Why Doesn't The Ozark Have Smallies As Big As Elsewhere?

[Mitch f]

It was 30 seconds or so before we even saw the fish, we didn't have a net and so we let him fight for another 90 seconds. Caught on a brown 4" chomper

[Al Agnew]

It's always hard to judge fish in photos unless there is something in the photo that gives you a frame of reference. The fish on Troutt and Sons website doesn't look like a 24 incher or a 6 pounder to me, either, but without a good frame of reference I'm not going to say it wasn't. On the other hand, I would have guessed the Gasconade fish in Mitch's picture to be at least 6 pounds. That is one beautiful fish!

I'm still sticking with what I said originally...legitimate 6 pound smallies--or smallies over 22 inches for that matter--are VERY rare in Ozark streams, and I suspect that years go by between catches of fish that size. A 24 incher is an extreme rarity.

[Smalliebigs]

Mitch, was that monster you let your buddy catch so graciously I might add, below or above HWY 44???? What a pig!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that is a river smallie of a lifetime!!

[Mitch f]

It was in the trophy area, downstream of riddle bridge access about a mile