river bass fishing St. Louis

[jpb2187]

10 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

How about sauger in the lower Meramec? Can they be caught around St L. and if so consistently? I would assume that they have a similar spawning cycle as walleye and run theriver late winter or early spring.

Yes, definitely caught some. Haven't been regularly enough to know if it's consistent.

20 hours ago, Patrick Bauer said:

Me and my buddy Have been fishing the Meramac river at castlewood park. We bank fish where the kiefer flows into the river since neither of us have boats at the moment. We had one day where we caught some drum on worms lol. We've thrown just about everything at them and had little little luck bass wise. Does anybody know of any parks near St. Louis that are on the Meramac, or any river for that matter that you can bank or wade fish at? Looking to be able to catch bass. Thanks!

 

i don't know why this posted 3 times. My phone glitched out on me.  

I'd recommend a bit further up. Try out Sherman Beach or Wabash and Frisco.

 

With regards to Kirkwood parks people, can they kick you out if you are in the river? Where does the property line end? 

[Patrick Bauer]

13 hours ago, top_dollar said:

I bank fish the lower meremac and its tributaries fairly often from valley park to george winter.  Its a nightmare....quite often youll get covered in mud, and your going to lose lures my the dozen....its very snaggy with various rocks, and pipes, and appliances as well as trees that have fallen in.  Thick mud, steep banks, and the overall gross factor of the lower meremac (sewage smell, garbage, amd such) make it largely unpleasant.  About half the time i go...or even more i curse myself for going and feel like ive just wasted 4 hours, 10 lures and need a shower.

    Sometimes though....you hit it just right and its all worth it.  Those fish are really finicky it seems meaning they are either biting well or not at all.  After a good rain, or when the river is coming up will get em going sometimes.  For the most part the lower meremac fish eat shad and crawfish (balck bass, white bass, hybrids, drum, walleye, crappie and sunfish...youll catch everything there).  Normally i use a flicker shad on a casting rod with 12# mono.  When you snag it usually you can bend out the hooks.  A top water walk the dog bait, and squirrel tail hair jig with a small chunk of brush hog as a trailer.  Im sure any shad or craw imitation works well....but youd be wise to use cheap baits.   When your on the bank and get snagged up your gonna lose it or bend the hook out.

Ill give you a few good spots to check but as i mentioned its so hit or miss that i normally hit several places.   In valley park where the 141 bridge goes over there are two big gravel bars amd a creek that flows in.  1 gravel bar you have to get to from buder park, the other is on the little bike trail side wjere tje creek flows in.  Thats a great area.  There is a deep hole in between those bars as well as below and above.  Just this past weekend i caught 4 whites/hybrids amd 3 drum from there on a flicker shad.  Also you can walk that trail down to where simpson lake dumps into the river, that little creek mouth is also good fishing.  

Also unger park is kind of a do nothing area of the river but ive caught fish there from the various debris that blocks current.    

Emmeneggar park where 44 goes over is another great spot.  Ive caught lots of fish from the gravel bar there and the creek that flows in. Then if the river is low you can walk that rock ledge down to the golf course...another good spot (thanks smallie bigs for mentioning that like 3 years ago....its become one of my favorite river spots).  

Other spots....Castlewood is good.  There is a creek that comes in where the rr is and the river makes an s shape, ive caught fish there before.  Then there is a bike trail that follows the river up a good ways.  Ive never fished that area but have walked the trail and saw some good looking spots.  Also sherman beach park has good current, riffles and holes.  The best spot is right there at the parking lot from my experience.  Long story short....its frustrating mostly, but if you waste enough time not catching anything down there eventually youll be rewarded with a really good day...or at least a really good 45 minutes until they quit biting for no reason.  

Thanks for the help! We've caught a few largies and white bass on deep diving jerkbaits but it's been really weird. Will have to give those shots a look!

[Gavin]

Must be another reason for Kirkwood to patrol that. Drugs, homeowner complaints, etc.