Smallmouth Bass

[ozark trout fisher]

You are right. MDC should implement a program to eradicate them from Taneycomo.

Do you mean eradicate trout from Lake Taneycomo? If so, I have not heard a more ridiculous thing since, well, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. It is probably the best trout lake in the U.S, maybe the best in the world, and brings in so much money to the area. It will someday produce the next world record brown trout, and in the meantime plenty of stringers of rainbows. Missouri has plenty of smallies, they certainly don't need Taneycomo.

Maybe I'm reading you wrong? If so, I apologize in advance.

[Trav]

In my 26 years here this was the first time I'd ever heard of a smallmouth caught below the dam, not to mention dozens that were caught there after the flood gates were opened right before spawn on TR. These sm were TR sm no doubt. It was a freak of nature. No reason to make rules just because you have one freak incident.

Gramps used to like the shallow water up there under the dam. As a kid, he used to drag me along so I could watch him catch trout with corn and cheese balls. While he caught trout, I jigged the shoreline. I have caught my share of smallies around Fall creek and Cooper creek in the past. It isn't a freaky thing to do so.

I do agree with Troy. Not every fish under the dam last year came from the rock. As nasty as things were down here. I thought of moving as well.

[Troy Gregg]

I have caught my share of smallies around Fall creek and Cooper creek in the past. It isn't a freaky thing to do so.

I pretty much grew up fishing taney and the biggest smallie I have seen to date was in Taney, and its been about 10 years ago ... I never got her into the boat but she sure gave me a clean look at her before she was gone... She was every bit of 24" and 7+ lbs; she made a couple of acrobatic aeriel displays before spitting the hook back in my face.. I have a real hard time believing that she is the only one swimmin around out there, and when we seine for bait up in the creeks its not unusual to seine a few smallie fingerlings in with the chubs and minnows so I know there is some reproduction going on.

[Whack'emGood]

Do you mean eradicate trout from Lake Taneycomo? If so, I have not heard a more ridiculous thing since, well, that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

He is talking about Smallmouth Bass.

[Trav]

I pretty much grew up fishing taney and the biggest smallie I have seen to date was in Taney, and its been about 10 years ago ... I never got her into the boat but she sure gave me a clean look at her before she was gone... She was every bit of 24" and 7+ lbs; she made a couple of acrobatic aeriel displays before spitting the hook back in my face.. I have a real hard time believing that she is the only one swimmin around out there, and when we seine for bait up in the creeks its not unusual to seine a few smallie fingerlings in with the chubs and minnows so I know there is some reproduction going on.

I have netted smallie fingerling as well. Plenty of them can be found at the second bend past Bull Island. Anyone can tell you, there are good smallmouth in Bull Creek above F Hwy. Some of those do make it to the lake.

[brownieman]

Sounds like there are a few numbers and there is some spawning action going on.

Smallies have such a slow growth rate I'd say they are bait fish for several years to a big brownie, spot, bow...anything that will feed on a smaller fish. No doubt they will tolerate the colder water temps and the ones that are there look to be healthy, pretty fish.

My thoughts is that they are food for several years and not many reach maturity. Trout do like eggs and have to eat their fair share I would think, don't know..

Sure would be nice if there were good numbers in the lake...I can just see where the ones that are there have had somewhat of a touph life, lol. I don't know the lake real well and am just speculating...right or wrong I don't know, just thinkin about it.

[wackinbass]

Sounds like there are a few numbers and there is some spawning action going on.

Smallies have such a slow growth rate I'd say they are bait fish for several years to a big brownie, spot, bow...anything that will feed on a smaller fish. No doubt they will tolerate the colder water temps and the ones that are there look to be healthy, pretty fish.

My thoughts is that they are food for several years and not many reach maturity. Trout do like eggs and have to eat their fair share I would think, don't know..

Sure would be nice if there were good numbers in the lake...I can just see where the ones that are there have had somewhat of a touph life, lol. I don't know the lake real well and am just speculating...right or wrong I don't know, just thinkin about it.

[wackinbass]

Everyone please relax and take it easy over my smallies on a stringer. I should have mentioned in my post that none of these smallies were kept for my consumption. All of these bronzebacks were released unharmed including the trophy 4lb 9oz one. I actually got a replica of this fish and it sits high above my fireplace. I did; however, keep the walleye and I made a skin taxidermy mount out of it.

Consequently, I have changed my original post so that everyone knows that I didn't keep any smallies to eat. Sometimes it helps if you put fish on a stringer for the photo shoot. I can tell you all that it was truly interesting to see everybody's incorrect assumptions about me; however, as if I actually sat down and ate these beautiful fish when they truly didn't know anything about my fishing day or my fishing ethics for that matter. Needless to say, I catch big fish all of the time and release them unharmed. In addition, I know that there is a sustainable population of smallies in Taneycomo because I know how to catch them and I have time and time again for the past 10 years or so. I suppose some of you might just be jealous since afterall........you truly don't know how to catch giant smallies on your own.

[bigredbirdfan]

Everyone please relax and take it easy over my smallies on a stringer. I should have mentioned in my post that none of these smallies were kept for my consumption. All of these bronzebacks were released unharmed including the trophy 4lb 9oz one. I actually got a replica of this fish and it sits high above my fireplace. I did; however, keep the walleye and I made a skin taxidermy mount out of it.

Consequently, I have changed my original post so that everyone knows that I didn't keep any smallies to eat. Sometimes it helps if you put fish on a stringer for the photo shoot. I can tell you all that it was truly interesting to see everybody's incorrect assumptions about me; however, as if I actually sat down and ate these beautiful fish when they truly didn't know anything about my fishing day or my fishing ethics for that matter. Needless to say, I catch big fish all of the time and release them unharmed. In addition, I know that there is a sustainable population of smallies in Taneycomo because I know how to catch them and I have time and time again for the past 10 years or so. I suppose some of you might just be jealous since afterall........you truly don't know how to catch giant smallies on your own.

Released in Taney? Or some other crappy place.

[Greg]

No offense but anytime you see fish on a stringer I think it's a normal assumption that they were kept........

But obviously you didn't and more power to you.

Greg