Meramec Around K Bridge And Crazy Smallmouth

[Blazerman]

My son was wanting to hit the river real bad this past weekend and with everything going on, we didn’t get the boat in till 3:00 Sunday afternoon. Launched at Redhorse and headed upstream. Couldn’t believe how hot it was (91*) and how crowded the river was around Shady beach. So, like usua,l we blasted upstream about 5 miles and found some gravel bars had moved around some and some trees were there were none before. River does needs some water.

Fishing wasn’t great. Picked up a smallmouth here and there but nothing real steady. The biggest fish was caught by my son and came on a salamander that was carolina rigged. It was about 15” and he caught it right away so we thought we might be onto something. Then he broke it off on the next fish and it turned out I didn’t have any more salamanders in the boat. So we tried some other soft plastics but things slowed down from there.

I threw many different baits and never really got into any big fish. 10”-13” was about it.

Had one weird deal though. Floating in a slow pool alongside some bluffs about 5’ deep, I had a smallmouth jump towards the front of the boat two times in a row. He wasn’t on a line or anything. Just jumping at us like a crazy fish. So I dropped my spinner bait down and he attacked it instantly.

I am guessing he was bedding and was trying to scare us away. Or he was trying to commit suicide. It was about a 13” fish.

[Smalliebigs]

Ha, thats hilarious about the smallie......I wish they were all that way, I guess??? You said it was very crowded at shady Beach........was it very crowded on the river above there????

Did you guys see any beds at all??? I have been out of town for a bit and am trying to get an idea of where the bass are at in their spawning stages on the Meramec. Any day out on the river is a good day Blaze I know how you feel about not having any lizards in the boat.Recently a buddy of mine were fishing that area and brought every lure we thought we would need.Except any topwater??????? wtf were we thinking.....anyway thru out the day we were not very sucessful and when we talked to a friend who fished up stream from us they hammered them with topwater My buddy and I felt pretty stupid and once again learned a valuble lesson.......if you are really intending on catching some you better bring everything but the kitchen sink, Smallies on the river will change what they are eating and how agressively they are eating it, at the drop of a hat. I think this is more prevalent on rivers than lakes.

Thanks for the input Blaze and I'm ready to nail some Smallies after beeing in Florida for awhile.

[Blazerman]

We only saw a couple other boats once we got upstream a couple miles. With the water as low as it is, there are some areas that are a little spooky to get through unless you know the channels. I am sure this keeps some folks from venturing too far.

I didn’t see any beds but the water wasn’t exactly clear. Seems to have a greenish tint right now like an algae bloom is taking place. My best guess is they are bedding since he got bit twice on the salamander right away. Plus the way the crazy fish acted.

I threw a spinner bait to take a couple small fish. And a jig and trailer with the same results. Didn’t try top water with it being so hot and bright but maybe I should of.