keep but since we had steaks in the cooler they all went back for another angler to enjoy. This was a fantastic float with decent fishing. I have to feel that with a few more trips through this stretch and a little more experience gained I would upgrade my assesment of the fishing in this stretch to fairly good. Day 2 (Scotts to indian spring campground) was a nice float but the fishing was truly lousy. We didn't catch a single trout (not real suprised that far from meramac spring) but were hoping that maybe we would as I know some do show up down there. We had 2 goggle eyes in the upper reaches and not another fish until we had Indian Springs in sight. That stretch did give up several bass in short order. I think we may have just hit a day with a bad morning bite. We also had some trouble with a wind that seemed to conspire to push us right over the prime spots instead of allowing us to stay back aways regardless of which direction the whole was moving. Next time I will bring an anchor. All in all over the two days we had a great time caught some nice fish and when the fish weren't biting enjoyed the scenery. Thanks too all for the information that helped on this trip. I think we may make the Hwy 8 to scotts trip again. If so we're probably going to turn it into a two day trip so we can still fish as thoroughly as we wanted to this time. I did notice dry fork looked like it might hold some fish. Anyone ever try to fish it?

Very nice! That's what I love about that stretch of river. You've got two species of trout, big smallies, largemouth, and just about everything else.

The Dry Fork does hold fish, but it isn't anything all that special...Mostly largemouth, a few smallies and spots, and panfish. It isn't anywhere near as good as the Meramec but is worth a few casts.