smallmouthjoe

I think it comes down to energy and other limiting factors. Most of our streams are very oligotrophic and growth of smallmouth is limited by the lack of structure building elements. I have noticed that in some places where there is an addition of nutrients, at levels that smallmouth can still withstand, the smallmouth tend to grow a bit larger. Another factor is energy, the smaller the stream the smaller the amount of energy input from the surrounding landscape, which means that there is less energy pumped into the base of the energy pyramid and therefore a smaller amount of energy available to the top of the pyramid. These are my thoughts on the whole matter and this why I believe that a slot limit would be the best for Ozark streams if people would harvest fish that were under the protected slot. The removal of these smaller fish should make more energy and building block elements available to the larger fish.

Man I love that river. Thanks for the pics, some great shots.

That's the 24 mile stretch through the wilderness area right? I'll talk it over with my group and we may go there. Your the second person that has told me about the beauty of this stretch. The trip was delayed due to all the water and now it seems that we are going after all my friends get back from some hippie jam fest down in Arkansas. Thanks to everyone for the information.

Thanks for the suggestion budman. I think we're going the weekend after this one and hopefully the weather cooperates. How's the landscape through there? As beautiful as the rest of the river? I'm going with a bunch of people who aren't really interested in fishing so i need something for them to look at so I can have a little time fishing.

Thanks, I'll probably need a float that isn't too difficult being that some of these people have never floated. My companions inexperience will most likely mean that I won't be able to get very much fishing in unless it's an easy float. Thanks again, Bobber

Hello everyone, I'm looking to get some recommendations on an overnighter on the Buffalo. I'm going with a group of friends later this month and would really like to get some information on good stretches. I would like to float the lower sections of the river being that I've never experienced that part of the buffalo and I hear the landscape around there is beautiful. If anyone has any thoughts please let me know. Thanks,

Man I wish I could get there, only two more weeks of work and school. Thanks for the report Randy.

Awesome, I still have yet to experience a true double. Crankbait fish make me want to call in sick to work and blow off classes tomorrow. Thanks for the post and welcome to the forum.

I'm glad you were there to enlighten him to the regs. He should consider himself lucky that you didn't keep quite and call the local conservation agent to bust him. I forgot to mention in my original post that there is a bad port about a mile or so down from Linden. When you try to port around don't use the left side of the river bank, the right is a much easier port. I realized this after I had dragged all my stuff through about 30 yards of brush and was on my way down river and saw how clear the right side was.

Managed to escape responsibility today to get some fishing in. Started around 10:00 at Linden and finished up around 5:00 at the park. The fishing was pretty good, best fish of the day went around 15" and she was a LM, caught around 6 or 7 smallies none going over 12" and of course I caught the usual 15 or so rock bass. Most of the brown fish were caught with either a 5" grub, smoke with red flake, or a 3.5" green pumpkin tube. The rock bass were caught on anything I was throwing and the LM was caught on a booyah jig,3/16, green pumpkin with a green pumpkin chigger craw on the back. I was expecting the fish to be aggressive but all fish seemed somewhat sluggish. Struck out on the crankbait and jerkbait (except for rock bass), and found out later in the float that they seemed to prefer the jig over the tube today. I got to witness some great scenery, saw some interesting wildlife including two common snapping turtles locked in their mating ritual, a first for me. Great day to be out I think I may hit a section of The James next weekend, if I'm not totally bogged down with work and school, and see if I can get into some bigger smallies. Take care.

Speed is the factor that makes snow more of a nitrogen pollutant than rain. The snow builds and sticks around and accumulates higher concentrations of nitrogen simply because when it falls it is trapped. Then all of that nitrogen is released at once when the snow melts. I'm sure rain does contain the same levels of nitrogen as snow but the effects are not as intense due to the speed in which it is filtered through the system. Again, I believe that the main source of nitrogen, phosphorus or any other limiting factor that affects algal growth is agriculture or sewage run off. The amount of nitrogen oxide in our skies is no where near as bad as it is in some places out east where nitric acid is really having an effect on the diversity of freshwater communities.

It's funny that this was mentioned because I recently had a lecture in Ecology that was talking about this same thing. Apparently, when the snow forms it will pick up some of the nitrogen oxide that is emitted by internal combustion engines and when it falls nitrogen will accumulate in the snow. Then when we receive a day or two of mild weather all of the nitrogen that has been trapped in the snow will be released all at once. I do believe that the bulk of building block elements does come from agricultural and septic tank runoff, but the DNR agent may also be right in his thinking.

Nice looking pictures, I can't wait for the semester to end so I can get out there.

This is great, I was bummed out about missing it. Thank you, Phil for downloading it.

It worked for me.

I have never caught or heard of anyone catching catfish on The Finley. However, it seems to me that someone over the years may have thrown them into the park, I think I vaguely remember someone talking about catching catfish at the park but I can't be sure. As far as catching bass, you can catch them on all the regular stream bass baits. Cranks, tubes, jigs, soft plastics, jerkbaits, etc..... I hope this helps.

You shouldn't have any problem paddling up stream in your kayak. After you get past the bluff area there's a riffle above that run that I can usually navigate it without getting out. Then there's another long run that is easy to paddle up and another riffle at the head of that run that is a little more difficult but I've always managed to get up it without getting out as well. The first place where I have to get out and drag is a little ways down from riverside. I haven't been there this year yet and unless a tree has fallen or the course of the river has changed you should be OK if the water isn't flowing through there too bad. There are many places to park down there and it usually is not an issue. Have fun man and let us know how you did.

Glad to hear about someone getting out on The Finley, I've been so busy and dieing to go fishing. The mammal you saw was probably a mink, basically the same thing as a weasel. I see them cruising the banks of Table Rock from time to time, interesting little creatures. http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/mammals/mink/

I had the same experience on The Sac River one day. I set the hook on a fish and it immediately started tearing drag, the whole time I was thinking I had the state record on. Nice fish Bman, smallie or no.

Nice looking fish, that LM is a beast. I recently got a job in which I'll be assisting a biologist down on The Elk and on other local streams. From all the things I've heard about The Elk and everything I've seen on the forum I can't wait to get started. Thanks for the report, hopefully soon I'll be able to enjoy some of the fine fishing that this stream has to offer.

It feels good to hear about a SB bite.

I couldn't agree more.

Thanks for the heads up. Too bad, it was a nice little local spot, one of my favorite floats was from there to Hooten. So now to do that float I have to start somewhere below Ozark Park.

Good idea but it has been about two months so I don't know if they would still match. Thanks for the idea, I always forget that they will do price matching.

Figures that I just bought one at BP for 600$. So far I can say that it was worth the money at 600$ and at 400$ it's a steal. Thanks Al.