Meramec near Eureka 7/25/14

[Al Agnew]

Before the spotted bass invaded and mostly took over, smallies were common on the Meramec down to Eureka, with some even farther downstream. I didn't fish the lower river much in those days (before the mid-1980s when spots first started to explode in population), but when I did I caught about half smallmouth, half largemouth, and some of them were big.

Those in the know, like Hog Wally, catch plenty of walleye on the Meramec. I've never targeted them but have caught quite a few over the years from the St. Clair area on downstream, and a few up to Meramec State Park.

[Hog Wally]

There's days on lower river where all we catch are spots and whites I guess I should keep em but not a fan of eating bass over 11". I have a couple lakes where they want em out So I keep little ones there

[semble]

Fished above the Big yesterday morning and caught a few. Most fish aggresive and in the riffles. Water temp was 85, rising and stained.

[MOsmallies]

Nice one semble!!!