After reading some recent trip reports to the Meramec river I took a quick trip to Cardiac Hill on Monday morning, November 13th.  As I entered the river, I went upstream about 20 yards to the hole protected by a couple of downed trees.  Using tips from recent trip reports I tied on a Copper John (I’d never fished Copper Johns before). I caught a  12″ and 14″ rainbow trout just floating different sections of that hole.  I worked my way back down river with no action until I hit the next bend, again near a huge downed tree that has been there for at least the last 10 years.  By now I had tried a few more flies and settled on a P&P.  At the bottom end of that hole I hooked a 16-17″ rainbow.  The colors on these trout we bright and brilliant.  The strikes were very subtle.  The morning was beautiful as I saw 2 bald eagles circling and spent about 5 minutes watching a mink work it’s way up river along the opposite bank foraging for food.  All in all, a really nice morning.  Thanks for the tips!