How Is The Fishing For Trout On The Meramec?

[northernranger]

Hello, I am new to this site and would like to inquire about the trout on the Meramec. I know of the Cardiac and Suicide but is there any other access points? what flies are a good start? And is the prospect of large browns any good? I highly believe in catch and release but others dont, so i have seen a few of my favorite places on other rivers good down hill. Any answers would be appreciated. Thanks.

[mic]

I'm 0 for 3. The fish are there. You can see 'em.

[Al Agnew]

You can just go into Maramec Spring and park in the parking lot, and walk down to the river below the spring. That's the only other access within the trout water other than Suicide and Cardiac. You could wade down from the access at Hwy. 8, but you're not in prime trout water til you get to the spring. Or you could fish up from Scott Ford Access, but down there the trout are scarcer and the pools and bigger and deeper, too deep to wade easily.

The Meramec is some of the tougher trout water in Missouri. I can usually scratch out a few fish in it, and once in a while you hit it right and catch a bunch, but it isn't all that consistent. I haven't caught a good brown out of it in several years, though there should be some in it.

[northernranger]

After doing a little research it seems that your post is about the general consensus. I live in Columbia so im trying to find places for quick day trips. How about Blue Springs? Or do you know of other places?

[joeD]

If you want to catch trout , skip the Meramec completely, and go to the Current River. Skip Blue Spring Creek, unless you're a masochist. You can fish Bennett Spring, which is a trout park. Yes, there are other little places here and there that have trout, but, your odds of catching anything are small, just like the fish that are in these little spots. Some fishermen hold these spots sacred for some reason though. When it comes to trout fishing in Missouri, the Current is the alpha and the omega. And it is a day trip from Columbia, just a spell down 63. It is well known though. There are references online that a smart guy like you can access and make a sensible decision as to where to go.

[fishinwrench]

If you want to catch trout , skip the Meramec completely, and go to the Current River. Skip Blue Spring Creek, unless you're a masochist. You can fish Bennett Spring, which is a trout park. Yes, there are other little places here and there that have trout, but, your odds of catching anything are small, just like the fish that are in these little spots. Some fishermen hold these spots sacred for some reason though. When it comes to trout fishing in Missouri, the Current is the alpha and the omega. And it is a day trip from Columbia, just a spell down 63. It is well known though. There are references online that a smart guy like you can access and make a sensible decision as to where to go.

That was most Dead-on accurate post of the year so far.

[mic]

After doing a little research it seems that your post is about the general consensus. I live in Columbia so im trying to find places for quick day trips. How about Blue Springs? Or do you know of other places?

Go south on 63 to Little Piney. It is pretty water, and I did well my first time a couple of weeks ago.

[ozark trout fisher]

The Meramec is a very fun and challenging trout stream, one that will make anyone pull their hair out. I usually fish the first mile to mile and a half below Maramec Spring branch. The last time I was down there the fishing was very good, but I'm usually working hard for every fish. The thing is, the habitat isn't as easy to read as on most of our smaller trout streams...You really have to fish all the water, from the slow flats to the fast riffles to figure out where the fish are concentrating on any given day. Scud patterns, glo-bugs, Hare's Ears, and small Woolly Buggers all work very well on the Meramec. I won't lie to you and say that it's anywhere near the best trout stream in the state, but it can certainly give up a lot of fish on a good day. Inconsistent...That's the best word I can think of to describe the trout fishing on the Meramec. But all that said, it's definitely a place you'll want to try. I enjoy fishing it, even though it frustrates me more often than not.

One problem is that it gets high and unfishable a lot easier than any other Missouri trout stream I know of.

[northernranger]

Thanks for the comments. Lots of people have written warnings about the water levels changing so much, and to check before you go. I have always checked before traveling down there. Fortunately everytime I have gone it has been fairly wadeable and definitely hairy in some places.

[ozark trout fisher]

Lots of people have written warnings about the water levels changing so much, and to check before you go. I have always checked before traveling down there. Fortunately everytime I have gone it has been fairly wadeable and definitely hairy in some places.

For a stream that's such a breeze to wade most of the time, I have had some real adventures wading the Meramec when the flows are high. Once or twice I've tried wading it when the water levels were above or right around 1000 CFS at the Steelville gauge, which is just not a particularly good idea. I've never gotten into serious trouble, but things have gotten a bit exciting a few times (plus the fishing is very tough at those flows...)I think 700 cfs is about the highest that I'd now want to go for the stretch above Dry Fork, about 550 for below Dry Fork.