Smalliebigs

I fished from Friday morning until Monday morning, It wouldn't be my choice of weekends to fish but, beggars can't be choosers. First let me say that Table rock is simply beautiful and my favorite lake to fish but, humbles me more often than not and is getting hit so hard it's nuts.At virtualy every spot that I was told to go to or that I thought would be productive there was someone already there by 5:00am. I stayed up late Thursday talking with a friend in Lampe to make my game plan. He gave me his version of what was happening and it seems as though ever since the lake turned over there has been either an algae bloom or just stained water more than what people of the Rock are used to. I personally thought this was a good thing. I went out on a hunch about 9 miles up river to Big Creek and went to what's called Dodson Hollow I believe.The water temps at Baxter dock were 74 when I started fishing Friday and were 78 when I pulled out the trailer today and somewhat stained looking for Table Rock......but would be considered clear anywhere else...lol. I started fishing the main creek point by a dock at 5:36am and proceeded to catch a few short Spots on topwater and one decent 16 inch smallie.I had a dude with me who had never really fished for bass out of a boat and was insisting on using his spinning reel combo he uses in trout parks.......dork!!! When we proceeded into the cove a bit I noticed fish just blasting shad from the back third of the cove to the end and I mean just destroying them. At first I thought they were White bass.When we trolled into them closer and started catching them or when I started catching them, the guy I was with could never hook up on any of these fish with his trout rod.....oh boy... these fish were all a mixed bag of Blacks....it was a trip!!!! they were all the same size, 14 to 15 inches and were equal amounts of Largemouth, Smallies and Kentucky's......really wild. The action was crazy and the guy I was with had never seen anything like it and didn't seem to know what to do. I caught them so fast and furiously from 5:45 to about 7:30 when the Ski Nautique started circling right near timber by are little haven......it was a joke. here are a few pics of the fish that were smacking,whacking and slurping what looked to be about three inch shad It was weird all three species feeding like that and it was shallow water.I didn't fish the evening bite as the family obligations of the two year old daughter and the wife took over.I was told those shad wouldn't be there the next morning but, I had to see and they were there and like a junkie I had to get my fix.Some might not find catching bass in the 14 to 15 range that thrilling but I just used my medium weight rods and it was a figgin blast. I tried to let stuff drop thru them to get to some lazy, fat giants below picking off dead ones but the water was not that deep in that little cove.I never could get a kicker fish to hand.By Monday morning they were still there and I had to get my fix again. You could catch them on a variety of topwater baits and then pick off followers with a nice grub.I used a Redfin, LC Waketail and a DogX. It was lots of fun and clensed my soul for sure.By 6:45am today I told my self to quit beeing a puss and go fish some deep water structure somewhere that had something different. I went to a spot very close by at a main river channel point I had been running by every morning like a fiend. It was where the river turns to Big Creek going upstream at Kingsland Hollow on the right side. I was in 60 feet of water throwing to all kinds of chunk rock little ledges and cedar it looked like, I'm not sure what depth I was getting my jig to, I think about 25 to 35 ft. I worked the point pretty good, about 20 cast when I had a decent little hit and then my stupid brain let apathy set in. I set the hook and the fish came at the boat pretty good and I was thinking another 13 to 14 inch Kentucky.....when this dark brown,black monster flipped in the air and I saw it the biggest Smallmouth that has ever been on my line.She gave me a great jump and perfect look right in my face and did the typical Trock smallie thing and took off down like a bat out of hell, she ran about ten feet of drag and the jig just came out of her.........I blew it!!!!!!!!!! I Jonny nonchalanted it at first!!!!!!!!!!!! but.....it was so mind blowing for me and so awsome to see that big of a Smallmouth just punk my butt out. I'm not bummed.....I'm happy....I have never seen a Smallie like that before.This will deffinitely invigerate my hunger to land a giant smallie there.....what a fishery!!!! The next state record on a Smallmouth will come from Table Rock it's just a matter of when and wether it's reported.Oh, the smallie was enticed on a Hart Justice jig 1/2 ounce in Green Pumkin/Grn Flake/Chart with a Prowler Pro Craw Grn/Pumpkin trailer. I quit keeping count of how many bass I caught in Dodson Hollow....I have Bass thumb so bad on my right hand it burned in the shower just a minute ago.It didn't matter how many drivers from Illinois cut me off on the drive back to St.Louis on 44 or whether my daughter puked in my back seat of the truck from car sickness, I couldn't wipe the grin off my face.My wife even commented on that.During that drive home I kept thinking to myself on Mermorial Day weekend, a weekend warrior like me can do this at Table rock???? well sometimes a blind squirrel can find a nut......did I say I love Table rock????? and can't wait to get back....There are giant Smallies swiming around in that lake....... and I will be day dreaming about them in my office for a bit until I am lucky enought to get back. on a side note I did jig a White Bass out of some deep water on a BPS Strata Spoon 3/4 ounce in 160 ft of water along Lookout point by the cliffs and they fight in the Rock like nowhere else I've fished.......I'm not used to White Bass that big

Al, that is amazing that that stretch would produce like that. My buddy floated that stretch right before you by 4 days and had similar results if not better.I fished that section about 10 days before you and caught big Largemouth as well....not quite 21 inches though. Every river, stream, and lake in Missouri is getting pounded into submission and something will have to give eventually......I'm the worst offender.....so fish on.

I can Mike, To start at Pallisades is a horrible spot to leave a car as the retards will break in your car or try to siphon your tank. The river there used fish good and still does if you hit it right. I have caught a lot of big Spotted bass there and downstream for about a mile, it is kinda flat there will a huge gravel deposit going on which can be a bit hectic. the river fishes there much like it does on most of the lower Meramec the fish are there they just really tend to school up a bit and only feed in small spurts when the time is right or your technique is right.Most people find it to be horrible fishing because of what i just said....they don't know how oe when to hit it. when you get below the Pallisades a bit it's actually quite pretty with some cool limestone and hills.there are about ten houses on the lefthand side as you go down and they will be full of guest this weekend thats for sure and the jet boat traffic will suck this qweekend as well. I know I'm sounding like Debbie Downer but, it's the reality. If your taking your family and only wanting to float and not camp at the end then go to this linkhttp://oldcovecanoe.com/ They aren't the biggest canoe outfitter but they have two floats that both go back to your car....which is the only way I would ever go with an outfitter.One float is long and one is nice and short but both are in an area of the Meramec that you will see less crowds....mabey a few jetboats... but also they float thru the second best section of the river if you truly want to catch a real trophy Smallie 20 and over....very fertile section of the river. Ignorant guys on here will say to go to the upper sections of the river where it is crystal clear and wall to wall complete dorks. There is another outfitter in Sullivan called Three Rivers that will float you from Blue Spring Creek ramp to Sappington Bridge...not as crowded as most.

I assume you guys were worried about this bill?????

Andy, yes it was the same people.........we were not to smart about it. I should have gave them my story.....that goes like this. Hey you seem like nice people so I am going to let you know ahead of time before my uncle gets here. when I go floating here my uncle who is the chief of police of whatever the closest town is and he checks my vehicle when I'm on the river. We are running late and he should be here real soon....he's kind of a dick and will check you guys on everything from your plates to your license.....if you want to go thru that your more than welcome, I'm just telling you he's comming here real soon if you want to get out of here before he gets here..........it seems too work everytime....the hoosiers usually leave with in 5 mins. We were naive and too trusting but, I learned my lesson.....again.....I hope

Larry and Gavin it was sweet hooking up with you two for that float. Meeting other dudes with same passion I have for the rivers was pretty cool. I was kinda in my own world out there on that Coosa, I wasn't a s chatty as I would normally have been if I would have been drinking and fishing. I have already contacted the Pulaski County Sheriff and Conservation agent for the BigPiney about the hacked Smallie at the take out and the Methheads that got us. I should have know better but, I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. All I can say is are rivers our in great hands with the "locals" from taken fish out of season to driving your stock Silverados across the river all to matained by Methheads camping on the public acess boat ramp who will siphon you after you kindly give them a jump for their dead battery. They had been up all night tweaking on the ramp trying to cram a thought thru their methed brain on how to get this Crown Vic out of the river bed. Then we show up......city boys with vehicles,canoes,kayaks, and gas.......I should have done all of society a favor and walked them into the woods and put them down in the creek. The Piney thru there as Gavin so poigantly put it will not be on my Bucket List......the habitat is less than desirable and the locals just beat the living dung out of the Piney there between ignorance and gigging. It is very pretty but, the river was very lacking in life general....there just wasn't many fish in there....I stood half the time looking for fish and trying to scare fish from rootwads and not many at all. The topwater bit was okay and the biggest I caught was about 16 inches. We saw people driving trucks across the river, keeping Smallmouth out of season and cow farms with access to dung and piss where they want and destroy their side of the river. We saw a group of fatties with ofcourse one chick with a good body....all in all a fun float just not a good fishing float. I would float anywhere with Gavin and Larry as they both have the same passion about smallmouth fishing I do and love the rivers, so in that sense it was great to meet two really fine individuals that I would enjoy to float with again

RATSNAKE...Blueracer...whatever you want to call it......they are awsome to have around the house and barn.We have a couple 6 or 7 footers under my front porch and the wife wants me to kill them soo bad but, it's not happening.

It sounds a little long OTF but, it sounds pretty friggin sweet!!!! planning and organization would help. It sounds like you have been hitting the Bourb like I have????

Greasy, You are soo correct and even more if you use barbless this technique works flawlessly. I think Gavin once posted a good diagram of this??? Here is the best info I could find on how to do what Greasy is talking about ,I use it just like Greasy with barbless and it always seems to work really well. http://www.a-guide-to-florida-bass-fishing.com/gut-hook.html

I like the Poon????? I'd let her strip my 9wt after a few Tanqueray-n-tonics. I'm with Andy I don't know what was worse the music or the capt in the backround who just won't shut the f up.

I use these now instead of Sammies on streams but, I still like Sammies.......http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Cultiva_Zipn_Ziggy_325_13_oz/descpage-OCZNZ.html A dull knife can make one of these walk 8 to 10 inches and the smallies eat them......Baby Bass and Shiner. I still use Sammies but, I just don't believe the hype and I don't feel that you should have to modify your plugs out of the box........that is a joke......crappy control measures on their part.

I think that is just south of Panama City and the cape protects a smallish to medium size bay??? Right now the Cobia are running up the coast and they can be sight fished. They look big and black, similar to a shark and can be sighted and then you can throw a big Pompano jig at them or a live eel and they will hit. You will need at least 30 to 50 pound braid as they fight real good and will tow a kayak a long way. In the surf you can catch Pomano and Redfish on Pompano jigs. When fishing in the ocean near the coast everything is very dependant on the tides, if someone tells you differently they are ignorant so when you get there get a publication that will show when the incoming and out going tides are going to happen and fish when these are occuring.....I can't stress to you how important that is. Up the coast from where you are is Apalachicola Bay at Panama City and there is an inlet to the bay with jetties....Shell Island area??? when the tide is going in or out, in this inlet will be full of Redfish,Spanish Mackrel,Ladyfish,Snapper and Grouper. all you need is the gumption to fish during the tides with some nice big topwater and jigs. Get out in that inlet with your yak if you aren't afraid of big boats and you will hammer them. As for St.Joe Bay it is very wide and not real deep but holds fish, you need a boat for it to be safe in my opinion....the wind can kill you there quick. Go just south to the inlets at St.Vincent Island and Sand Island and Little St.George Island and on down the coast as there are about 5 or 6.Just like I said before during the tides in those inlets the food for the fish namely Shrimp,Pogies and small Ballyhoo will be forced threw these areas and the big fish will be going nuts slamming them during the tides.Any inlets with jetties are good fishing but can be very dangerous to walk on....many,many tourist break their legs on the jetties from Memorial day to Labor day down there. Your tackle it will be adequate you can deal with it.....I would put some braid on, the Blues aren't running yet.....wire leader thats up to you.....I don't. Spanish have teeth and sharks. do your self a favor and rent or take a yak and fish from it as fishing from the beach is lame and unless if the tides are running and you don't have a 12 surf rod and live bait. I fish with a guy who brings a Twelve foot ladder and puts in in the sand off the beach and fishes from it.....he sights fish and does real well that way....I just take my yaks.I hope this helps....I suck at typing a report on how to do this....just know how to do it. go to a shop down there and get some pink and white Pompano jigs,Bommer Badonk-a-donks, in Natural mullet 4 inch, 1 ounce, all kinds of White w/ a little red jigs work for me. DOA shrimp lures as well as their DOA Terror Eyes work good. I caught sevel Redfish not too long ago around the Destin area on Bass Assassins in a color you won't find up here called Electric Chicken, rigged with a 1 ounce jighead at the East Pass......during the incoming tide Have fun and post some pics if ya do any good.

Flinger, I have one of those too.....off of HWY 79 out of Annada. It is something that spoils you and once it's not available to you anymore you realize, wow we had it good. I think I can get back into my "Basslake" but there is a divorce settlement that is pissing off the owner of the land and i'm on the wrong side of the divorce. I have contacted my ex-brother in law about fishing there and he says it's cool but his dad is the owner and can be a very nasty gentleman. I think Basslake needs to be hit soon.....possibly covertly??? 4 to 6 bass very common with the average beeing 2 to 3 and Crappie all day long around 11 to 12 inches.....oh and Grass Carp that were put in 28 years ago when the series of lakes was a fish farm.....these things would be state records if you could get in there to fish.....5 feet long....giant cows feeding on the moss for years They are HUGE!!!!!! I miss Bass Lake although a lake like that screws up your expectations and ego

I caught one once on the Big Piney that was very Black and not a bad size fish....I just wish it wouldn't have been 17 years ago and I would have been able to get a better image, this was taken with an old disposable kodak.

All you need now is some flowing cool water,some boulders, a bit of wood and some Arkies.Lightly stirred with a shot of river dribble and it's on!!!! I can't wait for the lodge brother. Do you think you could shotgun while standing???? that's one of my goals on the river this year.....K float is going to be as stupid as ever, we need to seriously consider floating behind or ahead of the freaks this years at least for the 3 mile middle section, I like to call "The Zone" "ps. Hey Paul, If your new wife bought you a kayak, she's definatley a keeper.....no catch and release here." Mitch, she is definitely a keeper.......I posted a pic on here once with a 17 1/2 inch smallie she caught right in front of us one evening and you guys drooled over her and I was accused of posting pics of the same fish or something to that effect. The Turtle Whisperer is the bomb.....Paul is a very lucky young man, with his prized catch he deserves it......he's one of the best people I know

Looks very nice Gary, did you move??? thats a sweet piece of land for st.charles. Have you and your son been hitting any smallies before the baseball goes nuts for the summer???

Worm, I can echo what my friend the Kayak Kid said as a person of interest to the Black River, people like you who fish the Black I am exstatic to see and please come back and if you ever want to try the float again.......well, I know all the forks very well and have trailers and am just trying to give my wife an excuse to go there.Let me know I've got the vehicles, vessles and trailers just need to know when. The black is an extremely beautiful river if you know where and when to hit it. I hope to be living in that region on a piece of water as my final home in the next decade.I appologize to the current residents of Reynolds and Iron counties in advance for my arrival. Scott scottd@iiistl.com

Awsome!!!! and it looks like that sow has already dropped her eggs for sure which is really awsome........shes a skinny hungry girl

Lol.........there is water less traveled in Missouri????????.........not below HWY 44. Yoy may think noboby is fishing there but, they are. Unless you live at the rivers edge you will never know how much people are hitting the water. People like me are hitting every ditch that holds water and only during the week. Good luck with the guide thing.......it would be fun occupation....better than sitting in an office like I am right now, getting screamed at on the phone about insurance rates going up and surfing porn. I never realized there were that many people needing to be shown what to do and where to go in regards to river fishing.I guess if you don't want to or don't have the time to get out there and explore and do your homework on your own, which is half the fun if you ask me, a guide is necessary on a river. It's taken me 25 plus years of my life to get where I am as far it goes with river fishing.....a ton of driving and trial and error but, it's been a hell of a ride

Wow!!!!!!! awsome !!!!!! congrats to you and take care of that exhausted wife. We had our first two years ago, at the age of 41 at the time I freaked out but, it has been the best two years so far of my life as my life is finally not all about me. The fishing time has been chopped but, it will come back....it already has started to. Congrats dude......shes beautiful

" plus several thousand dollars in damages!" That seems a litlle excessive to me but, that the mindset of people today. Civil lawsuit judgements are the disabilty of the new generation of Americans.

Ha, thats hilarious about the smallie......I wish they were all that way, I guess??? You said it was very crowded at shady Beach........was it very crowded on the river above there???? Did you guys see any beds at all??? I have been out of town for a bit and am trying to get an idea of where the bass are at in their spawning stages on the Meramec. Any day out on the river is a good day Blaze I know how you feel about not having any lizards in the boat.Recently a buddy of mine were fishing that area and brought every lure we thought we would need.Except any topwater??????? wtf were we thinking.....anyway thru out the day we were not very sucessful and when we talked to a friend who fished up stream from us they hammered them with topwater My buddy and I felt pretty stupid and once again learned a valuble lesson.......if you are really intending on catching some you better bring everything but the kitchen sink, Smallies on the river will change what they are eating and how agressively they are eating it, at the drop of a hat. I think this is more prevalent on rivers than lakes. Thanks for the input Blaze and I'm ready to nail some Smallies after beeing in Florida for awhile.

We went to florida for the last 9 days or so and the fishing was okay.I caught several Redfish the biggest only about 3 to 4 pounds, a Pompano that I later found out was very large, 20 inches and fat. I also had a King Mackrel off the beach hook up and run me for a bit and then just came loose??? It really is hard to get pics by yourself, I don't really have any good ones to show ya....I do have a vid from my condo's balcony of a nice Hammerhead causing drama.....I thought was cool but, it's not the best vid as it was from my iphone and from about 75 yards....look for the big black figure by the lifegaurd on the atv....he's trying to keep people from getting in the water by the shark....lol http://youtu.be/fta8OkjOrWg all in all it was another great trip of getting fat and tan on the beach.....and fishing from a kayak in the surf and at the East Pass

Britts, I'm very sorry for your loss. It sounds like you gave Junior a great time and I'm sure it was reciprocal. My best friend in the world next to my wife is my Bluetick Hound Sadie and she is holding on but I know her time to go chasing minnows down the creek is coming sooner than later. It is funny how much respect and love, Sadie has shown me over the last 13 1/2 years. She is the best dog I have ever raised and is one of the best creatures I have ever known.She will be missed greatly. R.I.P, Junior......probally chasing some pheasant till the day is long somewhere

Very nice Paul, you did pretty good considering the cold front that came thru right before you went. Our creature bait is a crutch....but you know and I know most people don't fish it right and it will never catch on with the masses, which is cool with me. I know you were stoked to get that rig on the water and now we need to go hit some far out, goofy places. How did your buddy like the Malibu miniX??? nice report and pics, thats what we need to get back to here. after spending the last 9 days with that stupid Coosa down in the Gulf I can tell you it has a really big flaw.....it does'nt surf waves in worth a shiot.I could only get it to surf to the beach once out of many ,many attempts. Once out of the muck in the surf it was a dream ride and very nice to fish out of.