Roubidoux Creek

[SmallyWally]

Was wondering about this water. Looking at the upper end, but since I know VERY little about this creek, I thought I would ask the men who live around or spend time fishing on it. Heard about the trout on the lower end but have a curiosity about the creek in general. Any info is appreciated.

[Al Agnew]

Roubidoux is a losing stream, and is mostly dry through Fort Leonard Wood. Above the fort, it flows year-round and is even big enough to be marginally floatable for about 15 or 20 miles. I floated it from Plato (Hwy. 32) down one time a few years ago. Absolutely gorgeous habitat in the upper part of that float, but the fishing was not good at all. I couldn't figure it out until I met some locals at the take-out, who proceeded to tell me the otters had killed off all the bass. "Yeah," they said, "we used to take boatloads of smallmouth out of here every weekend, but those dang otters got them all."

Draw your own conclusions...

[Gavin]

I've only fished the lower section...Waynesville down...mixed bag of trout, bass, and panfish. Not much water there...but a nice place to kill a few hours if you are on the way to or back from someplace else.

[ollie]

The spring is definitely worth checking out. It's been a few years ago since I have fished it, but I did alright catching trout and smallies. The trout were few and far between, but I did alright. Saw the biggest smallie of my life on this creek as well.

[joeD]

If you are in the area, it's worth a look, but I wouldn't consider it a "destination" stream.

[lee G.]

well Al, its plain as the nose on your face, otters are bad, they eat a lot of fish, lol

Gavin, i am trying to learn to fly fish for trout, would i do ok there, or would it be a loseing propostion for me due to the trout population?

[Gavin]

Lee, you should check it out, it cant be more than half hour away from Richland.

[lee G.]

Al, after posting that, I remembered something.

I was born and raised (off and on) on a farm west of Eldridge on the river.

I heard stories of the people there fishing, loading up their wagon with fish, covering them with burlap, watering the fish down at every creek and spring, on the

way to Lebanon and selling them in town.

I think this was happening in the 1920s to 1940s, At least that was my impression.

I think it was a common, happened a lot.

[lee G.]

I'll take that as " I wouldn't be wasting my time Gavin, thanks, lol

[SmallyWally]

Well, thanks guys for saving me a lot of time and effort. Sad such a nice looking creek has a luke warm reputation.