12 FATC took Monday off to fish the Meramac Spring park with one week left in the catch and release season. Even though we had many fly fishers on this trip there was plenty of room to fish. Let’s see if I can remember everyone on the trip – Jim Craig, Scott Payne, Alex Zambrano, Don Varner, Barry Dunnegan, Kenny Klimes, Dave Beerbower, Jim Franke, Al Blair, Bill Byington, Russ Bacon, Rudy Dodorico, Lou Forbringer – I think that’s all the FATC that was there.

It was a warm day so many other fishermen showed up to fish in the park, but we all had plenty of room to fish. Most of our guys stayed in the park to fish with just a few venturing outside the park to fish in the Meramec river. Overall fishing was good.  Most trout caught were in the 12-15 inch range. The best area to fish was the beginning of the park were the water was moving fast. Small flies seemed the order of the day as midge hatches were everywhere. With some nice fish suspended swinging small emergers and midges did well, while others went deeper with midges and nymphs. Some of the rainbows were “trying” to spawn in the faster water. No need in targeting those fish since they are interested in one thing and one thing only.  Target the trout that are feeding

At the end of the day the temperatures did a 180 degree turn and a cold chill set in.  The guys fished until the siren and then enjoyed pizza at Missouri pizza in St James.  One of our guys wrote me the next day and said he was disappointed in how he fished on this day.  He said his “sloppiness” cost him several fish and was going to concentrate on this aspect the next time he is out.  I plan on writing a “Fly Shop” blog on this exact thing soon so if you have been not catching many fish when your buddies are whacking them, then please read this blog coming soon – it might help.