Maramec River access

[ElkHairCaddis]

I'm looking to bring a friend trout fishing on Monday. He's fairly new to trout fishing, so we're wanting slightly larger water than some of the streams that I usually fish. From what I have read, Maramec Spring Park is closed right now until opening day. Is the Maramec River wadable from the two parking lots located off Highway 8 in Woodson K. Woods Conservation Area? I usually like some of the other trout parks or rivers, but we only have a half day and don't want to spent 2.5 hours in a car one way.

[WestCentralFisher]

1 hour ago, ElkHairCaddis said:

I'm looking to bring a friend trout fishing on Monday. He's fairly new to trout fishing, so we're wanting slightly larger water than some of the streams that I usually fish. From what I have read, Maramec Spring Park is closed right now until opening day. Is the Maramec River wadable from the two parking lots located off Highway 8 in Woodson K. Woods Conservation Area? I usually like some of the other trout parks or rivers, but we only have a half day and don't want to spent 2.5 hours in a car one way.

It is wadeable there, but that is actually above Maramec Spring. This time of year you certainly may find some trout up there, but primarily the trout water begins at Maramec Spring. 

The easiest access is at Maramec Spring Park. You can't actually fish in the spring branch right now, but the park is open still. $7 parking fee I think. Walk down the Spring branch, cross the swinging bridge near the confluence, and then there is a fisherman's trail you can use for access along the river. It is wadeable though you need to pay attention. In that area you're primarily fishing for trout park escapee rainbows, and its best for the half mile or so below the park. There are some browns too, but not too many.

I know there are a couple of harder to access areas called Cardiac and Suicide Hill a couple miles further down. I personally have never fished there, but I am linking to an (old) Missouri Trout Hunter article that details their locations. 

https://www.missouritrouthunter.com/meramec-river.html

Overall, the fishing is ok but not great in the area right below the park. It's worth a short trip and if you fish it well you have a good chance to catch a couple. And this time of year it will be pretty and uncrowded. I would manage my expectations though. The Meramec is not on par with the Current, Eleven Point, or even the Niangua, imo. If your expectation is to have a nice day in a pretty spot and a chance to catch a trout or two, though, it's not a bad spot. 

[Al Agnew]

WestCentralFisher covered it pretty well.  It's a good mile from the parking lot on Hwy. 8 to Maramec Spring, so it makes a lot more sense to go on into the park.  I always carry my rod unrigged until I get to the river from the Park parking lot, so there are no misunderstandings about me fishing within the park.  I fished it last week, and while I spent more time trying to catch smallmouth (and they weren't there or weren't active that day; I only caught a half dozen little ones), I did catch several trout including a really nice 18 inch brown on a jerkbait.  And I brought a fly rod along too, and spent an hour or so fishing with it for trout and caught four.  No, it's not as good as places like Current or Eleven Point, but you CAN have some pretty decent trout fishing there. 

Cardiac/Suicide is a good option.  Just depends upon how much you want to walk (or climb).  One is a long walk and a really long walk back up the hill.  The other is a whole lot shorter but a whole lot more difficult!

[Foghorn]

I've caught some solid rainbows staying to the right once I got to the end of the park. It's upstream from where the spring branch empties into the river so it may be low water. 

[Johnsfolly]

I haven't fished the Meramec in a long time. I have fished both cardiac and suicide hill areas for a couple of years. The best holes filled with gravel and the trout numbers declined at least for the brown trout that I was interested in. For your trip it would likely be best to follow the advice about fishing near the park than try those other spots. I did destroy a pair of wading boots climbing up suicide hill on one trip.

Good luck

[snagged in outlet 3]

13 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

I haven't fished the Meramec in a long time. I have fished both cardiac and suicide hill areas for a couple of years. The best holes filled with gravel and the trout numbers declined at least for the brown trout that I was interested in. For your trip it would likely be best to follow the advice about fishing near the park than try those other spots. I did destroy a pair of wading boots climbing up suicide hill on one trip.

Good luck

It’s a shadow of what it is was….  

[ElkHairCaddis]

Thanks, all. I think we're going to try a smaller stream that I am more familiar with. I'm not usually fishing this early in the season. I'll have to try that Maramec stretch in the summer instead.

[Johnsfolly]

9 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

It’s a shadow of what it is was….  

I agree. The quality of the trout fishing went down pretty quickly. I don't know if the decline was from the MDC reducing stocking or if there were less escaping from the park or both.