Are My Expectations Just Off? What Is "good" Fishing?

[ozark trout fisher]

Option #1 Hire a guide for a day, fishing the same type of Ozark stream that you typically fish, for the same species (smallmouth, it sounds like.) They can diagnose whatever issues you have relatively quickly and get you on the right track.

Option #2, and the one I followed, is fish like crazy until you figure out what works and you start catching them. There was a time when Ozark smallie streams perplexed me, just like you're talking about. Then something clicked after an embarassingly long time. Unless you take the obvious shortcut of hiring a guide (or otherwise getting a good fisherman to take you out and show you the ropes) it might take awhile and a lot of mistakes before you start having consistent success. That can either be really frustrating, or part of a fun, lifelong process. It will realistically be a good deal of both.

So in otherwords, just keep trying stuff until you find whatever works for you. For the type of angling you do, a rebel teeny craw and an ultra-light rod is what works for me, and I catch more fish than I know what to do with 95% of the time on Ozark smallmouth/panfish streams. But maybe you don't have confidence in that method or it just doesn't work for you or maybe you just haven't attained the basic skills you need yet.

The only thing I can absolutely promise you is that if you stick with it long enough and keep an open mind you'll figure it out. There's no one that can't learn how to be a good fisherman, just a lot of people that don't have enough patience to fail a lot and keep trying.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Here's a good day for me..... not working, wetting a line, catching a HUGE buzz, take a picture of the scenery, go to bed. Repeat and repeat makes a great trip.

There is my expectation.....

You understand Paul Dallas' modus operandi well. But you had me at not working and wetting a line . . . . and okay, scenery and maybe a nice buzz, maybe a cigarette or two, but photogrpahy, or fish counts??? well those expectations are just the blueberries in my pancakes brother, that small, last dollop of sausage gravy on a homemade biscuit, the sweet smell of the grass after its cut when you're tired and sweaty, or the hearty burp of relief after a delicious malt and double cheese burger, the whispered thank you from the lady for whatever little nuthin you jus' did. Who has expectations when they are fishing? Nazis? Its the surprises, not the expectations! Enjoy the journey comrades and forget the stats.

[Gavin]

Stats don't mean anything. Numbers & big fish are more a matter of right place right time IMO. Spend enough time, it happens now and then.

[Big Brown Trout]

Big Brown Trout:

So as you probably figured, I don't have a boat.

don't worry Jim I don't either

by "trip" I thought you meant all fishing total. If I change spots or bodies of water but in the same day I still consider it the same trip. And though it was only partial my point ,yes in the game of fishing more patience is something we can all benefit from. As far as your comment on hitting only a few spots, for me personally if I am with my wife all I can usually get her to cover is maybe a football field length of river. Tops. Now if I am on foot, I can usually cover miles. And that is nearly all wading and walking. Don't worry man stick with it and you'll see your number improve.

[jimithyashford]

Well I am certainly willing to learn and improve and be patient. And I doubt I will give up on it because I very much like wading in rivers and exploring anyway. So I am going to outline exactly what I did, and what habits I had, and what gear I had, and see if anything stands out to you experianced anglers.

I got in the water at about 6-6:30. I had a small tackle box in my pocket with some spare split shots, extra hooks, and few little jigs. I had an ultralight rod with 4lb clear line on it.

I waded upstream on the shallow side of the river, until I got to an eddy below a riffle. I hooked my little 2 inch crayfish through the tail and cast him across the eddy from the side. I let him sit for about 30 seconds, reeled him in a few clicks, let him sit for about 30 seconds, reeled him in a few clicks, and did that until he was across the eddy and out on the side nearest to me. I tried this a few times from way below the riffle where the eddy faded out, up to being basically in the riffle, and then with no bites moved on to the next. When the crayfish stopped kicking and moving, I would swap him out for another.

A few times I stood in the riffle and cast downstream into the eddy, retrieveing back towards the top of the riffle. Also a few cover/structure spots looked too tempting to pass up so I cast the crayfish over there and just let it sit for maybe 2 minutes before retrieveing. I also tried to vary between the dark crayfish and the lighter colored ones.

When I switched the the small jig I was on my return trip back downstream, and I would stand in the river above riffles or deep faster currents and cast downstream paralell to those currents, and retrieve upstream along them. I got my two small bass that way.

Mean while I had a fat crayfish tail on a limb line hanging into deep slow water waiting the whole time I was out, and it seemed a little picked at when I got back, but I figure that was probably just other crayfish picking at it. I was hoping it would catch a cat, but it did not.

As far as distance of cast? I can cast the full width of the river in most places, depending on the weight of the lure. There are a few spots where it's too wide to quite cast all the way across. I never feel like I can't get to a spot.

[Flysmallie]

You are definitely persistent. I just wish we could get you on a better section of river. That would solve a lot of the issues.

[jimithyashford]

Like what section of river? I understand Creighton is probably fairly over fished. If you can advise me on a section of river I'll hit it! Or any other creek/rivers in the area. I figure that Pearson and Wilson creeks might be big enough in some areas to fish, also I've never fished the Sac or the Finley.

I know that sometimes you can find suprisingly good bluegill in the wide and deep spots on small often over-looked creeks.

[Flysmallie]

The further south you go in the James the better the fishing gets.

Where the Finley meets the James is good. Shelving Rock access is good. Get down around Kerr and it gets a lot better. Plus you have a lot more wade able water.

[XP 590]

A good day fishing? Any day I'm not stuck in this stupid office. I admire your persistence. If you could find a few buddies that fish that area, or a local fishing club that might help. Maybe someone in that local area might volunteer to go with you a few times as a mentor? I don't know anything about that river or type of fishing, but I do know this forum is loaded with information and help.

[BATCAB27]

the best fishing that is closest to springfield for me is Rivercut. I never have much luck above Spflld Lake. Just park at the golf course and head downstream. My advice to you when wade fishing is not to wade unless its necessary. Stay on the bank if you can. I always see people sloshing around in the water making a big ruckus and not catching anything. I prefer to go ninja stealth mode on 'em. The big ones aren't stupid. As late in the evening that you are fishing, a buzzbait wouldn't be wrong....