Neosho Smallmouth

[drew03cmc]

Just an FYI for those who may be from Kansas, or fish in Kansas as well as the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas, but I found this information on the Neosho strain smallie: The Neosho subspecies, which is more slender than the smallmouth, occurs in the Neosho River and tributaries of the Arkansas River in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. That excites me beyond belief. It is a relatively rare strain of fish that is becoming more and more rare, but the Neosho River in Kansas has all kinds of access within three hours of me and the southern reaches of the river hold this strain!

[laker67]

Get out there and get us a picture of one Drew. That would be a challenge worth the effort. Don't forget your camera, and don't come home empty handed.

[drew03cmc]

Reportedly, the Oklahoma DWC is torn over the want for smallmouths in Grand Lake as the Neosho strain is not lake compatible, however, upstream in Spring and Elk Rivers there are populations of Neosho Smallies. native smallmouth.

This is an excerpt from an ESPN Outdoors interview with Gene Gilliland, senior research biologist for the ODWC: But if Tennessee-strain smallmouth were stocked in Grand Lake, experts insist, they would eventually migrate upstream and interbreed with the It might take decades, but this mixing of gene pools would eventually eliminate the native Neosho smallmouth strain, named after the Neosho River farther upstream.

I am going to try to get my thumb on the lip of a couple this coming year, following the purchase of a kayak or pontoon as the Neosho is not a fast or technical river. It is a relatively slow, peaceful river over its course. The fish will be pursued with fly tackle and I will document this endeavor on this site.

[Buzz]

That sounds like a great quest Andy.

I got to wondering about the differences between the two strains so I did a search and finally found a site that offered pictures ( more like colored drawings ) of the two species.

There was a report last summer about The Little Sugar that showed a pic of a really nice Smallmouth. Comments were made about the white patch on the back of the gill plate. Questions were asked but, I don't think they were ever answered. Anyway the Northern Smallmouth has some distinctions from the Neosho and that is one of them. I'm not sure if I've ever caught a Neosho strain or not.

Thanks for the motivation to pay more attention the brownies that we catch over here.

Check this out: http://www.fish-fishes.com/fresh_water_fis...smallmouth.html

Buzz

[drew03cmc]

Buzz, one other surefire way to tell is if the teeth on the lower mandible are visible from above without opening the mouth. The bottom jaw protrudes farther than the bottom jaw on the northern strain.

The Ozark streams that are tributaries of the Arkansas River have, or at one time had, Neosho smallies. I wonder...

[bs1827]

Digging way back, but did you ever have a chance to catch one Drew?

[Chief Grey Bear]

He did.

[bs1827]

Thats great! Thanks Chief!

[Al Agnew]

Ah yes, we could have another marathon discussion about Neoshos and other smallie strains in the Ozarks!

[Chief Grey Bear]

There is a great article about the Neosho Smallmouth in the Jan issue of Riverhills Traveler.

Are we done with the Rock Bass?