Mineral Fork report (Kingston access) 5-2-15

[Smallieguy87]

Yesterday I decided to do a little fishing so a buddy and I hit the closest place which lucky for us access to Mineral fork is only about 4 miles away. We got a late start and didn't get to the water until about 2:30 but I guess we got there at the right time. At first The fish were biting well but not on any one thing in particular. The first few fish came on rage grubs in green pumpkin and zoom finesse worms in disco violet of all colors! We came to a point where we both wanted to try some tube baits since my fishing guest had never fished a tube and wanted to learn. So I rigged up a Mizmo small jaw for him in knappy blue(some sort of green pumpkin blue?) and I tied on a watermelon candy BPS double dipped tube. Within just a few minuets he had already caught two smallmouth and I had a big goose egg with mine. We head further up stream and he proceeds to catch another smallmouth this one a nice 14 inch fish and the biggest so far. After no takers on my tube I decided to tie on the Mizmo as well and quickly evened the odds. It got to about 5 in the evening and we were both about done fishing but decided to fish a busted up low water bridge before we headed back. On the very first cast in I caught the biggest fish of the trip so far and would later turn out to be not only the biggest of the trip but the biggest I've caught on Mineral fork.

[Haris122]

Sweet fish. I tried Kingston Access once last year I believe, but I didn't know how to fish in such shallow water, as it was back then.

[Smallieguy87]

Sweet fish. I tried Kingston Access once last year I believe, but I didn't know how to fish in such shallow water, as it was back then.

I've had a tough time when the water has been pretty low. I'm not sure what the big river gauges are showing but the fork looked great and seemed to have more then enough flow. I saw a handful of kayakers and spoke with them and they didn't mention having any issues.

[Al Agnew]

If you want to make a decent guess at what Mineral Fork is flowing, look at the Big River at Bonne Terre gauge (right now it's at 144 cfs) and the Big River near Richwoods gauge (right now at 313 cfs). There's only one decent sized creek coming into Big River between the Bonne Terre gauge and the Mineral Fork, and no significant creeks coming in between Mineral Fork and the Richwoods gauge. So, add 10-20% to the Bonne Terre gauge (right now that means a figure of 160-175 cfs) and subtract that from the Richwoods gauge, and you have a pretty close approximation of what Mineral Fork is dumping into Big River (it would be around 140-150 cfs right now). That's plenty of water to float Mineral Fork, but not so high it can't be waded fairly easily.

[Smallieguy87]

If you want to make a decent guess at what Mineral Fork is flowing, look at the Big River at Bonne Terre gauge (right now it's at 144 cfs) and the Big River near Richwoods gauge (right now at 313 cfs). There's only one decent sized creek coming into Big River between the Bonne Terre gauge and the Mineral Fork, and no significant creeks coming in between Mineral Fork and the Richwoods gauge. So, add 10-20% to the Bonne Terre gauge (right now that means a figure of 160-175 cfs) and subtract that from the Richwoods gauge, and you have a pretty close approximation of what Mineral Fork is dumping into Big River (it would be around 140-150 cfs right now). That's plenty of water to float Mineral Fork, but not so high it can't be waded fairly easily.

that's great advice Al! Thanks a lot. We had no issues wading at all. The significant storms we had did change it a bit but not in a bad way. All the fishable pools are still there some of which are larger now.

[stlfisher]

Any parking on the 47 bridge lately? Last I heard you could not park their anymore.

[Smallieguy87]

Any parking on the 47 bridge lately? Last I heard you could not park their anymore.

You heard correct. Last time I drove by there were no parking signs. I've heard someone (Kingston ranch?) ran barb wire fence underneath the bridge as well. Before all of that went down I used to park there and fish, I had a run in one time with a really over zealous land owner saying I was fishing from "their gravel bar" I politely told them that I'm covered in water from wading and they don't own a gravel bar... They threatened to call the police but hey I was done fishing anyway lol.

[LarrySTL]

FWIW I went over the 47 bridge this past Saturday a little after 8:00 am on my way elsewhere. I didnt see any no parking signs but I also didnt see any vehicles there.

[Smallieguy87]

FWIW I went over the 47 bridge this past Saturday a little after 8:00 am on my way elsewhere. I didnt see any no parking signs but I also didnt see any vehicles there.

Hmm...I'm rarely on 47 anymore but I drive past everyday. I may leave a little early one day on my way to work and scope it out. I used to have some great fishing wading up from the bridge. I wonder if the fencing is still underneath the bridge? I didn't think they could do that since there's usually an easement for work and repairs but I'll try not to delve to far into it and turn a fishing report into property rights etc lol

[stlfisher]

I believe they have tried that fence thing underneath 47 before and I don't think it is legal, but who knows. It was a great place to access, but the river took a real beating in that area so kind of a catch 22.

Anyway, good job catching fish!