A little White pride

[fishinwrench]

There are two "creeks" north of I-70 that I grew up fishing, and they are special in more ways than one.   Too far north to be thought of as smallmouth rivers by most folks who associate smallmouth only with clear "Ozark" streams, but they are home to plenty of excellent quality brown bass.  They are what you might call transition rivers. Kinda muddy and slow for a mile or two where largemouth and catfish are abundant, then you round a bend and for 1/2 mile to 2 miles it is rocky/bluffy and quite a bit clearer from some spring seepage, and the current picks up a bit. That's where the smallmouth live, and while you won't catch the numbers of fish like you do on Ozark streams the ones you catch are fat, healthy, and are quite a bit larger on average.  14-17" is an average smallmouth there during the Summer and on a good day you'll catch 8-10 on every good stretch.

After floating them for years we know where all the good stretches are and often found ways into them that didn't require a lot of paddling.   

When I first moved to the Ozarks my first impression (since I'd always heard how much better the smallie fishing was here) was "yeah there's more smallies here.....but they are all dinks".  

I never ever hear those two rivers mentioned, except by catfishermen and walleye chasers.  They are the best kept secret in this state I think.  About the closest hint I'll give is if you guess what county they are in I'll give a yep or a nope, after that you are on your own. ?

[96 CHAMP]

The one we used to fish was great till they started pulling gravel out of it near the low water access where we used to put a John boat in thus causing water to flow through. All the tree roots and other cover became exposed due to lowering of water level, you no what happens next. That particular hole was probably 1/2 mile long.

 

[buckcreekmike]

On 4/30/2017 at 9:59 PM, fishinwrench said:

There are two "creeks" north of I-70 that I grew up fishing, and they are special in more ways than one.   Too far north to be thought of as smallmouth rivers by most folks who associate smallmouth only with clear "Ozark" streams, but they are home to plenty of excellent quality brown bass.  They are what you might call transition rivers. Kinda muddy and slow for a mile or two where largemouth and catfish are abundant, then you round a bend and for 1/2 mile to 2 miles it is rocky/bluffy and quite a bit clearer from some spring seepage, and the current picks up a bit. That's where the smallmouth live, and while you won't catch the numbers of fish like you do on Ozark streams the ones you catch are fat, healthy, and are quite a bit larger on average.  14-17" is an average smallmouth there during the Summer and on a good day you'll catch 8-10 on every good stretch.

After floating them for years we know where all the good stretches are and often found ways into them that didn't require a lot of paddling.   

When I first moved to the Ozarks my first impression (since I'd always heard how much better the smallie fishing was here) was "yeah there's more smallies here.....but they are all dinks".  

I never ever hear those two rivers mentioned, except by catfishermen and walleye chasers.  They are the best kept secret in this state I think.  About the closest hint I'll give is if you guess what county they are in I'll give a yep or a nope, after that you are on your own. ?

Saline county?

[fishinwrench]

8 hours ago, buckcreekmike said:

Saline county?

Nope.  Northeast of there. 

[Old plug]

On April 30, 2017 at 4:26 PM, fishinwrench said:

Yeah I know, everybody thinks I say "terrible things" all the time. 

If I had as many thoughts that I couldn't share as some of you guys my head would explode.   I'm not ashamed of what I think.....so I just let my thoughts fall right out of my mouth.  For the most part I feel like if someone gets offended then they are living in a dream world and I'm scared of being around them anyway.  So get offended, leave, and life stays good.    Reality is a much healthier and safer place IMO.

One thing you can take to the bank is....if I act like I like you, then I genuinely do. There isn't a phoney bone in my body. 

No wonder we get along so well. we think a lot alike.