Big Buffalo Creek, MO

[drew03cmc]

Anyone fished it or know about it? I know it is catch and release for smallmouth, also, I know where it is at. I am just curious if anyone had any suggestions for catching some smallies from the creek on spinning tackle. Thanks in advance.

[Phil Lilley]

Catch and release only??? Never heard of such a thing in MO. Where is it?

[Flysmallie]

Phil, it's up by Lake of the Ozarks. On the map I have it's just a little southwest of Stover. It is listed as Catch & Release. Tha's the only one in Missouri that I know of. Never been there but I have some customers up around there that I haven't seen in awhile.

[drew03cmc]

Well, I was going to try some 1/16 oz Bitsy Bugs with a trailer, as well as some 1/16 oz Panther Martins along structure when I get free enough to go. In the mean time, I will be chasing largemouth on the Little Blue in Kansas City.

[BrianK]

Unless you are really close by, i wouldn't waste your time.

The MDC smallie map shows all kinds of water in that watershed but i found hardly any water at all.

I live here at LOZ and checked it out a couple summers ago...there was a bad drought at the time which obviously didn't help things....could be different now with fish overflowing the banks.

I fished at the last low water crossing before the lake and caught a few in that stretch but it's only about a 1/4 - 1/2 mile down to the lake. walked up a ways but not enough water to float a shiner and minimal cover.

I think those guys are protected b/c it's a tiny spring creek in the northernmost smallie territory. I wondered the same thing about the catch and release regs and thought it could be great or marginal....definitely marginal from my one visit. Hey, you'd probably be all alone though!!!

Anyone else with any experience there?

bk

[creek wader]

Drew, Let me know how you do on the Little Blue. That is if you are seious. I'm an engineer on the railroad. Our tracks cross the Little Blue in several spots. It looks pretty good for bass. I've always been curious about the bass fishing in it. I've never had the oppotuninty to try it.