closest smallmouth stream to KC, MO

[drew03cmc]

Like it says, I want to find the smallmouth stream closest to Kansas City, MO. I love trout and all, but there has to be some smallie waters closer to home than 2.5 hrs or so. Let me know if anyone wants to get together for some smallie fishing in the winter or spring. Thanks again guys.

[McManus]

Chuck Tryon wrote a book called 200 Missouri Smallmouth Streams. But most of the streams are right where you'd expect them to be--south and east in Missouri.

If you find one close to K.C. I'd like to know.

[Gavin]

I'm not sure if there are any smallmouth up that way, but there could be. The area around Lebanon has some good smallmouth water, but I'm not aware of any decent smallmouth fishing up by KC. I'd try looking through the Missouri Conservation Atlas for stream access in your area, and the DeLorme Gazeteer for Missouri will help you find other places. Cheers.

[drew03cmc]

I know, or at least have heard there are some smallies in the headwaters of the Lamine river in central MO. I would however love to move to southern MO and be surrounded by trout and smallie waters. I am curious how close to KC the Sac and Little Sac are. Well, off to search...thanks.

[fishinwrench]

Drew, there ARE smallies in the upper tribs of the Lamine watershed if you want to search for them... finding deep holes with rock is the biggest problem for Smallmouth in the Lamine basin. I know of several but none are worth the drive from KC to fish them IMO

Cedar cr. near Columbia I've heard holds a few, as well as certain sections of Auxvasse cr. I've always wondered about Tebo cr. and Weableau cr. (tribs of Truman res.) They both look like they could support Smallies.

[drew03cmc]

Weaubleau does or at least it should. The Sac and Little Sac does.

[brittsnbirds]

As a kid growing up every summer down on the ole Osage we caught smallies in the Little Pomme river. We also caught them in Hogels creek. It was upstream about a mile or so. But they put Truman/Kassinger dam in and that went away. Have you tried the Niangua River? My father in law hits the Niangua every spring with his brother. They put in somewhere near the LOZ and Niangua and go upriver. They usually catch many smallies, whites and crappie. Also I've heard there are some if you fish the Niangua from BSP. I fished it last year a little, no smallies but I did catch browns and bows. I think you would have a better chance if you floated rather than just wade like me.

Living up here in KCMO (south) is definately 2 1/2 hours from any good trout stream. I would give anything to go south but work, family, all of those other adult responsibilities restrict that. That's why I have the pop-up and a sleeping bag! Oh yea an understanding wife!!

[drew03cmc]

Sorry to drag up an old topic like this one, but I was just rereading your post, and you said you wade. Me too! I would be up for getting together at BSP access and wading for some trout if you would want to come spring. Let me know.

[RSBreth]

I wish I had the time to explore some little creeks up that way. I just don't have any info about any GOOD smallie fishing up that way. But I know about Niangua, Upper Spring, Sac, etc. Check your personal messages.

[Flysmallie]

drew03cmc I was looking at a map of MDC's Smallmouth Bass Special Management Areas and they list Big Buffalo Creek as a catch and Release only area. There is a Conservation Area there with public access. It looks to be 5 or 10 miles south of Stover. This should be a lot closer to KC. You should be able to do a search on the MDC site and come up with some info.

Go give it a try and let us know if it's any good. I may just have to go up there and look around myself.