MOsmallies

I do exactly what Mitch does.... I use P-Line CX Premium and have been so happy with it that I bought 3000 yd spools of 8 lb, 10 lb, and 15 lb a couple years ago. I'm still using them to this day and I change line every trip or at least every 2 trips. I store them in my basement where it's cool (not cold) and they are not exposed to any sunlight. Haven't had any break off issues. Using cheap mono as a backing really will save you a ton of money and time when it comes to re-spooling. I usually replace my backing once a year in the late winter when I clean and oil all my reels. I also utilize the Blakemore Reel Magic line conditioner before, during, and after each trip.

I don't understand why the guy killed it. Pisses me off actually. There's no way he mistook it for a coyote. 80 lbs is way bigger than 30 lbs. I just hate that people's instincts are to kill these animals that they're not familiar with. Makes absolutely no sense unless the animal is actually threatening their livestock. Sad to see such a beautiful animal killed for no reason.

That's unreal.... But actually not surprising. The guys fishing for $100,000-$500,000 will pretty much do anything to gain an advantage. I'd be interested to hear if any others here have similar stories.

I have nothing against Seth... I'm sure he's a good dude... Personally I'm speaking in generalities that we should all be conscious about posting specific spots because many of us have seen streams ruined because of it. I've personally watched a certain small stream deteriorate rapidly due to it being publicized on Missouri Whitetails. I don't want to see that happen ever again cause it made me sick. We've beat this subject like a dead horse and I'm sure we will again on this site so I will stop posting. I hope Seth doesn't feel like I've personally attacked him. I just want what's best for our resources and hope all understand that what we post on here can affect them.

I can understand that.... 98% of people won't recognize background features of a spot anyway, but I added that because Seth mentioned this... "There is a thread posted in the Meramec Spring section that includes picture of a smallmouth with the exact location in the background. I don't recall anybody harping on that feller. I'd say posting a picture holding a smallmouth with a background that makes it obvious where the fish was caught is worse than saying I caught them somewhere in a 1/2 mile long stream." I don't think I've ever had to doctor the background of a photo, but sometimes it may be necessary. I can think of a few spots that I would want to do it. This is definitely on the extreme side protecting a spot. Some people may guess/know the spot based on background features, but most won't. However, if you mention the spot, 100% of the people then know the spot.

I can't tell you how to post your reports, but if I was posting I would have just said that I fished an ozark stream that holds some wintering smallmouth. The hair jig worked well in such and such colors. I dragged it or swam it or hopped it. I'd post some pictures of the nicer fish. Blur out the background if the background is easily recognizable. Even if you mention that you also caught trout, it still leaves a lot to the imagination of the readers. It could have been Bennett, or Meramec Springs, or the Current, or the 11 pt, or other sections of the Meramec, or any other stream that holds both Smallies and Trout. Having the readers know that you caught them at Meramec Springs doesn't add any value to the report.... Just more information for those that don't respect our Smallmouth to potentially over-utilize and damage the resource. I really don't want to come off as an @ss as I've always enjoyed your reports in the past. And I don't want to come off as a know it all (cause I definitely do not know it all) but this is just how I would've handle it. I'm honestly just trying to give you an example of how to share your trip and success without giving away the specific 1/2 mile stretch. It's pretty easy to fish a half mile stretch in a couple hours and find where the fish are holding. Giving a 6-10 mile stretch is a little different. I don't recall the other post, but if I had seen it, I probably would have said the same thing. I don't think anyone on here is specifically targeting you for this Seth. This has happened before and will continue to happen. We're just trying to make people think twice before giving exact locations as many of us have seen the damage it can do to a stretch or hole or entire creek. Like I said, I've enjoyed your posts in the past on the Osage and Gasconade and you seem like a great fisherman. I hope you continue to post reports just without specific locales.

My 2 cents (not that it matters) is.... Please post reports but don't give away specific spots. It's just NOT necessary plain and simple! You are NOT going to hurt our resources or piss a lot of people off by NOT mentioning the exact spot. You ARE going to piss a lot of people off and significantly raise the chances of our resources being damaged BY giving away specific spots. I try to post a report after every trip I take. I usually post pictures, discuss baits, and patterns I find. I do all of that without giving away specific locations. The most detailed I'll be is giving away a mile marker on Lake of the Ozarks but even that still leaves miles of shoreline to the imagination. I don't think I've ever pissed anyone off with one of my reports and I feel they've still been helpful, informative, and enjoyable.... Maybe I think too highly of myself My point is that it is NOT necessary to give away spots. If you really want to share specific spots, please consider doing it through a PM, Email, or face to face meeting with people you trust. I've shared information with several people I have gotten to know or who have taken the time to contact me directly. I think we can all agree that we are passionate about our Smallmouth here in the ozarks. Unfortunately everyone who trolls this site and others like it are not. They don't care about treating smallmouth with respect and they don't care about growing trophy smallmouth fishing for years to come... They care about bragging to their buddies and putting meat on the table. These are the people that are hurting our resources and we don't need to help them find more fish. I hope everyone continues to post reports and pictures. This site is awesome and can be extremely informative without giving away exact locations especially on fragile stream environments. It's just NOT necessary in order to make this a helpful and informative site.

Any size to the bass? Glad you got into em!

I bought the exact same rod a few years ago for catfishing and it was the heaviest (especially tip heavy) rod I have ever used. I couldn't imagine using it for bass fishing, but it made a great cat rod.

Gavin... Awesome pictures! Any fish caught?

2013 got off to a little bit of a crazy start. My son was born in December 2012 well before he was expected to. He was in the NICU until March, so fishing really was not even on my mind at the beginning of the year. He came home in early March and is doing great now! Once he was home and doing well, my mind began drifting back to fishing. I had a float planned in late April that got cancelled due to flooding the night before we were supposed to leave. Then May came along and we made it down to LOZ for Mother's Day weekend. Was able to catch a couple nice ones. One one a Spinnerbait and the other on a Neko Rig... Went back down to LOZ for Memorial Day weekend and the Topwater bite was on!! Just no real size to the fish. Lots of 15-17" keepers... Took this pic early one morning while down there for Memorial Day weekend. That's the silhouette of the Topwater bait I used most of the weekend... Tried doing the same float I planned on doing in April in early June, and again a flood hit the night before we were leaving. This time we went ahead and drove down just to see it... At the end of June, Smalliebigs and I went on our annual vacation to our favorite river in the state. Lots of 12-17.5" fish but no giants... In late July or early August, Smalliebigs and I hit a little known creek full of all 3 Bass species and lots of Gar. Nailed my biggest smallie of the year (18.25") on Topwater and a decent Gar on a Homemade Rope Lure that I had made the night before... Trekked back down to LOZ in early November and caught em on Buzzbaits, Spinnerbaits, and A-Rigs. Nailed a nice 16.5" spot on the A-Rig outfitted with Danger Close's Swimbaits... Was back down at LOZ for Thanksgiving weekend. Caught lots of short bass on Jerkbaits and nailed my first two ever LOZ Walleye on a Megabass 110... Ended the year with a Winter Smallmouth outing with Mitch and Smalliebigs. Lost a 17-18" Smallie at the boat but we had a great time and had a lot of good laughs! All in all, I only made 10-12 trips, but was able to catch at least one decent fish on most of them. Fished with a lot of good friends and made some new ones. Here's hoping 2014 will be even better! Paul MOsmallies

Awesome topic... One I was planning to do and didn't get around to last week. I'll upload my pics at some point today. You (and your boat) caught some hogs this year!

Glad it's fixable. That was very strange for it to lock up like that but the culprit you found makes sense.

1/8 oz is the ideal size. Olive (Green Pumpkin), Black, and Brown are about the only colors you need. Use a subtle soft plastic trailer to match. In all, your jig should be about 2.5 to 3 inches with the trailer on it. Work it slow on the bottom in slow, deep pools. Just remember fish it sssllllllooooooooooooww. The bite this time of year is usually just mushy feeling. Maybe a slight tap and then just mush. Hook sets are free, so set the hook if it doesn't feel right. Lot's of good hair jig info in these recent threads... Good luck and post some pics from your trips.

Send Smalliebigs a PM. He had one for sale a few months back that was in great shape. I'm not sure if he ever sold it...

Hahaha... Well played Chief!

Were these pigs hybrids by chance?

Good God Mitch... I know I've seen that pic before, but that fish is unreal. Amazes me everytime. Truly a fish of a lifetime! Hairjigs look killer with your craw on the back

Definitely 100% a Hybrid Chief.... And a very nice one at that

Very cool... thanks for sharing

"“I knew I did the right thing,” he said. “ He’s still alive and swimming for someone else to catch.” Great article.... I wish all fisherman had that guys mentality on catching and releasing fish

I hope they aren't keeping em

Let's do it... I'm serious

Yep they smacked the Megabass 110 (Pro Blue) pretty hard. They were about 10 feet off the bank in about 6-7 feet of water.

Old Plug - I have fished it once in early January when the Sauger and Walleye were spawning. We were one of about 15 boats fishing a huge community hole on the the Illinois side just below the dam. We limited out in a few hours vertical jigging 3/4 oz. grubs tipped with big minnows. Watched a buddy in another boat land a 40-50 lb Flathead that day too. It's a really neat fishery that's often overlooked.