riverrat

I see the river came up 6' at Hazelgreen. Hope he didn't do anything dangerous.

Floated from Riddle Bridge to Hwy 28 on Monday. The distance of this float is 10.5 miles, the shuttle is 6.5 -7 miles. The river was low, but I think that has changed now. The weather started out cloudy then it started raining and raining and raining-had to empty the boat 3 times. Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining, I would much rather fish in the rain in July than 95 temps and the sun blaring down. Besides that the river needs the water and my fish friends sure need it. The fishing was only fair with most being caught on the buzzbait. Caught several on a fluke. Can't really use bottom bouncing baits because of the distance of the floats, but thats ok I really don't enjoy using them as much. The numbers are only estimates- about 60 bass between my buddy and me. Only about half were smallies-way too many Kentuckies in a SMB management area. The largest smallmouth was 15" -3 of them. The river was still clear when we took out. Passed over the Big and Little Piney on the way home. Both were very muddy.

You might get a better response if you ask this question on the Crooked Creek Forum.

I just loaned that book to a co-worker who says he wants to build one. We'll see and I'll report the results.

I bought a paddle jon from Blazer Boats a couple of years ago. You can custom order it with different lengths and gauge of aluminum. Took me about 2 months to get it. Its the perfect boat for me, floating in waters just above where jets can comfortably run. Its a very well made boat.

Wayne, I'd be glad to shuttle you sometime if we could schedule it on my days off. I'm interested in that float, but have never done it myself. All I ask in return is a good fishing report. Riverrat

We floated from Hwy 7 to Schlict Springs on Saturday. Again there was no traffic on the river. I only saw 1 other boat in 11 hrs, and it was a guy checking trot lines. The weather conditions were less than ideal- a front had moved through 36 hrs earlier, producing bluebird skies. The river had dropped some more this week- it is now at summertime low, which is early. We need a good general rain. We started with topwaters, trying to beat the sun. We tried buzzbaits, spooks, popr's, and torpedoes(last weeks best didn't even produce a strike). We didn't catch many early, but once the sun hit the water about 7:30 the bite got better. I tried a new(to me) lure I learned about on this forum-a wiggle diggle bait (thanks Don House). Believe it or not I caught a 15" smallie on it the with the first cast. A couple of casts later I landed a 17". I ended up catching another 15" and 4 or 5 10"-13" before they quit hitting it. Once the sun started beating down at about 11:00, the catching slowed down. The most consistent pattern then was running a buzzbait in swift water and in the weeds on the edge of the river. I did get to see a neat trick. My buddy was using a buzzbait when a 16" smallie missed it about 5 ft. from the boat. He immediately stopped the buzzbait and the fish picked it up on the fall. The best color on the buzzbait was white with a little red in it. All in all it is was just a fair day fishing- 50 with 28 over 12"- not real good for an 11 hr float, but still beats the heck out of working or honeydo's. By the way I'm starting to feel a little bit like the Maytag repairman. Does anyone else fish the middle Gasconade?

Sorry but I don't take a camera with me. I've tried that and am too worried about keeping the fish out of the water too long. If the memories fade I just go make some more. I use a paddle john and have to drag a few shoals, but not many. The shuttles on these floats are comparable to the river miles. Both floats could easily be made into 2dayers. The first one could be extended a few miles by taking out at Boiling Springs Campground-located down HwyPP off Hwy 28.

Read my reports on Gasconade 6-16 & 6-17. I'm sure conditions are similiar-except for traffic.

Took a long float on Saturday, Hwy 17 to Riddle Bridge - its just above the Smb management area and about 14 miles long. The weather conditions were almost ideal- mostly cloudy with a few light showers. The sun came out twice for about 45 min. each time, really slowing down the bite. I only saw 2 other boats all day. One of them was a jet boat, the guy was complaining about having to pull up over a shoal- my heart REALLY bleeds for him. I started out with a spook, my buddy a buzzbait. They were hitting them all day long except when the sun came out. I tried a fluke, baby chug bug, popR, skitterpop, but the lure of the day was a tiny torpedo. We caught 82 bass, with 56 over 12 in.. The largest smallmouth was 17", 3@16, and plenty of 14-15. lots of fun!

Bet you don't get a father's day present to top that one.

Fished Friday in the SMB management area on the Gasconade. The river was a little clearer than last week and had dropped some, but still not at summer time low. The weather was bright and sunny with little wind. Saw 2 other boats all day, so traffic was not a problem. I'm not sure of the exact distance of this float, but it's over 10 miles maybe 11or12. The bass were on a topwater bite early -spook and buzzbait. Switched to a fluke at about 10:30. My buddy caught 28 with 21 over 12"[i won't use the k word it makes me cringe]. I caught 37 with 14 over 12". We caught 2 smallies 16" 4@15". The numbers are accurate- we use golf counters to keep track for my journal.

Its 3 in the morning. Getting ready to float the management area today with my fishing buddy. We both have a day off so we twisted each others arm to come up with a trip. We'll put in at Riddle and take out at Hwy 28- 10 miles. Might go again tomorrow from Hwy 17 to Riddle. Wish me luck and I'll post a report

MDC has had smallmouth management areas for 14 yrs now and keep adding new areas every year-thats great but don't you think its time they took the next step to a catch and release area?

We caught 2 16" smallmouth and 4 more 14-15. The gasconade also has some good largemouth in the eddies. My buddy caught a 4-5 lber running a buzzbait over the logs. I fish the management area a lot, had some very good days on it. There is a little more traffic on this section of the river-but by no means crowded, with most floaters seriously fishing. When I go during the week I might see 2 other boats in 10 miles. The accesses are a problem . There is a MDC ramp at riddle bridge. The next public ramp is at Jerome-20+ miles. There is a pay ramp at Boiling Springs Campground. I think there are more smallmouth in the 14-18 in range than on other sections of the river. Jet boats are not a problem until you get below the mouth of the Big Piney- I only fish that section in winter.

Rich has sold his place and retired- having trouble with his back. Got a fishing trip pending with him now that he has the time-great guy

I put in on private land and floated to Schlict Springs, but that doesn't really matter because if you stay below Hazelgreen and above Hwy 28, you're not going to see floaters in any numbers. The public accesses in this stretch are far apart, which doesn't hurt the fishing. The only float I wouldn't recommend is from Schlict Springs to Hwy 17. The river loses some of its volume here and doesn't get it back until just above Hwy 17. The river was in good shape-easily floatable and the color was just right-the Gasconade is never really clear except in winter. My buddy started out with a buzz bait and ended up with a buzz bait, I think he threw a beavertail for about 5 casts-he's pretty hardheaded, but he caught the biggest and most fish of the day. I started out with a spook and had some hits but no hookups. Switched to my personal favorite-Super Fluke. Caught a few on it early but they were grabbing it by the tail. Since my buddy was catching some on a buzzbait, I thought a topwater with more noise would work. I tried a pop-r skitterpop and torpedo all with no luck. I then tried some bottom lures(spidercraw and centipede) with no bites. Switched back to my fluke, but used a 5/0 instead of a 4/0 hook(my usual) and this seemed to help. By the way I would have thrown a buzz bait some but a clumsy oaf(me) stepped on my rod and broke it at 5:30 in the morning. Despite breaking a rod, the fish not biting very well, and it being hotter than blazes, I really enjoyed myself-that's because I am a riverrat.

Floated the Gasconade yesterday with my fishing buddy. Caught 40 bass between us with about 75percent smallmouth. Couldn't really figure out a consistent pattern, except they bit better after the sun hit the water. Really enjoyed the float only saw one other boat in 10 hrs of floating and this was on a Saturday- no aluminum hatch here!

I don't know where to begin, but here goes. I love to fish. This year because of family concerns, I only get to fish about 1/4 as much as usual. This forum has been a sanity saver for me. Where else can you go and learn about fishing for free. I wish I would have had advice on lures and techniques early in my fishing life. I would be a better fisherman now and would not have a basement full of lures that don't work very well. Oh well you're never too old to learn. To me this forum is all about helping each other, learning, and good fellowship. BE NICE. Even though I don't trout fish or fish for black bass in the lakes I read Mr. Babler's posts religiously, because I know he knows what he's talking about and some of it is going to translate to my river smallmouth fishing. I think everyone who read the post that upset Mr Babler thinks it was way out of line. We need Mr. Babler here. Help me out guys

My personal favorite soft plastic is a Zoom super fluke-colors white pearl or glimmer blue. Rig it Texas style with a 4/0 ewg hook. Fish it slow and don't be afraid to throw it anywhere. In deeper water let it sink before you start your retrieve. Another good plastic is a Chompers centipede, rigged with a 2/0 hook and an 1/8 oz sinker-color green pumpkin. I also use a 5" Chompers spider craw on a 1/8 or 1/4 oz. stand up jig head-color green pumpkin. If these don't work I downsize to a small grub or a 4" straight tail worm-color purple. By the way I always make sure they're not hitting on topwaters first-MUCH MORE FUN. Hope this helps-Riverrat

I need a little more information on what size rod you'll be using- some of my favorite plastics would not work on a light action rod.

Has anyone fished the Gasconade lately?

Can't add too much to what has already been said except maybe that in the bright sunshine you can use shade almost like you would structure. I also want to stress that there are always exceptions to the rules. Some of my best fish come from water that is not productive, so keep your lure in the water.

Both-www.riverhillstraveler.com

In my opinion a light drizzle will actually help a topwater bite, but any more than that creates too much 'background noise' for the fish to find the lure. Had this same conversation with one of the best fisherman I know and he said to switch to a spinnerbait under these conditions. Riverrat