What Would You Guys Consider A Big Ozark Smallie

[hambone80]

Hey ladies and gentlemen, I was wondering what you would consider to be a big Ozark river fish. Well actually a trophy to be honest. Have any of you caught a smallie over 4 lbs, or 20" in length and greater? I'm just trying to see what other fisherman have to say because if I do catch one this year I want to get a replica made. Also, what is considered a big spot on these rivers?

[Dutch]

I have caught a lot of smb on MO rivers but nothing close to a 4#. If you catch one then a replica probably would be a good thing.

[DD'sMC]

One of my goals this Spring is to catch a nice smallie on a fly rod. I'm still learning to fish with a fly rod, so a 4#er would be an awesome achievement.

Good luck on your quest hambone.

[shaker]

Caught one smally that weighted 3 lbs. probably 25 years ago on the James on a crankbait. I haven't even been in a canoe for 15 years, so wouldn't have any idea what is going on now! Good luck hope that you can find some that big, and that one was released, have always turned the smallies back, anything that pretty and has that much spirit needs to fight again!

[patfish]

My buddy Sherwood caught what I would consider a trophy SMB this past October on the Current. Only slightly larger than the one my girlfriend caught in May at Table Rock.... here's a link to the Current report.

[mmirg]

Here is a picture of a 19" Smallie that I caught on the James last summer, I don't know what it weighed. It is my biggest so far, he went back in the water so somebody can catch him again when he's 20"+. I hope that somebody is me. Anything over 15" is a nice smallie in my book. A 20"+ would definitely be a trophy to me. I think that the same criteria holds true for rivers spots too.

[smallmouthjoe]

Here is a picture of a 19" Smallie that I caught on the James last summer, I don't know what it weighed. It is my biggest so far, he went back in the water so somebody can catch him again when he's 20"+. I hope that somebody is me. Anything over 15" is a nice smallie in my book. A 20"+ would definitely be a trophy to me. I think that the same criteria holds true for rivers spots too.

I would have to agree, anything over 15" is a nice smallmouth and anything over 20" is what I would consider a trophy smallmouth out of a river. The biggest fish I've ever caught in weight was 3 and a half. Most river fish don't get above 3 lbs. because they have to expend so much energy swimming in the current.

[Ditch Basser]

This will be my first post since joining the forum, but I had to throw my 2 cents worth in. I moved to Missouri this past summer from Georgia (military). I’m originally from Texas where the Bass grow fast and large. I’ve been fishing mostly small water from a kayak in the vicinity of Fort Leonard Wood. I’ve caught over a hundred LMB over four pounds since I arrived. The largest was six and half pounds (I’ve caught her twice). I’ve also caught several SMB in the four pound range with the largest over five pounds, closer to five and a half. I didn’t have a scale with me that trip.

The lesson I learned early in life, even on publicly accessible water, is the more remote you are from the beaten path, the better the chances of a trophy fish. I got the name “ditch basser” from working drainage ditches that held a few feet of water even during the dry months of July and August in Georgia. I caught a couple of seven pound Bass during my lunch break once in water that no one else would even think of fishing.

A true trophy fish is always in the eye of the beholder. For me, the experience of catching that trophy fish that has never seen a lure or person in its life is what makes the trip so special. Another important lessen is “dumb fish”, the ones that have never seen a person or lure in their life are a lot easier to catch!

[KCRIVERRAT]

Hey Hambone... I've got three that were right around 4lbs. but it's been awhile. Two on the Jacks Fork and one on the North Fork. I'm like most on this subject, all smallies are special and anything over 15" really feels special. Especially in moving water. Attaching a couple of pics of my last nice one caught on the Jacks Fork last August. Not a four pounder, but he measured 171/2". Forgive my expressions (smugness in one and in the 2nd one... no, he wasn't THAT heavy!) Good fishing to ya...

[Seth]

My buddy caught an 18.5" largemouth and an 18" smallmouth on the Osage River on President's day this year. That smally was a pig! It was twice as wide as the largemouth.