A Second Rate Stream

[WestCentralFisher]

The trip started off looking like a classic bust, though to be fair, there were never high expectations. It had been too hot and dry for too long to expect very much. The creek access I meant to go to initially didn't pan out. It apparently was a half of a mile from the parking lot to the stream with no obvious trail. If it had been 20 degrees cooler, that would be no problem, even welcome because of the solitude it would promise. At a stifling 95 degrees, it didn't seem too appealing.

I crossed the same creek a mile later on the main road, and it was clear it wouldn't have mattered. It wasn't exactly dry, but the riffles were a pitifully shallow flow across wide gravel, and the pools looked stagnant and more apt to bullfrogs than smallmouth bass.

On to plan B. This creek, at minimum, would actually have some water in it. It has more consistent spring flow, and even a virtually rain-free month would have far less effect on it. But there was no guarantee it would be any good. This is known as a combination of an occasional put and take trout stream, with warm water fish supplementing the fishing the rest of the time. In regard to the trout, the phrase "it gets fished out a couple days after they stock it" tends to come up a lot in the discourse around it. This is a creek I've heard of, but never bothered to fish. It has a reputation as a creek you might stop at if you're passing through, but nothing more. You may know which one it is by now based on what I've said, but I bet many of you have never actually fished it, either. It's just that kind of creek.

It was smallmouth bass I'd be targeting, since it was almost certain at this time of the year that the stream hadn't seen a stock truck in a long time. At first glance, it looked more like a long, narrow pond than a spring-fed creek. With slow, deep flow, and almost no current, it had an overall feel that said "frog water" more than anything. I noticed two large fish, and they were both gar. Nothing against what is ultimately a feisty, native fish, but this was not the best sign.

Nonetheless, I was there, so I tied on a spinner and got to work. The dead water seemed to be full of gar and longear sunfish, but not much else. I was just about to bag it when I finally worked my way to a pool with a nice, oxygenated riffle leading into it, and good current.

Smallmouth bass were stacked up there, and after a couple lure changes, I finally hook and land two of them. Both are nearly identical, perhaps 14 inches. They're no trophies, but fine fish for a creek like this, and well worth getting big, goofy grin over, especially when caught back to back.

I then get another strike, and to my surprise, this one's a trout, maybe 11 inches. I feel a little bad. The water  seems pretty warm, and I hadn't seen a single trout or any evidence of their continued existence. In fact, I had pretty well forgotten this was even a possibility. It soon became clear the fish wasn't going to survive release. It wasn't how I drew things up, but I had a cooler in the car with some ice, and, well, I'd bought a trout stamp for just this sort of potential occurrence.

If I'm not careful, this sort of thing can really bother me, but then these trout are put in this creek with largely this outcome in mind. He'll taste great with butter, lemon juice, and a side of fried potatoes. I broke down my rod, left the creek, and drove to a nearby gas station to get more ice to keep the fish cold. I didn't exactly feel guilty, but it put me off wanting to haul more fish in.

I then drove upstream to look at the spring, for no other reason than I didn't feel like going home just yet. It was beautiful, in that  aquamarine-colored, almost otherworldly way any good-sized Ozark spring is. I probably could have caught a couple more trout up there in the colder water,  but I wasn't sure what the point would be. I'd already figured out what's true about most second-rate streams. There's probably a reason they're not famous, but it's rarely completely true when people say "Oh, it gets fished out a couple days after they stock it."

[basska]

Thanks for the report. Been hearing mixed things on the rivers right now. This has been a weird month with the dry, cool spell we had, followed by this hot weather and isolated storms... I have no idea what this could possibly be doing to creek fish behavior.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I've got a new 2 weight fly rod thats been burning to be used.  But as you've seen, the waters on this side of the state are not looking great and the high temps aren't helping.   I've just been holding out. 

[WestCentralFisher]

The fishing is definitely weird right now. My home creek hasn't really been fishable for over a month now. I've been over there a few times without a fishing pole to look around, and the bass are stacked up in the few places with enough water, food, and oxygen. It's mildly concerning. They're pretty vulnerable.

So I've been driving to streams with good, consistent spring flow, because with our wet spring and early summer, they seem to have decent flow. Even that has yielded pretty mixed results, and I've had a lot of slow days recently.

This trip wasn't what you'd call planned. I had a few hours and really needed to get out of the house. This creek is just about an hour from home, so it's definitely worth more exploration. Just when the weather finally cools down.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

My nearest pond is in a city park.  It currently looks like pea soup.    I dont want to further stress the residents.  I drive bybit multiple times daily.  The bluegill herons are standing 10 to 15 feet further from the banks than they usually do.    I even seen one standing in the water in the center of the lower Meramec River at hwy I-55 last week.