Big Tavern Creek

[creek wader]

Friday 03/20, was trying to decide to hit a different spot on the Maries River with my fly rod or go below Bagnell Dam. The phone report said they weren't going to be generating much this weekend. Then online, I saw they were starting to release a lot of water. So, I headed down to the dam and wasted 3 hrs. plus drive time. They would release for 5 min. the shut it down for 30 min. Then release again. The fish didn't fall for it and no one, including myself were catching anything.

Since I was already that far south, I drove over to Madden Access on the Big Tavern. I parked in the lot, then walked about 300yrs. across a field in waders to the creek. But, was rewarded with a beautiful site. It is a very pretty creek and very clear but, very low. I caught several largemouth, right off the bat. Traveled up a mile and down a mile. Very impressive looking water. Some cliffs and even a cave. Perfect conditions for smallies. Riffles, lots of pea gravel, chunk rock, a few holes, rootwads, logs, and lots of minnows. But, only caught about 6 largemouth and a handful of suckers and some large chubs. Had a many largemouth chasing, but stopped short of biting.

So, I trudged back to the truck and headed to the Maries River, to finish the day. Caught a handful of smallies and a few largemouth under a bridge then headed back. Below are some pics of the Big Tavern Creek.

[Al Agnew]

I've only fished Tavern once, did a float trip on one of the upper sections, and had much the same experience you did. Looks like pure smallmouth water, but I caught more largemouth than smallmouth. Some of the largemouth were big, 18-19 inchers. Some friends floated it farther downstream where it was slower and murkier the same day, and caught a lot of spotted bass. That was several years ago.

[creek wader]

I've only fished Tavern once, did a float trip on one of the upper sections, and had much the same experience you did. Looks like pure smallmouth water, but I caught more largemouth than smallmouth. Some of the largemouth were big, 18-19 inchers. Some friends floated it farther downstream where it was slower and murkier the same day, and caught a lot of spotted bass. That was several years ago.

Al, I've caught quite a few smallies in the mid section, 2 yrs. ago. I assumed that I would of caught some smallies on the upper section. But, that wasn't the case. Last year I fished the lower third and caught a few smallies but, many spots and largemouth. The upper section looks much more like a smallie stream to me. Oh well, I've got better smallie waters closer. The upper section is a pretty little stream. Glad that I tried it. It satisfied my curiousity.

[ozark trout fisher]

Al, I've caught quite a few smallies in the mid section, 2 yrs. ago. I assumed that I would of caught some smallies on the upper section. But, that wasn't the case. Last year I fished the lower third and caught a few smallies but, many spots and largemouth. The upper section looks much more like a smallie stream to me. Oh well, I've got better smallie waters closer. The upper section is a pretty little stream. Glad that I tried it. It satisfied my curiousity.

Looks like a pretty creek. I might have to fish that sometime.