First time at Cardiac.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Went with a neighbor and a couple of his friends and fished at Cardiac access.   I dont know if I would go again.  I realize that I am out of shape.   The three of them entered the river and crossed at the end of the trail.  The water was putting their waders to work, as it was chest high on them.  I tried to follow but the current was strong  and I decided otherwise.  I stayed on this side of the river.  We fished the hole, and had no success.  There were a few browns caught close by, but nothing of significance.   My first fish was my first brown trout, ever.   I walked up high and found another entrance at a gravel bank up river.  That was where I caught mine, behind the other 3. It was on a black and chartreuse jig.  Unsure on the weight.   My second was a rainbow, (look at the blue lines, anyone know why?).  That would be all I would catch.   We made our way up river crossing back and forth.  I was able to handle the current, but was uneasy at times.  My neighbor was trout fishing for the first time.  He bass and cat fishes, but has never trout fished.  He was still smelling the skunk after everyone else caught at least one.  He was casting in great looking areas, working his jerkbait well, just couldn't get one on.  He did finally get one, (after quoting "go trout fishing,  they said.  It'll be fun they said" many times.).  I believe it was a rainbow, he tried to bring it to the bank, as I lost my net about a quarter mile back. It got off right next to him.  He was not able to touch his first caught trout.  Not long after he was able to catch another one, after catching and landing a rock.  (He would catch 2). He later caught a rainbow, a shad, and a smallie.   All in all, a good day.  Some swift water, somewhat inexperienced current fisherman, and some good luck.  The other two caught upwards of 20 fish, good size.  They made it almost to the park.  My neighbor and I stopped at Dry Fork Creek.  I think if I make that trip again,  I would like to shuttle from the park to Cardiac, or vise versa.  Hiking in, battling the current, and hiking back up was a challenge.   Maybe I should just get in better shape.  

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[netboy]

Sounds like a great adventure.

BTW... where is this place...cardiac?

[moguy1973]

12 minutes ago, netboy said:

Sounds like a great adventure.

BTW... where is this place...cardiac?

It's on the Red Ribbon trout section of the Meramec River.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

13 minutes ago, netboy said:

Sounds like a great adventure.

BTW... where is this place...cardiac?

On the Meramec River, just down from Meremac Springs trout park.  It is a very small access with room for maybe 4 vehicles.  It is a long steep hill going down, that becomes 5 times as long and twice as steep going back up.  

[Mitch f]

There's a story about cardiac and I wont tell it out of respect for a very special person on this forum. 

[Gavin]

Been there many times. Used to hike down the lower access at Suicide Hill and walk and fish to the park and back. Only a 5-6 mile round trip. Fishing is usually hit or miss there. Sounds like a better than average day on the Meramec trout water.

[Johnsfolly]

Congrats @Daryk Campbell Sr on catching your first brown trout! You guys caught fish and have a story. No one got washed away. All and all a good day👍!

[Johnsfolly]

7 hours ago, Gavin said:

Been there many times. Used to hike down the lower access at Suicide Hill and walk and fish to the park and back. Only a 5-6 mile round trip. Fishing is usually hit or miss there. Sounds like a better than average day on the Meramec trout water.

When I used to fish that river always did better with browns down by the suicide access. Destroyed a pair of wading boots billy goating back up to the car from the river. That was after a one fish day. Last time that I ever fished that river for trout.

[Gavin]

Locked my keys in my car there once. Long walk of shame.

[snagged in outlet 3]

9 hours ago, Mitch f said:

There's a story about cardiac and I wont tell it out of respect for a very special person on this forum. 

Doesn’t bother me at all.  My dad thought it was kind of funny that the state used the name.