Opening Day Report

[Quillback]

Never been a big fan of trout as table fare whether they were born in the gravel or in a plastic tub. Once or twice a year I can have trout for dinner, but that's about it.

[Ham]

I wish I liked the way trout taste. I keep hearing there are ways to prepare them that make all the difference in the world.

[blue79]

I dont like the taste of trout either.Harold Ensley Fish Fry Batter Mix would probably make it taste good.I think that stuff would make a 1pound shad taste good.

[Haris122]

Man. I was thinking of driving down there for opening day. To experience it for once. But I went late to bed, and didn't feel like getting up that early just to have access to water. How packed did it get? Was there any reasonable space between people, so the lines don't get caught up constantly?

[Seth]

Where I caught my fish, I had five to ten feet to each side of me. If you tried fishing the major holes, you were bumping shoulders. There is always less crowded areas to fish on opening day that hold plenty of fish. I am not sure what other parks are like but they are bigger than Meramec so I would imagine they are the same way.

[Haris122]

I'll see what I can do about going down there Wednesday or Thursday when I'm off. Hopefully catching or at least getting to fight a limit's worth of fish wouldn't be a problem like it has in prior trips down there. In the past the trout would just see right through my little ruse.

[Seth]

I slipped back down for the last three hours of the day today. Caught 8 trout, four goggleye and one nice smallmouth. Still plenty of fish all throughout the stream. Best spot for me was the riffle below the bathroom hole.

[Haris122]

Nice. That's a good assortment of species right there too. What little luck I generally have there, tends to be nearby. By that long pool just past (I think just past) the bathroom.

[Haris122]

I was down there yesterday from slightly before noon to the time the siren went off. Actually didn't do too bad number-wise for a change. Caught 3 trout, 2 of them I think 9" or so, and one that was probably not even 6", ended up releasing them thinking I'd catch at least 1 bigger one to keep, which didn't happen. Hooked another 2 that got off, including one that kept jumping like mad until the hook came out. Also got a pair of Bluegill, a Smallie, and a Rockbass.

Now for the bad part, all the trout with exception of the tiny one, were caught on that powerbait type stuff, so I don't feel all that accomplished. The sole one I did get on something else was on half of a pink troutworms. I would've felt more accomplished had I got it on a jig, spoon, or roostertail instead of soft plastic. But that troutworm also did the trick with most of the other fish I caught.

Probably the two biggest fish were one of those trout I caught and that smallie. Hands down that little trout that got off the hook with the crazy jumps was the best fight though. The Smallie surprisingly didn't put up as much of a struggle as I would've suspected.

Weather was awesome.

[Seth]

I always start out with my jigs and trout worms but sometimes they just don't work as well as bait and I will switch over. I'd rather catch fish drifting bait than none at all. Don't feel ashamed just because you got them on bait.