Smallmouth Fishing Around Bird's Nest

[joeD]

Scott- Good job getting out and learning. Unfortunately, you picked the wrong year and the wrong time to go fishing on that particular stretch of the Meramec. Really. The fish don't know whether to poop, or go sailing. They've had super high temperatures early, with low water, then high water, then freezing cold temperatures with murky water. Remember, it looks like June out there, but it's still April. A very changeable April. So, for what it's worth, you did fine. No one else is exactly knockin' 'em out. Basically, I think fishing on our Ozark streams will be a hit or miss affair, mostly miss, until summer.

[ozark trout fisher]

It's difficult to argue with that. Smallmouth fishing since about mid-March has been constantly fluctuating from out of this world great to just about impossible. Mostly depending on the weather, the warmer the better. Anytime I've caught a few smallmouth it's been enough for me to be happy.

[Gavin]

Obstacles can be stepping stones... I've never learned a darn thing when the fishing is stoopid easy.

[joeD]

Yeah, but. Sometimes easy is good. We can put the learning aside for a few minutes... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

See? Now that wasn't so bad was it?

Now git.

[Blazerman]

I really haven't been smallmouth fishing much lately so I don't know about how their biting. Water looked really nice yesterday while we were doing some chores. But about the snagging issue and losing lures.

Way back when I first starting fishing it was out of a 14’ john boat with a 7.5 prop motor. Jet props had not been invented then. So we spent a lot of time running upstream and floating back. Even then we had the problem with getting snagged and losing stuff. I ended up using a floating Rapala about 90% of the time. I learned to cast those things into every decent looking nook and cranny. Many times I would let it sit a few seconds floating and then give it a slight jerk and a fish would explode on it. In the faster water you can cast across the stream and jerk it as it floats and swings below you and many times fish will hit it as it works across the current. In some of the backwater pools I would throw it and just use a slow steady retrieve and it would get hammered. Used mainly silver and black. I think they were 3.5”.

But one time, using a bigger model in Blue, I threw across the river at a turn where there was faster water and let the bait swing through the current. I got nailed and ended up with the biggest smallmouth I ever caught. It was 22” and probably close to 5lbs although we never weighed it. I kept it in a fish basket for a while and all the people in the cabins around us came by to see it. Some said I should eat it and a few said I should have it mounted.

I think I was about 18 then and even back then I didn’t think twice. I let it go.

Funny how things go. I don’t use a Rapala much anymore but I would guess they might still work and not get snagged much.

[Greasy B]

Scott,

You wlll find as the season progresses the fishing will get more predictable. About mid or late may the fish on Meramec will go onto a summer pattern that will hold through September. As the weather heats up the fish will become much more active especially the smaller bass. If boat traffic is light you can often find feeding fish in every likely spot. Another peculiar thing is the predictable time of day the bite happens, if you catch a lot of fish during a particular time of day you can often find the same holds true day after day.

[Scott25.stl]

Thanks for the words of wisdom Al. I felt like a maple seed pod with all the weight in the back of the canoe. Btw, I enjoy reading your articles.

Joe and Greasy, that's what I heard about summer being where it's at for smallmouth fishing. I honestly can't wait for some good top water action this summer. I'll just have to get creative to avoid the floater crowds.

Trebles and the $5+ lures they're attached to scare the dung out of me...well...at least they give me pause before I want to throw them from a canoe in current. I think doing some wading where I can learn the current while stationary with the ability to walk out and retrieve a hung up lure is the way to go.

These waters make you work for it that's for sure. It's not like firing up the bassboat and hitting the lake. But I don't think I'd have it any other way and I'm already lookin to scratch the itch and get back out there!

[Scott25.stl]

I have been a member for years, great group of guys. You should join, would be glad to have you as a member!

I think I will, Mitch!

[Mitch f]

Scott- Good job getting out and learning. Unfortunately, you picked the wrong year and the wrong time to go fishing on that particular stretch of the Meramec. Really. The fish don't know whether to poop, or go sailing. They've had super high temperatures early, with low water, then high water, then freezing cold temperatures with murky water. Remember, it looks like June out there, but it's still April. A very changeable April. So, for what it's worth, you did fine. No one else is exactly knockin' 'em out. Basically, I think fishing on our Ozark streams will be a hit or miss affair, mostly miss, until summer.

This is the exact reason why I consistently catch more big fish in the fall than the spring.