Other Ozark Stream Or Should I Say Smallie/spot Debate

[creek wader]

Recently, another member pointed out to me, that I've been divulging too much info. He messaged me, asking that I not give out the locations, as he also, fished the same streams. He pointed out that these were small streams and he didn't want to see them get too much pressure. I agree. He also, asked that I not be offended. I told him that no offense was taken. He was nice about it.

I went back through my recent posts and saw that not only did I mention the names of the streams, but some nearby town's names, also. The messenger was right. I apologize to him and any others that fish the same streams. I hope I didn't let the cat out of the bag.

These are small, pristine, fragile ecosystems. I thoroughly enjoy my time on them and would hate to see them ruined forever. The locals do enough damage with the 4-wheelers and trashing up the streams with cans, tires, litter, etc. Also, the local farmers use their front end loaders on the gravel bars. The local "bait" fisherman keep everything they catch, including undersized fish. The smallies are taking it from all sides and they don't need me ratting out their hideouts.

I do not have these Ozark streams where I live. So, every chance I get to fish them, I do. I am very thankful and appreciative of the opportunities that I get to enjoy these streams. I hope that I have not left the gate open for too many people, to apply too much pressure on these streams. If I did, I am truly sorry. I've learned to trust the others on this forum and I hope they don't let me down. Fisherman like to relate their stories and I went overboard.

So from now on. I'll make my posts as "other Ozark stream". I'll be a little vague on describing the stream but, will be still be specific on other parts of the

post.

Anyway I decided to give the usual streams a rest and went on a scouting trip on a different "other Ozark stream". I found 3 good accesses. One is wadable, one I would need the yak, the other the yak would be beneficial. At the first spot I looked at , I threw the slim dog and on the 2nd cast I caught a 12" Kentucky. I didn't get any other hits, though. This stream is a marginal/border Ozark stream. It has the characteristics of a both a northern stream and an Ozark stream. I think I will catch more largemouth and Kentuckys than smallies. But, it's the thrill of the hunt and being surprised by the unknown. So, I think I'll fish this stream for a while. I'll give more reports as time goes by. ..... wader

[FishinCricket]

Well, there goes the neighborhood! lol

(Please don't be offended, I was only funnin'... I got a few of reports of my own on here)

Nice Pic.

[creek wader]

Well, there goes the neighborhood! lol

(Please don't be offended, I was only funnin'... I got a few of reports of my own on here)

Nice Pic.

Leave it to you, to come up with that....lol

[KCRIVERRAT]

Hey wader, I've always enjoyed your posts. It's apparent you fish the area's just south (and maybe a little bit east?) of Jeff. Made many trips heading down 63. It's great you've got the Maries available to you because you work down there. Hope I'm right on that. Look... I'm stuck up in KC. I live to enjoy posts like yours. My hope is you keep'em coming.

KC

[FishinCricket]

Leave it to you, to come up with that....lol

:teheeeee:

[Al Agnew]

It's always a juggling act between divulging enough info to be helpful, and divulging too much and doing harm. I may not be the best stream smallie angler in MO (in fact, I KNOW I'm not), but I know enough to catch fish every time I go and catch big ones with some regularity, and my methods are really pretty simple, but have some subtle nuances that make a lot of difference. So...do I tell all my "secrets" and risk others putting too much pressure on the fish?

That's very similar to what you were wrestling with on telling pretty much where you were fishing.

The fact is that wading size streams ARE fragile fisheries (and don't get me started on the fact that you can LEGALLY kill six smallies a day on most of them). But on the other hand, there are a LOT of wading size streams in the Ozarks, and most of them furnish pretty decent fishing. I don't like to make it too easy for the casual angler (let alone the meat hog) to find them, but really it isn't difficult. Finding access might be more problematical, so I NEVER tell accesses on wading streams, and would like to see others keep the specific accesses out of reports, as well. But, Maries and Tavern are fairly well-known streams that are big enough to float at least part of the year and have been publicized before. And there are a lot of streams in a similar situation.

So I wasn't too concerned about telling that you were fishing the Maries. Now if you wandered over to my part of the state and told about fishing my own secret little creeks, I'd probably have to kill you!

[joeD]

I concur with Al (except for the part where he states his "methods are really pretty simple" and "have subtle nuances." Anybody who designs, whittles, lathes, blacksmiths, paints, tweaks, and generally conjures up his own lures, has gone beyond "simple." Now I feel like a dilettante buying lures at Denny Dennis. Thanks Al).

Kidding aside, you have no reason to apologize, Creek Wader.

Unless you threw that spotted bass back in the water.

[hoglaw]

Creek Wader:

Just wanted to thank you for all the reports about your last WTD stream. My brother and I took a seine up there the other day and got into smallies by the hundreds! If anyone needs fillets, I don't think I can eat all of these in a year. Never would have thought such skinny water held so many fish. We tried again yesterday, but got skunked. Crazy...

[Chief Grey Bear]

Kidding aside, you have no reason to apologize, Creek Wader.

Unless you threw that spotted bass back in the water.

I see no reason anyone should have to apologize for that.

[chub minnow]

If you fillet a spot, you open up habitat and forage for smallmouth or so the theory goes.