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[Mitch f]

I like the crankbait in fairly deep water around rocks and logs, as well as along cut banks, and I like the twin spin in shallower, faster current areas. The topwater is well suited for slower, shallower areas.

This bears repeating

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, Mitch, it's the reason I carry a bunch of rods. As I float any given stretch of upper Big River, I know what's coming up and what will work the best. So I've always got a rod rigged for each situation. Fact is, on most summer days on these small rivers, the fish will be active enough that they'll hit a variety of different lures. You can slow down and fish with soft plastics, as so many river smallie anglers do, and catch them just fine in most types of water. But if, like me, you float at least 7 or 8 miles, and in this case twice that distance, in a day, and if, like me, you love seeing the fish hit more than anything else about the fishing, you will be fishing lures that you can retrieve with speed and high in the water column. And of the high speed lures I fish, some are suited to different water types than others.

In fact, that kinda brings up a whole separate subject, and rather than discuss it here, I think I'll start a new thread in the smallmouth fishing forum.

[MissouriDave]

Al,

Thanks for posting such informative useful data. I have been fishing the Bourbeuse since I was a small boy. A couple of the guys from the alliance have fished out of our place during the spotted roundup. Appreciate the great work the alliance does and really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with the rest of us.

Missouri Dave

[Smalliebigs]

Al, that is amazing that that stretch would produce like that. My buddy floated that stretch right before you by 4 days and had similar results if not better.I fished that section about 10 days before you and caught big Largemouth as well....not quite 21 inches though. Every river, stream, and lake in Missouri is getting pounded into submission and something will have to give eventually......I'm the worst offender.....so fish on.

[Mitch f]

Well, the higher the unemployment rate, the more the creeks will get pounded by the meat eaters. I guess I'd do it to if I had no choice.