Maramec Spring Fishing

Family trout fishing at Maramec Spring Park...

(created Sat. June 18, 2016; updated Wed. May 24, 2017)

On one of our Boy Scout campout/fishing trips at Montauk State Park, I learned that the Missouri Conservation Department sponsors Kids Free Fishing Days at the State’s Trout Parks.

On these weekends:

1. 1)kids fish for free
   
   

2. 2)special areas are dedicated to only kids fishing
   
   - parents / adults can help the kids, but kids are supposed to catch and reel the fish close to shore... parents can help with the net, stringers (keep the fish in the water before take out to clean and gut, etc.), hooking the lines, etc.
   
   - the kids areas are over-stocked, and MDC team members help give tips... their goal is that every kid catches at least one trout... and they are then “all smiles”
   
   - adults can fish, just in other areas of the parks
   

The Kids Fishing Days are typically the Saturdays in May, and each park has a dedicated weekend.

2015

In 2015, Abby and Dad went to Montauk State Park.

Abby caught her limit on Saturday and Sunday - four fish each day!

http://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/special-areas/montauk-state-park
&
https://mostateparks.com/park/montauk-state-park

2016

After Abby’s fun and success at Montauk State Park in 2015, all four of us went on a two-day / one night campout to Maramec Spring Park.

Matt caught two and netted one... the other jumped off just Matt tried to pull him into the net.

Abby caught three and netted all of them.

While initially disappointed by “the one that got away” from Matt, when we had dinner at the camp sight, the four fish were just right, so losing the one wound up being aok.

2017

In 2017, due to the schedule, we couldn’t camp out, but we did go on a day fishing trip to Maramec Spring Park in that was much fun.

We arrived around 2 in the afternoon.  The weather was great, but the fishing was slow - until 5 the only nibble was when Matt caught a small crappie.

Closer to 5pm, Abby pulled one in.  Then Matt got one.  A short while later, #2, and then about 5 minutes later, # 3 & 4... as I pulled #3 into the net, Matt and I both realized at the same time that there was a fourth fish caught in his line... and the line of some other anglers... this was a two pound trout - the biggest of the day!   So Matt caught his four-fish limit.  Abby tried a while longer and then we decided to call it a day.

Spelling lesson...

Merrimack

1. 1.the way the French spell it
   
   

2. 2.the name of a river in New Hampshire and Massachusetts
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_River
   
   

3. 3.the name of the ship in the first Ironclad battle, from the US Civil War
   http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-hampton-roads
   &
   http://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-the-Monitor-and-Merrimack
   &
   http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/hampton-roads.html?tab=facts
   

Meramec

1. 1.the way the Missourians spell it
   
   

2. 2.the name of a river in Missouri
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meramec_River
   &
   http://mdc.mo.gov/your-property/greener-communities/missouri-watershed-inventory-and-assessment/meramec-river
   
   

3. 3.also the name of a Missouri State Park that DOES NOT have any trout fishing, but which is located along the Meramec River
   

Maramec

1. 1.the way the clerical person accidentally misspelled it, mArAmEc,
   
   

2. 2.the name of private park in Missouri, open to the public, with trout fishing made possible by the Missouri Conservation Department
   

Photos

2015 - Montauk State Park

2016 - Maramec Spring Park

It was the first weekend in May, and the nights were quite chilly, but the days were warm, but thankfully not yet hot.

Sunday morning we celebrated Mass at Immaculate Conception Church, in St. James, MO.

2017 - Maramec Spring Park

We stopped for dinner in Cuba, at Missouri Hick BBQ.  It was awesome!

And the sunset was awe-inspiring!

Abby had some fun tilting the camera as she captured the photographs!  : )