Print it. Bag it. Bring it.Phones die, screens crack, and most of this water has no signal. Print this map, fold it into a zip-top bag or dry bag with your license, and you have a backup your electronics can’t give you. Every marker is numbered so you can say exactly where you are.
| # | Point | Type | Lat, Lon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Springs Source of Blue Springs Creek | Spring | 38.13244, -91.22080 | The creek rises here and runs cold and clear the whole four miles to the Meramec. |
| 2 | Blue Springs Road Bridge Blue Springs Road | Bridge crossing | 38.11826, -91.18558 | The road crossing at the conservation area, the usual walk-in point. |
| 3 | Blue Springs Creek Conservation Area Missouri Department of Conservation | Park / conservation area | 38.11743, -91.18623 | MDC area holding most of the public frontage on the lower creek. |
| 4 | Blue Springs Ranch Private resort and canoe livery | Outfitter / canoe rental | 38.11656, -91.16388 | Lodging and float rentals near the mouth; the river trips run on the Meramec. |
| 5 | Blue Springs Public Canoe Launch Public canoe launch | Access / boat ramp | 38.11706, -91.15810 | Launch close to the Meramec confluence; it serves the Meramec float as much as the creek. |
| 6 | Blue Ribbon area - lower limit at the Meramec River MDC Blue Ribbon trout area boundary | Regulation section limit | 38.12103, -91.16059 | The MDC Blue Ribbon reach runs 4 miles from Blue Springs downstream to this confluence. Check the current MDC regulations before fishing. |
Gauge: no real-time USGS gauge on this water. Check conditions locally.
Species: Rainbow Trout
Regulations: mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/special-waterbody-regulations/blue-springs-creek
Emergency: call 911 and give the number of the nearest point on this map plus its coordinates.
Blue Springs Creek Conservation Area (MDC), 907 acres - from Bourbon, Route N south about 2.5 miles to Blue Springs Road. Parking along Highway N and Blue Springs Creek Road.
The fishable water is the lower reach above the Meramec confluence, on the conservation area. Blue Springs itself and the four feeder springs are on adjacent private land, so the upper part of the regulated section is not publicly accessible - respect the posted boundaries.
Area hours are 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., with fishing permitted around the clock where allowed. No camping and no target shooting. Pets leashed.
Walk-wade only. No gauge on this creek.
Spring: the strongest fishing, and the season that has driven the recent rebound in numbers. Wet springs put more young fish in the creek.
Summer: the springs keep it cold, but the water is low and glassy and the overhead cover makes casting the limiting factor.
Fall: excellent and lightly fished, with stable spring flow and cooler air.
Winter: open. Wild rainbows spawn from December into mid-Marc