First Mo Fish/camp Trip

[WOZ]

Going to do a one nighter at Meramec Springs to see how bad it gets on the weekend.

Going Saturday and taking my float tube.This is more of an exploration for me and test before heading down to Table Rock later in the year.

If anyone is around, feel free to stop by and say hello!

Question: What to use: Floating line or sinking line? I assume floating line because I expect it not to be too deep.

[Lancer09]

Why not take both lines? they don't take up much space.

[moguy1973]

Just to let you know, you can't use a float tube in Maramec park.

Not really needed anyways. The stream is pretty small there.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'd go with a floating line personally. It's just a big creek basically. A sink-tip could be good if you really want to dredge the bottom of the deep holes I guess, but that's not how I fish it. On the parks with fly fishing only/catch and release sections it doesn't matter as much, but at Maramec it is kinda important to be there at the buzzer or close to it. It never gets fished out, of course, but with so much pressure and so little stream, the numbers do often take a notable dive throughout the day. If you can get there early enough (or be lucky enough) to squeeze in, the riffles near the upstream end of the fishable water are usually quite productive and (in my opinion) the easiest area to fly fish. Toss egg patterns, scuds, woollies, etc, with a special emphasis on the egg patterns. It will almost certainly be crowded and crazy but such is life on the trout parks. It is pretty down there.

[WOZ]

Just to let you know, you can't use a float tube in Maramec park.

Not really needed anyways. The stream is pretty small there.

Jim;

I called the campground and asked and they said no problem.

I'm sure I can't use it in the springs section due to the amount of bankers but in the trophy section on the Meramec, it's a possibility.

[WOZ]

Why not take both lines? they don't take up much space.

Planning on taking both. Have a spool of each for an easy change over.

[WOZ]

Just to let you know, you can't use a float tube in Maramec park.

Not really needed anyways. The stream is pretty small there.

Called again and confirmed that if you are a camper, you can in the trophy section on the Meramec just not the springs section.

Thank you for the warning Jim!

[ozark trout fisher]

Called again and confirmed that if you are a camper, you can in the trophy section on the Meramec just not the springs section.

Thank you for the warning Jim!

Yep. Besides its against the rules, you wouldn't want to use it in the spring branch anyway (unless you like going over rock dams........) A float tube would be fine on the water below the park......but unless the water is really high also unnecessary unless you're hearts really set on it. It's quite wadeable with a few exceptions for a good distance up and down from the spring branch- with an easy path alongside the river through the deep spots while it flows through Woodson K. Woods. Never seen anyone fishing that section of the Meramec out of a tube but nothings stopping you from being the first.

Have fun!

[WOZ]

Since it's my first trip, I'll bring it and decide using it after searching the water.

Used it a lot in Oregon and I can see that it's not necessary in most cases here. The waters here are much more gradual compared to the Oregon rivers which drop off drastically by several feet due to being carved from glaciers.

Thanks to all for the recommendations! And again, if anyone is in the area, please stop by and say hello - my truck has a big decal on the back stating OFF for Oregon Fishing Forum.

[WOZ]

Back from the springs and did well.

Picked up one 12 inch stocker on the fly rod and 6, 14 inchers on a spinner. Of those 6, 4 taken at the hole at the bridge in the trout park in 25 minutes at the sound of the horn on Sunday morning.

Met another fly guy that turned out he lives near me in Mehlville. Good man - gave me some good tips and a few locations to try next time.

Muggier than hell but had a good time.

If you want to camp, site 1 is nearest to the merging of the trout park to the Meramec.