drew03cmc

Until this year, topwater wasn't my thing. I never used it for lake fish at home, nothing. After trying it in earnest, it's now the first (second and third) option out of my tackle bag. I've really fallen in love with the 80 to 95mm baits in creeks.

Haha, you know it. I've been having too much fun lately.

I did it again, 2 2#+ largemouth, 1 16" smallie and several from 8 to 14. 25 to 30 fish total in about 5 hours of fishing. Really, this walk the dog thing is fun. I was always skeptical, but I walk on spinning gear and now have baits from a Sammy 65 up to Zara Spooks and Dog-X Diamante. It's becoming my favorite way to catch fish in the warmer weather.

Looks like a great day to me buddy.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the hooks cost me at least a couple big fish. I'll get them next time.

I ordered 2 more Ziggies yesterday. I'll be changing the hooks to #6 ST36 Owners.

It's not terribly skinny, but definitely has the skinny spots.

Guys, I drove to a northern Ozark stream in search of smallies and was not disappointed. I waded 1.5 miles up and back dowmstream and my body is a little achy today (back pain from surgery almost 3 years ago). To say the fish cooperated was an understatement. I caught over 60 fish, 35 or so smallies, 18 or so largemouth and the rest sunfish of some persuasion. I lost the 2 biggest smallmouth, one of which would have been a PB I believe, and biggest largemouth due to my own error. I used one bait all day.

I'd like to be able to say that you understand where I'm coming from. I hope that those of us conservation-minded individuals are all on the same page and desire the same thing, improved smallmouth fishing for size and numbers.

@ollie was referencing the Elk, just FYI. The data was gathered over the course of nearly a decade, if I remember correctly, stream sections were surveyed, albeit not always in the most thorough manner or means and excluded for various reasons. The end result was a step towards creating better smallmouth fishing for our kids and grandkids. Did the regulations change to suit our desires? In nearly all situations, the answer is a resounding no. In this state, in the current time, with the current obstacles in front of all of us, did they make a stride? Yes. You're incorrect. Kevin Meneau was and is a vehement supporter of river smallie fishing and was instrumental in this program. MDC, as long as I can recall, has had creel surveys and other means of surveying the population in effect instead of simply shocking them up. Have you fished smallmouth bass on rivers elsewhere? We don't touch world class quality fishing and our rivers are capable of being much better. This paper was to analyze, expand or enact new SMAs. It has done that, again, not to everyone's desires. Catch and keep fishing will always be allowed in Missouri whether we like it or not. We will have to try and get more stringent regulations through in some way, shape or form as a gift to future generations of outdoorsmen and women. I guess I'm dense as I do not get the forest fire equivalency here. A deity isn't the answer here. We are dealing with science and scientific data. I'd like to see results from a shocking survey before new regs on the SMAs and now to see if there's been a change in the population density or the frequency of big smallmouth.

Did you read the document when it was first released? I am asking because, in my experience, outside of SMAs, numbers are still good, even on some of these streams they excluded for various reasons. In fact, a few of those, the fishing has improved a bit. These stretches were excluded because of a species of conservation concern, lack of access, lack of regulatory support or whatever they decided.

I haven't fished an SMA in years. When wading, give me the smaller creeks and I'm happy. I believe my catch rate has improved due to education and skill improvements, but I cannot prove this.

Guys, I've been thinking about the 2009 MDC Smallmouth White Paper. I was curious of 2 things, first, does anyone have a copy? I can't find it online anymore and second, what have the long term effects been as a result of the decisions made? I know that I've personally hit a few streams in the past few months that were deemed too damaged, too far gone or had a species of conservation concern in them. In each of these, I've found good numbers, decent size in a few, great habitat and easy access for the most part. I'm wondering on the streams that are near you guys that were included in the SMA program, have there been positive changes in the numbers, size, access or habitat? In my limited experiences in the past few years, I've noticed that, not only has my catch rate gone up in recent years, especially when wading, but I've caught more on the baits I've heard about, not always relying on soft craws or small jigs. Again, I want to start a discussion on this after reading the White Paper thread again Monday on the way back from Mack's Creek.

That's huge!

Thanks bud.

Selling 3 Pointer 78SP. $30. Prices include shipping, paypal preferred. SPF

@Jadesjigs killer report man. The kids make every catch better!

Triple Surgeons knot for me...rarely fails and dead simple to tie.

@Johnsfolly they're talking about you bud. I used to dabble with a 1wt fly rod myself.

I'm planning the next trip for us now. He hasn't stopped talking about it and the excitement has me excited.

Thanks guys. All B has talked about since is how acrobatic the smallies are and how he needs to go catch more. I laughed at him and said we will soon.

The first access was deep right at the bank, so that was a no go, but we went upstream next, and waded up to the next bridge. We started slow, but fishing picked up about halfway. I caught 10 smallies and he caught 4. All of his were on either a grub or a Little Dipper in shiner. Mine were on a Jackall Dera Spin, 1/8oz buzzbait and Zoom Super Fluke Jr rigged on a Gamakatsu G Finesse 2/0 hybrid EWG. When we got to 42, the skies began looking ominous and a 2wd 4cyl Ranger on wet rocks going up that access did not sound like my idea of fun. We turned around and at this point, I'd only caught 4 smallies and he had 1. We decided to make time and hit the couple best pools again, which were in the upper half of that wade. I lost the big fish of the day that had to go 16+. It hit the Fluke Jr and immediately ran downstream yanking drag. My bait flew back at me as he only had the tail...drat. I caught 3 over 12, big fish at about 14. When he caught his first, the smile said it all. The rains ran us off the creek after about 4 hours, but a lifetime of memories were made and it's a creek I'll definitely be back to next month.

It'll be the only rod I take wading. They're really a nice casting rod.

The paddlers guide is on my bookshelf and it serves a good purpose. That makes this an exciting choice. I asked Braden and he wants to catch his first smallie where I did. Mule Shoe is a good starting point and then hit a few more bridges above. Thanks a bunch guys!

Hey guys, I'm looking to acquire a couple more of these. I have one and it's the perfect creek rod. It's the older pistol grip 5'6" rod like in the picture. PM me if you have one available.