Shore/wade Fishing Close To Eureka?

[STL Matt]

I'm about to start a new job out in Eureka, and wondered if anyone can give me any tips on places to fish from the shore or do some light wading around there. Most preferably for smallmouth, C&R and size unimportant. But really for any action, preferably with fly or spinner, stuff I could kill a couple hours with here or there during holes in my schedule (I'm a guitar teacher, so schedule is always shifting around and leaving me twiddling my thumbs). I've read elsewhere in these forums that Route 66 state park is ok, and the part of the Meramec that runs along West Tyson park is a hike but is ok. I will make the usual disclaimer that if you don't want to give away your secrets to everyone, p.m. me and trust I will treat any spot with respect.

[Haris122]

Can't really help with anything around Eureka other than Route 66 State Park, though I've been hoping to try out some of the accesses nearby there for a while now, but as far 66 State Park, the parts that I've messed around at seem to have bottom that is too muddy for wade fishing (except maybe if you want to wade only like a foot deep and stay still on the concrete ramp, covered with a bit of mud, from where boats get put on and out).Maybe if the land near and underneath the bridge is part of the Park it might work though, seeing how it seems to have more rock there. As far as from the bank, it can be a bit tough, because there's lots of overhanging trees, but if you go a little toward the upstream side, the trees clear up and you can see some tall grass, if you follow that you can get to a little clearing near a submerged tree by a little backwater. Up there at least you can cast without worrying too much about overhanging trees or having fish spooked by boats about ready to get loaded back onto trailers, but there's still that submerged tree so, you might get snagged on it. As long as you don't mind getting your shoes a bot muddy, and walk around a little bit, you should see find some ok places to cast from. I only got 1 small bass so far, when I cast out near dusk by the boat ramp a few weeks ago, but I'm still a beginner.

Btw. in case you were unaware of this, you can check for various accesses near Eureka on the Missouri Department of Conservation website, and they will also have a link to a map that let's you see the general layout of the access and such, and they even have a google earth document that essentially demarks all the accesses and conservation areas in the state. You just have to go to the area around Eureka and I bet a good 5-6 access sites to Meramec and maybe other rivers, will show up. I know I've looked up some up there, like the Allenton, Pacific Palisades, and Catawissa.

[joeD]

When the water is WAY down underneath the 44 bridge on the Meramec, accessed in Rt 66 St Park, you might be able to effectively wade fish. I mean WAY down. When it looks like a riffle that might hold hold trout. Other than that, you're wasting your time. Instead, go west to the Bourbeuse. Reiker Ford outside Union. Again, when the water dictates. That is, it is not chocolate, and is reasonably low. Or, find some creeks that flow into the M or B and wade fish them. In Eureka, your options for catching fish nearby are limited.

PS: Wade fishing the M this far down is stupid and unproductive. Really. But go on ahead. Prove me wrong. You're an iconoclast that takes the path less trodden. Good luck.

[Haris122]

Actually just looked at a map of Route 66 State Park, and found that there's actually quite a lot of the bank on both sides of the I-44 bridge that's part of it, so there's bound to be some good spots my narrow mind hasn't even thought of discovering yet. Next time, I'll check those out too. I've been there like 3-4 times, and I always went just a bit upstream or downstream of the boat ramp. Next time I'll check out some of the stuff further downstream of it. Hopefully it will be easier to find some other portions with access to the bank that's not too steep or has too many trees getting in the way of casting.

[STL Matt]

You're an iconoclast that takes the path less trodden.

Haha, only if by path less trodden you mean NOT catching fish when I go fishing. Thanks for the advice, I'm thinkin' I'll stick to the shore unless I get enough time to shoot out to the Bourbeuse.

[Haris122]

Haha, only if by path less trodden you mean NOT catching fish when I go fishing.

I know that path all too well by now, myself.

[Mitch f]

This is a good spot to bank fish the Meramec fairly close to Eureka. It might be bank fish only now, just be careful!!

[Midwest troutbum]

I applause the enthusiam to go wade fishing in any of Missouri's rivers and creeks. Unfortunately, and realistically, the Meramec river anywhere east of Bourbon MO in my opinion continues a long history of a polluted watershed in new and old landfill waste, trace chemical and element waste from runoff, development, local factories, business and roadways and many other sources and reasons. Water quality exponentially gets worse the closer you get to St. Louis. Oxygen levels drop and keep the most sport fish populations relatively low or non existent. The Meramec is a treacherous in at any water level or weather condition, as one can not effectively see what is just below the surface. Many people including good swimmers have drown in this river in just a few feet of water in the past few years near St. Louis. So best of luck catching anything healthy, and not drowning or getting a staff infection in the muddy, polluted, river way known as the Meramec. I hope one day this river will be in much better health, but until that distant day I believe my report holds true. I also applaude the work of stream teams on this river, and realize it continues to be an uphill battle with most polluters.

[Haris122]

Many people including good swimmers have drown in this river in just a few feet of water in the past few years near St. Louis.

That mud/silt in some places of the Meramec here near St. Louis I think is the real kicker. You think you're good to go and stop swimming and set your foot down in water otherwise below your head, and all of a sudden your foot follows through and gets sucked up by the mud like there's nothing underneath it and you're knee deep in mud with your head underwater. Moral of the story, don't stop swimming too early.

Wading in some of those spots, could turn out real bad.

[Greasy B]

This is a good spot to bank fish the Meramec fairly close to Eureka. It might be bank fish only now, just be careful!!

Mitch,

Your ever run your boat up through that shoal at Glenco?