Favorite Stream For Numbers

[Greasy B]

No place I've been fishing.

[bfishn]

http://fishing.mdc.mo.gov/reports/best-bets?field_fish_population_nid=100550&=Apply

[ozark trout fisher]

Honestly, in terms of numbers, pick a clear, spring-fed stream and you'll probably be fine. Gasconade, Big Piney, Jacks Fork, Current, James, I'm just getting started. It can be hard to find streams with good numbers of big smallmouth, but finding numbers of fish isn't a challenge in the Ozarks. If you narrow it down a little I could help, but I can think of about 500 miles of stream in Missouri off the top of my head that would fit with what you are asking.

Anywhere in southern Missouri, would be the short answer.

[Al Agnew]

I agree, most of the clear Ozark streams have good numbers. Like the others, I ain't saying my favorite numbers stream (and actually, it hasn't been as good the last two or three years), but I've had 75 plus fish days in a lot of different streams:

Meramec, Huzzah, Courtois, Big, Bourbeuse, Mineral Fork, St. Francis, Castor, Current, Jacks Fork, Big Piney, Tavern, South Fork Spring, Crooked, Buffalo...well, you get the picture.

And at the same time, I've had less than 30 fish days on almost every one of those rivers. The numbers are there, but catching them is sometimes a different story.

[Nightbrew]

I should have guessed that most of the above responses would have the tone they do, seeing how this is the internet. Im sorry to those who felt I was asking for the location of the 21 incher who lives behind this rock, at the beginning of this pool, below this mile marker, on this river. Im not looking for your secret spot. This was supposed to be a nice discussion about some productive stretches of river/creek. I have my favorites, just thought we could all compare. Thanks to those who voiced a legitmate opinion.

[Greasy B]

Was a time when I thought the clearer the water the better the quantity, the murkier the water the better the quality, experience has proven I know nothing.

[ozark trout fisher]

The snarky tone in some of the responses you got is uncalled for, though pretty much par for the course I'm sad to say.

That said, it'd help if you'd say which part of the state you were looking to fish and otherwise narrowed it down a bit. This state has hundreds and if not thousands of miles of smallmouth streams, most of them chock full of fish, and I could point you to dang near any of them without going wrong.

[MOsmallies]

If people are willing to give up particular streams and stretches I hope they use discretion and communicate that info through Private Message. The only reason people are tight lipped is that posting specific rivers and stretches can and has lead to more pressure on those streams and the fishing can and has declined due to it.

Like OzarkTroutFisher and Al mentioned, most ozark streams have decent populations of smallmouth although our population of bigger fish is not where they could be. The numbers are there, but getting them to bite is another story. This has been somewhat of an off year from my experience and the reports I've heard from several very, very good anglers that I respect. Smaller, off the beaten path streams are gonna be better for numbers that your bigger streams that have tons of floaters.

Good luck!

[Feathers and Fins]

The only reason people are tight lipped is that posting specific rivers and stretches can and has lead to more pressure on those streams and the fishing can and has declined due to it.

Bingo! Pay me Preacher. . . I gave info like that just as I do for Beaver Lake a couple times and now catching fish let alone seeing them is much more difficult! But worse was seeing the trash left on the stream, I can handle some pressure but the areas I gave did not have the trash for years before and then did. When I go to a hard to reach stream its not so much for the fish but the beauty and solitude and to see it trashed up hurts.

Like Hunting spot, a precious beautiful unspoiled stream is not something people will give up easily and without a great deal of trust to the person they are giving it to. Its something that should be earned either by gaining the trust of people or finding it yourself it will mean more then. And though you might trust the person who is to say he wont bring a friend that is not as trustworthy.

[Flysmallie]

I know a stream that has a bigger density of smallmouth than I have ever seen anywhere else. I do not mention it's name because it would not be a place that you would enjoy floating. I don't mention the name of anyplace else because I do not think that it matters. Get below I44 and there are plenty of options.

The biggest thing about quantity over quality are the baits you are using. If you want your friends to catch a lot of fish and have a good time they should be using a rooster tail or a teeny craw. Those will put up the numbers and might surprise you with a decent fish.