Big Smallmouth

[smbass43]

I'll be heading down with a couple buddys to the EP in a couple of weeks and was wondering what everyone thought about where "Big" Smallmouth bass are located on this river. Usually we target the upper stretches since the water is a little warmer, but would it be beneficail for us to float down past Whitten? We were thinking of floating either Cane Bluff to Whitten or Greer to Riverton... What are your thoughts?

[Brian Sloss]

With the water levels being higher, I would start upriver at Cane Bluff. You could even go up to Thomasville right now as long as you don't mind a couple of tree portages. The further you go downstream, the higher the water volume you have to deal with, which will make fishing a little harder. Plus the upriver smallies are starting to hit and I've gotten no smallmouth reports lower on the river.

[smbass43]

We are coming down the second week of June so hopefully the river will be lower by then. We usually start up around Cane bluff, but we were thinking of going down towards Riverton becauase we never do. Does anyone ever get into a lot of smallmouth past Turner's mill or is it mainly trout?

[Flysmallie]

I've always started at Riverton and floated on down to the state line. Lots of smallmouth in that stretch and you usually don't see many other people.

[smbass43]

Really? I always thought that section was slow deep and full of jet boats.

[Brian Sloss]

It is slower and deeper below Riverton, but it does have a lot of smallies. If you avoid Sat or Sunday, you will avoid most all of the jet boats that can come out on the weekends.

[Gavin]

Summer weekends turn the EP into jet boat city below Greer..Especially if the Ozark County Sheriff's are out running around...Think they ran past us about two dozen times on a two night float from Greer to Whitten over memorial day a couple years ago. Probably another dozen or so boats out as well. I'd pick another river if your contemplating a weekend float for smallies...Big Piney between Mason and Ross, and the Upper G. Nade south of I-44 both offer good smallie fishing and they dont see much jet boat traffic. Cheers.

[smbass43]

I agree, but we will be heading down on a wednesday and taking out on either friday or saturday. We are either going from Cane Bluff to Whitten or Greer to riverton. Just wondering what stretch is better for big fish.

[2sheds]

Hi Big SM,

Assuming you are floating a weekend, I concur with Brian's recommendation that you stay in the upstream sections.

But if you can hit it on a weekday with fewer jetboats, I can vouch for plenty of great smallmouth fishing from Greer down to Myrtle Access (old Stubblefiled Ferry).

[smbass43]

Thanks 2sheds. Where exactly is that take out point?