Quick trip to Maramec

[Foghorn]

With the weather forecast sounding good for Wednesday, Susie and I planned a trip to Maramec Springs. I'm normally a morning person so didn't worry about setting the alarm clock. Should have set one as I slept in till 07:20. We loaded up and left by 8:00 , a record for the Missus getting ready. The water was low and clear and I expected to see decent numbers of fish. I had called the MDC to see if they had stocked and was told they put in 2300 for the start on the winter season and 700 more for the first of the year. We fished with maybe 10-12 anglers in the park and had an okay day catching somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 fish between us. I had an 18" male that was a little on the thin side for the big fish of the day. Best flies were egg patterns and mini jigs . We did see 2 bald eagles. I was surprised that they now charge $7 to park a day.

[jdmidwest]

7 hours ago, Foghorn said:

With the weather forecast sounding good for Wednesday, Susie and I planned a trip to Maramec Springs. I'm normally a morning person so didn't worry about setting the alarm clock. Should have set one as I slept in till 07:20. We loaded up and left by 8:00 , a record for the Missus getting ready. The water was low and clear and I expected to see decent numbers of fish. I had called the MDC to see if they had stocked and was told they put in 2300 for the start on the winter season and 700 more for the first of the year. We fished with maybe 10-12 anglers in the park and had an okay day catching somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 fish between us. I had an 18" male that was a little on the thin side for the big fish of the day. Best flies were egg patterns and mini jigs . We did see 2 bald eagles. I was surprised that they now charge $7 to park a day.

Probably trying to keep the rip rap out with the high entrance fees...

[BilletHead]

31 minutes ago, jdmidwest said:

Probably trying to keep the riff raff out with the high entrance fees...

FIFY

[Seth]

I haven't been down for catch and release season in a few years, but I don't recall them ever charging for parking during that time. Maybe I just went on nasty days when nobody wanted to come in take money for parking.

[BilletHead]

On 1/22/2026 at 12:20 PM, Foghorn said:

With the weather forecast sounding good for Wednesday, Susie and I planned a trip to Maramec Springs. I'm normally a morning person so didn't worry about setting the alarm clock. Should have set one as I slept in till 07:20. We loaded up and left by 8:00 , a record for the Missus getting ready. The water was low and clear and I expected to see decent numbers of fish. I had called the MDC to see if they had stocked and was told they put in 2300 for the start on the winter season and 700 more for the first of the year. We fished with maybe 10-12 anglers in the park and had an okay day catching somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 fish between us. I had an 18" male that was a little on the thin side for the big fish of the day. Best flies were egg patterns and mini jigs . We did see 2 bald eagles. I was surprised that they now charge $7 to park a day.

            At least they didn't charge you by height. You would get charged double and your better half would be half price. 😆

[ness]

We drove through there in October. I think they wanted $5, and said it was because they are not state funded but funded privately by the James Foundation. That's nothing new, but being charged just to go in was new to me. 

[Foghorn]

Winter season has always been free and the $7 wasn't that big a deal but the lack of fish is sad. Maybe one day we'll  see some resemblance of a place to go and catch decent fish.

[Seth]

On 1/23/2026 at 3:23 PM, Foghorn said:

Winter season has always been free and the $7 wasn't that big a deal but the lack of fish is sad. Maybe one day we'll  see some resemblance of a place to go and catch decent fish.

That’s odd. That place used to be loaded up during the catch and release season. There were quite a few fish near the end of the keep season too so that makes the lack of fish even more puzzling.

[jdmidwest]

4 hours ago, Seth said:

That’s odd. That place used to be loaded up during the catch and release season. There were quite a few fish near the end of the keep season too so that makes the lack of fish even more puzzling.

The lack of fish is caused by the fall floods that wiped out Montauk and Meramec hatchery fish I am sure.  And the dry weather and low flows probably keep the migrators down river.

[Foghorn]

17 hours ago, Seth said:

That’s odd. That place used to be loaded up during the catch and release season. There were quite a few fish near the end of the keep season too so that makes the lack of fish even more puzzling.

I've fished Maramec since the concept of the winter season "Catch and Release" program started. One season I had 16 fish over 3# in 4 trips. "jd" is correct in his statement about the lack of fish. The stretch of water below the cable in the upper end of the park always had some of those bigger fish . We enjoyed the chance to get out and wet a line even if the number of fish were down.