Slow River, Slow Fishing

[ozark trout fisher]

The spots are thick until at least 19 bridge. As I've said in another thread, it's amazing how quickly it happened.

In my experience you need to float the Bourbeuse either in spring or after a little push of rain. You don't want a big rain because that can turn the river muddy. Just a little push to give a bit more "gurgle" to the flowing sections.

Though the Bourbeuse is my home stream I too don't like it during the slow and slack water of summer. Time to go elsewhere. And while I still think the river has big smallies in it, the spotteds in many ways truly have ruined the river. Sad.

Here in a bit.... I'm gonna go up there and get some of those spotted bass and bring them home. I'm thinking a two day float=24 dead spotted bass.It probably won't help anything, but it will make me feel better. I don't like to kill bass, even pesky little Kentuckies, but if it makes room for one more smallie, its worth it.

I really think the MDC needs to start taking out the spots they shock. I don't think they understand that their kinda just throwing the Bourbeuse (and its smallmouth) out to the dogs here. It's sad to watch one of your favorite rivers die right before your eyes, with no one trying to save it.

[fangler]

Here in a bit.... I'm gonna go up there and get some of those spotted bass and bring them home. I'm thinking a two day float=24 dead spotted bass.It probably won't help anything, but it will make me feel better. I don't like to kill bass, even pesky little Kentuckies, but if it makes room for one more smallie, its worth it.

I really think the MDC needs to start taking out the spots they shock. I don't think they understand that their kinda just throwing the Bourbeuse (and its smallmouth) out to the dogs here. It's sad to watch one of your favorite rivers die right before your eyes, with no one trying to save it.

In my opinion, the upper Bourbuese has gone down hill in the last couple of years as well. I think there has been some gigging going on there too. Also, I have been seeing more otters. That might have a lot to do with it. Very frustrating!

[eric1978]

In my opinion, the upper Bourbuese has gone down hill in the last couple of years as well. I think there has been some gigging going on there too. Also, I have been seeing more otters. That might have a lot to do with it. Very frustrating!

I'm positive that the spots are the biggest problem, but no, the giggers don't help either. When we launched at Mill Rock, there were a dozen or so filleted carp floating around the ramp. Hoosiers. Didn't see any dead bass, but even the rednecks are smart enough to toss their carcasses in the woods where no one will see them.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm positive that the spots are the biggest problem, but no, the giggers don't help either. When we launched at Mill Rock, there were a dozen or so filleted carp floating around the ramp. Hoosiers. Didn't see any dead bass, but even the rednecks are smart enough to toss their carcasses in the woods where no one will see them.

Yeah, that river gets way more gigging pressure than it can really handle... You know some bass are gigged accidentally, plus the folks who do it on purpose. Between that and the Kentuckie's those Smallies don't have a fighting chance.

[fangler]

Yeah, that river gets way more gigging pressure than it can really handle... You know some bass are gigged accidentally, plus the folks who do it on purpose. Between that and the Kentuckie's those Smallies don't have a fighting chance.

MDC should restrict gigging to only big waters. Of course that would make sense, unlike re-introducing otters and opening bass season on memorial weekend. How many bass are killed on that weekend??