Meramec Springs Oct 30 Report

[Corb90]

After my hiatus from fly fishing, I had a few hours of free time yesterday to do with as I pleased. I decided to get some fishing in. Originally I had wanted to go to Blue Springs Creek as it is exactly one hour away from my house and I wanted the most fishing time I could have before I had to be back in STL by 2:30, however after doing some thinking, I decided it would probably be a better confidence rebuilder to drive the extra 30 mins and catch the "easier" ones. I got to the park at around 9 and there wasn't many people fishing. Granted it was a Wednesday and with only one day left in catch and keep season, most are probably thinking all of the fish are table scraps by now. Weather started out really nice, around 60 with a few clouds in the sky, but we did get some sun the first couple hours. I started out at the section of the park where the fast water is, inline with the rope and bridge. First up was a crystal flash BH wooly bugger in black. Started tossing that up near the faster riffles and letting it dead drift down to where the two waters meet (Sorry I'm horrible at explaining locations), Id let it swing then start the strip. Within the first few casts I had one hooked and right when he came up to the water to thrash a bit, I heard my line snap. I grabbed the snapped end and looked closely, poorly tied knot. That's what being out of the game will do to you. Looked in my box for another black crystal flash, nothing with a bead head, so I moved onto olive. A few casts I had hooked and pulled him in (PIC BELOW). Real nice. Probably in the 12-14" range. Really typical stocker size but the colors have changed ALOT since the last time I was there around March probably. Anyway I kept throwing the Crystal Flash Olive BHWB and had another one about 2 dozen casts later, same spot, bit at the same time, after the swing on the strip. I pulled him in, basically same fish, same size and color. Let the little guy go and kept at it. Anyway I didn't have much luck so I decided to move around a little and eventually down to the bathroom hole, I usually do ok with a Y2K down there. Casted a few times and didn't get anything. It was getting time for me to head home so I figured id try the first spot for a little longer. Tied on a mohair leech and about 2 casts in I had something hooked, once again on the strip. He felt big, and made a huge splash. I let some line out because I didn't want him to come off my 5X leader, but a few thrashes, he won the battle. Broke off my line. Put on a 4X and another Mohair but didn't even get a bite. I guess the leader size does matter when the waters that clear. Oh well, Netted 2 and broke off 2. Not a bad first trip out after not being able to get after it for about 5 months.

[mic]

Thanks for the report.