State Park to Caverns Info

[goosetalk]

Hello all.  I will be floating from the state park to the caverns in a couple weeks on a Saturday.  Never have been below Onondaga so I have no experience on the river below there.  I usually float during the week to avoid the heavy crowds but this is float has been set up by others. We will be in kayaks which is what I usually rent. I can't go on a float with out making at least a few cast.  I doubt anyone else will fish. 

1. How is this stretch in regards to depth, width in comparison to the area around Onondaga?

2. I know its jet boat territory and expect it to be busy, but does the river become clogged with rafts like it can further up?

3. I have pretty much every tackle option for top to bottom and I know conditions will determine lure choice, but any favorites to use on this stretch?  I'm not picky on what I catch, going for numbers more than anything. Bass, goggle eye, sunfish, whatever.

Thanks in advance.   

 

[Al Agnew]

I'm guessing you'll be using Arapaho Canoe Rental place a little above the Caverns.  I think that's the only rental place that regularly serves that part of the river, but I could be wrong.  Anyway, probably won't be as crowded as farther upstream, possibly not even any more jetboats, since the jetboat crowds are getting thick upstream.  As for the river, it's a bit bigger and slower than the stretches from Onondaga downstream, maybe twice as big as the river is above the mouth of the Huzzah.  But it's still a nice river and at least as good smallmouth habitat.  However, keep in mind that most of that stretch flows through the park, and there are several places for the public to easily get to the water along it, so it still might be crowded with swimmers, etc.

[Bushbeater]

Mossy Pumpkin Zoom lizard and a squarebill crankbait.

[moguy1973]

Of the stretches I've floated on the Meramec, I had my best day on that stretch.  It's a long day at around 9 miles if you launch at the park boat ramp.  I can't remember the time of year I floated it but didn't get many jet boats until we got closer to the caverns.

[goosetalk]

Thanks for the info. Hopefully I have something positive to report.  Looks like a rain chances are more abundant next week so hopefully the big rains stay away

 

[Ken1949]

I have floated that stretch many times except that we take out at Sand Ford. It's a pretty nice float with a few high bluffs and deep holes. It should take about 5-6 hours if you take out at Meramac Caverns. Saturdays are probably crazy with floaters through the State Park. If you are wanting to catch numbers, I would use a small spinnerbait like a beetle spin or throw a ned rig or soft plastic crawdad. Good luck.

[snagged in outlet 3]

On 6/17/2020 at 4:01 PM, goosetalk said:

I usually float during the week to avoid the heavy crowds but this is float has been set up by others.

I was on the Meramec today below the caverns and it was freaking nuts.  By 10 AM the river was loaded with rafts and canoes.  I get to the boat ramp and there are so many vehicles they were parked double and triple deep.  It was a zoo!!!  I'm done on the weekends till the float season is over.  Man, some people are just plain rude and nasty.  To their own kids....

[goosetalk]

Well I caught just a few fish. Due to time constraints with others in the group I was not able to fish effectively but still made enough casts. I could not get anything on moving baits such as twin spin and whopper. Mostly Ned and wacky rig. If I had time to stop and fish slowly I could have probably caught plenty of small bass and goggle eye. River had plenty of people but not terrible. Good flow, almost too much for the Ned head I was using. Saw a few jets but all were courteous. No crazy drunks. Managed to not get rained on.