Smalliebigs

We had a place on the river below Blue Springs Creek off Thickey Ford Rd and that wasn't Carp making the water murky.In that section thru out the day you will get flows from upstream and it is the waves from the jets and all the floaters. Different sections of the river will flow downstream and go from gin clear to murk from it. We used to sit out on our deck and watch it roll in usually around 8:00pm on the weekends...pathetic. We sold two years ago as the river there has gone down hill from year to year as far as fishing goes. There are still huge smallies laces thru there but, not like it used to be and the floating season was getting to be to much to take. Also a small creek that ran ajacent to our land was getting destroyed(Brazil Creek) and we saw the writing on the wall and GTF out. I hated selling that property and have been looking for something further up a river with more seclusion, away from any river pimps. That area is a Spring and Fall section only now for me as it just gets beat to hell by the gapers in the summer. There are some spots from our old place upstream to Onondaga that all river vets know produce big ones in the off season times big time

" I'll get back to folks as things come together on the SMB Summit concept " Dan, please do, I for one would be extremely interested in the SMB Summit whenever or wherever it may be. Thanks for your efforts!!! Scott aka Smalliebigs

Adam, That Blue will easily go 35 to 50 lbs, it's obvious that it's large as you are not holding it out in front of you.......not like that is easy when they get that heavy...lol I have caught several in the 40 to 60 class and that fish looks to be there for sure.....you can always tells by how big the head is and that things head is bigger than yours.....not trying to be funny,just saying. Like you said you guys will be talking about it for a long time and catching her on Fathers Day weekend well the memories will run deep, thats the important thing. I am very intrigued by your technique of trolling???? I have been continplating a set up similar to what you guys might be using. I have a friend who had a stroke and he is limited in what he can do as far as casting but, he is absolutely dying to get back to some fishing. We can troll and he can catch fish pretty well. I really need to try to refine my trolling skills and learn from some people who know more than I do. My buddy is a Hybrid and Striper freak.....he will take anything that swims though.....I was going to mabey try to get him down to the LOZ to try to do some trolling.Do you ever use any spoons??? or just deep diving cranks??? I have a Tour 82lb trolling motor on a very light boat......would I be able to obtain enough speed with that trolling motor???? or would I need to use the big motor???? I have some great rod holders and above average sonar...Hummingbird 798 & 788 di no si, already that I think would be adequate. I guess we just need to get out there and loose some lures and see what we come up with. Sweet report and I'm sure pops had a great Fathers Day by the look on his face

Dude you live in gods country!!!! thats for sure.....good for you. When i head down that way I'm calling your butt. Scott

Every year for awhile I have been taking my dad fishing in some form or another.....whether it be taking the him on the boat somewhere to fishing a farm pond.this year I begged him to go floating and hit a river for a few and he broke down and agreed. It's not that he doesn't like fishing in rivers, it's just he knew we would be fishing from canoes or kayaks and that is just not his forte....he would much rather be on the deck of a jet boat on a river. We always seem to hit the upper Big river as he lives on it and is quite convienant and we usually slay big Largemouth and Smallmouth up there. I wanted to hit something we used to hit when I was younger and just getting into river fishing and that was the Bourbeuse. I used to fish the Bourb with my dad and uncle religiously in the late 80's and early 90's and did quite well back then. As my horizions opened up as far as river fishing went for me I just went there less and less....the spotted bass invasion freaked me out a little. The Bourb has always been one of my top three favs and on this day we were going to just paddle up from an access and float down and see what we came up with. I chose Mill Rock access and I could sense my dads apprehension about paddling a solo canoe on the drive there. I tried to give him some helpful pointers and hoped for the best. We arrived at the access at 7:07am and not a person in sight, the river was very low and and very clear for the Bourb IMO. I was going to have my dad paddle an Old Town 119 and I would use my Jackson Coosa....probally not the best choice of rigs for my dad to paddle but, he's a big boy he knew what he was in for. The first thing I noticed is that my dad's river fishing and paddling skills have eroded from what they once were. I think he is more into the birds and picture taking now??? He abliged me by paddling almost back up to the HWY H bridge and Red Oak creek, which I was proud of him for as it wasn't exactly easy and hot. I caught 5 Smallies and one Largemouth going up the biggest beeing 14.5 inches.The habitat is, well...... stagnant for the first mile and a half up stream from Mill Rock, as we paddled thru one of the longest and slowest holes I think I have ever seen. My dad is a trooper and in good shape for his age and didn't bitch once.When we eventually made our way up thru the lake the habitat improved dramaticly, with some actual flowing water and some nice pools with boulders and moving water. The fishing improved dramaticly as you can imagine and it only made me want go further upstream which I knew my dad probally wasn't down with but, insisted we press further knowing I was begining to get my perma grin on my face with all the fish we were catching. Beeing out there with my dad was special but, knowing he won't bitch and will follow me wherever because of my enjoyment showed why I love my dad. We paddled and drug our way almost back up to Red Oak creek and floated back to Mill Rock. We were catching them on walk the dog topwater baits and then any chasers we would pick up with a jig or soft plastics. The fishing was better than I expected, I lost two fish and my yak and both broke the line???? too lazy to re/tie after dragging on the bottom I suppose??? both of those Smallies were in the 17 inch range or so....my own stupid fault. I ended the day with 31 bass and only 3 were Largemouths and no Spotted Bass??? I was very happy, the biggest I landed and didn't let bitch me at the yak like a gaper was 16 3/4 inches. Here is an attempt by my dad to take an image on my camera of that fish...lol sorry but,I think it's priceless how older people can't use a digital camera very well....he's used to a Polaroid....lol It was a great day with my dad on the Bourb and then we went to my place and BBQed and modified my Guide119 seating area. I could tell the stock seat sucks and was itching to change it. I used Eric1978's idea and it looks sweet and the boat is now 5 lbs lighter.We moved the seat forward 5 1/2 inches and lowered it 1 inch.I had already bought a cane seat and hardware from Austincanoekayak and put a camo sitbacker seat on it.....looks sweet to me.....does anyone need one of the canoe seats that come on an Old Town they can have it(St.Louis area) sorry not sure where I'm going with this report here????? rambling!!!!......it was a great Fathers Day and the Bourb fished better than I expected. I'm about to embark on my week long series of floats and wadding trips on the upper forks of the Black and any creek with in driving distance of the river which are the Big,Marble,Stouts,Ottery,Brushy and the list goes on and on. I promise to have many way better images than this and reports. It was a great Fathers day once again......thanks Dad

Sweet report Al!!!! 1) the pics with the report.....well it makes it special, thank you and 2) nice Smallie!!!! that thing looks thick!!!!! I SUCK!!!!!!!!

Totally agree with that Andy as I am the master of that.....I will say that dude looks kinda scrouny and by the distance he is holding from his body, that fish would be 19 and 1/4 inches give or take a centimeter. It's a sweet smallie for sure but nothing I would alert the county athorities about.....lol

I take two rods a 6 foot 6 med/hvy spinning and my regular Baitcaster 6 foot 10 med/hvy, I do use braid when down there although I don't think it's an absolute. I'm sure you know to rinse those reels off every night really good in some fresh water.....the salt is a killer. The Blues and Ladyfish are fun....they are so acrobatic. If you ever tie into a Crevalle Jack watch out thats when you will want the braid.they will make any freshwater fish look like a puss anyday. Gulf Shores has really some of the best fishing on the gulf coast....there is a BassPro in Destin.... I'm not sure about Gulf Shores??? but as soon as I get down there I go int there and stock up on my salwater plugs and baits. They have really cool lures you just wont find up here and some that will work up here really well. Ozark I don't want you to think the yak thing is a must.....it's just after years of fishing the jetties and surf I started bringing some of my yaks down, which can be a pain in the butt, but, i then found out about the artificial reefs that have been sunk right off the coast.This all started making sense as I would always see outfitters with boats fishing very close to shore. Sometimes the wreck require a live Pogie to be drifted over the top to get the fish started but, once they are feeding it's on and just about anything with a little flash will work at the right depth.Oh also you probally know this but, you will need the maps that will show you the gps cordinates or general locales of those wrecks.....there is ahuge boat off of Gulf Shores, it was an old navy ship that is like a quater mile long and has developed into a huge reef. Better yet let me check tonight at home i have a map of that area wih the wrecks listed....I might be able to scan it at work and email it to you so you don't have to try to find one. The flounder fishing can be rediculous in by the jetties and some of the protected bays where docks and channles are dredged.....you can sometimes catch them like crappie......one after another

I not really concerned about what people in Rogers AR think about any fees for a fishing license in Missouri. I pay for my AR,KY and IL out of state permit every year when I fish there as I try to be legal. My opinions on the fees and amounts have nothing to do with my fondness for Smallmouth bass. it seems you think the bums who don't want to pay for a license will take away from the outdoors lobby somehow??? I think the people that don't want to pay for licenses are more than likely people who want to poach. Your attitude about a $100 license is how I feel every year when I pay my income taxes.....at least a fishing license is going to something I am passionate about.

Mike, I have been buying from a place in Evansville, IN called American Legacy Fishing Company online.I know some would scoff at the idea of buying rods online but I would only pass on this info as a friend and someone who appreciates good businesses and they are one. They are currently auctioning off all of their old Shimano Crucials and IMO they blow away the BPS Carbonlite....just my opinion. If you can deal with the ebay thing you can score bigtime. Sunday night I won an auction for this Shimano Crucial http://www.americanl...asting-rod.html the link I provided shows their sale price from their website. I won it on ebay for $58.50 shipped it's already in my boat and has a full lifetime replacement and American Legacy doesn't screw around it's no questions asked and next model up if they don't have what you bought in stock.....great service. It's just a thought as I had a Carbonlite and broke it after about 10 good hooksets. I am very fond of the cork handles on the old Crucials...now they have an EVA foam grip :oh-noes:so I am in the process of buying as many of the old ones as I can. ALFC also has some old Crucials /casting rods that are 5 foot9 md/hvy....IMO the best river rod there is to fish from a canoe or yak with. just an opinon Mike.....I'm not too fond of BPS rods anymore, a Shimano Crucial will make that Carbonlite feel like your fishing with a 2by4....ther's no comparison and a no haggle replacement even if you buy one for $50 on ebay. I too am very fond of Falcon rods and have four but they are hard to find at a discounted rate and their warranty doesn't seen to be as simple as Shimano's.....but Falcons are sweet I love my Caras Let's go hit some smallies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agreed 100% brother......screw the loosers trashing all of our resources. Raise license fees and make fuckers pay dearly to use the resource....I'm on board.....I already blow thousands on fishing, a $100 here or there I don't care if it keeps the pieces of dung away from the river I'm down.

Ozark, Gulf shores is killer fishing!!! just like Destin. I think it may be a little more fertile the closer you get to the Mississippi?? just my opinion thru fishing down there. I always fish like you said any Pompano jigs or diver jigs in pink and white w/red in the last couple of years I have been catching Redfish on just a 4 inch curly tail grub in shrimpy sorta colors that you can only get down there they seem to be working better than a DOA shrimp deal for me ....in the surf...I also like to just get out there with my yak and paddle when the tides are going which can be bad times of the day and just look for birds and fish.Then thats when I throw the topwater at them....find them blowing up on some pogies and they will destroy anything you throw. most guys will throw live bait in the surf....sand fleas and shrimps....too boring for me.I either walk up or down the beach sighting fish where I can or use the yak in the tides.The Mullet could be running that time of year and the shark fishing will be off the charts. In Gulf shores there are a few wrecks that the state of Alabama put there and they all well with in paddling distance and visual sight of the beach.Big White/Red Jigs will pull up all kinds of stuff, these wrecks provide some of the guides spots to take tourist and make a living....they always hold fish. Gulf Shores has some jetties in the Orange Beach area where the river feeds in....the fishing around those jetties when the tides are running is nuts. Also in the Ft.Morgan coast line I thought there are some jetties and piers??? hit them while the tides are running can't stress that enough. Topwater will get you your Lady's and Blues this time of year, I have never really used any cranks....it would be fun. I have had a few fish tow me on my yak for a good distance only to get away....one was my own doing as I was too far off the coast for my liking with out gps and beeing towed out to sea by something.At first I thought it was cool and was having an "Old Man and the Sea" Ernest Hemingway moment and then pussed out big time and cut the braid shaking like a leaf.....lol I love fishing down there, we go twice a year.I have really been catching some fish in the fall down ther the last couple of years and the beaches are desolate.Have fun and post some pics and a report please

Matt, I'm glad to hear you guys did well on topwater at the rodeo......it dosen't get any better some killer topwater action no matter what the species.It sounds like you had a great trip???...kudos Scott

I have to totally agree with you.....Missouri has gone to dung with how we treat our rivers and how a portion of it's residents just absolutely destroy our fish population with meat hunting and gigging. Missouri streams and rivers are in trouble and it is a direct result of the attitudes of the residents of Missouri.....we rape the stream corridors and destroy fish populations with no real penalties for our actions.....it's a joke!!!! The future in Missouri for fishing for quality smallmouth is in peril.........I might consider moving somewhere like Tennessee....just don't have enough experience there to know where to go and I also don't know the state laws well enough yet. sorry to sound so negative but after what I have witnessed in the last 4 weeks of fishing on Missouri streams it's hard to see that there is any sort of future with Missouri and river fishing.There are too many corrupt individuals in Missouri that can just desrtoy habitat and organisms way too fast for them to recover.

I'm glad to see that beautiful beast is recovering from it's gig attempt by another brillant Missouri resident who doesn't give a dung about our rivers and fish.That is a great fish for that section of the Current.... kudos to you!!!

sorry guys.......I hope you have a safe and sweet float.....my money is on Andy for a 20 incher.....aw hell who am I kidding all three of you will nail some bigguns

Sweet pond bass Gary!!! good choice for you as the rivers are in dire straights right now......very low and completely abused and over fished by our citzens right now. I know I will be doing alot more lake and pond fishing here for awhile.....too little water and way too many gapers on our rivers until fall. I hope the baseball is going good for your son???

It would be no problem at all......... in the evening those fish will be more active. It's actually pretty cool seeing the river channel down that low and having a chance to make note of structure you don't get to see....******hint for anyone trying to learn how to fish the Meramec*******. Jim,I will be down there with mine until the river goes back up if you see a camo colored yak it's probally me.

Bird Watcher, wow thanks for the info!!!! If you don't mind in your triumphs and trials on the Dark side have you noticed do Hybrids travel and feed with Whites???? Am I just getting lucky and picking off a few as they swim upstream to un ending quest they live??? I have never caught Hybrids on the lower Meramec but, as someone who sees the forage available....gizzards,mooneye,skippy's all repoducing pretty good in that part of the river.......I think Hybrids should be stocked in the Meramec basin somewhere to control the fish I just spoke of as they grow fast and get to big for the bass....I'm sorry perch I guess...........it will never happen but, it would be cool

Well, my life with a baby and a small business and a wife is getting soo stupid with lack of time to fish I've had to recently resort to fishing as close to my house as possible at lunch.....luckily the Meramec is only less than a mile away so it's all I got right now. BirdWatcher and Andy thank you soo much for the info on the Temperates it helps me try to get my head around these things.First let me say the river from the other day has dropped about 4 to 5 inches and still falling. I fished an area further down stream from the 141 bridge very close to my house.The river runs into a rock wall and makes a hard right turn, straight to the south to Fenton and George Winter Park.We live up on top of the ridge there next to Powder Valley and Emmenegger Park. The river is very low right now and be crossed by foot very easily there heres is a look at the low levels...looking downstream you can see HWY 44 bridge in the backround here is a view looking upstream.....very low I fished for about 45 minutes and caught 6 white Bass???? could be some small Hybrids??? some had very small breaks in there lines???? not sure but, they were all the same exact size about 16 inches, nothing like the brutes I had walked into at Tweaker shoal. These fish all fought very well which also made me think Hybrids....probally not maybe just decent Whites.They all were caught on a very cheap Bass Pro medium diving crank bait that looks like a shad that were $1.99 one day......I finally got use those stupid cranks..... lol I will be on the search down there for some Hybrids as I am addicted now and don't think I will be able to get off the pipe very soon..... it's good fishing baby all 6 looked exactly like this sorry it's hard to get decent pics by yourself.....I tried

Yeah I know Wayne.....It's empty but, I shouldn't keep it in there....I was just lazy.We bought a new grill that holds two tanks and I cycle three. That is an empty I was to lazy to go get refilled.

Eric, everyone is saying that about Hybrids.....I'm finding alot of the Hybrid addicts like to get them on the long rod. Jesus man I have a 7 wt not sure if it would be enough but, it would be fun to try.....not sure if I posess the skill required to do it with a flyrod. Birdwatcher, you seem to know more about these than I do also Andy. My questions are many 1) these come from the stockings in the Mississippi and other lakes where they were stocked and then they swim after food their whole life and swim up the Meramec???? 2) do they reproduce???? 3) do they ever stay in an area or just move on???? they seem to be a hard fish to get a pattern going on. Andy you're making get my boat ready to fish the Mississippi down near S. Illinois

I just now am realizing there may be a fish I like to catch than Smallmouth Bass.......Hybrids my new fav and I just caught some for the first time on the Lower Meramec.The spot I fished on a lunch break to just really kill some time and try to get my mind off my dying dog was one of the most dirty, trash laced pieces of water I have ever encountered and really just made me plain sick to say I was of the same species that could comit such stupid acts as just blatently dump trash into the river.What can you do other than try to pick other peoples trash and try to explain to them not to litter but, I digress. The spot I fished, alot of you have seen from the HWy 141 bridge and is a rock shoal where Fishpot Creek flows into the river just below the bridge.People have been fishing there forever and it shows as it is disgusting. I had my Medium wt Crucial rod with a smaller curado on it with only 10lb mono and was just screwing around as I like to say.When I thought I had snagged a Bighead or Asian Carp in the back.Whatever I had hooked into was running me up towards the begining of the shoal at a rapid rate and screaming line off my reel.Then it came down stream into a little deeper water and just bulldogged me for a bit and then ran upstream for a bit.......this was a blast whatever it was. The local tweaks who were fishing from the shoal around me began to gather in anticipation as to what was on the end of my line. I must admit I felt some pressure to not let this get off for the tweaks and really was trying best not to loose this fish when a big silver flash before me appeared and I thought, aw man it's a huge Drum!!!!! oh well they are still fun too.Thats when this fish took off again screaming upstream and I admit I was getting a little excited. I finally coaxed the fish into some more shallow water to see it and it was a Hybrid???? I was floored!!! It was a nice one too a little over 6 lbs maybe a little bigger. I gave the fish to the head tweaker on the beach as his mouth was watering looking at the fish. I didn't have a camera and this allowed me to go to the truck a good distance from where I was. I threw out 5 more times before going to the truck and caught 2 more both were quite a bit smaller about 3 to 3 1/2 lbs. I had to get back to the office and wanted a shot of the poor bastard I had just gave to the tweakers so I ran to the truck and brought a camera back.I appologize for a fish on a stringer shot but, I needed proof for few dudes on here who will question me. The water temps were 78 degrees with about an inch of visibilty and a slight poop odor, but the fishing was good.....really good and I found my new favorite fish.Although I have now learned from experience and from others that Hybrids can blow up a mans ego....they are crazy.....no ryme or reason. I went back to the same tweak shoal and not a bite or a sign of life anywhere. I will be enthusiasticly fishing the lower Mec for Hybrids now as I had no idea they came up as far as my house in Kirkwood from the Mississippi.Anyone who has caught a Hybrid will know why I am so excited....probally for nothing though

you know what i was wondering that myself....I used youtubes editing software. I think I'm going to edit it back to how it was a nd see if that doesn't fix it.

there actually was a guy down there with a fly rod and a clouser and he was catching few it looked like......I got a little excited after discovering you could catch these on the lower Meramec. There is a good amount of water flowing into a small area over a rock and gravel shelf......IMO it's the first big obstacle going upstream from the Mississippi ....although it's like 20 plus miles up from the Mississippi maybe even more like 30 plus miles up. I'm just excited