Smalliebigs Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 We embarked on our annual trip last Sunday and the water levels in Southern Missouri are beyound low. I have never seen the river a such low levels but, we were there and the river had to be fished. The only water gauge on this river has been at it's all time low now for about a month if that gives you any idea of how low the water is. Where the river flowed several feet deep before are now just pools conected by inch deep riffles....it's kinda wierd. The fish IMO were trapped or stationary in the pool they are in and very hungry. The bad thing is the water and habitat right now makes for some fish to be not in that good of shape....some are and some aren't.Some will be completely imaciated and some will be just thick as a brick. The fishing was actually quite awsome for numbers, I'm not going to throw a number out there as to how many we caught but, let me tell you it was a rediculous amount of Smallies.We never really landed a kicker fish over 20, which is what I was there for but, several in the 15 to 18 inch range. I did loose a Smallie on a KVD Sexy Dawg jr on tuesday morning that was the simply the biggest river smallie I have seen up close and on my line. She snapped 8 lb test line after the fourth intense bulldog run at the bank in very swift water and just cruized away with my plug stuck on her face. I was bummed on more than one level but, I got such a good look at her and the strike was something to behold.This fish actually came all the way out of the water and knocked the plug up in the air and missed and then promptly came right back and just crushed it.....very cool. We were nailing fish on soft plastics in any water that was moving with good habitat from dawn to dusk ....it was almost too easy at certain times....just way too many fish that were not big enough.We were on the topwater bite very early before the sun is on the water then it would shut down and pick back up in the evening. Reynolds County is deffinitely one of my favorite places in Missouri and holds a special place in my heart. There were a few bad things.....1) When we paddled down river and came to what is known as Seclusion Trails access we caught two friggin loosers actually gigging. They saw us and fired the motor up and took off like a bat out of hell. I saw their truck at the access and wrote the license plate down on the trailer and truck and reported it to the Reynolds County Conservation agent and he said there wasn't a whole lot he could do????? what a joke!!!! I'm sick of loosers poaching and screwing our resources up.....I will report anything and everything but, it doesn't sound like they do much other than possibly patrol that area a little more....possibly. 2) We found a Smallmouth that measured 22 inches even with it's tail decaying away(would have been a little bigger) as three turtles fed on it.It had been dead for awhile but was enormous.......old age??? high water temps??? gut hook release??? i have pics but, don't think I will make them public here though. Good things!!!!! 1) I spent a week fishing with some the best people I know and that was pure gold for my soul. 2) Started using a KVD(Strike King) Sexy Dawg jr and they are awsome!!!! IMO they might one of the best "Walk the dog" baits in moving water....on the downstream side of the plug I was getting it to swim more than a foot....very nice lure. Here's some porn...not that great but a few randoms from the trip 16.5 on the Sexy Dawg Justin with a chunk 18 Paul's wife Jackie with some smallie action can you say skinny???
Geoff Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 Very nice. One of these days we'll have to get out there. "When you do things right, people wont be sure you've done anything at all."
Mitch f Posted July 3, 2012 Posted July 3, 2012 You guys look like you had a great time! and caught some nice smallies too! Would have loved to seen a pic of the one you lost.......darn CX premium! "Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor
Mitch f Posted July 3, 2012 Posted July 3, 2012 Scott, Why are you fishing with my Crucial?? "Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor
Smalliebigs Posted July 3, 2012 Author Posted July 3, 2012 Scott, Why are you fishing with my Crucial?? lol!!!!!! i have another in the wrapper right next to my desk here in the office if you want it?????
jdmidwest Posted July 4, 2012 Posted July 4, 2012 You do know that Frog Gigging Season opened Sat night. Were they actually gigging fish or did you just see someone holding a gig? "Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously." — Hunter S. Thompson
Smalliebigs Posted July 4, 2012 Author Posted July 4, 2012 You do know that Frog Gigging Season opened Sat night. Were they actually gigging fish or did you just see someone holding a gig? Joe, lol....seriously they were not gigging frogs at 3:27 pm in the middle of the deepest pool we had seen in a mile or so looking straight down holding a gig about to spear something in 3 to 4 feet of water. They saw us put their tine down and fired up their jet and headed to HWY K fast. Oh, and the date was Tuesday 06/26/2012.......gigging frogs???.... that's some funny dung there. Don't worry I'm on to these clowns, they can gig all they want down by HWY K and below but, up where my place is and my friends are we will be diligently watching and chasing them now. My buddy Gill is retired and has nothing better to do he will be driving all the roads east and west of the river looking for them, they might want to stop their illegal activites soon.
LittleRedFisherman Posted July 6, 2012 Posted July 6, 2012 . Don't worry I'm on to these clowns, they can gig all they want down by HWY K and below but, up where my place is and my friends are we will be diligently watching and chasing them now. My buddy Gill is retired and has nothing better to do he will be driving all the roads east and west of the river looking for them, they might want to stop their illegal activites soon. Sounds like this is what it's gonna take! Hope ya'll get um! Great report and pics, may have to try that KVD sometime. After fishing hard last winter, and posting pics and reports weekly, I havn't been in 3 months now smallie fishing, and the withdrawl is getting to me. Crossed the Eleven Point coming from the lake this morning, it looked really good still, with good flow. I fished at the lake some, but I'm craving a good river smallie!!! There's no such thing, as a bad day fishing!
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