A Morning On The Creek

[Al Agnew]

I hadn't been fishing all of April except for the Shoal Cr. float trip back near the beginning of the month. Weather, work, and other things just got in the way. So I thought I'd start May out right. Forecast was for thundershowers in the afternoon, cloudy in the morning. I knew I couldn't go all day, but thought I'd sneak in a morning trip.

We've had a LOT of rain. All the streams around here are high. But I figured my secret little creek would be fishable. I could have fished my usual stretch of creek from either of two accesses. It's about 3 miles between them; downstream the creek slows and turns into more spotted bass water, and I'd never fished upstream from the upper access, because I knew it was small water and a long way between fish-holding pools. But today I decided to explore up the creek a bit. I figured I had about 3 hours to fish, and thought I could make my way up a couple of miles at most.

The creek was flowing about 3 times its normal volume. Of course, its normal volume is a trickle that you can step across in two paces without getting wet over your ankles. Today it was flowing strongly enough I could have floated some of the riffles. It was also a bit murky, maybe 3-4 feet visibility--it's usually very clear.

The thing about this creek is that not only is it small, it's also shallow. In my usual stretch the deepest water you can find is about 5 feet deep, and most of the good pools are 3 feet or less. What I found is that this upper stretch is even shallower. It's mostly bedrock bottom, and in the whole morning of wading I never saw anyplace that was much over 3 feet deep, and most of the places I caught fish were less than 2 feet.

It's a little like shooting fish in a barrel. These fish just don't see a lot of pressure, and you absolutely know you're putting the lure in front of every fish in the creek. I don't fish this creek because it's a challenge, I fish it because it's fun to catch nice smallmouth in such an intimate setting.

I started out with my homemade spinnerbait, and went a good quarter of a mile before I found any water that looked like it could possibly hold a fish. It was all steep-dropping riffles over bedrock until I finally came to a little pool about the size of an average living room that was about 2 feet deep. I caught the first two smallies, both about 10 inches, and had a strike from a third one. The next pool, just upstream, was a bit bigger though no deeper, and I caught the first decent fish, a 13 incher, in it along with a couple more small ones. Then it was another long hike to what turned out to be the best pool I came to the whole morning.

I have to describe it, not because I caught a lot of fish there--I caught a 12 incher and a pretty 16 incher--but because it is simply a beautiful spot. You approach the pool from below over a steep, boulder-studded rapid that drops a good 3 feet in 20 yards or so. It lays beneath a 70 foot high cliff, water-streaked and stained dark gray. Big boulders clutter the pool on an otherwise bedrock bottom, and it is smooth water that appears deep, though it's only about 3, maybe 4 feet at the deepest. The trees arch over the water opposite the bluff, and blooming dogwoods line the top of the cliff. It's achingly beautiful.

From there I fished a number of nice little pools, often separated by near falls. At one spot there is a true waterfall that's about 3 feet high. No pool is more than 50 yards long. They almost all had fish. I caught some on topwater, a couple on a small jerkbait, as well as the spinnerbait. Above the waterfall, I fished two nice pools with only one small fish to show for it. I wonder if that waterfall is a barrier that keeps some of the fish from going farther upstream. After fishing the second pool above it fruitlessly, I checked my cell phone for the time and discovered it was 11:30 and I needed to be back at the car before noon. So it was a hard, fast hike back downstream.

I caught a total of 25 bass, with two of about 16 inches. Not a really terrific morning for fishing, but what a gorgeous creek.

[fishinforhim]

I hadn't been fishing all of April except for the Shoal Cr. float trip back near the beginning of the month. Weather, work, and other things just got in the way. So I thought I'd start May out right. Forecast was for thundershowers in the afternoon, cloudy in the morning. I knew I couldn't go all day, but thought I'd sneak in a morning trip.

We've had a LOT of rain. All the streams around here are high. But I figured my secret little creek would be fishable. I could have fished my usual stretch of creek from either of two accesses. It's about 3 miles between them; downstream the creek slows and turns into more spotted bass water, and I'd never fished upstream from the upper access, because I knew it was small water and a long way between fish-holding pools. But today I decided to explore up the creek a bit. I figured I had about 3 hours to fish, and thought I could make my way up a couple of miles at most.

The creek was flowing about 3 times its normal volume. Of course, its normal volume is a trickle that you can step across in two paces without getting wet over your ankles. Today it was flowing strongly enough I could have floated some of the riffles. It was also a bit murky, maybe 3-4 feet visibility--it's usually very clear.

The thing about this creek is that not only is it small, it's also shallow. In my usual stretch the deepest water you can find is about 5 feet deep, and most of the good pools are 3 feet or less. What I found is that this upper stretch is even shallower. It's mostly bedrock bottom, and in the whole morning of wading I never saw anyplace that was much over 3 feet deep, and most of the places I caught fish were less than 2 feet.

It's a little like shooting fish in a barrel. These fish just don't see a lot of pressure, and you absolutely know you're putting the lure in front of every fish in the creek. I don't fish this creek because it's a challenge, I fish it because it's fun to catch nice smallmouth in such an intimate setting.

I started out with my homemade spinnerbait, and went a good quarter of a mile before I found any water that looked like it could possibly hold a fish. It was all steep-dropping riffles over bedrock until I finally came to a little pool about the size of an average living room that was about 2 feet deep. I caught the first two smallies, both about 10 inches, and had a strike from a third one. The next pool, just upstream, was a bit bigger though no deeper, and I caught the first decent fish, a 13 incher, in it along with a couple more small ones. Then it was another long hike to what turned out to be the best pool I came to the whole morning.

I have to describe it, not because I caught a lot of fish there--I caught a 12 incher and a pretty 16 incher--but because it is simply a beautiful spot. You approach the pool from below over a steep, boulder-studded rapid that drops a good 3 feet in 20 yards or so. It lays beneath a 70 foot high cliff, water-streaked and stained dark gray. Big boulders clutter the pool on an otherwise bedrock bottom, and it is smooth water that appears deep, though it's only about 3, maybe 4 feet at the deepest. The trees arch over the water opposite the bluff, and blooming dogwoods line the top of the cliff. It's achingly beautiful.

From there I fished a number of nice little pools, often separated by near falls. At one spot there is a true waterfall that's about 3 feet high. No pool is more than 50 yards long. They almost all had fish. I caught some on topwater, a couple on a small jerkbait, as well as the spinnerbait. Above the waterfall, I fished two nice pools with only one small fish to show for it. I wonder if that waterfall is a barrier that keeps some of the fish from going farther upstream. After fishing the second pool above it fruitlessly, I checked my cell phone for the time and discovered it was 11:30 and I needed to be back at the car before noon. So it was a hard, fast hike back downstream.

I caught a total of 25 bass, with two of about 16 inches. Not a really terrific morning for fishing, but what a gorgeous creek.

I fish the barren fork over here on the ok ark border

I feel the same way

its so nice when its just you and the fish and God

and the creek is so untouched

I finaly got a kayak and got to go

further than I had ever waded and found a

waterfall too. no fish but spectacular

nice to see some one else with the same disposition

I dont get many big smallies here but caught some dandy spots

and one very large bucket mouth.

some times I just go for the hike and bring a pole so I dont regret missing a nice hole

[creek wader]

Sounds like a wonderful place. Al. ... It also, sounds like most of the streams, that I fish in the Jeff. City area. Most fisherman wouldn't give them a second look. I rarely find water much over waist deep. Long stretches between fishable water. Most fish are around 12". But, when I fish it. It's my little stream and my little world. At least for a little while, until I have to return to the real world. Hence my handle ... "Creek Wader" ...

[Danoinark]

Al said "You approach the pool from below over a steep, boulder-studded rapid that drops a good 3 feet in 20 yards or so. It lays beneath a 70 foot high cliff, water-streaked and stained dark gray. Big boulders clutter the pool on an otherwise bedrock bottom, and it is smooth water that appears deep, though it's only about 3, maybe 4 feet at the deepest. The trees arch over the water opposite the bluff, and blooming dogwoods line the top of the cliff. It's achingly beautiful."

Great descriptors, I hope you put it to canvas.

Dano

[ness]

Sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

[Buzz]

I wonder if that waterfall is a barrier that keeps some of the fish from going farther upstream. After fishing the second pool above it fruitlessly, I checked my cell phone for the time and discovered it was 11:30 and I needed to be back at the car before noon. So it was a hard, fast hike back downstream.

I caught a total of 25 bass, with two of about 16 inches. Not a really terrific morning for fishing, but what a gorgeous creek.

Just curious Al. Would it be possible to sort of help populate the area above the falls? Maybe catch a fish below and transfer it above? After reading your report this sort of stuck in my mind.

That was a very visual report, I can picture it in my mind. Thanks.