dtrs5kprs Posted April 7, 2016 Posted April 7, 2016 And that is how you have a very good chance of 18+ inch smalljaws. They are special in a river but it is attainable on a regular basis and still bloody stinking fun on the lakes. 100% correct. Reasonable to expect 10-20 fish on a slow day on those lakes, fishing small stuff. A good day will be 100+. In all seriousness. Rivers have a special charm, but I'll take a good mixed rock point loaded with 14"-18" brown fish, with 20' or more of water to dig in. mixermarkb and jtram 2
Flysmallie Posted April 7, 2016 Posted April 7, 2016 Personally on a Summer day in a canoe I would never be on the Current. Is the fishing good? Yep. But the level of douchebaggery is extremely high on that river. The upper Big Piney is much more pleasant. I have no idea about the special management area but up above Boiling Springs it is awesome.
Members Murv Posted April 7, 2016 Author Members Posted April 7, 2016 Sure I'd like to catch a big un' but catching at least 1 of any size will be good enough for me,,,it's just a shame we don't have em' in So. Eastern Illinois. I have been seriously considering cleaning out my pond and stocking it with Smallies,,,,just so I can catch a few now and then. without having to drive forever. dtrs5kprs 1
jtram Posted April 7, 2016 Posted April 7, 2016 Here's a question that's a little off topic, but I have always wondered. Is the river fishing better in the central/eastern partof the state than the sw part of the state? I feel like my home flows are world class but aan I missing out on thE best rivers by hanging 'round here? BTW I fish the grand river watershed almost exexclusively.
dtrs5kprs Posted April 7, 2016 Posted April 7, 2016 Sure I'd like to catch a big un' but catching at least 1 of any size will be good enough for me,,,it's just a shame we don't have em' in So. Eastern Illinois. I have been seriously considering cleaning out my pond and stocking it with Smallies,,,,just so I can catch a few now and then. without having to drive forever. If you were in the Table Rock area I'd try to get you in the Ranger for a crack at them. Murv and mixermarkb 2
Members Murv Posted April 7, 2016 Author Members Posted April 7, 2016 dtrs5kprs, Thanx, that'd be fun, I didn't know catching a Smallie was gonna be this hard, I've caught thousands of largemouth, I though how hard can it be,,,,wow, have I gotten a reality check. I'm bound and determined to not give up until I catch at least one... looking more and more like you guys beautiful state of Mo. may end up being my best chance, without having to drive a half day.
drew03cmc Posted April 7, 2016 Posted April 7, 2016 Murv, it's not hard. You simply fish quick flowing water with a soft craw. It just works. Andy
Johnsfolly Posted April 7, 2016 Posted April 7, 2016 Murv - Once you go smallmouth you never go back. I consider them to be much better fighters than largemouth bass of the same weight. Also the waters that are most productive for smallmouth are fantastic places. I fish a lot of stream and rivers for smallmouth and you just need a mix of topwater, midwater, and bottom baits. I prefer walk the dog topwaters after they spawn, flukes and marabou jigs all season, and soft bottoms baits, like a soft craw, short worm, etc. There are a lot of resources throughout these forums for bait choices. Pick a couple and get confident in using them and you will catch smallmouth once you go to a place that has them, like the Current, Big Piney, etc.
Members carptracker Posted April 7, 2016 Members Posted April 7, 2016 Murv, I lived in southern Illinois for 12 years and had a chance to work in all the bottom 13 counties. The Cache is a unique river in So. IL but nothing like the clear gravel bottom rivers in the Missouri Ozarks. We have a place on the upper-mid Meramec (and sponsor the Meramec RIver forum here on OA). Would be happy to help a fellow southern Illinoisian catch a few smallies. Check out our website and let me know if we can help out. Carptracker Our home-made "carptracker" boat (couldn't afford the new Basstrackers) made a few trips to Kincaid.
Members Murv Posted April 7, 2016 Author Members Posted April 7, 2016 Johnsfolly, I'm afraid you'll be right, I won't want to go back, then I don't know what I'm gonna do, lol. carptracker, that'd be great, and hey to a fellow So. Illinoisan, I'm afraid when I come to Mo., I'm gonna wanna move.... Al told me the castor river is a good place, if I don't mind to walk, which I don't at all... where should I start there, and when is a good date to come?, Will they bite there now?, or do I need to wait a few weeks?
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