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| Picou
Wall Hanger Username: Picou Post Number: 2610 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Isn’t it said that a vacation is a time to get away from all of the things that you usually do when you are home? Well, I did exactly that on vacation – did not bass fish at all…  I think it goes without saying that I love to fish and it should be no surprise that no matter where I go I want to be fishing. Sometimes it drives my wife crazy but when she gets to enjoy the rewards of a morning at the stream her desire to complain diminishes. We headed to St. James, Missouri this past week for some time away from the chores, mucking stalls, feeding animals, work, and the never ending rain that has persisted in North Texas for most of 2007. We arrived on Tuesday afternoon and unfortunately Connie contracted a stomach bug and was feeling extremely puny. I took her straight to the cabin and headed to the grocery store for supplies. She slept most of the evening and all thru the night. The kids and I checked on her and made sure she had whatever she needed, all the time hoping that she would feel better the next day so we could continue with our itinerary for the week. Wednesday morning the alarm clock rang at 5:15 and I hopped out of bed to head off for my first morning of rainbow trout fishing. The park gates for Meramec Springs opened at 5:30 and I arrived with plenty of time to get my favorite spot on the stream with high hopes of catching my quick 4 fish limit. Many years ago I met a man at this location who gave me a tip and a feather jig. I have experienced tremendous success with this little jig for many years and I always have extras in my box when I head out for these rainbow trout in Missouri. The jig is yellow and brown and 1/64th of an ounce. It very closely resembles the color of the crawfish in this area and has been responsible for many limits of trout over the years. My hopes were high that this morning would be no different. In the trout park, fishing is not allowed until a loud horn sounds. I patiently awaited the morning horn and when it sounded I made my first cast. It did not take long to have a trout chase my jig and as typical with my initial reaction I pulled the jig from the fish’s mouth. I made my second cast and it yielded a nice trout that quickly went on the stringer. It did not take long for me to have my first 3 fish on the stringer and with my 4th fish in hand I paused and debated stringing it because once that fish is strung fishing must cease. Fortunately for me that fish was full of energy and jumped out of my hand and back in to the stream allowing me to cast again. It took a few casts but I did hook up again and this trout turned out to be my personal best – 17 ¼” length with a 10 ½” girth. I slowly gathered my gear and talked with others around me who were still working on their limit and handed a jig to a young angler. I wished him luck and headed back to the cabin with my fish – I love this trout park…   Connie and the kids were still sleeping so I made some coffee and enjoyed the peace and quiet. When Connie finally woke up she was still feeling badly so I took the kids fishing at some of the ponds on the property where we were staying. The fish were small but the kids had a great time fishing.   By the afternoon Connie was feeling a little better so we decided to head back to the trout park to walk around and check out the hatchery. The kids love feeding all of the fish and just walking around the place. Some of the fish in the brood pond make the ones I was catching look like babies. Maybe one of these days I will be able to hook into a rainbow or brown like these but for now I will be happy with my new personal best.     While walking down the stream there were several people fishing and some were catching also. Then there was this group fishing the hole where I usually fish and I know how frustrating it is to have the fish in sight and none will even give the baits the time of day.   This much activity really took a toll on Connie so we took her back to the cabin and we went back to the park to fish. I ended up catching 3 more nice rainbows that I released and the girls missed a few but still had a great time. Thursday morning found me once again perched in my favorite spot awaiting the horn to announce fishing time. This time I managed my first 3 trout fairly quickly and released 3 before putting my final keeper on the stringer and ended my morning. I cleaned these fish at the cleaning station in the park and did not have the camera with me so the only pictures are of already cleaned trout.  Thursday was also to be our day to float the river and Connie felt that she was up to it so we loaded the truck and made the short drive to the canoe rental place, Adventure Outdoors. The float is a 9 mile float through the “Trophy Trout Area” of the Meramec River. They drop you off with your canoe and you float down back to your vehicle. We have been floating with this outfitter for many years and the service is great. With the fishing rods and ice chest in the canoes we headed out. Connie and Jessica in one and Corey & I in the other. As is usual with any float trip, the splashing of each other with paddles started almost immediately. We headed down stream and enjoyed the scenery – while I enjoyed some cold beer. When we got to where the Meramec Springs stream feeds into the river we beached the canoes so the girls could do some swimming in the cold spring outlet. I saw a ton of trout poised in the current so I headed off with my trusty jig and managed to catch a few small rainbows and miss another. We headed on down stream and I managed a few other really nice trout with some small ones mixed in and a few perch to boot.   All of the trout I caught in the river were released to fight again and the second fish took some time to get revived but he did eventually swim up stream. We moved on down some more and I walked over to some rapids and caught two more trout and a smallmouth bass so I called the girls over for them to fish a little and they caught some small fish but no trout. They still had a great time reeling in these little monsters.   Even Connie got into the fishing although she never caught anything.  The river was beautiful and peaceful.  The river trip was a blast and the kids really enjoy getting out in the current and swimming. With the life jackets on they just float down and then go back up stream and do it all again.   When we got back to Adventure Outdoors there is a low water bridge with a deep hole that the kids really enjoy jumping off the bridge or riding the current under the bridge.   At the end of the day we grilled some of the trout from day one and enjoyed a delicious meal together as a family for the first time since we arrived in Missouri.  Friday morning was to be our last morning there so I woke up early again and headed back to the park and managed my limit once again in about 20 minutes and headed straight to the cleaning station with camera in hand this time. Before cleaning them I taped out the two largest and both were over 17” in length but with less girth than the largest from day 1.  Once the cabin was clean and the truck was packed we headed back home leaving the beautiful countryside and sunshine behind us. Wouldn’t you know it, we entered Texas just as we left it on Tuesday – raining…  Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish | ||
| Bigun
Lunker Username: Bigun Post Number: 1440 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Now that is a great vacation! Good going PQ Family! Quit being a mad, little bald man! | ||
| Wes
Moderator Username: Wes Post Number: 333 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Well done PQ | ||
| Picou
Wall Hanger Username: Picou Post Number: 2612 Registered: 8-2004 Rating: N/A |
It really was a great time. I can't wait to go back and do some deer hunting this fall.... I will probably not bother with the trout fishing in the fall because it is tuff. We will spend some mid day time at the pond tho... Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish | ||
| Charles
Moderator Username: Charles Post Number: 910 Registered: 7-2004 Rating: N/A |
Excellent recap Mike. Looks like good times! | ||
| Texfisher
Bass Username: Texfisher Post Number: 690 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Sounds like a great trip Mike. Nice recap and pictures. Thanks for sharing. If you're richer than me I think we're related. If you're poorer than me I know we're related. My bass club webpage http://texbass.8m.com/ 
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| Rumbanator
Bluegill Username: Rumbanator Post Number: 149 Registered: 3-2006  Rating: N/A |
Great recap, looks like a great time and a beautiful location | ||
| Dru
Crappie Username: Dru Post Number: 467 Registered: 2-2005  Rating: N/A |
Mike this post is why Al Gore invented the net. Outstanding story and pics. Thanks a lot for sharing. BassZone.com 
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| Dean
Crappie Username: Dean Post Number: 535 Registered: 4-2004  Rating: N/A |
Good Job! Looks like a blast! All In A Days Fun!!!
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| Simek
Bluegill Username: Simek Post Number: 166 Registered: 1-2005  Rating: N/A |
Nice! | ||
| Picou
Wall Hanger Username: Picou Post Number: 2623 Registered: 8-2004 Rating: N/A |
Thanks everyone... Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish | ||
| Atthewall
Bass Username: Atthewall Post Number: 681 Registered: 11-2004  Rating: N/A |
Man PQ, what a great time!!! Congratulations to all of you for one QUALITY vacation get together! I'm smiling ear to ear for y'all! |
