New to jet boat fishing

[Jim Spriggs]

Thanks, Al, for the information about cfs. I'm trying to learn as much as possible before I get on the water.  I want to stay safe as I'm trying to catch some fish (and then release them to grow bigger).  

I'm hoping to go fishing November 14th and 15th. Any suggestions for where a novice jet boater like me can have a decent change of catching some smallies while not having to navigate water that's too treacherous?

[Al Agnew]

You might try running upstream from Sappington Bridge up to Blue Springs Creek, or upstream from River Round.  I haven't been on either of those two stretches this fall, but they are usually fairly easy running at this water level.  Upstream from Sand Ford isn't bad, either.  It's usually tougher to run upstream from the mouth of the Bourbeuse (narrow and twisty with lots of logs in the first mile or so above there) and upstream from Redhorse (split channel with log jams).  Last Friday the smaller smallies were very active and a lot of them were still in shallow water and chasing surface stuff, but these cold nights may be moving them closer to deeper pools.

[Jim Spriggs]

What do you think about starting at the Huzzah Valley Conservation boat ramp, floating and fishing down near Blue Spring Creek, and then jetting back to the ramp?  Is that stretch of water more difficult than going from Sullivan to Blue Spring?

I am glad I found this forum. The information I'm getting is terrific.  

[Mitch f]

Just be careful in that area, all it takes is one big rock, and you will go from 20 mph to zero in about .5 seconds. Then you will be lucky to make it back to the ramp. 

The only time in my life I've been flipped off by someone was on that stretch....he was sitting in a lawn chair in the water, I was over 100 yards away from him and he gave me the thumbs down signal. I smiled and waved back at him and then he flipped me off. 

[mic]

Dealing with...rafts and canoes is a pain. 

I'm sure they say the same about the boats. LOL

[Mitch f]

2 hours ago, mic said:

Dealing with...rafts and canoes is a pain. 

I'm sure they say the same about the boats. LOL

I hear ya, but I am always more than courteous to all canoers and rafters!

[Brian Jones]

On 11/9/2015, 6:08:54, Jim Spriggs said:

What do you think about starting at the Huzzah Valley Conservation boat ramp, floating and fishing down near Blue Spring Creek, and then jetting back to the ramp?  Is that stretch of water more difficult than going from Sullivan to Blue Spring?

I would recommend you do the opposite.  Put in at Campbell or Sappington Bridge and run up to Onondaga and float fish back or fish up through a hole and then run up to the next one.  Either way you'll be running up river and will be able to see what you're running.  With current water levels, I would imagine there will be spots; especially below Onondaga that you will not be able to drift through.  And one thing you don't want to do this time of year is get out and push your boat through a shallow spot or off of a shoal.

On 11/6/2015, 7:33:07, Mitch f said:

Though I don't have one, I've been encouraged to use a "whale tail" that sits just above your squirt gun. They are supposed to help you get on plane faster and maintain plane at a slower speed, which in turn will give you a couple more seconds to react. 

We run a whale tail on our current boat; a 1752 Blazer SS with a 115 two stroke Yamaha.  It really helps with the purposing problem we had and allows me to raise the trim a little higher.  I suppose it helps with staying on plane at lower speeds but it isn't as noticeable.  Our first boat-a 1650AW Alumacraft with a 90 two stroke Yamaha-didn't require a whale tail and ran great at high and low speeds.  

[moguy1973]

I don't have a jet, yet, but from what I've heard always put in down stream and go up, that way if you have boat troubles you can usually float back to the truck.  Can't do that if you run downstream first.

[Al Agnew]

I also second running upstream and floating back, especially in the stretch you mentioned.  The worst spots in that stretch are between Onondaga and Campbell Bridge--one riffle with big rocks scattered throughout, and then a split channel that varies from time to time as to which side is runnable.

[JimmyV]

I have a small jet that I run on the Meramec near the Eureka / Pacific area. I almost always put in, then head upstream; this way if something where to go wrong it's a lot easier to go downstream. The ramps at Route 66, Allenton, and Pacific Palisades are all pretty convenient to the STL area..  Most of that stretch is easily navigable but with enough obstacles to learn a few tricks.  During the summer there are a handful a canoes / yaks on that stretch but not an overabundance. Now for the bad news, there is not a lot a smallies that far up, but I have caught most everything else.. Have fun a good luck.