msamatt

Mr. Buzib1: Maybe Al Agnew, who knows more about this than I, will chime in and correct any mistakes I make but to the best of my knowledge Kentuckys or Spots are native in some watersheds in Southeast MO. To the best of my knowledge most of the spots in the Meramec watershed have spread there during high water periods. Over time changes in our Ozark boarder streams, the Bourbeuse, parts of the Meramec, and their tribs have favored the expansion of the spots. They like more turbid, slower, slack water similar to river largemouth. Decades of drought and habitat degradation have tended to increase these conditions. Spots also reproduce much faster than smallmouth. Since smallies have to compete with spots for diminishing resources I don't have any ethical qualms about harvesting spots when they're in season. I'm pretty sure that spots were stocked in the Osage river watershed and spread into the Gasconade but don't take my word on that.

Flysmallie and Fishhand: I may be reading the regs wrong but the special regs section on the James runs from Hooten Town to Hwy 13. On that stretch if you want to keep black bass you can only keep 6 of which only one may be a smallie. If you keep them, then Largemouth and Smallmouth have to be at least 15' long. The reg doesn't say anything about spots so I assume, and you should check with your conservation agent on this one, that the statewide 12" minimum applies. So, before you start whacking those spots, check with your agent. As far as people keeping whatever they catch I'm afraid some folks are always going to do this. I truly believe most people want to obey the game laws but some folks are just outlaws and never will. One of the real problems with our game laws is, in my opinion, that not only do we not have enough agents but we also have counties in which prosecutors and judges just don't pursue these cases. That's a touch nut to crack and can only be changed at the local level. As far as keeping everything you catch, regs be darn, that's something that can only be changed at the personal level and you can't vote that out. It's good to hear first hand feedback about how this year's floods have changed the habitat in you home flows. The one and only time I've fished the James the water was high, slightly murky and running fast. Nearly all of the smallies I caught were hanging out in the crevices in the rock bottom of the river. I don't know if that's normal for James River smallies but that was the pattern that weekedn (two years ago). I think overall this years flood was exactly what the doctor ordered for many of our streams and rivers. In all cases it seems to have changed up everything and we have to adjust to the new conditions. Only time is going to tell if all of this shifting of gravel and other detrius is going to have some long term benefit for the smallie populations. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my poll. Matt

Lee: Love your quote. That's some sage advice. Welcome to the board. Matt

Cadilla and J.D.: Thanks for taking the time to respond to my poll. Like J.D. I specifically keep spots when I'm fishing in an area where they are an invasive species and compete with smallies (i.e. the entire Meramec watershed). I asked the question because the MSA is currently working to get the MDC to do something to improve the quality of smallmouth fishing in Missouri. In a nutshell all of us want to catch more big fish. The MSA isn't anti consumption but it stands to reason that if you knock a 12" smallmouth over the head it isn't going to grow any bigger. With that in mind I decided to take a poll of at least the OAF members in order to determine how many of us practice catch and release when fishing for black bass in our Missouri Ozarks streams and rivers. If you fellas have any interest in joining the MSA and helpin us out with this process I encourage you to check us out: www.missourismallmouthalliance.com Thanks, Matt

Hi Brian: I want to compliment you on not only being a fisherman but taking up fly fishing at an early age. Stick with it, you won't regret it later in life and you're going to see so many places and things that lots of other kids your age will never get to experience. Do what you can to encourage your friends to learn how to fish as well. So, keep right on doing what you do. Matt Wier President Missouri Smallmouth Alliance.

Anglers: On Wednesday, December 17, 2008 MDC Resource Scientist and Crawfish Expert Bob DiStefano will talk to us about Missouri crayfish and the absolutely vital role they play in the diet of our Missouri Ozark smallmouth bass. We hold our monthly membership meetings at the MDC's Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center in Kirkwood, MO on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. The doors open @ 6:30 p.m. and the meetings run from 7-9 p.m. The Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is located at 11715 Cragwold Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122-7015. From the intersection of Interstates 44 & 270, take Watson Rd. to Geyer Rd. Turn north on Geyer for 200 yds. to Cragwold Rd. Go west on Cragwold for 1 mi. to nature center entrance on right. Everyone is invited. On a related note: if you're a current MSA member and live anywhere in the K.C., Springfield, Rolla, or Cape Girardeau areas please drop me a line. I'm very interested in having you help me establish regional chapters of the MSA. Thanks for your time, Matt

Ronnie: I agree with you and that's why I'm interested in helping establish some regional chapters. Thanks for the kind words about the new website. Its still a work in progress and you should expect to see more changes coming soon. The Illinois Smallmouth Alliance kinda set the benchmark as far as a quality website is concerned and we're doing what we can to provide a quality product. I got your e-mail and I look forward to your help. Please tell your friends and fishing buddies, we can use your support. Thanks, Matt

Ladies and Gents: My name is Matt Wier and I'm the current president of the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance. If you're passionate about fishing for smallmouth bass, especially in our Missouri Ozark streams and rivers then I'm inviting you to join us. One thing I'd like to accomplish this year is establishing some regional chapters. If you want to join forces with other anglers who share your bronzeback fever and want to help work to improve the quality of smallmouth fishing in the Missouri Ozarks, then please contact me. Check out our website www.missourismallmouthalliance.org or shoot me an e-mail directly. See you on the water, Matt

Gents: My name is Matt Wier and I'm the president of the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance www.missourismallmouthalliance.org If you're interested in becoming members, and it sounds like you are, and helping me start a Southwest Missouri Chapter of the MSA in Springfield, then please contact me because I'd love your help doing so.

Ladies and Gents: If you fish for black bass (largemouth, kentucky (spotted), and smallmouth) bass in our Missouri Ozark streams and rivers please take a minute and take my poll. As president of the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, which is dedicated to improving the quality of river and stream smallmouth bass fishing in Missouri, I'm really interested in just how many of my fellow anglers practice catch and release when fishing for black bass in our streams and rivers. Thanks in advance for your time. Respectfully, Matt Wier

Thanks Hank. I enjoy fishing pretty much the entire length of the Bourbeuse though it is admittedly much easier when you have some private access points. The very upper reaches are awfully nice to fish in the springtime.

Gents, thanks for the warm welcome and I'll definitely keep the board posted, sorry for the pun, about what the MSA is all about and doing. Thanks, Matt

A friend's family own a river camp on the Bourbeuse in between Rikers and Mayers landing and we fished the very long hole in front of their camp on the day after Thanksgiving. While we didn't catch a single smallie I caught 4 spots, with the largest running a fat 13.5" and my buddy caught 4 spots and one largemouth on a suspending jerkbait. While we caught most of our fish in deeper water, we did find several spots which were more activle feeding right out in the middle of the river. This took place later in the day and in a kind of transition area of the river. By this I mean it was just at the tail end of a run where the water was flowing into some timber. The fish were right out in the middle of the river in fairly shallow water. One bass even followed my bait (I was throwing a superfluke rigged on an 1/8 oz. jighead at the time) all the way from the bank out into the middle of the stream and busted it on the surface as I was rapidly reeling it back in. If you're interested in winter fishing for smallies and live anywhere near the St. Louis area you ought to come the January 21st meeting of the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance. Long time member Mitch Fields is going to talk about fishing for our Ozark Smallies throughout the winter. We hold our meetings at the MDC's Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood. Check out www.missourismallmouthalliance.org for more details. Matt '

Ladies and Gents: My name is Matt Wier. I live and fish out of St. Louis Missouri. I'm the current President of the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance http://missourismallmouthalliance.org and, suprise suprise, love to fish for smallmouth bass throughout the Ozarks and elsewhere.