Big River 10/15/15

[joeD]

For the past 5 or 6 years, I have guided smallmouth trips on the upper Meramec a few times a year through a local outfitter. A guy called the outftter recently and wanted a trip pretty much right away. We'll call him Dave, because that's his name. We talked Tuesday, and agreed on a Thursday or Friday trip. I wanted to scout out the Meramec, so a friend and I did a very short float Wednesday with poor results. The water was very low and very clear. Not much happening.  As my post in this section a week ago supports, I figured the Big would be a better option, due to prior results, and the fact that it might have a bit more color to it. So, it was decided that we would meet at the 21 access and float from Blackwell on Thursday. Though experienced in fishing other places foreign and domestic, Dave had never fished for smallies in Missouri and wanted to do so. Backtracking a bit, before we spoke, my intrepid client of course Googled "smallmouth bass" and Missouri, and came up with a few hits. One of them being the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance. And he actually went to a meeting in Brentwood (he did pick up the term "Ned Rig" at the meeting, I must add, which gave me a chuckle). Thus fired up, calls and inquiries were made, and, voila, here we are. Dave was a game and able angler as it turns out, and had no problems fishing the white fluke I ordered him to throw. We had fun on a gorgeous day on a beautiful river that is so close to home. Saw no one by the way. Dave kicked butt and was great to fish with. FISH ONNNN!

[DownStream]

Good introduction to missouri smallmouth fishing. I bet he was happy, I know I would be.

[Mitch f]

Very Nice!

[Flysmallie]

Nice job Joe!

[Phil Lilley]

Created a forum for the Big River...

Thanks for posting your report!!!

[moguy1973]

Blackwell access still open?

[joeD]

No, the concessionaire for Washington State Park (or the park itself) has access to a nice put in right below CC, which they lease from a private party. Which I think is the owner of Cherokee Landing in Bonne Terre.

[timinmo]

Looks like a good trip Joe.  It is a shame that the Blackwell Access is closed but I did not know about the concessionaire access.  May have to talk to those people.

 

[Al Agnew]

I think the state park concessionaire has an agreement with the owner to put in their boats, but they haven't been too friendly to private parties wanting shuttles in the past, and I wouldn't have too much hope they'd shuttle and put you in there.  (I know the owner and he gives me access there, but without his permission to say more, I'll keep quiet otherwise.)

[Smalliebigs]

For the past 5 or 6 years, I have guided smallmouth trips on the upper Meramec a few times a year through a local outfitter. A guy called the outftter recently and wanted a trip pretty much right away. We'll call him Dave, because that's his name. We talked Tuesday, and agreed on a Thursday or Friday trip. I wanted to scout out the Meramec, so a friend and I did a very short float Wednesday with poor results. The water was very low and very clear. Not much happening.  As my post in this section a week ago supports, I figured the Big would be a better option, due to prior results, and the fact that it might have a bit more color to it. So, it was decided that we would meet at the 21 access and float from Blackwell on Thursday. Though experienced in fishing other places foreign and domestic, Dave had never fished for smallies in Missouri and wanted to do so. Backtracking a bit, before we spoke, my intrepid client of course Googled "smallmouth bass" and Missouri, and came up with a few hits. One of them being the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance. And he actually went to a meeting in Brentwood (he did pick up the term "Ned Rig" at the meeting, I must add, which gave me a chuckle). Thus fired up, calls and inquiries were made, and, voila, here we are. Dave was a game and able angler as it turns out, and had no problems fishing the white fluke I ordered him to throw. We had fun on a gorgeous day on a beautiful river that is so close to home. Saw no one by the way. Dave kicked butt and was great to fish with. FISH ONNNN!

yep the Internet is killing fishing  on Ozark rivers.....it's not like the Olde days where you actually  had to go out and find spots yourself and fish for experience.....now you can just Google it and pay for a "guide" and Yer in. None of the multiple  trips of exploration and fishing not being  that good and learning  thru trial and error. You just Google the dung and go to an MSA meeting buy some alleged game changer baits and pay some dude to get in his canoe......weird butt dung.