Expectations

[ozark trout fisher]

I agree their are a lot of problems with exploitation of the resource......but those doomsday scenarios about how this state has such crappy smallmouth fishing compared to everywhere else is just silly. I've fished for smallies a lot of other places including some famous streams and the right Ozark streams compare favorably to most. Just sayin'. Sure there are plenty of overfished streams that are not surprisingly full of small, skittish fish but why would you want to fish those rivers anyway?? The size is usually subpar but the numbers will compare to anywhere, bar none. I am on board with doing anything to help the resource but to say we do not have quality smallmouth fishing here is just ridiculous in my opinion.

As for my fall expectations......I expect it to be a lot better than last fall because the creeks I like to fish aren't 90% dry this year. That is an improvement at least.

[joeD]

Fall smallmouth expectations? Absolutely! I'll fish, I'll enjoy. I'll hope. Hope for more. More fish. More size. More tangible results from years of MDC studies. More education. More studies. More talking. More internet information. More studies. More surveys. More print media spotlighting. More studies.

After all is said and done, I believe we are no better off than we were 10 years ago. Just OK. Nothing has changed, fishwise, really.

[Mitch f]

Joe, I like you more every day! And by the way smallmouth fishing is definitely worse than 10 years ago FWIW

[joeD]

Thanks Mitch! Let me take a shower and splash on some Brut and we can talk summore!

Just kidding.

I don't use Brut.

[Al Agnew]

I agree their are a lot of problems with exploitation of the resource......but those doomsday scenarios about how this state has such crappy smallmouth fishing compared to everywhere else is just silly. I've fished for smallies a lot of other places including some famous streams and the right Ozark streams compare favorably to most. Just sayin'. Sure there are plenty of overfished streams that are not surprisingly full of small, skittish fish but why would you want to fish those rivers anyway?? The size is usually subpar but the numbers will compare to anywhere, bar none. I am on board with doing anything to help the resource but to say we do not have quality smallmouth fishing here is just ridiculous in my opinion.

As for my fall expectations......I expect it to be a lot better than last fall because the creeks I like to fish aren't 90% dry this year. That is an improvement at least.

Not all streams are the same. Many of the streams that don't get a lot of jetboat fishing pressure are mostly full of small fish, and like you say compare favorably in numbers, though not in size, to the best streams I've ever fished across the country. The streams that are big enough to get all that jetboat pressure, on the other hand, I believe do not have nearly the numbers they used to, nor anything like the numbers relative to habitat that the small streams do. As for big fish, the Ozarks simply doesn't compare to the upper Mississippi, the Menominee, some rivers in Maine and upstate New York that I've fished, or a number of other Eastern rivers. I used to think this was mainly a matter of the habitat and the genetics of Ozark smallies, but I have to say that I think that for whatever reason, whether it be regulatory or the increase in catch and release angling, there are more big smallmouth in some Ozark streams than there used to be, at the same time that there a far fewer in others. I believe that if the better streams were managed more for producing big fish, they'd produce considerably more big fish. Of course, the question is how to manage them for big fish.

[Mitch f]

Thanks Mitch! Let me take a shower and splash on some Brut and we can talk summore!

Just kidding.

I don't use Brut.

LOL, maybe I should've worded it differently.

[ozark trout fisher]

Not all streams are the same. Many of the streams that don't get a lot of jetboat fishing pressure are mostly full of small fish, and like you say compare favorably in numbers, though not in size, to the best streams I've ever fished across the country. The streams that are big enough to get all that jetboat pressure, on the other hand, I believe do not have nearly the numbers they used to, nor anything like the numbers relative to habitat that the small streams do. As for big fish, the Ozarks simply doesn't compare to the upper Mississippi, the Menominee, some rivers in Maine and upstate New York that I've fished, or a number of other Eastern rivers. I used to think this was mainly a matter of the habitat and the genetics of Ozark smallies, but I have to say that I think that for whatever reason, whether it be regulatory or the increase in catch and release angling, there are more big smallmouth in some Ozark streams than there used to be, at the same time that there a far fewer in others. I believe that if the better streams were managed more for producing big fish, they'd produce considerably more big fish. Of course, the question is how to manage them for big fish.

I agree with this. I am never one to contend that we don't need to make it better. I've long been a supporter of stricter length/creel limits as most on here would know, or perhaps even slot limits intended to produce trophy fish and keep the numbers of smaller ones down (a lot more reluctant on that point.) Really anything that has been shown to help create better fisheries in rivers similar to ours. The situation is just not as bad as it's made out to be. I am not a great fisherman by any stretch of the imagination and I somehow manage to catch a smallmouth or two around here:)

[Guest]

Thanks Mitch! Let me take a shower and splash on some Brut and we can talk summore!

Just kidding.

I don't use Brut.

The only thing worse than brut is old spice.

[Guest]

It rained 4.5" at the house since midnight last night.

My coleman crawdad is full of water after laying it out yesterday.

I guess Im going to be pumping water outta of there today. At least I know it doesn't leak!