Lower Meramec report 2-28-2016

[jfrith]

With the weather in the upper 60's I was finally able to make it out last weekend to a local spot on the Meramec. I had considered the night before making the hour drive south to fish below the park at Meramec springs for trout and bass, but decided against it as I wasn't sure what river conditions or how the crowds would be on a day like we had Sunday. So I decided to give the Stl section of the Meramec a try and headed to the Castlewood/ Valley park area. I made it to the river around noon and walked down an embankment to the river. After throwing some Jerkbaits and skipping a Huddlebug on the bottom I had had no luck and started walking upstream. I found a little feeder creek and started fishing a deepish looking rocky pool at the tail of a long run about 100 yards up from the main river. Eventually I was able to hook into something small on the huddlebug for a few seconds but it eventually came off. With no real luck in that first spot I was starting to think about giving up and heading back downstream. I then decided to hike up to the head of the run and started bouncing a huddle bug very very slowly across the bottom right where the riffle dropped off into the deep pool. On my first cast I was able to ease into a very soft bite and brought in my first bass, a nice little 12"er that put up a pretty decent fight for its size. I continued on with the huddle bug fishing all sections of this upper section of the run. I caught a couple more dinks but then eventually had a very strong POP on my lure and the fight was on. This fish I could tell was a lot bigger than any of the others and I thought it might be a hybrid by the crazy bend it put in my new St. Croix rod. I eventually pulled this hog up from the depths and realized it was a very girthy largemouth. This fish seemed kind of lethargic at first but honestly felt like pulling a log off the bottom of the stream. I got the fish to hand and was able to get several pictures before releasing it. On that high note I decided to call it an afternoon after 2 hours of fishing and 10 fish to hand. All in all, not what I expected as I've heard this section of the Meramec is very challenging and have experienced this on previous trips to this section and nearby Simpson lake. I'm not sure if this was just a day where everything aligned perfectly or what but it was definitely a Sunday afternoon well spent. Additionally I would like to say I think a lot of the tactics and subtleties in presentation Hog Wally and Al have described in their reports have helped me with my fishing on this river and I appreciate it guys. Thanks!

 

[Mitch f]

Very nice!

[mjk86]

That's a heck of a day on a tough stretch!  Nice job.  

[Smalliebigs]

Sweet report Jfrith!!!!.....great job and kudos to you for paying  attention. Hog Wally and Al Agnew are two guys you should  listen to, both are about good as your gonna get when it comes to river fisherman. Seriously  I am just tickled pink for you awesome  man!!! I was gonna go fishing  with Hog Wally today and had to back out like a biotch....reading your report Jfrith has made my day .....thank you my friend. I just  love reports like this!!!...now all I need is for Hog Wally  to send me a pic a this 5lb smallie he has had his eye on and today is looking  great

[Mitch f]

Yeah the "bouncing the Huddlebug slowly" was the ticket. Most fish a jig too fast.

again, great report and I can tell from your post you know what your doing.

[Brian Jones]

great trip and report.  Thanks for sharing.

[jfrith]

Thank you all, I'm really glad you enjoyed my report.

 

Yea Mitch, it seems this time of year with the cooler temps, slowing down the retrieve and action of the jig is a must. Several years back before I knew what I was doing I would reel my bait in way to quick and jig it way to often. Its amazing the difference you have in catching when you slow it down to only a single short pop of the jig once every 6-7 seconds. This can literally be the difference between catching 10 fish and catching 0 fish in a run. Additionally it seems key to keep your line very taught so that you can feel the very slightest tap of the bait by a fish. If I wasn't keeping my line tight like this I was missing multiple bites and refusals every cast.

[go4ducks2]

Good looking fish....thanks for  sharing!