Habitat

[Al Agnew]

The stream is marginally floatable in the summer, at best. In the upper section it's classic smallmouth habitat, what the textbooks say is what you should look for in a smallmouth stream: Deep pools, fast riffles, rocks and boulders everywhere, clean, clear water.

Then there is a middle section, where you start to see shallow, graveled in pools here and there, interspersed with the deeper rocky pools and beautiful runs. Finally, in the lower section, there are long stretches of water no more than two feet deep, featureless gravel except for some brush along the banks and a log here and there. You'll still encounter a deep pool here and there, but they are few and far between.

So the upper section should theoretically be by far the best fishing, and the lower section should be a LOT worse, with fish mostly in those few deep pools.

But it ain't so. The middle section is actually the best fishing. In the lower section, you'll catch a LOT of fish, including some good ones, in those little pockets of brush along the banks of those shallow runs. In fact, anywhere you can find in the "ugly" water that can possibly hold a fish will be more likely to produce than those few deep pools.

Another stream, slightly larger, floatable but with some dragging in the summer. One stretch is shallow, filled in considerably with gravel and sand. No really deep pools, just deeper pockets around logs, rocks, and root wads. Downstream, the next stretch has a lot more deeper bluff pools, and some nice runs here and there.

Within that second stretch, there is one little section that is extremely shallow, where the stream flows over bedrock. The only fish-holding spots are slots and pockets in the bedrock, and a few isolated boulders. None of it is over about two feet deep.

That upper stretch is actually as good or better fishing than the lower stretch, and in that lower stretch, the most consistent place to catch smallmouth is in that little bedrock bottomed section.

I guess what I'm trying to point out is that what we consider classic smallmouth habitat is not necessarily necessary. Smallmouth don't really need much...with one big exception.

In the warm weather months, as long as smallies have places to hide when they want to--a rock or log to get under, even a bit of brush--and enough flow to keep the stream oxygenated, and FOOD, they are happy. I've caught a lot of big ones out of very marginal habitat, places that most anglers seeking big ones wouldn't bother with.

That big exception? They MUST have wintering habitat. They must have places where they can get out of the stronger current and be hidden from overhead predators and have enough room to escape underwater predators like otters. This means bigger, deeper pools, for the most part, though they can probably use a lot of other spots as long as that overhead cover out of the main current is there. I heard one angler surmise that another thing they need in the winter is a sanctuary from the occasional winter and early spring floods, like a backwater or creek mouth they can retreat to when the river really gets raging, or even a jutting piece of bluff that blocks the flood currents. So, somewhere within "migrating" distance, they have to be able to reach that wintering habitat.

Even with the decline of good habitat in some Ozark streams, I believe there is plenty of good habitat in nearly every stream. I do not believe habitat is as much of a limiting factor as some think. Sure, all other things being equal, I like to see a mix of pools and riffles and deeper water and shallow water and nice cover all over the place. I think there are other limiting factors, which we've discussed here before, that keep smallmouth populations lower than they could be, more so than habitat in itself.

What do you think? What is the habitat like in your favorite smallmouth stream?

[fishinwrench]

My heart rate elevates a bit when I come to a stretch of waist to belly button deep water with mixed sized boulders or broken bedrock. And I'll take more weeds along the shoreline instead of a bunch of wood cover....but I sure wont pass on a shot at that laydown hanging out past the weed edge.

In your perfect dream-world Wintering hole, is the bluff bank facing N,S,E or W ?

[joeD]

I am partial to smaller, and narrower, and slightly faster streams. I think current plays a major role in year round fishing. I think big fish relate to wood more than rocks. At the same time, as a veteran flailer of the Mineral Fork in its heyday, I know that smallies can be everywhere, all the time.

Also, I do love those long, grass edges after a riffle, Big River comes to mind.

Fact: Almost all of my big fish have come in 3 feet or less of water.

But, in answer to your question, I prefer a stream with a fairly steady diet of riffles with 2 to 4 foot deep runs that have grass on the edges, rocks underneath, and downed trees or logs following.

Not asking too much.

Current is my key.

[Mitch f]

I like 75 yard long holes up to 10ft deep with boulders and a cross cross log pattern at the end of the hole. I, like Joe like lots of riffles. I hate a long frog water holes. I'm actually describing my favorite hole right now.

I've also grown quite fond of a stretch on the Gasvonade that is a 4-5 ft deep riffle that lasts for a half mile with 4ft diameter hunks of weeds/vegetation. I've caught a bunch of nice smallies on reaction baits in that stretch and had a huge smallmouth bump my lure and dart back into the weed balls.

[DaveMac]

I too paddle right through the hated frogwater. I love catching smallies in the current, but was recently encouraged by an outfitter to fish rocky ledges that step down from the bank into the water. The fish like to hide right along or up under these places and though maybe not as fun as catching them in riffles, I always seem to get decent size fish in these areas.

[Guest]

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[stlfisher]

I fish the mineral fork the habitat is about perfect IMO...a mix of almost everything. Problem is the pressure and the poachers cause that water is about perfect for a wade trip or float trip.

[Gavin]

Good habitat...means the fish can be anywhere...Bad Habitat...narrows down your choices so its easier to fish. A certain log in the middle of nowhere on the Castor comes to mind....a certain rock on heavily gravel mined section of the Huzzah, etc.

[fishinwrench]

Good habitat...means the fish can be anywhere...Bad Habitat...narrows down your choices so its easier to fish. A certain log in the middle of nowhere on the Castor comes to mind....a certain rock on heavily gravel mined section of the Huzzah, etc.

Excellent statement there! And that is probably why I caught more above average smallies in the muddy creeks up north than I have in the "real Ozarks". The good stuff isn't just everywhere up there.

[cwc87]

Great topic Al. Gravel choked streams without chunk rock and very many logs are easy to fish becuase they are always hiding in what little cover is offered. Numbers of fish may be fewer cause it is so easy for catch and keep fisherman to do so. But the occasional giant smallie is very possible. I perfer the streams with lots of numbers of smallies vs the before mentioned. Action is what i like is doesnt matter if its a 10 incher on a topwater or a 20 incher on a chomper its just memories are all about the spot and how it all comes together how you caught it. Every stream has its primary holding areas for smallies that change with fishing pressure and floods. The holes that hold wintering fish are usually the ones that never change after flooding and when smallies make that journey back to that hole this time of year i pay attention to the holes up and below those haunts.

As far as favorite habitat I love water weeds along the banks (not so much on the weeds that grow up from the bottom in the channels) . Shaded logs that are range from 1ft to 6 ft deep with or without current. I love the flow of the water when u dont have to paddle to get thru the hole. ( I dont care if my canoe whirleebirds it thru the hole as long as I'm catching fish and covering water) Also, my favorite streams are small enough that u can cover both sides of it from the middle.

I am going on a two dayer next week and with try to give report.