Meramec Springs Winter Smallmouth

[Corb90]

Anyone ever have luck going after smallmouth at meramec springs? It would make sense to me that the fish would move up the branch since it generally has warmer water than the main river this time of year. Just curious...got a new 7wt I want to test out and can't think of a better fish to try it out on

[fishinwrench]

Nothing begs for smallies like a new 7wt. and a handful of olive rabbit strips. Looking forward to the trip report.

[Jeff Tief]

Haven't fished it this winter season but in past years have seen a lot of smallmouths in the spring branch.Saw several in the 17-18" range in the big hole above the stairs from the upper picnic area.Wish at the time I would have had some of the bigger jigs and streamer patterns I often carry.

[Justin92297]

Last year when I went the smallies were biting better than the trout. You can catch them on anything from spinners to small jigs and streamers. And yes there are some very big ones in the deeper, slower water

[Geoff]

My buddy pulled a real nice out of one of the deep holes a few winters ago. Might be worth trying again when I make my yearly pilgrimage to the park.

[Mitch f]

Don't get caught with any plastics

[mic]

I suck at catching smallies, but I caught some below the spring last year.

[Seth]

I was just about to ask if anybody had been down there recently and seen any smallies in the spring yet. I've got my ultralight ready to go and some sculpin jigs to go try and catch a few. I've never targeted them down there in the past but plan on doing it this winter. The biggest I've seen caught out of there was a 19 incher towards the end of C&R season.

Are jerkbaits with treble hooks and spinnerbaits with plastic skirts allowed in the park during c&r season? If I read right, I would technically have to remove the trebles and put on a single J-hook on jerkbaits and the spinnerbait would need hair/fur for the skirt?

[mic]

I believe that to be the case, but if you fish in the red ribbon area you don't have to swap out hooks.

[stlfisher]

some things we just don't talk about....