smallmouthjoe

Me and my girl went to The Current and Jack's Fork for my annual end of summer camping trip. We spent most of our time on Jack's Fork because it seemed less crowded and the water was a bit slower which allowed us to work our way up river. We would fish on the way up and hit the hot spots we found on the way back down. Great trip and by far the best camping/fishing trip I've had in a long while. We camped at Two Rivers and it wasn't crowded at all, we only saw one other group that was camping. I'm sure if we went back during the weekend it would be a different story. Each day we picked a different access and fished our way up. The first day we fished up from where the two rivers meet and that section was the best fishing section we found. The second day we went to Shawnee Creek and the third we went to Rymer. On our way back home we stopped at Alley Spring and checked out the Mill and it was beautiful and I really enjoyed learning a little about the areas history. On the second night there some raccoons broke in to our cooler and stole all of our food so for the rest of the trip we had to eat nothing but pringles and granola bars. But that was the only bad luck that fell our way. Most of the fish that were caught came on either a green pumpkin or pumpkin with green flake tube, spring craw bitsy bug or a grub in green pumpkin or watermelon red. Caught both good numbers and some good fish and all the fish were where you would expect to find them this time of year. Here's some pictures of the trip. Thanks to everyone here, going back and reading all the old posts really helped me decide where to go. And thanks to Al for his suggestion on where we should camp.

Every time I fish above Delaware Town I always catch two or three walleyes. They always seem to be holding behind current breaks right where I expect to find smallmouth. Sounds like a great trip, thanks for sharing.

I did see a man that was parked along the road just south of riverside. But I have had enough trouble from land owners and I don't want to take the chance. Dave, if you do park there and no one says anything, let me know. It would knock a considerable amount of paddling time off. Thanks. Itomczyk, I have a green old town kayak. The only other kayak I saw was the man I just described but I thought that his was yellow.

Don't people use sunfish for trot lines?

I paddled pretty hard because I had to be at work. It didn't take too long, about twenty minutes or so. The problem with paddling up from the park is keeping yourself from fishing all the good looking spots that you pass.

The amount of rock bass really surprised me, they're all over the place. Fishing that section is fun and I wish I could put in at Riverside to avoid paddling two miles before I get a chance to fish. But if they were easy to get to they probably wouldn't be there.

Hit the park today. Didn't waste any time with the actual park, instead I paddled above riverside to check on the fish I caught there a few weeks ago. The first initial hole above riverside wasn't as good as last time, but I did manage to catch a few rockbass and smallmouth. I went up a bit further and found a nice run that had submerged wood all over it. Managed to land a good number of fish but most were on the small size. The biggest smallie of the day only went around 12. It was still fun and I can't complain. I started fishing a little late and I couldn't find many fish that where willing to hit the crank. The better active style bait was the jerkbait which was a black and gold husky jerk worked really fast around cover. The best bite was flipping a copper bitsy tube into submerged wood and just letting it sit. Really light bite that without the aid of my fireline I most likely wouldn't have felt. Take care.

Wow, great post. I think the problem I have with most active style baits is that I work them like I work tubes and jigs, very slow. Thank you.

Sounds like a great day. I would be very happy catching two keeps this time of year.

If you go, go after we get a little rain. There was a 150 yard drag over slick bed rock about a 1/2 mile from The James. I don't really mind having to drag but I know some people do.

This is awesome, I want a poster of this.

It great to see the next generation of sportsmen that will preserve these beautiful and native fish and the habitat that they live in. Great report, thanks for sharing.

It did get a bit scary at times. The rain didn't bother me, the fact that I forgot my rain gear did, the lighting was the problem. We hid in the woods when it started to lighting, even though I don't think that was any better than being out in the river. It felt more secure anyway.

Control comes with maturity. He's still pretty young and he'll have to learn to sacrifice some speed for control.

To be in the middle of beautiful country by yourself. That's my idea of a perfect trip.

Today me, my girl and a mutual friend floated from 1-60 to Hooten. The weather report for today said there was a 50% chance of thunderstorms and I guess my group received 100% of the 50%. It was a cold rain and just a flat out chilly day. When did it become fall? I didn't get a chance to fish that much, felt too bad for the girls. I could tell they just wanted to get to Hooten Town and in the truck so they could turn on the heat. I did get some fishing in however. I would have thought with the weather that the bass would be very active but that was not the case. I had some luck with a Bandit 100 in red top gold bottom crank but it was a grind to pick up a fish on. Struck out completely on the spook and I give it a good portion of my day. Had some success on a Zell pop in Arkansas shiner but it to wasn't a really hot bite. The jig worked pretty good like it always does, but the best bite I found was on the tube. A copper bitsy tube texas rigged with a 1/8 bullet. I had a decent day, there's quite a few 12'-14' smallies in that stretch of the Finley. Again, the 17' plus smallie eluded me today but that's been my cruse since I caught my personal best this spring. This is good section of the river, lots of riffles and I can't wait to float it on a nicer day when I have more time. Take care guys.

I second that. Get away from all the easy to get to places.

Man, I was worried about him producing a pistol and shooting me. I know that he was in the wrong, first by even bothering me, second by being so hostile towards me. The funny thing is right as I drove up to the bridge I saw a conservation agent and asked him if I could park and fish. He said I should go ask the house that was down the way and if they weren't home I could park on the road and walk under the bridge. I wish I would have gotten his name it could be useful if this landowner decides to take me to court.

If you are speaking of the land beyond the public road right of way, which is usually somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 ft. from the center line of the road, giver or take a few feet depending on local situations, he does own the land. The public has a right, according to the Missouri Supreme Court to use his land along the creek for activities associated with the creek. Hey Chief, does this apply to all county roads? I had a really bad incident on The James yesterday. I thought I was accessing the river legally by parking on a road and walking along it until I walked to a bridge and then walked under it. I knew there was I buffer that was for public use, but the landowner didn't seem to agree with me. He yelled at me and assaulted me with a pen that he wrote down my license plate number down with. Does he own the land under the bridge?

Great fish and great hat.

From campus there are no less than ten places that are about a thirty minute drive. I know because I've lived close to campus for many years now. I'll PM you.

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone has floated the Finley from 1-60 to the james in the last couple of weeks. I'm thinking about floating it this Monday and I want to know how much dragging to expect if I go. Any information would be great, thanks.

Hey, where is McCall Bridge? I was looking in my paddlers guide and my atlas and they showed me nothing. I checked out google earth and it looked like it was past Ponce on Highway V. Is there parking available or do you know someone? Thanks again.

Do you know if any other NPS managed rivers are slated for any money?

I'm trying to fish as much as possible these last days of summer break. Trying to get it out of my system but the only thing I think I'm doing is further increasing my desire to do nothing but fish. Drove to Creighton today and fished down river for about a Mile and a half. Had a tough time today, some of the riffles I've always had luck with in the past weren't producing today. Tried a little of everything a spinnerbait, crank, jig, dinger, tube, spook nothing was really working. I finally just settled on a jig and started throwing it in places I normally wouldn't except to find smallies. My day was saved when I skipped it into a slack pool and a monster largemouth nailed it before it had a chance to sink. Must have put it right in her face. She was around 18, at least that is the estimate I came up with while measuring her against the handle of my rod. The only other decent fish I caught was a 14" smallie that was tucked away under a log that was sitting in the current. Besides that i caught three other small fish. The jig was a baby booyah 3/16 in pb&j with a Alabama craw paca on the back. I'm floating from Creighton to The Lake this Monday I hope I can catch more than five fish. Take care guys.