Blue Ribbon Trip - Great Day

[mic]

Saturday morning I drove down from IL to Meramec Springs Branch.  I got there around 8:30 am, and there were a bunch of folks, but that is to be expected.  I found the fishing very tough as I was trying to learn my midges, and I thought to myself: I could be on a wild trout stream right now by myself.  So around 10, I packed up and went to my favorite Blue Ribbon Creek.  I parked next to the upper bridge, loaded up with my midges and headed upstream.  I noticed on my way there was a car on the first parking spot, and wouldn't you know it, there was a guy upstream of me... darn.  He was sitting down restringing a fly, and I asked him if he was headed up or down stream.  He said up.... darn.  I almost gave up, but he asked if I would like to share the stream and fish together.  I said sure... it was better then going home.  Turns out the gent, Nate, started down stream of me and had already done a half mile or so. Nate who is a member here, but not on much, turned out to be a great small stream partner and loved catching small wild rainbows as much as I do. 

Well turns out it was a hell of day.  Nate had the hot hand and hot fly (a elk hair with a foam under wing) that he picked up fishing in North Carolina I believe.  He was catching three to my one as I just had my midge box.  I switched through a few flies before I settled on a parachute hairs ear.  Although not as good as Nate, I started catching them on top.  Nate ended up with a double digit fish day... I think all hand size or smaller.  I ended up around the eight to ten mark, with most fish palm size, but I did have one slightly larger then my hand.  As normal, I caught as many trees as fish, but they were really big trees. 

A few of things of note... first WOW the creek has changed.  I haven't fishing this portion of the creek in a while and my favorite holes are not holes and my favorite runs are not runs.  However, I don't mind.  The stream is like a living thing, constantly changing.  That is one thing that makes these creeks special.  Two, funny how the trout don't read the fishing books.  This is winter... the only thing they should be keying on is midges, yellow stonefly nymphs, scuds, and maybe minnows, but here we are catching them on top water with size 14 flies.  Nothing else seemed to work.  Nate also taught me how to fish water I used to pass on.  To this day, it amazes me where these little wilds can hide and live.  Also, the creek recently had some really high water, a good five or six feet above normal flow.  I am a layman at best, but I think it did the creek some good.  Finally, I was looking for some "alone time" on the water, but I'm glad I ran into Nate.  It was fun to share my experiences with someone of a like mind, and to hear his. 

All and all, darn good day on small water.  Tight lines. 

[Flysmallie]

TAKE PICTURES!

[mic]

Your right.... I suck.

 

[Flysmallie]

4 minutes ago, mic said:

Your right.... I suck.

 

Hey you said it, not me. 

[Chris Barclay]

I fished what I think is where you fished Friday for a couple hours and agree wholeheartedly.  One of my favorite stretches of water around.  

[Eric82]

i was there too on saturday for about an hour after leaving Maramec.  there were cars parked at all the parking "spots". 3 where we parked.  glad you had success!!!

[Chris Barclay]

I felt this was appropriate...

 

[mic]

Alright already. I got the point on pics. LOL ?

[Flysmallie]

13 hours ago, mic said:

Alright already. I got the point on pics. LOL ?

Just make sure they are good ones.

[mreed81]

On ‎12‎/‎14‎/‎2015 at 9:43 AM, mic said:

 

A few of things of note... first WOW the creek has changed.  I haven't fishing this portion of the creek in a while and my favorite holes are not holes and my favorite runs are not runs.  However, I don't mind.  The stream is like a living thing, constantly changing.  That is one thing that makes these creeks special.  Two, funny how the trout don't read the fishing books.  This is winter... the only thing they should be keying on is midges, yellow stonefly nymphs, scuds, and maybe minnows, but here we are catching them on top water with size 14 flies.  Nothing else seemed to work.  \

The creek sure has changed a lot. I have only been down after the first big rain this fall and right as the rain was falling in the last storm, but the time I was fishing after the first big storm I had a lot of luck, especially considering it was my first time only using a fly rod down there. I am a total noob with the fly rod but it sure is fun!

Here is a funny video that speaks to using top water flies during winter months.

 

Matt