Severe Deppression

[Smalliebigs]

I went fishing three times from the 6th to the 10th and am sick with the results. 10/6/2010 went to a creek that I fish about two to three times per year and was absolutely sickend by the fact I caught several fish and nice sizes yet not one fish was a Smallmouth. Not only did I not catch a smallie where I once would catch them at a rate of nine to one vs Spots or Laregemouth, I witnessed huge schools of Grass carp and Asian carp.After this horrible outing I was left wondering we are screwed if you are a Smallmouth Bass fanatic like I am.Invasive speices are slowly killing off the Smallmouth populations if you ask me...this is just my observation from a freak like me who fishes alot.

10/08/2010 went floating down the Big River in a section I don't float very often due access point difficulties and same situation not quite as bad but still a nightmare if you ask me.43 fish caught, 3 Smallmouth, several hybrid spots and spots and some huge Largemouth.I use to catch basicly all smallies on this float, there was also so many carp it made my stomach churn with disgust.INVASIVE species taking over!!!!

10/09/2010 we hit another creek that produced big time earlier this year and I woke in a nightmare again only this was reality.Between the two of us we caught 7 Smallmouth,20 something spots/hybrids and way two many Largemouth to count.Also there were more carp and schools of baby grass carp than I could shake a stick at, I know they were Grass Carp because we scooped up a couple with a dip net. While driving home I just kept saying to myself what happened to all the smallies and started getting very deppressed about the future of Smallmouth populations in the Eastern half of Missouri.I have some pics but not hat many I was beeing such a bitch about catching so many Invasives and Largemouth my heart wasn't in to it.I just wish I would have fished harder and more often the last thiry years if I knew this was coming down the road.

p.s. I know I sound like a winer but I will take anyone to these streams and show you the amout of invasive bass and Largemouth it's sick!!!

SPOTTED BASS SUCK IN STREAMS!!!!! here are some of the pics of the green bass..turkey vulture sunningWe didn't even get shots of the biggest one, due to my lame butt attitude. one of the few Smallmouth caught and released on the Big that day

letting a little punk go to fight again

[Trout Commander]

That sucks man. Hopefully you can get your smallie fix out on T-Rock on your trip. I know it won't help the invasive species situation, but it would be a good anti-depressant!

[denjac]

I went fishing three times from the 6th to the 10th and am sick with the results. 10/6/2010 went to a creek that I fish about two to three times per year and was absolutely sickend by the fact I caught several fish and nice sizes yet not one fish was a Smallmouth. Not only did I not catch a smallie where I once would catch them at a rate of nine to one vs Spots or Laregemouth, I witnessed huge schools of Grass carp and Asian carp.After this horrible outing I was left wondering we are screwed if you are a Smallmouth Bass fanatic like I am.Invasive speices are slowly killing off the Smallmouth populations if you ask me...this is just my observation from a freak like me who fishes alot.

10/08/2010 went floating down the Big River in a section I don't float very often due access point difficulties and same situation not quite as bad but still a nightmare if you ask me.43 fish caught, 3 Smallmouth, several hybrid spots and spots and some huge Largemouth.I use to catch basicly all smallies on this float, there was also so many carp it made my stomach churn with disgust.INVASIVE species taking over!!!!

10/09/2010 we hit another creek that produced big time earlier this year and I woke in a nightmare again only this was reality.Between the two of us we caught 7 Smallmouth,20 something spots/hybrids and way two many Largemouth to count.Also there were more carp and schools of baby grass carp than I could shake a stick at, I know they were Grass Carp because we scooped up a couple with a dip net. While driving home I just kept saying to myself what happened to all the smallies and started getting very deppressed about the future of Smallmouth populations in the Eastern half of Missouri.I have some pics but not hat many I was beeing such a bitch about catching so many Invasives and Largemouth my heart wasn't in to it.I just wish I would have fished harder and more often the last thiry years if I knew this was coming down the road.

p.s. I know I sound like a winer but I will take anyone to these streams and show you the amout of invasive bas and Largemouth it's sick!!!

SPOTTED BASS SUCK IN STREAMS!!!!!

Eat em all gone !

[drew03cmc]

Oy vey. Have you missed the 13 other threads on spotted bass? This has been hashed over numerous times and yet nobody can come to agree on a means of removal or tolerance.

Grass carp are largely herbivorous while common carp (I highly doubt there are silver, bighead or black carp in Big River) are omnivorous. The only real food source that these species will compete with bass over is crayfish.

Largemouth are native to the system, so quit with the invasive largemouth talk. Spotted bass have found their way to the Big, and rather than complain about it, why not find a way to enjoy them?

[Flysmallie]

SPOTTED BASS SUCK IN STREAMS!!!!!

Not in all streams they don't. In the James River they are quite nice.

[FishinCricket]

I don't think Mr Bigs was intent upon a debate.. This post was (IMO) more like a lament..

Next time, make it rhyme..

[fishinwrench]

Rest easy SB, They do that every Fall. Those carp are just making a migratory run(of sorts)right now, they'll clear out when they are done doing whatever it is that they do. They are running up all the L.O. tribs now also, it is a bowfishers paradise and happens every September-early October. They'll be gone, for the most part, by next week probably.

[Smalliebigs]

Oy vey. Have you missed the 13 other threads on spotted bass? This has been hashed over numerous times and yet nobody can come to agree on a means of removal or tolerance.

Grass carp are largely herbivorous while common carp (I highly doubt there are silver, bighead or black carp in Big River) are omnivorous. The only real food source that these species will compete with bass over is crayfish.

Largemouth are native to the system, so quit with the invasive largemouth talk. Spotted bass have found their way to the Big, and rather than complain about it, why not find a way to enjoy them?

I never said the Largemouth were invasive just the spots and silver,bighead and grass carp and it is my observation that the Largemouth populations are going up with the spots and hybrids as the populations of smallies go down.Also there are big head carp in the Big river and plenty of them, i have had them jump in my boat there.I'm not worried about the carp competing with smallies for food, I'm worried about them killing everything in the river after they are done screwing up the food chain. the Largemouth are not bad sport persay they are some of the esaiest fish you would ever want to catch...very aggressive and stupid, I just prefer Smallmouth bass.

[joeD]

Fished the Big this past Sunday below Hwy 21. The water looked as good as I've ever seen it. We fished from 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm. We caught about 30 fish, not great, but not too shabby for a spur of the moment October trip on a river that I've ignored for a few years. A few decent smallies, a few decent largies, no spots, and a wild card. I don't no what the cuss that fish is. A good trip, and one I'll make again, sooner rather than later. I was most pleasantly surprised.

[Outside Bend]

It's a warmouth, and a nice one!