Jerkbait Vs Jig, Ned Weight For Rivers?

[EastTnAngler]

Does the Gasconade have better smallmouth fishing than the Big Piney? I'm at Ft Leonard Wood. I have fished the Big Piney, but have yet to hit the Gasconade.

[fishinwrench]

Does the Gasconade have better smallmouth fishing than the Big Piney? I'm at Ft Leonard Wood. I have fished the Big Piney, but have yet to hit the Gasconade.

Kinda depends on the stretch. The G'nade is longer, so.... I guess yeah, the Gasconade is better.

[Al Agnew]

I'd choose the middle Gasconade in the winter, Piney in the summer. But as much as anything that's because the Piney gets less pressure from jetboats in the summer and thus it gets a little less fishing pressure. And it's faster, with fewer long, dead pools. The good parts of the Gasconade can be really good, the Piney is maybe a little better overall. Just my opinion, though, based upon a ccuple trips per year the last 40 years or so to both.

[Flysmallie]

Does the Gasconade have better smallmouth fishing than the Big Piney? I'm at Ft Leonard Wood. I have fished the Big Piney, but have yet to hit the Gasconade.

To me yes. I like them both but catch better fish out of the Gasconade.

[Seth]

I haven't fished the Piney so I can't say. As for the Gasconade, Last summer was pathetic due to the low and dingy water conditions. The only bright spot was I caught my personal best 20.5" smallmouth. The spring, fall and winter fishing has been leaps and bounds better than the summer. The previous summer was pretty good, but we had more water in the river.

[joeD]

So, there's your answer.

Which is....

Both are well liked and you can't go wrong with either choice. As usual, water levels and color make a difference, other than that, I don't think one is "better" than the other.

As usual, I say this: It's more important to go fishing as much as you can, than going to any specific, recommended stream using a certain lure with certain equipment. You definitely have choices around Ft. Leonard Wood though.

[Gavin]

Like them both. Usually catch more smallmouth on the Piney, fewer fish but better average size on the gascy. You will want a boat to cover some water. Usually use Route 66 canoe for the confluence area, but lay-z-day& Boiling Springs are good options as well. Not sure about what FLW has to offer to the folks on base, but I would bet that you could check out a boat from base recreation. Always wanted to float through FLW on the Piney. Ross to Eastgate but have not done it yet.

[Al Agnew]

The ambiance of the float through the fort isn't all that great, but the fishing can be pretty good. I can remember when you had to have special permission to float through the fort because one of the gunnery ranges was along the Piney. Now there are no restrictions and you don't even have to buy a fort recreation permit (unlike if you want to fish Roubidoux Creek on the other side of the fort...I believe the recreation permit is required and there ARE gunnery ranges over there so you might need permission). The last time i floated through the fort we had to drive into it to set up a shuttle, and it was like rush hour in St. Louis. That can be a busy place!

[EastTnAngler]

They do have rentals on base. We rented a kayak and canoe a couple weekends ago and floated the big piney. Didn't really catch much. I think the cold weather had them shut down. Only fish I caught was one largemouth. I threw everything at them too...jigs, fly n float, tubes, swimbaits, flukes etc.