Lower Meramec

[Smalliebigs]

II floated last night from the Kirkwood ramp to the HWY 30 bridge. After fishing with Mr. Hog Wally last week I learned a few things, and saw a few things I needed to try. I caught one quite nice Spot above the HWY 44 bridge on a Soft plastic bait and a 1/16 ounce weight, texas rigged. I put on some cranks I had been wanting to fish and fished them in the seams between any moving water and current breaks. I had something on twice at below the HWY 44 bridge, it was probably different fish?? but they both fought the same way....very different than I'm used to. anyway lost both after about 5 good head shake/body wiggles....very wild. They both felt pretty good and I think I know what they were but, don't have the proof. I am a novice when it comes to this fish but, it intrigues me now......they seem to have very bony mouths....in the past I only caught them on jigs by accident and these fish would inhale the entire bait and the hook up would be pretty much a no brainer. On crank baits it seems to be a different story, for me at least. I was very excited to get both of these fish on and it was cool to target these fish and seem to be getting a few to hit. I also caught a decent Drum near the beginning of Tapawingo golf course and the fight it gave confirmed that the fish earlier were not Drum...... If I was gonna bass fish thru there I would have one rod with a shad pattern crank and one with a Senko type bait.....some don't like to fish those in moving water but trust me they work in moving water if you know how to do it.

Hog Wally you now have me hooked on pursuing another species of fish on the Meramec.....thanks my wife should be happy.

I have pics of the Bass and the Drum but, was told not post pics here anymore and I will abide by that.

[Geoff]

Sounds like gar if they were big head shakers. Everyone I've ever caught thrashes their heads like mad. They fight really good, and they also will go airborne if you catch them close to the surface. I had a nice one hit sunday I guess it was down off marshall rd. Gar as great fun, especially when they are several feet long.

[Blazerman]

I was thinking gar as well. The wife and I were out for a little while Monday and the gar were all over everything we threw. She ended up getting one in that was about 20” and had the line wrapped around it long nose. I was throwing a spinnerbait and was getting bit on a lot of my cast but no hook ups. I couldn’t see the hits so at first I was getting aggravated thinking they were bass. I finally slow down and watch the gar follow and hit the bait all the way to the boat without getting hooked.

But I think Smalliebigs is after a different toothy creature.

[Hog Wally]

I would bet it was a jack salmon. Post my walleye picture ?

[Smalliebigs]

Bingo!!!!...you are right, I can't be certain so I just need to catch the bastards next time for proof.

[moguy1973]

Still a lot of Asian Carp down that way? I went hiking at Castlewood yesterday and saw a ton of them in the big pool just down stream of the "beach" there.

[Smalliebigs]

I have caught some really nice fish from Castlewood from Kiefer Creek where it feeds in on the eastern side of Castlewood upstream to the town of Crescent and the two railroad bridges. From Sherman to the mini Wabash railroad is IMO the best section of the lower Meramec. I consider the lower Meramec from Times Beach or RT 66 park to the ramp at Flamm City.

I can't stress these things enough about fishing the lower Meramec.....1) the lower Meramec has ton of fish in it, I know your laughing your butt off after reading that but, it is true. The lower Meramec is also very close to and connected to one of the largest and most fertile rivers in the country. Go ahead and laugh your butt off again I'm just telling you what I know because I feel bad for all of the guys who post on here who seem like really cool dudes and I love your post's but, seem to catch nothing or say it is dead.

I can't stress these two things enough about the L Meramec and I think this goes for the entire drainage IMO.....1) The fish feed in very select times and then shut down....trust me.....this is why I find the Meramec to be a challenge and it intrigues me immensely. You can go there with the most ideal conditions weather wise and water wise and not only not get bit, you won't see anything .....it looks like the fish are gone and feels that way as well. then for some crazy reason they will turn on and you will catch some fish that will freak you out kinda. I know of a guy who just caught what most on here dream of in regards to Smallies last week in this area.....20 +.....most would say that is a total lie but, it's not.

So the fish are very peculiar as to when they feed and you have to be there when this happens otherwise you aint catching shiot. This behavior brings me to my second opinion on the fish of the L Meramec.....2) You must throw whatever bait you are throwing several times in the same spot....to the point where it can get a little stupid and time consuming. You can throw baits to these fish in the same spot 7 times and on the 8th you score. I have confirmed this with several other river fisherman who I consider very well versed on the Meramec and we all agree on this.

So what I'm trying to say is you are going to have to be there when these crazy fish's dinner bell is ringing and you MUST be what I would call EXTREMELY thorough with the areas.

These two things need to come together to catch fish on lures on the L Meramec......if you fish bait it's kind of a joke....a little too easy IMO.

Fish from RT 66 park to Castlewood.....you will like......I catch fish thru there that most would not expect.....as a matter of fact I am going to do a float from a park on a river that feeds into the L Meramec to Sherman this weekend and will take some pics and post next week....possibly

[Hog Wally]

I actually cast where I know there should be fish at least 50 times!!

[Hog Wally]

I love it down there. I drive 40 minutes to fish there when I can c the river from my own kitchen at home

[basscatcher]

Good post smallie bigs. Ill be out 3 or 4 days this coming week. Putting in at GW and running up. I run a 16 foot aluminum jon with a prop. How far do you guys think i can run up stream with the current level?