Where Will The Next Missouri State Record Smallmouth Come From?

[Mitch f]

I've been thinking about this for quite a while. I've been disappointed in Tabke Rock in the last few years, thinking a 7.5 would come from there. All of the tournaments down there don't seem to produce many, if any over 6. Stockton has the record now but haven't heard of any big ones from there either. Don't think the rivers stand a chance.Maybe the record won't be broken for a while. But if I were to bet, I guess I would still go with Table Rock.

[ozarkgunner]

Stockton or the Osage river below bagnell dam.

[Flysmallie]

Yeah I would vote Stockton.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think it will most likely be Stockton or TR. Norfolk or Bull Shoals could be sleepers because the also have the smallmouth friendly environment. LOZ doesn't seem to have the population in spite of the fact it's the oldest. It's hard to say though because we are working with river fish and I don't believe they have the genes to get real large.

[Smalliebigs]

hey Mitch......i hope you and yours had a good Chistmas??? it's time to go fishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my vote is for Table Rock but, I'm like Mitch, I thought we would have seen it by now??? The smallie population and spot population has gone up, there is no doubting that, and there is nowhere else in Missouri to go and catch 4 lb Smallmouth's like you can at Table Rock with regularity.

5's and 6's are beeing caught just not advertised as the recreational boating has gone thru the roof down there in recent years and has the fisherman on the paranoid state of mind and I don't blame them.

here is a legit 6lb + that was caught last year by my friends wife and is one of the longest smallies I have ever seen.....I had to white her face out as he would not want her to be on this forum

[Mitch f]

That's a hog man!!

[Wayne SW/MO]

My son caught one in that size range not far from Indian Point. He caught his in 15-18' of water on a jig.

[Smalliebigs]

Wayne, I completely agree with you on this one....those TR smallies are White River smallies. When they get big on TR they are soo long, if one was to fill out and become a complete pig......wow what a beast it will be.

Was your son's smallie long??? these fish are some of the longest smallies I have ever seen......there is some crazy potential but the growth rate might be a bit longer than we are anticipating??? I just love the whole White River chain of lakes, even though to some it destroyed the best river in the Ozarks....I still love them all.

I have never had the skill required to get a smallie bigger than about 4.5 to the boat down a TR but, people in my boat have brought to hand some fish that are just crazy long and weigh only 5 to 6 and i just want to cry.......some day.

[Jerry Rapp]

I would think the state record smallie and largemouth is swimming around in Taneycomo. Eating all of those stocker trout. That's how the Califronia bass get so big. Many stories of big bass congregating around trout stocking areas out there. There is enough bass info about Taney that they obviously live in the lower half of the lake. I would think there has to be some godzilla's swimming around in the lake burping up trout.

[Mitch f]

Good point Jerry!