The river's appearance begins to change though as it nears the Meramec. "When you start getting towards Jefferson County, those pools get deep darn fast," said Reed. "The lower river has got way more big pools and bluff pools. The habitat is more suitable for smallmouth, but you can still catch largemouth down there."

According to the MDC biologist, the pools contain plenty of big logs and large boulders that attract hefty smallmouths and largemouths both. He selects the stretch from River Mile 110 at the Washington County Road 511 slab to Cherokee Landing as the best section for largemouths. The river has a lazy gradient of about 2 feet per mile, which makes it attractive for float-fishing. Numerous MDC public accesses and private put-in spots are available for anglers who want to launch their canoes or johnboats for a float on the river.

Reed recommends floating from the Washington County Road 511 slab to the MDC Leadwood Access for an 8-hour day of largemouth fishing. "You can put in and float during the week and not see anybody until the hole above Leadwood, where there will be some people swimming," he said. "I've done that float in the morning, fished it real hard, took a lunch break and taken out in the evening at Leadwood."

This float also offers anglers public access at both put-in and take-out locations.

A float from Leadwood to a private crossing near the U.S. Highway 67 bridge can be stretched into seven or eight hours of fishing. For shorter floats, Reed recommends putting in at Leadwood and taking out at the St. Francois County landfill or from St. Francois State Park to Cherokee Landing.

"A hardcore fisherman could probably milk that float (St. Francois State Park to Cherokee Landing) for about four hours if they fished everything as hard as they could," said Reed. "It's got some pools and water that they would want to fish."

Other bridge crossings along the river enable you to put in and take out a canoe, but you must gain permission from landowners first. "There are some landowners who will give access, but you'll have to talk to these folks and just see what kind of arrangements they have," advised Reed. "There are some who will charge to park your car, and some who will let you in without a charge but might not give someone else permission."

The river also offers some serviceable places to wade or fish from the bank for largemouths. "You can wade fish Leadwood going down stream very easily," suggested Reed. "St. Francois State Park can be waded quite a ways. You can wade upstream, but the better water will be the pools downstream."

If you can gain access at Cherokee Landing, you can also wade in the pools above and below the landing. The pools below Cherokee Landing are loaded with large rootwads and downed trees. Other wading possibilities include the pools upstream and downstream from the Washington County Road 511 slab, the Bone Hole Pool and pools below the Bone Hole.