Monday, July 19, 2010

Meremac River, Crawford County, MO: Canoe fishing not bad! River just a tad high











This was the first time I had paddled the Meremac River near Steelville. I got a chance to canoe with my friend, Art McCall. We ended up doing about 6 miles, and outfitted canoes with Garrison's Resort (friendly outfitter). It felt a little weird being on a canoe vs. a kayak. I am still very partial to kayaks, but I can see applications for canoes on occasion.
The float was fast, and we stopped several times at some sand bars to fish. I had some success with a brown rooster tail. Art caught a couple with a natural colored plastic worm , texas rigged.
I caught all of mine inside a root wad/tree that was in the middle of the channel. Current was going both ways, and there was slack water in the middle, with shade. I fished the seam and had success. The smallmouth was not a bad sized one for a river this size. I think I am going to come back to this spot with my kayak, and charter Garrisions to drop me off, that way it is a one way trip (too swift to paddle upstream with my kayak).
Gauge: 3'
Flow: 1,000
Fish ON!
MLT

3 comments:

Coloradocasters said...

I too prefer the kayak over the canoe depending on how much gear I have to take downriver.

Those look like a few smallmouth in the beginning of the photo-thread. Not too shabby.

Mike Tobin said...

The larger one is a smallmouth, and the smaller one is a largemouth...they were "hanging out" in the same location...spot was perfect: shade, (2) current seams- one on each side, and a deep pool in between..really hit on the rooster tail!
Once you go to a kayak, it is hard to go back to a canoe (at least that is my opinion)

Coloradocasters said...

Nice! I don't think I could ever catch "too many" smallmouth.

Depending on the size and make, I find the kayak easier to handle both on and off the water.

Did quite a bit of canoeing back in the day and only dumped the entire camp into the water maybe twice. ha ha