creek wader

Recently, another member pointed out to me, that I've been divulging too much info. He messaged me, asking that I not give out the locations, as he also, fished the same streams. He pointed out that these were small streams and he didn't want to see them get too much pressure. I agree. He also, asked that I not be offended. I told him that no offense was taken. He was nice about it. I went back through my recent posts and saw that not only did I mention the names of the streams, but some nearby town's names, also. The messenger was right. I apologize to him and any others that fish the same streams. I hope I didn't let the cat out of the bag. These are small, pristine, fragile ecosystems. I thoroughly enjoy my time on them and would hate to see them ruined forever. The locals do enough damage with the 4-wheelers and trashing up the streams with cans, tires, litter, etc. Also, the local farmers use their front end loaders on the gravel bars. The local "bait" fisherman keep everything they catch, including undersized fish. The smallies are taking it from all sides and they don't need me ratting out their hideouts. I do not have these Ozark streams where I live. So, every chance I get to fish them, I do. I am very thankful and appreciative of the opportunities that I get to enjoy these streams. I hope that I have not left the gate open for too many people, to apply too much pressure on these streams. If I did, I am truly sorry. I've learned to trust the others on this forum and I hope they don't let me down. Fisherman like to relate their stories and I went overboard. So from now on. I'll make my posts as "other Ozark stream". I'll be a little vague on describing the stream but, will be still be specific on other parts of the post. Anyway I decided to give the usual streams a rest and went on a scouting trip on a different "other Ozark stream". I found 3 good accesses. One is wadable, one I would need the yak, the other the yak would be beneficial. At the first spot I looked at , I threw the slim dog and on the 2nd cast I caught a 12" Kentucky. I didn't get any other hits, though. This stream is a marginal/border Ozark stream. It has the characteristics of a both a northern stream and an Ozark stream. I think I will catch more largemouth and Kentuckys than smallies. But, it's the thrill of the hunt and being surprised by the unknown. So, I think I'll fish this stream for a while. I'll give more reports as time goes by. ..... wader

Well, I'm very new at this "WTD" tech niche. I'm still learning. To start with I have no rhythm (can't dance to the beat). I also, can't walk and chew gum at the same time. That being said. My retrieves have been very erratic. No two retrieves the same. But, what I have found out a faster retrieve is better. The fish go crazy and the blow ups are a hoot. So, while I'm learning, the fish are making it fun for me. I think I'm going to give the fish in the Maries a rest, for the year. There's another river close by, that I haven't fished this year. I think I'll work the "WTD" on it. I'll let you know how I do ... ...wader

I use a pump that I plug into my cigarette lighter, I also, have a foot pump. From the time I get my bag out of the vehicle to being on the water is about 5 min. It takes no time at all. Takes more time, to tie on the lures. Note; As far as holes go. The good inflatables are tough. In 4 yrs. I only put two holes in it. Both at the same time. I didn't do it on the water. But dragging my bag across the parking lot at work. It put several holes in the bag and two in the deflated yak. Right where the yak was folded. It was from friction not puncture. My own stupid lazy fault, not the yaks. Should of carried the bag. My inflatable is tough. I drag it over gravel bars. Use treble hooks in it. Run into rootwads, trees, logs, rocks, etc. Still, I will eventually by a solid one. Someday. ....wader

Thanks Andy. The weather has been great. I've been sacrificing sleep to fish. I remember last winter regretting all the nice days last summer and fall that I spent sleeping. So, I'm trying to get in as much fishing as possible. Sleep is overrated. ...lol Yea, if you look at one of the last pics on the original post. I caught a largemouth on a baby fluke. I need to get some super flukes, yet. ...wader

"too big and ugly for stream smallies" , that's exactly what I thought. But, you can tell by the pics, that even the smaller ones are slamming it. I will be the first to admit. That I thought it would of been a waste of time. I always thought you had to finesse the smallies in clear water, like trout. I was wrong. ... I'll listen to someone's advice, and then try it for myself. I've also done well on spinnerbaits for smallies. I always thought they were to big for a stream bass but, I'm catching them on it also. I still carry the soft plastics for certain situations, though. Good luck ....wader Here's a few stream fish on spinnerbaits in the last couple of trips out:

I would love to have a nice (solid) fishing yak or a solo canoe. But, the inflatable fits my situation. I live in St. Joe. I'm a RR engineer. I take trains from KC to Jeff. City. I lay over in a motel between 12hrs. - 24hrs. So, while I'm down there, I either wade fish or use the inflatable yak. I have a Ford Explorer, that I keep the yak in. The yak fits in a duffel bag. I could put a "hard" yak on top. But, then I have to worry about it being stolen. I know I could chain it on. Also, in another month or so, I'll be taking it back home for the winter. It's much easier hauling a duffel bag on an engine, than a kayak or solo canoe. I think the train management would frown on that. ...lol ...Believe me, I've been considering all options for quite a while. Even, renting a storage unit down at Jeff. But, I'd have to keep that a secret from my wife. She thinks I fish too much as it is. .... Thanks for your suggestion. I'm always open for any suggestions. ...wader

Ok, good luck. Let us know how your trip goes. ...wader

Yea, I agree. I usually read the posts with the pics, first. Others on this site call it "fish porn". lol ... I take pics of most the fish I catch and of any interesting scenery. Their digital, so it doesn't cost me anything. I can always delete them. It would be nicer, if the pics were of bigger fish, but, hey I'm catching smallies on "walk the dog" lures. A method that I was a little skeptical about, when I first tried it a month ago. ...wader

Got in a good afternoon of fishing on the Maries today, 9-13. I wade fished, carrying two poles. One with a "walk the dog lure", the other with soft plastics. I did pretty well. The stream was even lower than last trip. It was very clear and the weather couldn't of been any nicer. I caught at about 10 bass on the "wtd". Which was my highest total yet. I started throwing the "wtd", last month. The soft plastics did well, also. My first fish on the "wtd", was a nice 13" smallie. The largest fish of the day. Also, caught a 12" smallie and several smaller ones, along with a 12" largemouth and several smaller largemouth on the "wtd", as well. The leaves are starting to cover some of the pools, which is hindering some casts, so I used soft plastics where I couldn't work the top water very well. All in all, it was a good day with over 20 bass, and several goggle-eye and sunfish, as well. Glad you guys turned me on to the "walk the dog". .. Thanks ... wader

I've used my inflatable yak on quite a few streams now. I couldn't count them all. As far as a shuttle is concerned. I've used it on the Meramec from Meramec Springs down to Scott's ford. I've also, used it on the Big Piney. I've also, have been on the Osage River near Jeff. City numerous times. It was pretty deep, where I floated. I've developed a few holes now, in the bottom. I've patched them with the patch kit, that came with the yak. It fixed them. I don't have any leaks, now. I've bought another patch kit from Wal-Mart, that I carry with me at all times, also my foot pump. I wouldn't hesitate to take it on a long float. Good luck ...wader

Your right, Joe. I'll be fishing till the ice forms and there's no open water left. ... Still, I like being in swim trunks and no shirt. Glad the fish don't care what I look like. ... lol

Went to a section on the Maries that I haven't fished since spring. The river had been quite low but it rose about a foot the past few days due to local rains. It was surprisingly clear. I started out fishing the pool, under the hwy bridge, throwing the 4" BPS Slim Dog but, nothing was interested. Tried the Spinnerbait and no takers there, either. Started downstream and switched to a Tiny Torpedo. Caught several 6" to 8" smallies and several sunnies and bluegill. Switched to a Pop-R and caught quite an array of fish off it but, no size. when I got to a run I started throwing a senko and caught several bass, goggle-eye and sunnies. Still no size. After passing a riffle, there was a shallow run and picked up a few more small smallies and some more sunnies off of a 3" Yum Dinger. I finally got to a long pool with good structure of chunk rock and logs, along with a decent current. I caught several 10" smallies on the dinger then switched back to the 4" BPS Slim Dog. The 2nd cast the water exploded several times, but I missed him. The next cast I caught a 11' smallie, that put on a little show for me. On the next 4 or 5 cast, it was a splash fest. The water was clear enough I could see the fish. There were 5 or 6 smallies and a couple of largemouth, all in the same 12" range. The were banging the heck out of the topwater lure, but not getting hooked. It was quite a spectacle. looked like a swarm of bluegill chasing a grasshopper. Finally I caught a 12" smallie. then the bite stopped cold. So, I went back to the spinnerbait but, no luck. It's the first time in 5 trips that the spinnerbait failed to produce. Also, tried a black buzzbait with no success, either. Switched to a texas rigged soft craw and caught about 10, 8" to 10" smallies and numerous sunfish. Including two Redear. I've been catching quite a few of these, lately. I never knew they were in the local streams. They hit pretty hard. On the way back to the truck I caught many sunfish and a few more smallies. At the mouth of the Little Maries, I caught a nice 12" and a 11" smallie. All together I caught over 30 smallies and a few largemouth. several goggle-eye, and a plethora of sunfish , including the two Redear. I didn't catch any big fish but, I had fun with the little ones. Also, I had some fun topwater action. The weather was nice, the water was clear the fish were active .......... I'm going to hate winter...... wader [attachment =7319:SSPX1198.jpg]

Thanks, .. The goggle-eye bite has been hot lately. They have been hitting everything I throw at em' ... wader

Managed to make it out for a few hours, before the rain ran me off. Went down on the Maries, near Freeburg. The river was at it's lowest since March. So, I planned on wade fishing upstream several miles. I accessed the river at a popular local spot below a hwy bridge. I usually make a few casts under the bridge, then head on. This spot gets a lot of local fishing pressure. I started throwing a 4" BPS Slim Dog. On the 3rd cast, I caught a 11" smallie. It was the 1st smallie that I actually "landed "on a WTD top water lure. That's been my goal for the last month or so. I made another 20 or so casts and had 4 blow ups but nothing hooked. I tried the pause, wait, and twitch method, after the misses. But, each fish must of lost interest. I was spending too long in one spot so, I headed on upstream . It was very shallow the next 1/4 mile, a mixture of gravel bars and shallow pools. So, I used a grass hopper lure and caught quite a few sunnies. The next pool was the deepest water for a 1/2 mile in both directions and I've done well in the past, there. But, because of the low water, it was only about 3 or 4 ft. deep. I put back on the Slim Dog. After a couple of casts, the water erupted, and I hooked a very nice smallie. He tail danced once and was trying to again. So, I kept the rod tip down and cranked pretty hard on him. I got him up to the gravel bar in a foot or so of water, where I got a good look at him. He was every bit of 18". then like the idiot that I am. Instead of going in after him I thought I could drag him out. I pulled the lure out of his mouth and he swam off. Live and learn, I guess. I threw the Slim Dog several more time, but knew he was done for the day. I put on my new "go to bait", a chartreuse and black spinnerbait and threw it for a while but no takers. I blew my one chance, for that day, anyway. I headed on upstream past the riffles and into the next pool. It was very shallow, also. I threw the spinnerbait for a while with no takers there, either. Put on a beetle spin and caught a quite an array of sunnies and Goggle-eye. I had been hearing thunder for a while, and it was getting closer. So, I shortened my trip and turned back. I got back at the pool where I lost the big one. The sprinkles started. I threw a 3" Yum Dinger with no success. I only had one 5" senko on me, and it was pretty chewed up. So, I rigged it wacky style and on the first cast, I caught a nice 13" smallie. He destroyed the senko. So, I put on the only soft craw that I had and caught two 11" smallies. By then, it was a steady shower, so I headed back. All in all it was a decent day. I didn't get very many smallies. But, I did land one on the Slim Dog and had a real nice one on. Also, I had a mink within a few feet of me. He held fast for a while and so did I. After a minute he determined that I wasn't a threat so, he went about his way, nonchalantly. That's 4 or 5 mink that I've had close to me this year. ... wader

Thanks Chris

Thanks guys. Yes, I got real lucky. The whole time, I kept thinking, "Why couldn't of been the $20 pole." mrbuzib1, Yea, I'm doing much better than I ever thought, on the spinnerbait. I've been changing trailers. All have worked so far. I've got several packs of twin tails. I'll give them a try, next trip. fishinwrench, Thanks for noticing. I just assumed it was a white. Now that I got looking at it, 3 lines extend to the tail like on a hybrid. On a white it says only one does. Anybody out there know? Here's another pic. ... wader

Ok, Where to start. The the beginning is always a good place. I've been in the process of converting from soft plastics to spinnerbaits and top water for smallies, at the suggestion of some guys, on this forum. I've been having pretty good results. Also, I've been exploring new sections of streams, that I haven't fished before. Oct. 30 I put in at the swing bridge near St. Elizabeth. I've fished downstream several times in the past. So, I decided to try something new, and went up stream. Since, I had my yak, I took 3 poles. One with a WTD top water, one with a spinnerbait, the other with a 3 " Yum dinger. This section started out with a shallow riffle and a long pool between 1 and 4 ft. deep. The water was still and pretty stained. One side had a mud bank with overhanging trees and cut banks . The other side was a mix of mud bank and chunk rock. I started out working the top water with no takers. I switched to the spinnerbait and caught a 10" smallie, 8" rock bass, and a stout 16" largemouth. Then........ I reached behind me to grab the pole with the dinger on it and it was gone! It was nowhere in the yak. Don't know when it fell out or what happened to it. The spinnerbait pole was a $50 Cabela's Fish Eagle Tournament II/Pro Guide Spinning Combo. The topwater was on a $19.99 Wal-Mart Zebco 33 combo. The missing pole was my 2 month old, $90 Pflueger President - IM7 Spinning Combo.. I felt like I just got punched in the gut. I tried snagging with the spinnerbait for awhile and finally gave up. I figured I'd make the best of it and portaged to the next pool. I tried top water to no avail. So, I put on another dinger and switched back and forth between the spinnerbait and dinger. I caught several Kentuckies, largemouth, smallies, goggle-eye, green sunfish, longear sunfish, and bluegill. Then I caught two hard fighting meanmouth, (Kentucky/smallie hybrid). I thought 4 bass species was kind of neat, Then something hit like a freight train. After a hard fight I boated a nice white bass. Pretty rare this far up on the Tavern. That made 5 different bass species and 9 fish species total. Kind of cool. It saved the day. Plus, I caught several of the smallies on the spinnerbait. Which was my original goal. Sept. 2 Got into Jeff. City in the wee hours. Brought down my baitcaster w/ 14lb. test. , and about a doz. large snagging trebles. Got up early and headed to the swing bridge. I knew it would be a needle in the haystack but, I was going to try to recover the pole. The swing bridge was 30 mi. from Jeff. and I didn't have much time before I'd have to go to work. Still, I had to give it a shot. Put the yak in and headed upstream. I was a little nervous having large trebles in an inflatable yak, but what the heck. I figured I'd have to cover a lot of water, since I didn't see where I lost it at. After about 30 min. of dragging and my hopes rapidly disappearing. I snagged my pole. I couldn't believe it. It was covered with sediment and didn't reel well at first but, it came back to life. Figure I'd give it a good cleaning later. I did catch a few sunnies and a 12" Kentucky off of it. Then switched to the spinnerbait and caught a couple of 12" largemouth, before I got back to the take out. I got lucky, and decided to quit while I was ahead. All is well that ends well. .... Wader

I hear ya. I was trying to unhook a small bass one time. It flopped and hooked my thumb. I thought I'd release him first then get the hook out. Bad decision! Before I could release him he flopped again and buried the treble under my thumb nail. I tried the string tech niche and of course it didn't work. It's hard to do it on yourself. I wound up at the emergency room and a little embarrassed. It must be a fairly common thing. Because they actually have a tool in the emergency room, that's sole purpose is for removing fish hooks.

I started out using small lures, 1/32 and 1/16 oz. On a ultralight with 4 lb test. Lost a lot of lures and a few nice fish. Went to 6 lb. test and had good luck with it. It's a good all around size line. Lately, I've moved up to larger lures and a bigger combo. So, I mainly use flourocarbon or a co-poly 8 lb test. Haven't lost any fish using it, and it saves a lot of lures. My thinking is, use the largest line that your reel can cast the lure, effectively. Don't worry about the fish seeing the line. Their not trout, line doesn't spook them as much. That's just my opinion, though. ... wader

I've fished the lower Cedar creek, a few years ago. Caught a nice 14" smallie, 18" largemouth and a average white bass. Next time there, I didn't get a hit. The lower Cedar is muddy and all around nasty. I've heard the upper is much cleaner. Let us know where you go and how you do. ...wader

Thanks guys. I'll be back at it in the morn. Give ya full report. ... wader

Gotta agree with some of what your saying fishinwrench. I went on a few wild goose chases myself. But, that's the nature of the game. "The adventure", that is.

Yea, the biggest smallie that I've caught on the Maries was a 17 ", 3 yrs. ago. ... 12" is a good fish for the Maries and a 15" is usually a very nice fish for that stream. I just measured my paddle, that I have at home. I think I under estimated the smallies length. I'll have to measure it again. I got 17" from where his mouth is, in the pic, to the end of the paddle. And he hangs over. ..hmmm, I'll have to check my tape in my tackle bag and the other paddle, when I get to Jeff. Yea, the explosions were awesome. I wish I could of landed the smallie that shook off, when I tried to grab him. That one hurt, (should of took the net). It would of been my first smallie on a WTD lure. I guess it gives me an incentive.

Al and others, I finally got out and gave the walk the dog and spinnerbaits a test. I went down to an access on the Maries river. I tried this place because I thought the water would be too low at the others that I usually fish. I was a little surprised that the water was still up a bit, and still stained from the recent rains. I mainly fished a long deep slow moving pool. I started out on foot and used the 4" BPS "XPS Slim Dog", it is BPS's version of the "Sammy". My first cast was into the riffle feeding the pool, with no hits. My 2nd cast, was what I figured would happen. I hung it in a tree on the opposite bank. I managed to retrieve it but, had to stir up the water crossing the stream. That is why I've held off buying the "Sammy". I figured I'd lose it, right out of the gate. Anyway, I started figuring out how to cast it with better accuracy, and how to walk the dog with it. After many casts, I caught a 10" largemouth on it. My first on a top water lure in a stream. A few cast later, I caught another. After several more casts, I had a fish explode on it. This was no sport bass and sounded like a someone doing a belly flop. It was big. I hesitated for a split second, then remembered someone saying to keep reeling. So, I did but it didn't come back. That was enough proof for me. So, I went back to the truck and got out the inflatable yak. I grabbed and extra pole and put on a black buzz bait. I floated the upper end of the pool and fired both lures to no effect. I changed the buzzbait to a chartreuse and black spinnerbait. There was a narrow slot, basically dividing the pool in two. It had a little current there and a few downed trees. I tossed the spinnerbait near the tree and caught a 12" largemouth. On the next cast, I casted back upstream, into the channel near the bank. There, I caught my first smallie ever, on a spinnerbait. It was a nice 12 incher. So, now I had a little more confidence in both lures. I casted for a while, then decided to put a trailer on the spinnerbait. All I had on me was a 3" Yum Dinger so, I tried it. About 3 casts later into the shadows near a mud bank I caught a stout 16 1/2" smallie. He put on quite a show before I finally got him into the boat. Now, my confidence was really building. I caught another 12" smallie and a 12" largemouth, on the spinnerbait. I switched back and forth between the two. I was walking the Slim Dog near a laydown when the water exploded, I kept reeling and missed it. So, I came back with the spinnerbait and wham, after a hard fought battle I landed a very thick 18" largemouth. I got to the end of the pool and had to portage a riffle to the next very shallow pool. After quite a few casts, I finally had a nice strike on the slim dog and missed it. I threw it back out a few times and nothing. So, I changed to a 3" yum dinger and caught a 12" largemouth a few casts later. I headed back after only covering about a 1/2 mi. I made some casts here and there, but the wind was blowing me back down stream. So, I mainly paddled back. Near the upper end of the pool, I fired the slim dog past a weed bed and worked it past. Then I saw something coming after it. There was a big splash and a miss. So, I kept working it. Finally on the 3rd strike he got hooked. After a good fight I brought him boat side, and saw that I had at least a 14" smallie. My first smallie on a "sammy" style lure. I tried to grab him several times. He kept shaking the treble hooks wildly at me. Finally, he shook off. So, technically I didn't land him. But, I still got to see him. That has given me confidence to further try the "walk the dog" lures and the spinnerbait. I only fished about 3 hrs. and it was just in that 1/2 mi. long pool. I kind of wore it out. I didn't catch a lot of fish, but most were bigger than what I usually catch. I seen enough of the spinnerbait and "WTD" lure, to want to get back out and try it. The bass exploding on it was a hoot. Can't wait till next trip. ... wader

I'll sell ya my copy for only $125.00.