Good day to all those who read this message! My name is Mike. I'm from Southern Illinois, just across the river from St. Louis. I was just doing some dreaming about smallmouth fishing as I searched the internet for facts about Ozark fishing when I came across this site and I am glad I did! I had no clue that so many people took their passion for fishing seriously enough to associate with other fishermen and women online! This is great because the type of fishing I grew up doing, which consisted almost entirely of largemouth bass fishing in lakes and ponds within a couple hours of my house, and the type of fishing I have become passionate about are very different types of fishing. That being the case, I have no one in my life who can help me refine my skills or point me in the right direction to get information about the where and how that makes fishing such a delicate and exciting journey. My father is a die-hard largemouth fish-from-a-bass-boat fisherman, and while I will always enjoy pitching a spinnerbait over a grass bed at 6am on Little Grassy, there is NO THRILL like standing knee-deep in crystal clear, flowing water in the Ozarks hitting an eddy behind a fallen tree with a soft plastic crawdad or a rooster tail. My first experience with that was last year with my girlfriend (who is my wife now, as of October 12th). We lived in Springfield, MO for 3 months just so I could fish the fall away. In our exploration of the area, I discovered a dilapidated old bridge that crossed the Little Sac River in the middle of NOWHERE. I spent 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for 3 weeks on that stretch of river just learning the difference in fight between a white bass and a crappie and a rock bass. One day, we found one of those eddies behind a fallen tree that we pulled about 50 white bass out of. That day was the first time my wife had ever fished. She had the time of her life! I felt like God was giving her a picture of what it CAN be so that when it ISN'T, she will have a point of reference to keep her going. Then we waded in Taneycomo just below the dam and I got sick from standing in it barefoot for 2 hours up to my waist in REALLY cold water. I thought I was tough. I didn't know I was just stupid. I didn't catch a confounded fish out of there, but I learned why everyone else had waders on. Then we went to Table Rock. WOW. I had never seen clearer lake water except for maybe Norfork Lake when my dad took me there as a kid. I caught my first smallmouth over a rock bed just around the corner from the visitor's center by the dam. I was HOOKED on smallmouth from then on. They had me from hello. I pursued smallmouth for the rest of my time there and had some luck, but it was too late in the year and we moved back to the St. Louis area where there aren't smallmouth to my knowledge. Apparently God doesn't want me to live within an hour of smallie water because He knows I'll never do a lick of work again. For my birthday this year, my wife took me to Beaver Creek an hour and a half southeast of Springfield. We canoed 7 miles or so and it was gorgeous (June 22), and perfect and the best birthday present I've ever gotten. We caught fish ALL DAY. I learned some more about smallmouth that day, caught a few around 13 inches, which was huge for the ultra-light I had brought and my lack of experience with them. I learned about fishing from a canoe which is just a little different from a 21 foot bass boat with a trolling motor. I hooked what I believe is called a gar. Whatever it was, it was UGLY and SCARY. I couldn't get her in the water after that. Hehehe, I was a little nervous myself in those big and deep pools where I couldn't see the bottom very well. A 3 foot fish with teeth is intimidating to me for some reason. We met 3 amazing guys fishing from kayaks that taught us some stuff about fishing, canoeing, navigating fallen trees and chutes that are too tight of a turn for me and my wife. They were so helpful and friendly, my wife and I were extremely grateful to have "guides" on our first canoe trip and first time on that water.
So I joined this site because I am in hot pursuit of knowledge and wisdom that I can use to become a great fisherman and a fish-friendly fisherman. I have such great respect for the outdoors and I want to do what is healthy for the environment and the fish that provide us with so much more than just fun and entertainment! Hopefully, in the process I'll make some friends that I'll be able to share more with than just fishing. I can't wait to talk with y'all and learn as much as possible! Thanks to everyone in advance!!
Mike and Angela Mooney
