Meremec Spring Park- It was good to use the fly rod again! Saturday, January 27th, 2008

What an excellent day to to to Meremec Spring Park in St. James, MO. The weather is starting to warm up (the lakes are still frozen, however). I decided this would be a good day to "re-acquaint" myself with my poor fly rod.
I think I ended up using my fly rod maybe twice last year- max. It took me 15 minute just to figure out how to tie a blood knot. Once I got my waders on and headed out, I looked like a complete fool in the water. I snagged a tree behind me and had some really bad cast (I think I scared all the fish around me).
Here is the good news: I decided to keep with it. At one time, I was fairly proficient in the use of a fly rod. I remember the summer about 4 years ago when I first got my fly rod. I fished for EVERYTHING with it- got pretty good with it as well.
It came back to me. I got my cast back and started to catch some fish. The first fish I caught was probably the biggest Goggle-Eye (Rock Bass) Bass I have ever caught in my life (see the photo and video).
I walked down to the bridge and then started walking back. Right under an overhanging tree I found a school of Rainbow Trout- nice size as well (see video).
I will have my fly rod out many more times this year. I had truly forgot how fun a fly rod is.

Fish ON!

MLT

Best of 2007: Places I would like to fish in 2008

Here is a video of Lake Superior, Wisconsin and Hayward, WI (home of the world record musky). I hope we can fish this place in 2008- the water was so clear!

January 9th, Lake Taneycomo, Rockaway Beach, MO.

Fishing real slow. The water is high and has a lot of flow from the creeks due to the recent storms. Set out some Power Bait and Exude worms (on a drop shot rig), but no success. Maybe next time. Nice day to take a break- great place to fish (I have done well here before).

Fish ON!

MLT

Busch Wildlife CA, St. Charles County, January 6th, 2008: Lake 24 trout fishing very good, caught them on Powerbait!

The weather today was unseasonably warm. When we started fishing there was still a thin layer of ice on the lakes. Toward the end of the day, it seemed to be around 70 degrees and very windy.

We started at lake 22. My friend, Ray, caught a small one on a gold spoon. It was really slow other than that, so we decided to grab lunch and then hit Lake 24.

This lake started out slow as well. We walked around the dam with super dupers and gold little cleo spoons. It was incredibly slow, so we went back to the parking lot and traded out the spoons for power bait and slip weights. Around 2:00 the fishing really started to turn on. We both limited out around 5:00 as the sun was starting to go down. Incredibly enjoyable day of fishing. I cannot wait to go back. The time went to quickly.

Fish On!

MLT