Are the runs ready to start?

[Fred]

I've floated several different stretches of the Bryant, and just love it. I'm mainly a river smallie fisherman from my canoe, but I've heard and read about the runs of walleye, stripers, hybrids, and whites going up the Bryant and the NFOW from the lake and would like to get into some of that. I've read enough here and other places to know it takes a few warm days and nights, but what really should I be looking for? I'm seeing mid-sixties forecast for most of this upcoming week and am wondering if that will kick it off? Also, what generally are the windows of opportunity for these runs? It also looks like the rivers are at relatively "average" or slightly higher levels, so how far up do you think the runs will go this year?

Thanks for some hints,

New guy Fred

[Brian Wise]

Fred,

The runs of the stripers and hybrids are really dependant on water. There have already been several small runs of stripers through the Tecumseh area(hwy 160 bridge.) If we were to get some warmer nights and more water I would not be suprised to see the stripers all the way up to Dawt Mill dam.

As for the whites and walleye I would not be suprised to see the small males up to Tecumseh any time. The bigger sows (whites) will be behind the small males and they are usually around a week and a half or 2 weeks behind the males. All of that is dependant on warmer weather for an extended time. We actually have plenty of water right now so there is a possibility of some of the best white bass fishing we have had in years, as long as it stays warm. If you are looking to make a trip down I would wait until the reports of the good runs of white bass are in and make sure there are no chilly nights between the time you come down and leave as that will push them back farther into the lake.

The fish will only make it up each river as far as they can. Usually they don't make it real far up the Bryant because there is a ledge about a half mile up the river but with enough water they will just keep going, the farther up you go though the fewer numbers and bigger fish you will see. The whites are going to be your best bet for consistant fishing but that is either at the mouth of the lake or a little lower. But at any given time a float from Cooks Landing to Tecumseh will produce smallmouth, small whites, walleye, and on and on. Remember the streams are not "open" to catch and keep for a while yet though....

As soon as the whites start running real good I will start posting reports, but they will be based out of Tecumseh.

Brian

[Fred]

Thanks, Brian, that's a big help.

I'll watch for (and will greatly appreciate!) your posts when the fish start moving.

I think I've got spring fever!!

Fred

[Dutch]

Don't wait. The fish are on the move in the rivers. The little males will go way up the streams several weeks before the breeding fish arrive. The good females will only go to the first few shoals and spawn there.

[Fred]

Thanks, Dutch...I see you've been busy elsewhere. After checking my schedule a little harder, it looks like I can't get out until early next week. We'll see. Hopefully something will be biting!

In your other posts over the past few days you say you're using jigs. Mind me asking what size, color, etc? I'm new to the white bass, but larger jigs and crankbaits are my mainstay for the smallies in the rivers. From previous posts (and experience) those catch about anything that's hungry if it looks like their normal food.

Fred

[CMAC]

You boys ever float Bertha to HWY 95? Short but worth it kind of deal, I have caught some dandy small jaws over the years with the family. Pretty quiet to, not alot of other people on typically busy weekends including holidays.

[Brian Wise]

I love that float CMAC!! It's a totally different river than farther downstream, and yes, there are some crazy nice fish up there!!

Brian

[Fred]

I got out this afternoon for a few hours, putting in at Tecumseh and heading upstream. My buddy caught a 13inch smallie (which we threw back) about 50 feet upstream from the bridge, so that was a good start. There were a few boats where the two rivers meet, but nobody was catching anything. We continued up the Bryant around the bend. Beautiful day but no fish. When we went back, all the boats were gone. No bites for us the rest of the time. I guess I'll wait for a little warmer weather for the smallmouth to wake up a bit.

Thanks for the info about the float above 95. I've only done south of there, so I might give it a try.

[CMAC]

Fred,

Shhh, please about the 95 float.

[Fred]

My buddy and I got out Tuesday and did the 5 miles above 95. NICE float. Thankfully the weather held up for us, too, although we did get some strong winds blowing us near the end of the afternoon. Fishing was pretty good all day. We stopped above nice holes and fished from the shore a bunch. 57 fish between the two of us, with some nice smallies in the 11-14" range. Nothing huge, but a lot of fun. We were basically using light tackle with black jigheads and 2-4" plastic grubs (single and double tail), mainly light brown, gray or pumpkinseed... The biggest surprise was about a 1/2 mile up from where the Spring Creek flows in my buddy caught an 11" rainbow! I knew we might see some below the Spring Creek but not above...it fought hard! Is that from Rockbridge? I was hoping one of those five pounders might have washed down, but that was the only trout we saw.

The other thing we noticed was that the rockbass and sunfish seemed relatively small. All the fish we caught were really healthy and pretty fat, but the panfish just seemed on the small size...

There'd probably be quite a bit of dragging in July and August, as some of the water was already really skinny. (that's my token comment to keep the summer crowd away, CMAC! )

We also saw a bald eagle, kingfishers, ducks, squirrels, a heron and one turkey flew across in front of us. Definitely a great spring float on a beautiful Ozark stream. Thanks for the tip, CMAC!