Smalliebigs

Nice report Scott.......the learning curve on fishing for smallies on rivers can be tough.You might need to try exploring some small creeks.Get yourself a Missouri Gazeteer and do some exploring....just wade up or down from some bridges.You won't have the traffic of the river and the fish are way less pressured....as long as you don't mind wading butt to neck deep in some water. The only problem is you might have to deal with landowners some real cool and some not so cool. I wish I could take you somewhere and put you on some fish, there's nothing I like more than putting someone on some fish thats seems to be just getting into it....very satisfying for me see someone catch a nice smallie and see the grin on their face.

Mitch, here's one from my front yard.........I hope he's doing a number on the mice and chipmunks.....love those Black snakes http://youtu.be/aZtGwnIK6D8

Blaze, I would envite as many people as possible to keep as many spotted Bass as they can catch.What I was referencing was I drove by a low water bridge on the upper Bourbeuse last week and quite a few people were fishing from the bank and catching and keeping Smallies and Largemouth. Hey, they aren't supposed to keep them until after the 31st of May and it's well known that the smallies stack up this time of year when the water is flowing on the Bourb, especially at the bridges,.......they are very easy targets and illegal to keep.Most of the people there I questioned knew exactly what they were doing and some were just stupid.The game warden was called and they said they were going go back and hide at the access. Blaze all I can say is thank you for throwing back all the smallies as you say you do.....I have been doing the same for over 20years now with Smallmouth on our rivers. I fish your area of the river alot and it in my opinion is the MOST productive and fertile for truly big smallies, so I envy you brother for your choice of a place to live....kudos. One thing, not only do I fish from Sand Ford to Redhorse quite a bit I am very fond of it and cherish it.So that beeing said I have been witnessing a ton of Smallies and mostly big Smallies beeing gigged in your area over the last three or four years or so. The problem has seemed to get worse in the last two years, I was just wondering if you ever see any covert actions on the part of illegal gigging??? I think they are accessing around Plum ford or some the private ramps above there???? If you live at K and love the river and throw back smallies this should be a concern of yours. I 'm not sure how we are going to stop it but, I know the Chief of Police of St.Clair is now going to start to help.so if you know any of these ingnorant fools that are illegaly gigging try to tell them the storm that is comming their way. Blaze I hope to see you out there soon on the Mec.....I want a boat just like yours but, it's probally going to be an Alweld

Scott, Have fun, be safe and experiment thru trial and error. Smallies are an agressive fish, if you use your intincts and observe the river closely you will do good and it will be more gratifing to you to do most of this on your own. Lessons are to be learned on the river just like in school and some pick it up faster than others and excel more than others. The true enjoyment of catching a monster smallie on the river can only measured by you, so make your own rules and go hammer em and report back....we love report and pics here or at least I do and I'm intrigued to see what you can do. Have a blast!!! Scott, I will give you one tip that you have already more than likely been given but, I'll tell you again. This applies to smaller rivers and creeks more but, Smallmouth will tend to group up at the begining of a hole right after the ripple leading into the hole and conversely they will group up at the end of a hole near the begining of the next ripple. These ambush points if fished the right way with out spooking the fish before you enter the area will produce some of the bigger fish in the hole. Some will probally laugh at what I'm telling you but, trust me I'm just trying to help someone who seems to be starting to chase smallies that will be an ehtical and conservation minded fisherman......we need more of those on our rivers and less of the type that were raised to meat hunt at all cost like a butcher. sorry for the rant......witnessed a bunch of locals sitting at a low water bridge at the Bourb just hammering smallies and largemouth and keeping them....some ignorantly and some with meat on their minds......and yes proper authorities were notifed so if you are reading this I would'nt go back there they are staking it out to bust you.......at least I hope

Al, what about creeks that run into the Mississippi??? are they Shadow Bass or N. Rock Bass??? I ran into a mess of them yesterday, I don't particularly care for how they fight but they are beautiful and IMO the most agressive fish in the river. It's hard to keep them off your line sometimes and it always seems like I'll see a monster smallie and go to cast to it and a Goggle Eye ....sorry Shadow Bass hits it before the smallie even knows the lure is in the water......oh well, they are beautiful.

Hit a creek real fast in Jefferson County as I was jonesing real bad for a smallie.It was a quick hit and run as the amount of beds scared me away.It was fun while it lasted here is the only decent smallie pic as it is hard to do by yourself with an iphone I also found out this creek has tons of goggle eye from 8 to 10 inches, not my cup of tea but, they are a beautiful fish The smallies are on the spawn for sure in that area.......i'm staying away for awhile. here is a smallie defending it's bed, I found it to be interesting to just sit and watch

Nice Gavin.....good for you!!! .......I guess I should have demanded my lawyer to get me out of court...lol Awsome smallie buddy and lets see some better pics

What up???

I can't agree more Andy.....two rods. There are guys I fish with that will bring everything but the kitchen sink with them....6 rods??? I have to simplfy things in my older age.....two rods

Mic, you can anytime....it's just I go with it. I intend on rigging this thing to bring out the fishing beast that lies within. I really need to get the seating area right and get this sucker comfortable and fishing friendly........so I can get people like Mitch in a canoe and get them out there with me.

Sweet!!! and brillant and thanks E...hope ya don't mind my copying your idea a bit

That is funny Mitch.....I love it. Good man, make sure everyone does their homework too......no freebies here

That's interesting everyone says a double bladed paddle is the best for these and I tend to agree with you. I have several paddles but will probally use these long single blade paddles I have from Camp Tittycocka. I am not even thinking of drilling holes in it like those dudes did....that just seems silly, I rarely anchor but, it always seems like there is water where I think to myself I wish I had an anchor. I travel as light as possible. I usually fish areas that require a good bit of dragging. I have always heard you want to move the seating area forward about 6 inches and I would like to put a nice Wise seat in there like the guy from riverbassin did that you can remove, that's pretty slick. This rig will be my guest rig for when I take people who don't have a vessle....they are such a cool looking little canoe I must admit.

I totally agree with you there on the rod thing. It's funny to see what people from other parts of the country think is a great way to rig their canoes. They really love Old Town Guide 119's in the Mid Alantic and the South. I really just want to re arrange the seating area and am worried how low or high to set the new bench with a seat on it.

I was in Dicks the other day and saw they had a few camo OG 119's for $399.00 and knowing I had another $80 in gift certificates.....well, can't pass up a rig like that for that price. That beeing said it's time to modify!!!! I am current using some ideas from these guys on changing the seat http://riverbassin.com/forum/showthread.php?6436-My-Rendition-of-the-Tricked-Out-Old-Town-Guide-119 some great ideas on those links as well.....Eric1978 you have posted pics of your OG119 many times but, can you possibly post again as I am having a hard time finding a post from recently that had the pics of your mods.....thank you in advance E. I am no carpenter......I suck with tools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this should be interesting

Reservoir Smallmouth in every bigger lake in Terre Du Lac, they all have plenty of pea gravel and are all rock bottoms and have some colder temps than most of the lakes near them. I know a dude who has been putting smallies in our lake which only 73 acres for about 6 years.....under the radar......I am by no means advocating this and I have told him he should'nt do it but the smallies have taken off in my opinion in our lake.i caught a 16 incher last weekend so I know they are growing, I just wish I knew if they were reproducing. little secret one of the lakes in Terre du Lac has smallies and they fight like crazy....super bulldogs

I have nothing what so ever to do with the thing that is showing up at the top of this forum.......I have more motorized vessels than non and will soon be buying a jetrig.......that's not my challenge and I am not affiliated with it one bit. I do know Mike and he is very honest and genuinely wants to promote Smallmouth fishing on rivers with a catch, photo, and release style tourney......it sounds pretty cool to me....I really think the results and pics of the catch and releases will be very interesting. I plan to participate and am excited about it but this dickhead has nothing to do with it.

lol....sure Seth I want all guns banned....give me a break... I own quite few legal guns and have a certain permit classifcation listed on my state id.....I don't want guns banned. you pointed out the what I was saying how gigging is dangerous to game fish....if you can't identify game fish from suckers gigging is bad for game fish even if you are doing it with the best of intentions and trying to be legal.This gets compounded when you are accidently gig a game fish that takes an extremely long time to mature and grow big in our rivers......**Smallmouth Bass** Label me all you want Seth as some sort of wack job lib........you are far from the truth buddy

I like this one Jim, myself......I like the sound of the rock right as he turns thru there.......goofy clowns http://youtu.be/eKWSCH4iDPo

If you're married and your gross income is more than $250,000 you will be taxed 3.8% on any sale of property....you will be exempt from the first $500,000 of profit. Well we own our house and unfortunately for me and my wife we will fall into this income bracket that I'm sure all you libs will lable as rich and should be taxed to the hilt. No one was using the "Big Lie" system. the only lie or fraud was crap like this beeing passed with out anyone reading or informing the public of what the ###### is going on. I guess you can say sell your house fast if your going to get a divorce and own your house Why would I need a new mortgage guy???? he informed correctly.....I need some new politicians in DC and Missouri

I just found out from my banker/mortgage guy if you sell your house after 12/31 of 2012 you will be paying a 3.8% sales tax to help pay for the Healthcare mandate........wtf.....that ought to help the housing market. What a joke....this is what happens when you push a bill thru congress in the middle of the night and try not to let anyone read it.Most of our elected politicians should be hung from a stout branch for treason.

this was posted on another fishing forum by a friend of mine in PA.....I'm sure it will illustrate where jets probally shouldn't go and give some of you an Anurisium....lol RiverPro's are made right in Hilsboro by Kevin Turner and are a brute on the river http://youtu.be/W-hqa6kYnNo here is another example of the capabilty of a RiverPro...crazy

OMG, Paul you just made me piss myself here at the desk I'm laughing so hard

sweet vids !!!!! Mike.... very cool

Nice Big River Smallie!!! good job!!