Brian Jones

Fished up river (for us) for about six hours Saturday. Put in around 9:00 and fished until 3:00 or so. River was low and very clear with 4-5 foot visibility above a major tributary and 7 plus feet of visibility below it. Water temp was almost 42 when we put in and a tad over 43 when we took out. We weren't keeping a hard count but we caught between 15 and 20 keepers with the three biggest being just a tad under 17 inches. Most of the keepers were between 12 and 15 inches. Caught almost all smallmouth except for one little largemouth. Caught fish on all the baits you'd expect to catch fish on this time of year except for a hair jig and the Mitch Craw. I don't throw hair jigs and the Mitch Craw hates me. However, it fails to realize just how hard headed Joneses are and I have no plan of putting it down until I'm catching them on that bait as good as hogwally or at least as good as smalliebigs............................. If the forecast for this week holds true, this might be the last trip for me for a while as once temps drop below 40 I'm generally just spinning my wheels.

As good as the fishing on Big River is, I often wonder if it would be any better if not for the years of abuse it suffered as a result of the local mining (both lead and tiff) industries from days gone by.

Sometimes more than once. Caught more walleye/saugers today than I have in my 42 1/2 years prior. 9 walleye/saugers; five which were keepers. 12 "keeper" bass including 3 spots, 8 smallies and a largemouth. We had two other walleye come off at the boat and had another 5 that followed our baits to the boat but wouldn't bite. Three of the smallies were over 18 inches; including a 20 1/2" that weighed 3.76lbs. Had the river almost entirely to ourselves. Only Saw one other boat. Water temp was 47-48 with about 5 feet or so of visibility. Brought home 8 spots in all; raising our total of harvested spots since October to 93 and a 13 inch crappie to boot. Craziest day I believe I've ever had on the river. We didn't see hogwally............................................

Al: Jon Jones, Jay Edgar and Jim Conway are all aluminum welders here in the Leadbelt and have all done work for me at various time. I would recommend any of them. Jon did all the fab work on our current boat.

SHHHHHHH...................seriously?????????????

Another link for those who may not like to read............... http://fox2now.com/2016/11/17/missouri-to-pay-9-million-in-brandon-ellingson-drowning-lawsuit/

Put it on semo jetboat enthusiasts page on facebook. That's how we sold ours. That page gets a lot of national interest. The guy who bought ours was from North Texas and drove all the way up here to pick it up. Also and no disrespect meant, but people generally don't pay premium price for a boat at the end of the season. This is the time of the year when one expects to pick up a bargain. Probably have better luck selling in the spring when someone has a big tax return in their hands and is looking to stimulate the economy........

They're "mini lobsters" Joe. Remember????

At 24 inches, I'd venture to guess it's pushing six plus.

Awesome trip, pics, and report Mr. D. But with all due respect, I don't think you have any room to critique anyone's fishing wardrobe............................

I've caught them down to 36 degrees but I already knew where they were located, and had been catching them for about three weeks straight. Not to contradict Mitch, but I'll throw a wiggle wart as well as another crankbait until the water temp gets to 40 with good success. One other thing I've noticed is that the fish seem more active as the water temp is falling through the 40's as opposed to the temps rising from the 40's.

May have already replied to this on another forum. I have used the Fish Hunters that are distributed by Ellis Batteries for about 13 years. Start batteries have lasted anywhere from almost three years to the date to over six years. I change trolling motor batteries every three years regardless. I charge the trolling motor batteries before and after every trip and charge the start battery after trips where I've run the bilge or aerator and recirculating pumps a lot. I also check the water levels once or twice a year and add water as needed. I tried an on board charger once and it sucked. I have since used two automotive/conventional type chargers with trolling motor males attached to them and have installed trolling motor females in my front deck that are wired directly to my trolling motor batteries to accept the males.

I've always admired those that step out in faith and risk their security in a new business adventure; regardless of how it turns out for them. Heck, I am locked in my comfort zone so tight that I rarely even consider new places to hunt or fish; let alone a life or career change.

We currently live in a world where boats can be financed for 15 years, vehicles for close to 10, credit card debt is at an all time high and personal savings at an all time low. Before the housing crisis, people were purchasing $300,000 homes on $100,000 budgets and financing the closing costs as well. We have become the "what's it gonna cost me a month" generation and we tend to overlook exorbitant interest rates and finance charges; all in an attempt to "keep up with the Joneses". No pun intended.......

When they were building the BPS in St. Chuck, I was happy in that I figured we'd finally have a store within driving distance where I could get whatever I needed whenever I needed it. Felt the same about Cabela's. However, the last half dozen or so times I've been to both, I've left disappointed; particularly for making an hour and fifteen minute drive north only to find out they were out of what I had went there for. So for me anymore it's pretty much Roger's Sporting Goods for my hunting clothes, Natchez Shooters Supply for my ammo and Barlow's, Jann's netcraft, and Tackle Warehouse for fishing stuff. Free shipping at Tackle warehouse on orders over 50 bucks and two day shipping for 5 bucks if you need something quick.

Not trying to pick fights but aside from the renovated boat ramp at Meramec and a new building in the riding area at St. Joe, I've not noticed any upgrades at the parks we've visited since 2009 which would include Johnson Shut-ins, Meramec, St. Francois, St. Joe, Robertsville, and Washington. In fact, we'd much rather stay at the COE parks like River Run and Piedmont Park at Clearwater, and Hwy K west of Annapolis. They are generally cleaner, have better kept facilities and are considerably cheaper. The only real draw to St. Francois and Washington for us is convenience.

I wonder if Jimmy has been scheduled for a concert at the Amphitheater yet??

I'm also going with a warmouth or green sunfish/hybrid cross based on the color, striping and red tint on its "ear".

It's a little known fact that 20# invisx has almost the same line diameter as 15lb Big game.

That's just the beginning with the Reaction Innovations people: Here are the names of some of their colors: California 420, dirty sanchez, statutory grape, money shot, just to name a few.............

I noticed Saturday that the colors are starting to come on here as well. The fish trap area and bank on the back side of Shaw's Nature Reserve are going to be very pretty in the next week or so.

Saw one swim across Big River right above Mineral Fork about a month ago. Had that dude gotten under my boat, I'd a needed a new set of underoos..................

Fished the Meramec below the Bourbeuse for about 10 hours today and, after a SLOW start, had a pretty darn good trip. Ended up with 16-18 "keepers". Biggest one was right at two pounds. However, most were between 12 and 14 inches. Was also able to remove two limits of spots from the river. Most were caught by running spinnerbaits along weedy/rocky banks that the sun was pounding on. If you love those Meramec river smallies and have a chance to get on the water soon, please get out there and take you a limit of these critters out of the creek.

We've camped in a Jayco Kiwi 23d hybrid since 2007. Camped for a season before that in a pop up. Camper is starting to show it's age but still takes care of the 4-6 trips we take in it each year. Pulled it to West Yellowstone and back in 2010 and would like to take a trip to the Buffalo River country. Aside from that, all of our camping is done within two hours of the house. Attached is a pic of our "convoy" from 2010. The only thing left from this pic is the camper. Boat and truck have since been replaced.

Real men don't kiss and tell...................................