Trip Report

02/29/24

By Mike Haddorff

On Saturday February 24th, Sterling Short and I made our way to Maramec Spring Park. The trip by car was about 1-1/2 hours from his place in Clayton MO.

While on the way Sterling explained to me about trout parks, seasons, closures and portions to fish and not fish. This of course is well known to the Missouri angler, but being from Colorado I found this interesting and helpful. It also reinforced respect and appreciation for the Missouri angling environment.

We arrived at Maramec about 9:30 am, paid our $5.00 parking fee, followed by a short drive and a leisurely walk to the spring itself. The walk took us past a pond full of off-limit fish. After the brief tour we made our way to a picnicking area where we parked and unloaded.

It was cool, about 40f. and sunny. The park itself was off-limits for angling. So, after wadering-up we walk from the picnic area to the park boundary along a gravel road. The road terminated at a foot bridge crossing. 

Rather than walking the bridge to the left, Sterling decided to veer right. We waded the short distance across the upper branch of the Maramec River, reaching the far bank. Bushwacking the woods for a short distance we emerged once again on the east bank of the river below the confluence of the upper and spring branches of the Maramec.

Viewing the river from our parking area I had chosen to rig my 10-6 Helios Euro-Rod with a three weight-forward conventional reel. The reason I did so was because of the low clear water conditions. My thought was that if we were going to get a shot at a fish, stealth and distance would be necessary, thus the need for a weight-forward line. The water temperature was 57f.

Once crossing the upper river and emerging out of the woods I was able to observe what we were about to fish. I decided to revert to my European reel feeling confident that the flow opportunities warranted the switch back to a tight line strategy.

Changing out my rig and re-joining Sterling found us close to 11:00 am. I had not yet attempted to fish. That was no worry. I was absolutely enjoying this beautiful Missouri river, the wonderful scenery, the time out walking, and thinking about how to entice a trout to eat an artificial fly.

Continuing to wade/walk down stream we passed eight anglers using various angling methods. We spoke with some. Everyone was in a good mood but over-all we learned that there was not much happening in regards to trout eating.

We were now about a mile from the parking area, past the anglers to about 1/4 mile above the confluence of Dry Creek. After Sterling explained the lay of the river we each took a portion and began to apply our strategies.

I started with a Maramec riffle tail-out section boasting multiple seams and log jam hazards. Using my Euro set-up I decided to use the existing week old dual fly 6X fluorocarbon tippet. This rig was 4’ to the tag followed by 18” to the point. I thought this would work fine to get my flies to where I thought they needed to be within the water column. I attached a 3 grain Hares Ear to the tag followed by a 5 grain Frenchie to the point.

After about ten casts I realized I was not near deep enough nor were the flies staying down.

Reeling in I then re-gigged with 7’ of 5X fluorocarbon to the tag followed by 2’of 5X to the point. To counter the vertical lift I switched flies to a pair of 8 grain nymphs, one a Hares Ear, the other a Prince Nymph. At this weight both flies were a size 12 hook which I thought may be too large but decided to give it a try.

I found this combination performed a much better drift. I could occasionally tick the bottom at will so therefore knew were the flies were within the column. The visual and tactile feedback from the sighter was straight was firm.

Within minutes, success, landing my first rainbow of the day. This one ate at the tail end of the drift as I allowed the flies to swing just before the lift. This was a nice fish, 12-13 inches with a heathy girth.

At the confluence of Dry Creek there was a circular sandy bottom eddy about 30’ in diameter. Spotting a handful of trout, facing down stream receiving food from the eddy, delivered a smile to my face. Creative juices began to flow in my head regarding how to get into the best position.

Stealth was critical due to the low clear water. There was some surface disturbance which would partially shield my presence but overall I felt caution was necessary to get a shot at this opportunity. I chose a location relatively low and below the lie. Because there were small sculpin present, I decided to use a white streamer attached to the point leaving the tag nymph in place. Because of the Euro-setup the reasoning was that the weight of both flies would get the streamer out beyond the lie. The added weight of the nymph would assist to keep the streamer down within the column as I brought the streamer towards me.

This worked well. A nice sized brown trout ate first. To my surprise he took the nymph. My intention was to leave the nymph to merely keep the streamer down. But in this case the nymph became the food.

Side Note: Here is one reason why our sport is so much fun. There is always the unexpected and one more thing to learn.  

After celebrating this catch with smiles ear to ear, releasing Mr Brown back into the river, the second cast yielded Mr Browns little brother. This time he ate what Mr brown was suppose to eat, the streamer.  

Moving on, just below the confluence I came across a riffle tail-out about 30’X 50’. It had two inter-laced feeding lanes. With conflicting currents present I generally cut one fly loose. I find this works better to maintain a natural drift. However this time I decided to stick with two flies. The reasoning was because of the needed weight to get the flies down within the given distance and then to keep the flies to where they needed to drift within the column. In addition the relative slow current speed reduced the risk of two flies interfering with each other while in drift. 

I worked this area slowly as a 2’x2’ grid through a series of casts from near to far and from back to front. This method yielded two, one 10” brown and one sucker. Sterling told me the sucker didn’t count. So I guess that means only one from this area. 😀

It was getting close to three-o clock. The sun was a golden warmth. Conversation and joy complimented the beautiful surroundings. We both felt pleasantly full. Thanks Sterling for introducing me to your old river friend. I’m delighted to have made his acquaintance.