Campbell To Blue Springs—Tough Day

[moguy1973]

Floated from Campbell bridge to Blue Springs yesterday. I must say this is a gorgeous section of river. Water temps were 55 when we started at 7:30 and got up to 59 when we took out at 2:00. Water was a perfect greenish hue with about 3' of clarity. But I guess it's still too cold for te fish to want to come out and play. We threw pretty much everything at them and could get much to bite. Disappointing to say the least but the scenery more than made up for it and it was a great day for a float. We are going to have to make that run again when the temps come up because there was so much good lookin water that should hold fish that we saw but they just weren't there.

[405z06]

I always seem to come away somewhat disappointed in this stretch. Like you said, there are so many good looking spots: Villander Bluff is awesome. That first 90 degree right-hand-turn just downstream from Campbell bridge. It all looks like bass heaven. And i've caught fish throughout, but it never quite matches what the scenery leads my mind to believe it should be, if that makes any sense.

I consider the Meramec my "home" water, the place I fish the most, and I like to keep it above the Huzzah if possible.

I fished this stretch and more (from Onondaga to Blue Springs) last Saturday. The levels looked fine on the USGS, but when we got there, the water was very muddy. Total bummer. I think we caught 7-8 fish total (2 people), not a one was > 12".

[Hog Wally]

I have fished up there and quite honestly if I wanted nothing but to catch bass I would pick from Stanton to robertsville Anything in that stretch has all the bass a guy would want

[Al Agnew]

I've had quite a bit of the same experience in that stretch. Back in the days before jetboats, it was very good as long as you avoided the Saturday canoe crowd, but it was always a little better between Onondaga and Campbell Bridge, and from Blue Springs Creek to the park. I'm trying to remember, but I don't think I ever caught but one or two really big fish in the stretch from Campbell Bridge to BSC.

[BassMaster#1]

I've floated the upper Meramec from the springs down to Onondaga and would say this stretch is the best 6 miles stretch of smallmouth water I’ve seen. Moguy and I both agreed, if a big smallmouth was going to be caught it would be on this stretch. If what you guys are saying is true, that’s a real shame. This is some of the best smallmouth water I’ve seen on the Meramec and really thought it would be a producer when the water warms up. Floated the upper last week with about the same water temps and caught a decent amount on jerkbaits, but I was really surprised when I couldn't get so much as a follower on the jerkbait. The ones we did catch came off tubes and spinnerbaits, but like moguy said one of the toughest days we've had on the meramec in some time, I would like to try it again, but I also want do the stretch from onondaga to cambellbridge or Sappington bridge. Heck, eventually we hope to do the whole meramec up to castle wood statepark. I don't think I would want to fish much pass that. Anyway, if it stays warm the water temps will be hitting the mid 60's shortly. To, bad I won't be able to get back out till the end of May.

[Mitch f]

Don't feel bad, I fished my favorite stretch of the Meramec today and darn near got skunked!

[moguy1973]

I have fished up there and quite honestly if I wanted nothing but to catch bass I would pick from Stanton to robertsville Anything in that stretch has all the bass a guy would want

I wish that stretch, especially between Stanton and K, had better access for a shorter float for kayaks/canoes without having to either float super fast or have to overnight it. That's supposedly a great stretch but so long to float without a motorized boat.

[Hog Wally]

I wish that stretch, especially between Stanton and K, had better access for a shorter float for kayaks/canoes without having to either float super fast or have to overnight it. That's supposedly a great stretch but so long to float without a motorized boat.

[Greasy B]

Don't feel bad, I fished my favorite stretch of the Meramec today and darn near got skunked!

Yeah, the whole weekend was tough. Has anyone seen beds yet?

[Mitch f]

Yeah, the whole weekend was tough. Has anyone seen beds yet?

I didn't see any beds yesterday on the Meramec, but the local park lake has several, the males and females are on a few feet apart and both are visible.