Observation, Adaptability and not trying to put a square peg in a round hole

[Smalliebigs]

I had the pleasure of fishing with my good buddy Hog Wally Sunday morning for a nice little 3 1/2 hour run. We didn't take pics even though we should have. We brought some beautiful 17 inch fish to hand but, chose to get them back in the river immediately.

Hog had been telling me about a pattern he has going that I was intrigued about to say the least. We fished the Meramec anywhere from The State Park in Sullivan to River Round. The action was quick and fast paced and possibly not for everyone. You had to be firing casts as quick and as accurate as possible with the right equipment.

We were fishing in areas that not many people are fishing I'm quite sure, with a normal technique that was what the fish wanted. These bass were roving packs of killer whales breaching  bait. It was a fun time.

We didn't even keep track of numbers and I measured one fish that I thought was 16 and Hog said it was17.5.....it was 17 1/4☺ we had good numbers of beautiful 10 to 15 inch hard fighting Smallies and I think 1 Largemouth. We both lost big fish but the water conditions and areas we were getting bit were treacherous honestly. I had an absolute blast and learned from my friend you need to adapt and give the fish what they want where they want it even if it is not the typical way you are a custom to.

Fun stuff

[BilletHead]

      Nice Report,

  No BS or whining and moaning. The way it should be. Thank you and hope to something like this with the fly rod someday,

   BilletHead

[Smalliebigs]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

      Nice Report,

  No BS or whining and moaning. The way it should be. Thank you and hope to something like this with the fly rod someday,

   BilletHead

Hahaha....it was fun fishing and challenging really....I hope I didn't look like too much of a gaper in front of Hog Wally.

My wife  said I have my good fishing smile on today so it must have been good fishing 

[Hog Wally]

It was fun.  No pics. Fast and violent fishing.  Not worrying about casting over each other or who caught what   Just fun fishing and reeling in beautiful hard fighting Smallie's.  Love this river.  

[joeD]

River so low at 44 in Fenton.  True upstream?

[Johnsfolly]

17 hours ago, Smalliebigs said:

Hahaha....it was fun fishing and challenging really....I hope I didn't look like too much of a gaper in front of Hog Wally.

My wife  said I have my good fishing smile on today so it must have been good fishing 

 

12 hours ago, Hog Wally said:

It was fun.  No pics. Fast and violent fishing.  Not worrying about casting over each other or who caught what   Just fun fishing and reeling in beautiful hard fighting Smallie's.  Love this river.  

Sounds like a great time of fishing! not overly complicated. Just react to what the fish want and how they want the bait. Then just reel them in!

[DownStream]

Sounds like a great trip Scott. I put in at at blue springs conservation area Sunday and floated down to right above the state park. Brought in a few 8 to 12 inch fish a couple in the 14-16 range. Monday floated back down to Arapaho campground who shuttled my vehicle. Fishing wasn't as much as a priority as viewing the eclipse on a gravel bar with my lady. I did still manage a couple rock bass, 12 inch largemouth, a few more small bronzebacks. I must have missed you guys by about 12 hrs. Always good to get back on the water.