Anyone going this Friday?

[Haris122]

Figured I see if anyone else is planning on heading down there on Friday. I took the day off, to try giving it another go this year, and see if I can catch more than last year. Last year I really didn’t catch that many, so weather permitting, I’m hoping this year will be better.  

[Johnsfolly]

5 hours ago, Haris122 said:

Figured I see if anyone else is planning on heading down there on Friday. I took the day off, to try giving it another go this year, and see if I can catch more than last year. Last year I really didn’t catch that many, so weather permitting, I’m hoping this year will be better.  

 The opener is not on my to do list. Will be fishing in Arkansas instead. Likely to hit one of the parks on Monday.

Good luck to everyone headed down for the opener. Should be fish biting. Can't wait to see reports.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I haven't decided to take that plunge yet.  Maybe in a couple of years.  I hope you have a great day.   Let us know. 

[Seth]

Still not certain yet, but knowing me, I will more than likely be down there. We usually fish by the rear parking lot near the cleaning station on opening day. Sounds like I am going to Montauk on Saturday with some guys I know who fish it a lot. I've only fished it once in my life and that was almost 20 years ago so it will be a new experience.

Here's my opening day video of the madness from last year.

 

[Haris122]

Well, I made it down there by 8, found out about 3,000 fish had been stocked, and by 8:30 I got to fishing, with my usual pumped up mindset of "this will be the day" (when I catch fish after fish, get to 15-20 fish, with plenty of other bites too). As usual though, Meramec Springs pulled me back down to earth, and anchored me there. Because of the crowds and my preferred methods of fishing, I pretty much went straight for the lower half of the park, from the pool by the bathrooms on down, thinking it might be at least a little less crowded, and more conducive to my frequent casting. I had a couple bites by 12-1pm, but after watching countless people come, catch fish nearby and go, while nothing was happening for me, I started thinking that I may end up holding the very unique distinction of having been there almost all day, without catching a darn thing, on opening day no less. I decided at the very least I was going to keep trying different things in hopes of getting something, but by 5pm I still didn't even have 5 seconds worth of a fish on. Somehow in that last hour, I managed to catch 2 fish, throwing some crank/jerkbaits like I had been doing without luck at various times earlier in the day, and managed to salvage a little bit of pride, but man, today sucked for me. How was it for the rest of you guys that went?

[snagged in outlet 3]

10 hours ago, Haris122 said:

but man, today sucked for me. How was it for the rest of you guys that went?

I worked all day so you did way better than me.

[Seth]

Dad and I got down at 6am and found our usual spot to be full so we started across from where the water trickles out of the concrete wall between the river bend and the bathroom hole. I started off with a 1/16oz orange head sculpin/olive and caught 4. Dad caught 6 and kept his fourth in the first 30 minutes.

A friend stopped by and I quit fishing to shoot the bull for a little while. Afterwards, I moved down toward the bathroom and setup under the big trees and caught 9. It was about 9am so i headed up river and stopped above the bend riffle and caught two more and kept my fourth fish.

Caught most on trout magnets in white and black/green, orange head sculpin/orange jig and one on a white mega worm.

I went back today around 10pm for a few hours after a lack laster start at Montauk and caught 20+. Orange power worm and trout magnets were good and also caught a few on green/white rubber leg jig.

[Haris122]

Seth do you drift your trout magnets under a bobber or how do you rig them up? I tried some trout magnets about 1.5-2 feet under a slip bobber, with some split shots thrown in to pull the float upright, for a while and had 2 lightbbites on it but most of them would just circle around them and then swim off. 

[Seth]

28 minutes ago, Haris122 said:

Seth do you drift your trout magnets under a bobber or how do you rig them up? I tried some trout magnets about 1.5-2 feet under a slip bobber, with some split shots thrown in to pull the float upright, for a while and had 2 lightbbites on it but most of them would just circle around them and then swim off. 

I mostly fish them straight on 2# line and just bounce the rod tip while reeling. Try to keep the lure just slightly above the fishes level. I have done decent fishing them beneath a float in the faster water below the dump offs though.