Rock Bass!

[Outside Bend]

I must've caught forty in a few hours the other day, fishing a small stream with glass-clear water, where you could watch the fish watch the fly, twitch it gently to mimic something alive, then watch the fish tip up, its gills flare, and it inhale the fly. From five inch dinks to fish pushing the 9-10 inch mark, far and away the best and most productive rock bass fishing I've ever encountered. Minnow-looking flies seemed to work well; I used zonkers and gray strymphs with success, and olive, crayfish-y looking bugs worked as well, particularly near-nuff sculpins and olive buggers.

Caught a few smallmouth, some longears and green sunfish, and the biggest striped shiner and chub I've ever encountered in Ozark streams. I didn't know those fish could smash a size 4 or 6 streamer hook, it was pretty impressive!

[ozark trout fisher]

I must've caught forty in a few hours the other day, fishing a small stream with glass-clear water, where you could watch the fish watch the fly, twitch it gently to mimic something alive, then watch the fish tip up, its gills flare, and it inhale the fly. From five inch dinks to fish pushing the 9-10 inch mark, far and away the best and most productive rock bass fishing I've ever encountered. Minnow-looking flies seemed to work well; I used zonkers and gray strymphs with success, and olive, crayfish-y looking bugs worked as well, particularly near-nuff sculpins and olive buggers.

Caught a few smallmouth, some longears and green sunfish, and the biggest striped shiner and chub I've ever encountered in Ozark streams. I didn't know those fish could smash a size 4 or 6 streamer hook, it was pretty impressive!

Nice fish. Rock bass are pretty fish, and those are big ones too.

[kayaker]

They are great intertainment between the bass you catch and make a great fish fry too! Always fun on the fly rod, glad you had a good day.

[Ham]

Smallies are not the only wonderful fish that swim in the Ozark streams. If you set your mind right, you can enjoy catching almost any of the species that swim there. I already have plans to do some flyrod only trips for as many species as I can get on a day.

[RSBreth]

I love Rock Bass, and it's a good thing because my local rivers (James, Finley, Bull Creek) are just chock full of them.

I like them so much I may have even written something for Ozarkanglers.com about them...Rock Bass A.K.A "Goggle-Eyes"

[Chief Grey Bear]

Nice write up RS. I love to not only fish for them but eat them too.

I would would just like to add that the Northern Rock bass is native to more systems in Missouri than just the Meramec. Including some in SWMO.

[Outside Bend]

Nice write up RS. I love to not only fish for them but eat them too.

I would would just like to add that the Northern Rock bass is native to more systems in Missouri than just the Meremac. Including some in SWMO.

I've heard they're great eating, although I've never tried them. I thought about keeping a few while I was out, but I wasn't positive about the regulations on the stream I was fishing. Perhaps if I go back next week I'll have to walk some back to the cooler

[Chief Grey Bear]

You may keep up to 15 total in aggregate of Goggle eye(Northern, Ozark and Shadow) and Warmouth. There are no length limits except on certain areas of Big Piney, Courtois Creek, Eleven Point, Huzzah Creek, Meramec River, and the Osage Fork. In certain areas of those, they must be at least 8 inches.

Myself, I don't keep them below 10 inches. But that is just me. There is certainly nothing wrong with a mess of 8-10 inchers. As for the eating part, I just scale them and then cut the head off right behind the gill and clean out the guts. Roll in your favorite seasoned cornmeal, fry, and enjoy with fried taters & onions and some pork n beans! Wash down with your favorite beveage and some good company and life can't get much better! Just as life in the Ozarks was intended!

[RSBreth]

I like them filleted and cut into strips, seasoned and then dusted with either Panko (japanese bread crumbs) or just plain old all-purpose flour and pan-fried in a tiny bit of oil quick and hot 'til browned, and then served either with Tarter Sauce or Ketchup with a shake or two of Red Hot in it for dipping.

Great, now I'm going to have to go catch some....