Winter fishing Huzzah/Courtois?

[Haris122]

Just spent 20-30 minutes writing a more detailed post just to find out I got logged off somehow and the entire thing I wrote just disappeared with the wind. So this time I'll try to keep it short and simple. What kind of success fishing either or both of those creeks would one stand from the bank if they were to go there today/tomorrow(Wednesday). Judging by gauge information water is supposed to be around 4 feet high, and hovering in the low 40's. I plan on trying fishing from Huzzah CA, from the bank with some mild shallow wading, if I go. What species could I expect to catch at this time, and how good would I have to be to coax them into biting a lure of some sort. 

[MOsmallies]

This is not the ideal time of year to be fishing the Huzzah or Courtois... Especially if you are wading. I'm not very familiar with the Huzzah Conservation Area, but this time of year you want to look for deep holes & eddies out of heavy current. Slowly fish a hair jig, small soft plastic, or suspending jerkbait. The Meramec offers a lot better wintering habitat than the Huzzah and Courtois.

If I were you and limited to wade fishing this time of year, I'd target the trout parks or the Southern IL power plant lakes. You have a much better chance of getting into some fish at these places than you will on the upper Huzzah or Courtois.

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, except for places where small springs enter the creek at a deeper spot, winter fishing these creeks is almost a waste of time, especially if you're limited to fishing from the bank and shallow wading.  There is a large, deep pool with what is usually a quiet backwater on the upper end within walking distance downstream of Scotia Bridge that might hold a few wintering fish--a couple of us Smallmouth Alliance guys tried to fish it during the snowstorm at last year's Freeze-out but the backwater was mostly iced over, as was part of the pool.  There were a few largemouth in the backwater and we caught a couple.  Other than that, I can't think of anyplace around the Conservation Area that would be worth fishing.

[Haris122]

Yeah, I was debating going to Huzzah CA, or Meramec Springs and in the end went to Meramec Springs. Turned out pretty fun. Got 11 fish, including 3 Rock Bass, and 1 Smallmouth. Nothing big, but 9" on the biggest Rock bass, and I didn't measure it but probably 12" or so for the Smallmouth. Kind of got what I hoped to encounter on the Courtois and Huzzah anyways. Still, I'll give it a shot there another time. Maybe bring the kayak there during warmer weather and see how things go.