Is This True

[mic]

I've never fished for smallmouth before. After being on this forum for a while, I really want to give it a try. I found this tidbit on another site, and was wondering if any of the regulars could verify if it is true. Thanks in advance...

"From it's headwaters to the Highway 19 Bridge, the Bourbeuse is a very nice wade-fishing stream. The water is a little more clear and fast moving than other areas of the river, and there is more "classic" smallmouth habitat. Also, this stretch of the river hasn't suffered nearly as harshly from the smallmouth population's main scourge, the non-native spotted bass, as the river further downstream. Fisherman can access this part of the river at the Mint Spring Access. There are also several private access that can be used provided you ask permission first. Floating is possible in this area of the river when the water is up, but this is mainly wade-fishing water. During dry years, the riffles between the pools can dry up altogether in the upper reaches, although the stream always seems to hold on to enough water to keep the fish population up."

[Kayser]

Sounds about right. I fish below Mill Rock access (downstream from what is described), and there are a lot of LONG SLOW pools, not necessarily deep, with a spotted bass under every log. There are still smallmouth in the areas with current, though.

Rob

[Gavin]

Its still hard to cover much water because of all the long slow deep holes and steep stream banks.... but I'm sure that youll find some wadeable water at some of the bridge crossings & low water fords. Cheers.

[eric1978]

It's easier wading at the Tea Access than Mint Spring. There's a deep pool there at Mint, and you have to bushwack through private property and across the spring creek to get to wadable water, then downstream from there it's shallow for hundreds of yards...but if you walk far enough, or find a way to make it upstream, there are some good holes. Mint is good for launching a canoe, but I wouldn't recommend trying to float the Bourb any higher than Wenkel under normal flows. Tea is not a great canoe launch, very steep. Mill Rock and Wenkel are both good canoe accesses, mediocre wading prospects.

As the others have said, the Bourb is a slow river with lots of LONG stretches of frogwater. It's better to float it than wade it if you're lookin' for smallies, because they generally won't be in those dead pools and many of them are nearly impossible to wade through to the next riffle. There are also no liveries up there that I'm aware of, so you have to set up your own shuttles, too.

The Bourbeuse is a little work to fish, but it's worth it if you're on the right stretch on the right day. Keep those spots if you catch any!

[mic]

It's easier wading at the Tea Access than Mint Spring. There's a deep pool there at Mint, and you have to bushwack through private property and across the spring creek to get to wadable water, then downstream from there it's shallow for hundreds of yards...but if you walk far enough, or find a way to make it upstream, there are some good holes. Mint is good for launching a canoe, but I wouldn't recommend trying to float the Bourb any higher than Wenkel under normal flows. Tea is not a great canoe launch, very steep. Mill Rock and Wenkel are both good canoe accesses, mediocre wading prospects.

As the others have said, the Bourb is a slow river with lots of LONG stretches of frogwater. It's better to float it than wade it if you're lookin' for smallies, because they generally won't be in those dead pools and many of them are nearly impossible to wade through to the next riffle. There are also no liveries up there that I'm aware of, so you have to set up your own shuttles, too.

The Bourbeuse is a little work to fish, but it's worth it if you're on the right stretch on the right day. Keep those spots if you catch any!

Is the current slow enough to two people to paddle upstream and float back down?

[eric1978]

Is the current slow enough to two people to paddle upstream and float back down?

Sure, but that's gonna be work. And remember all the frogwater you paddle through going upstream you have to get through on your way back. I've ended up paddling in the dark on that river because I underestimated how dang slow it is.

[ozark trout fisher]

I've never fished for smallmouth before. After being on this forum for a while, I really want to give it a try. I found this tidbit on another site, and was wondering if any of the regulars could verify if it is true. Thanks in advance...

"From it's headwaters to the Highway 19 Bridge, the Bourbeuse is a very nice wade-fishing stream. The water is a little more clear and fast moving than other areas of the river, and there is more "classic" smallmouth habitat. Also, this stretch of the river hasn't suffered nearly as harshly from the smallmouth population's main scourge, the non-native spotted bass, as the river further downstream. Fisherman can access this part of the river at the Mint Spring Access. There are also several private access that can be used provided you ask permission first. Floating is possible in this area of the river when the water is up, but this is mainly wade-fishing water. During dry years, the riffles between the pools can dry up altogether in the upper reaches, although the stream always seems to hold on to enough water to keep the fish population up."

Hope it's true. I wrote that.

[mic]

Hope it's true. I wrote that.

Seriously...LOL

[Kayser]

Absolutely no problem paddling upstream in the frog water. Just attach a rope with a handle to the front of your canoe so you can drag it up the riffles easier. Also helps to thread it through the deadfalls that can block the river. I paddle about a mile up the frog water every time and just paddle and fish back down.

Rob