James report.

[RSBreth]

Fished hootentown-galena today. That makes for a long day.

The "magic" smallie beaver didn't have much magic today, and my favorite fly rod popper wasn't doing it either.

I did catch a real good number of smallies on a soft jerkbait worked as fast as I could work it.

I did educate a family, that in the trophy area, a single 13" smallmouth is not considered legal.

Every smallmouth is a trophy, to me. But let them go, people.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Fished hootentown-galena today.

!!!!!!!!!

Thats has to be a loooong day.8-9 miles seems long to me.

[jdavis]

I also fished the James Sunday with a buddy. Kerr to Blunks. We put in around 6:30am and didn't see another boat until noon when we were almost to Galena. Caught a lot of healthy smallies between 13" and 14". A couple may have pushed 15". Almost all on double tailed grubs. Either pumpkin or green pumpkin. We seemed to do better in the top section of this float. Although, that may have been more about the time of day than the location. A few rock bass and a 7-8lb carp were caught throughout the day as well.

I will probably either take out at Galena or float Galena to Blunks next time. It took us nine hours to float this stretch, about seven miles.

RSBreth, Where is the trophy area and what are the specific regulations?

[RSBreth]

The trophy area is from Hootentown access to Galena -- 1, and only 1 18" or larger smallmouth is the daily limit. However, largemouth and spotted bass may be kept 12" or larger in the normal amount.

I think smallmouth in streams should be catch and release only, but everyone knows I am a radical.

As I asked the man Sunday "Who eats smallmouth anyway?"

[jdavis]

I checked the MDC fishing regulations online. According to what I found it is a 15" minimum length for all black bass between hootentown and highway 13. And only one can be a smallmouth. I think 18" would be a good idea though. It would limit a keeper to being closer to a trophy than table fair.

I specifically looked for the regulations at the Kerr access and they were not posted on the MDC board. Wouldn't that be an obvious step to educate people? Especially in a part of the stream with special regulations.

I agree though. Smallmouth should be left in the stream. If you need to keep some fish to fry, keep the goggle-eye.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think smallmouth in streams should be catch and release only, but everyone knows I am a radical.

May be, but you have a lot of company.

I specifically looked for the regulations at the Kerr access and they were not posted on the MDC board.

That seems to be a problem at times. I've complained the last two years that Bennett Spring has no sign informing people that the Smallies that enter the branch in winter are C&R. I'm told that its a good idea and that they will pass it on, to file 13 I guess.

I wish more people, even those who don't normally fish streams, would start making more noise about protecting our native stream fighter. There is no reason to keep a stream Smallie, considering the plight of both them and the streams they live in. Of course there is always the possibility that should they disappear, there will be less reason to protect the streams and keep them open for all the people, and I know this will please some

[RSBreth]

I looked at the MDC regulations on the color coded map, then I went and looked at the booklet that you can pick up at bass pro, wal mart, etc.

It is 15" or bigger only 1 per day.

Oh well, no wonder that guy gave me the bug eyed stare when I said that they have to be 20" !!!

He said, "#@% that's a big smallmouth!"

I said "Yep, sure is" and paddled off.