Parasites In Smallmouth

[tippett7]

Whats the best creek in Souther Mo to fish for smallies?

[ozarkgunner]

It seems that everything on this board has to turn out to be a catch and release debate. Its a real shame. The question that was asked had nothing to do with Catch and release and catch and keep, lets not make it about something its not...............

I generally believe in c&r of smallmouth, but the fact is that has nothing to do with a question about parasites. This is the guy's first post I see. Rudeness like this will drive people off the forum. That's not what we want, is it?

Sorry I can't help with the problem with the parasites in the smallies, I've never seen it before. I know with those sort of things it is usually alright if you thoroughly cook them, the parasite usually dies. But don't take my word for it.

FYI, as someone said, if you are fishing in the Missouri Ozarks, Black Bass are closed until I believe this Saturday. I don't believe that applies in Missouri north of the River or in Arkansas, though. If you are in the Missouri Ozarks, since you posted this on a public forum, I will just assume that you didn't know the rules. I'm not saying that not knowing rules is an excuse to break them, but it does happen to the best of us.

I'm not trying to turn this into a catch and release debate. However, most of the smallmouth are south of the Missouri River which is generally the legal line. Additionally, it seems very wasteful to keep killing bass full of worms unless you like to eat worm filled fillets. I wish he would names these streams, so the legal debate would not exist.

See 3-CSR-10-6.505.

[Flysmallie]

Whats the best creek in Souther Mo to fish for smallies?

I'm not sure that anyone will answer that question. I know which ones I think are the best but that may be very different from what somebody else thinks. One thing that two of my favorite waters have in common is there are no Canoe outfitters on them. Maybe that narrows it down, maybe not.

[ozark trout fisher]

Whats the best creek in Souther Mo to fish for smallies?

Best creek, no one can really say.................. Here are some good ones

Little Piney Creek (mostly below Vida Slab bridge)

Huzzah Creek

Courteious Creek

Flat Creek

Sinking Creek

Beaver Creek

Blue Springs (mostly known as a trout creek, but there are really more smallies than trout)

There probably hundreds of other smallie creeks in southern Missouri. These are just a few I know about.

FYI, I also wish he would name the river where he kept smallmouth. If it was in the Missouri Ozarks, we can at least all know, and I know I'd be willing to give the benefit of the doubt and call it a simple mistake. If its in Arkansas, then your definitely fine, although there are some who will still look down on you for it. Not me.

By the way, welcome to the forum cavefish. No doubt there are some people who will be upset that you keep a few fish, but don't be discouraged by it.

[Buzz]

This parasite thing seems to be inherent in smallmouth. I don't think it's a regional thing. We've seen this for many years, it's the reason I quit keeping them more than 20 years ago. Before I became aware

[taxidermist]

The worms have been in the fish since I can remember, you dont have to fillet them to see the worms. just look real close at teh spots under the skin.

I can remember back in 1965 Little Sac just out of Willard full of small brownies and they were full of worms.