Stclair Smallie's

[snagged in outlet 3]

13 hours ago, Jerry Rapp said:

you guys are screwing up a good thing.

Why?  How?

[Pat Magee]

I am taking a wild guess and saying Jerry fishes in/around that area and he is worried about all of us bums heading out that way?

[Jerry Rapp]

10 minutes ago, Pat Magee said:

I am taking a wild guess and saying Jerry fishes in/around that area and he is worried about all of us bums heading out that way?

no, I don't fish there.  I did one time, about 12 years in February.  I had the pleasure of fishing with Zipstick.  Great day! But,,,,,,, there is a reason no one mentions the creeks they wade fish anymore.  Any body of water can only handle so much pressure.  You guys enjoy your river, that's for sure. But be prepared for more "river rats" each year, especially with it being so close to the metro area.

[MOFishwater]

I just retweeted to the NAFC that the fish are biting, using the GPS coordinates that you left embedded in your photo. Game over bruh.

[Brian Jones]

2 hours ago, Jerry Rapp said:

there is a reason no one mentions the creeks they wade fish anymore.  Any body of water can only handle so much pressure.  But be prepared for more "river rats" each year, especially with it being so close to the metro area.

I agree wholeheartedly when it comes to creek fishing Jerry.  If you have a gooden you better keep it to yourself.  The bigger waters are a little different.  The one thing about the Meramec smallies is that with the exception of winter they don't seem to stay very long in one place; at least not in large numbers.  

In regards to "river rats", you're exactly right.  But most of them ain't fishermen.  They're the guys who have been run off LOZ because their boats became too small and their pockets were no longer deep enough to hang with the big dogs.  So they've brought their loud rooster tail throwing inboard jets, as well as their frat boy center of the universe syndrome mentalities to the rivers where they can be the big fish in a small pond.    

[thewhitesnoop]

This reminds me of a thread I read a long time ago where Al Agnew was complaining because there were other fisherman all over his wading streams. Really?  Al has spent his life  not only promoting stream fishing, especially on little creeks, but telling everyone exactly how to catch fish and then he complains when there are people fishing his spots??  You can't have it both ways....It's great to gain notoriety for speaking about these things on public forums (you may even become known as a guru), but it comes at a cost. That eventual cost being sharing your favorite fishing spots with others. Which is what you might think is deserved....but others who fish those same waters and don't advertise really don't deserve the same result. I fish some of those same creeks, and I had to suffer the same as Al did when more people showed up, and I didn't receive any of the accolades that Al does either. All good though.

Personally, I'm happy Hog Wally catches fish, I'm even happier that his fishing spots are not where I fish because even though Mr. Jones says it's mostly LOZ rejects that inhabit the Meramec (and not fisherman), I think the guys that read these threads are actually looking to catch fish, so there probably IS going to be an increase in guys attacking the Meramec around St. Clair with HD craws....but what do I care.

I realize this post may come off as crabby or grumpy, so if no one has time to read it, I totally understand.

 

[fishinwrench]

It's a difficult (near impossible) balance.   A river needs enough friends to ensure that it is taken care of and treated properly, but not so many friends that it becomes over used.

[Hog Wally]

22 hours ago, Smallieguy87 said:

Hog i'm ready to get back out there with ya man. Just saw the new craw color. Kiwi craw looks sweet guys.

They are almost sold out ! 

[Mitch f]

If someone does their homework, buys a canoe, practices catch and release....no one would have a problem with it. Unfortunately that usually doesn't happen: and especially on a small stream.

[Hog Wally]

I fished today. Didn't get even a bite.  Everyone caught em all.  They gone   Sorry guys but I'm not bothered one bit by guys wanting to fish a public waterway that I happen to live on.   It's tough fishing to say the least so good luck.  Brian jones is correct.  These fish are on the move. I could announce the coordinates and it would  mean nothing.  And I couldn't catch a fish on the craw yesterday to save my life. They wanted jerk baits.