Favorite Stream For Numbers

[SoMuchWater]

Elk river on a Saturday

Isn't school out on Saturdays?

[SoMuchWater]

South of the 38th parallel is a good starting point

[SoMuchWater]

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.

Nightbrew

you are right

I can't speak for everyone but my response to your question was the typical, Don't ask cause I'm not going to tell response.Sorry for that.

In my defense I blame the inter-web and I think it has done us all a great deal of disservice actually. I was taught that you judge a person by his or her actions not their words and unfortunately these days, words are more and more our only way of communicating.That's not all bad but I only know you as Nightbrew and have no idea how many Trophies you have hanging on the wall or how much fish you have in the freezer or what horde of friends that you may unleash upon my streams or how much reverence you hold for every precious inch of water and all the wild things that it supports. It is the inter-wed conundrum, Good, that I meet a lot of new people that I would never meet without on-line access, Bad that I actually very seldom meet anyone. I'll add for no particular reason that secret spots and holes can seldom live up to the version that we create for ourselves but all the same we believe them to be. So sharing isn't always as simple as it may sound. Better to error on the side of cautions... or is it?

As far as your question goes, Finding smallmouth isn't the issue I find it's typically access. Where can a person wade, put in and take out I find that to be more troublesome. The Elk river isn't bad but you you'll need to get an early start or you'll be swamped by Party Floaters like bees on a bear raiding a hive. Look for outfitters and locations where you can put in early float a half day, take out and start over in the evening. That way you'll stay ahead of or way behind the animals. If you fish there you'll catch Smallies there.

The Elk is no secret location and there are a lot of fish maybe even to many? If your camping well that's another issue. The campgrounds in that area are geared for the party group so.... especially on the weekend... well good luck with that! It is my main reason for not going there this time of year.

Big Piney can be good and so can the little Piney but again it has the same issues as the elk just on a slightly lower scale.

Google Campgrounds and ottfitters on what ever river or stream name and ask about ins and outs. Use the hot time of the day between floats to scout locations and get a good map that always helps.

Hope this gives you a couple of places to try but don't say I didn't warn you about Party Floaters!

[Al Agnew]

I think anybody who knows me will tell you that I'm generous in telling about the streams I fish...IF I meet you face to face and can make a real evaluation of your conservation mentality. I'll even share in private messages if the questions have the right tone. But when you put it out on the net, you have zero control over who reads it, or how many people read it and decide to follow up on it. The best spots have one thing in common...a lack of real fishing pressure. Not necessarily recreational pressure--some of my spots are zoos on weekends with the recreational floaters, but few other anglers bother with them.

[Crooked Creek Angler]

One stream that I have no reservations sharing information about that is great for numbers, and sometimes size as well is Crooked Creek. Heck, it's in the top ten of every national magazine that ranks smallmouth stream fishing and has been for years. It gets fished like crazy and still produces great catches year after year. I've been fishing it for over 20 years and would venture to say that it's almost as good today as the first time I fished it. Any stretch above the town of Yellville will be a winner for smallies.

[Amery]

I reserve my top numbers creeks for flyfishing only, c&r of course. I would expect anyone who I told about them to do the same. I do my homework, I explore, I catch a lot of smallmouth.

[joeD]

Unfortunately Nightbrew, and everyone else who responded, it doesn't matter. Your premise is misguided and, by default, incorrect. You cannot make your friends get "addicted" to smallie fishing by taking them on a "successful" stream trip, where numbers of fish caught are somehow guaranteed to make them want to fish. Just go floating and fishing with them, where, is immaterial, and have fun. It's not your job to make them love something, regardless of your passion.

[Hog Wally]

That was deep

[Hog Wally]

That was deep

[cnr]

That was deep

JoeD's premise is correct. It always amazes me who will or won't like river fishing. Hard to figure it out. I can go all day wade or float fishing, the harder the access the better for me. Dragging, brush busting, sunburned, and dog tired. Love it. Isn't for most though. But, put me in a boat on a big lake on a hot day and I'm done by 9AM.

Oh, and I agree on the CC reference. No big secret but a good stream.