creek wader

Al makes a lot of sense, he always does. I'm one of the guilty ones that letall bass go including the spots. I know it is better for the smallies if I kept them. My main problem is that most that I catch are <12. I don't want to drag around 1 or 2 keepers with me in an ankle to knee deep stream for 4 or 5 hrs. In my opinion, there should be a no size limit on spots. Of course then, many people would then be keeping every bass of any size. Which would lead into another problem. Oh well, I think I will carry a mesh bag with me the next few times out and see how many spot keepers, that I can catch.

Not to get off subject, but historians doubt if Jesse James was even in on the raid on Lawence. He would of only have been 16 at the time. Even if he was, he would of only had played a minor role. Although, Jesse always bragged about being there. His older brother, Frank, was there, however. Quantrell led the raid on Lawence. John Brown did his thing, long prior to the Civil War. He was on the opposite side of the fence, than the James and Quantrell. He was an abolishinist. His raid was at Harper's Ferry Armory, WV. Ironically, It was a Union Armory.

Glad to hear that you guysdid well. I'm going to try to get down there, this fall. if not next spring for sure. .. Wader

RSBreth, Good report. I haven't see very many reports on the Little Niangua, other than mine. I haven't fished it in mid-summer, yet. Glad to here that you did well. ..Wader

I've never kept any smallies or goggle-eye, for that matter. I don't fault people for keeping them as long as they obey the regs. It's the ones that keep everything, that bother me. ...Chief, I'll keep in touch with you. Keep sending those good reports. ... Wader

Ok, Here's a question for all you smallie guys. How many of you keep smallies? How many of you release smallies?

It doesn't affect me either. But, it would be the same if you floated from the standard statewide 12" keeper zones into a 1 fish 18" keeper zone. As with all regulations, nothing is perfect and it is is always tough to enforce exsiting regs., anyway. I don't know the answer. I guess I'll just keep doing my part and hope for the best. By the way, Chief, we still want to hit your favorite haunts next spring if your still game. How is it in the fall, say mid-late Oct? My brother has never stream fished for smallies. He has some time off, this year, around then. I can probably get off work around then, also. ... Wader

I personally would like to see more C & R, sections of the streams for smallies. I think that would help stem the over harvest by the local good ole boys. There is very little enforcement of regulations. Fisherman are on the honor system. As in anything, some people will always viloate the regulations, when they think they can get by with it. Many "weekend warriors", keep everything they catch. Regardless of size. I believe that these are the fisherman that are doing the most damage on smallies. I believe that most true smallie fisherman practice C&R. Most baitfishers, fish for cat and suckers. But, they cause a lot of collateral damage, when they catch a variety of fish off thier worm. Of course, there will always be violators. If there were no "smallie zones". Then eventually most peolpe would come around to the thinking, that "hey, it's a smallie, you gotta throw it back". As opposed to "I'm not sure what the length limit is, or even if there is one, but I know you can keep em, heck there's no one around". Also, I know it's not just the fisherman hurting the smallies. It's a combination of habitat destruction, water quality, the spotted invasion, otters, farmers taking out the ripparian corridor, causing the widenning and shallowing of streams, and of coarse people keeping everything they catch. I still think "no smallie zones" would help out somewhat. Just a thought.

One of these days, I've got to get down there and hire one of you guides. I love smallie fishing. Seems you guys at the Rock do pretty well. Also, I'm a diver and been awhile, since I dove the Rock. The diving is pretty good, for the midwest.

As far as little ones are concerned. I'm sure a few critters may eat one occasionally. But, I'm sure they are not a prime food source for any critter. I doubt that anything will eat a grown one except humans. And yes, I agree with KATroutman13. You can eat them. They have a tube, like a sturgeon or a spoonbill. Thier meat is white, and they eat the same things as a catfish, which most everybody eats. I've had people show me how to clean sturgeon. I imagine it would be the same way. Although, I really can't remember how they did it. I've never eaten one. When you think about it, people eat livers, gizzards, rocky mountain oysters, brains, chittlins, and other organs. So, in comparison, a gar won't be that bad. Besides, everything tastes good, when it's fried.

This has been a long debated subject. I can see both sides of it. I'm a former land owner that had problems with tresspasers, fishing my ponds and hunting deer, on my property. I can see why landowners wouldn't want people on thier property. Not everybody who uses the outdoors obeys the laws. Those are the ones that usually litter. Then again, even though I try to fish on public propety. I don't always, though. I'm a wade fisherman and I fish a lot of the smaller streams. But after I leave, there is no sign that I was ever there. I don't litter and I practice C&R. Then again, I have tresspassed according to the law. Fortunately, I've never had any confrontations. If I ever do, I'd be polite and apoligetic and respect the landowners wishes and leave. It's a sticky wicket, for sure.

Probably a form of torture by humans. Ever since I was a kid, I've witnessed various samount of different torture/slayings of gar by fisherman. Mainly catfisherman. Since gar will usually take the same bait that's used for cats. Most fisherman view gar as a nuisance fish. I don't think there are anything in our area other them humans that can or will kill a gar.

I just might have to swing down there. It would be about a 3 hr drive for me. I know of several places down around Jeff. City. But if you drive that far, there are more popular smallie streams with in the same distance.

Smallies?

How far up on Cole Camp creek? I traced it on the map from LOZ up past the town of Cole Camp. Also, I agree with Drew on the Buffalo creek. It might be worth a shot. Never been to either one, though. Also, I've fished the N. Fork of the Moreau River from Tipton down past Russleville with no success on smallies, slayed largemouth though. Any more ideas out there?

It may hold some in it's upper reaches but, downstream from Hwy 50, I think you'd be wasting your time. Probably from the Lamine Ca upstream would be your best bet. The water looks much better there.

I'm from up around St. Joseph. My buddy asked me the same question several years ago. After doing some homework we found that the Little Niangua River south of Climax Springs, was the closest. Here's the site of the only real canoe outfitter. http://www.cedarcamp.net There is another outfitter on down on the Niangua Arm of the LOZ, that we used once, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's the closet stream with a decent popluation of smallies, that I found. The last few years we've caught as many largemouth as smallies, but still a fine smallie stream. It rivals many of the state's more southern streams, as far as fishing, gravel bars, clarity, and scenery. I've only floated it in the spring and early summer, (Apr-June). Don't know how the fishing would be now. The outfitter, has several different lengths of floats. We've done an overnight on it, the past 5 yrs. I think you'd be impressed with this little gem. If you want any more info on it, please ask me. I've covered most of the floatable/fishable water on it. It's a 2 to 3 hr. drive from K.C. If you find a closer one, let me know. ... Wader

Chief, Your correct about my vacation time. I've had 5 weeks for about 5 yrs., now. Already used all of it this year. Did a week in Cabo and a long weekend in St. Louis. Then a float trip on the Little Niangua and one on the Big Piney. That's about all the trips my wife and budget, will allow me to do in in a year. lol. Anyway, I usually get vacation in May and June. So, I'd really like to try your corner of the state. My annual Little Niangua partner, said that he wants to try a different river, next year. So, be expecting to hear from me, next spring. ... Wader

Some good reports. Glad to hear that your streams are settling down a bit. The ones that I've been fishing have been dropping steadily to thier summer flow. They are now running ankle deep and hundreds of yards between fishable spots. I know that I need the exercise but, it's time comsuming. I may have to move to the larger rivers and get out the yak. Keep the reports coming. I just may have to get down there next spring, when I'm on vacation. Chief Greybear, maybe you can turn me onto some places, then.

Not bad, Most places are around $45 per canoe, now.

Here's the latest fishing report for the Jack's, from the MDC. Jack's Fork: 75 degrees, normal, clear; smallmouth bass and goggle-eye good on soft plastic lures. (Report made on 7/9/2008)

It looked like a smallie at first glance, but after another look it does look like a meanmouth. The crosses vary a lot from fish to fish. They usually have the rough (sandpaper) tounge patch. I believe it is a cross (meanmouth).

Good report. Glad to see you doing C@R. Eat a steak, save a smallie.

When I fished it earlier this spring. They were releasing quite a bit of water. I did the monkey see, monkey do thing and fished in the current next to everyone else. I guess, I should of tried the slack water, just above the boat ramp. I hope to try it Monday night. I missed my chance Wed. night. Thanks ... wader

Sounds like my kind of river. Love the "skinny water". I just use my yak to get across water that is too deep to wade. Let us know how you do.