Mid Mo Smallies

[AlexFish1]

6 minutes ago, Chief Grey Bear said:

I talked to a fella years ago that used to be here. He knew Chuck and told that he barely left his living room when he wrote that. Most info and maps came from outfitters and locals. 

Its a lot cheaper to cover your miles by phone calls and US Mail. 

I was pissy when I got my copy as thought there was going to be some stories!

so you're saying its not worth this much? lol

[Al Agnew]

I knew Chuck fairly well.  He didn't fish all those smaller creeks, but he did drive to them and check out the accesses.  A lot of his info on the fishing, such as it was, he got by word of mouth.  I know he got some info from me and put it in the book.  He listed some places as accesses that I wouldn't have the guts to use.  I remember planning a float on the upper Bourbeuse and putting in on a tributary creek about a half mile upstream from the river.  When I got there, the creek was tiny, there was no sign of a place to park, and it was on a gravel road right out in the middle of open agricultural fields where my vehicle would have stuck out like a sore thumb.  I chickened out of putting in there!

[Gavin]

Best to scout new spots on the way to or from public access.

[fishinwrench]

Chuck T. appeared to be happy just wade fishing small creeks for dinks and never stepping into a boat of any kind.  I think he approached his smallmouth fishing much like headwater fishing for brookies, which can certainly be enjoyable.  There are a few streams I visit at least once every year where the biggest brown bass you're gonna catch might be 12" and every fish in there is dumber than a sack of hair.  But on fly gear it's alot of fun, mostly because you know that the only human footprints you'll see all day will be your own.

[Chief Grey Bear]

9 hours ago, AlexFish1 said:

so you're saying its not worth this much? lol

Well not for me. 

Get you one of these. 

Or just use your phone. No disrespect to Chuck. His book at the time was gold. But it's far outdated compared to the tools we have today. 

[moturkey]

Alex - I was on the hunt for Chuck's book this summer/fall, and finally got a copy a few weeks ago from @msamatt with the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance.  I think he got tired of me pestering him:). I've thumbed through it a number of times and was mildly disappointed (like chief) in the lack of stories.  It's nothing more than raw data in my opinion - locations of accesses that may or may not be there anymore.  Nonetheless, it's a good resource. Use it in concert with DeLorne and Google Earth to narrow in on possible spots, then get off the computer and go get your feet wet to see what's out there. PM me if there are particular streams you're looking at and i'd be happy to share the info from Chuck's book.

[TroutRinger]

3 hours ago, moturkey said:

Alex - I was on the hunt for Chuck's book this summer/fall, and finally got a copy a few weeks ago from @msamatt with the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance.  I think he got tired of me pestering him:). I've thumbed through it a number of times and was mildly disappointed (like chief) in the lack of stories.  It's nothing more than raw data in my opinion - locations of accesses that may or may not be there anymore.  Nonetheless, it's a good resource. Use it in concert with DeLorne and Google Earth to narrow in on possible spots, then get off the computer and go get your feet wet to see what's out there. PM me if there are particular streams you're looking at and i'd be happy to share the info from Chuck's book.

I have a copy in Columbia if you want to borrow it. I have probably found more spots using Google Maps and county Floating and Fishing guides, many of which are free on Google Books (https://books.google.com/books?id=3SzODQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Columbia+%26+Boone+County+Missouri+Fishing+%26+Floating+Guide+Book&source=bl&ots=TGwZdmNk8d&sig=DAjrNhlYRPU1N7C12QzeceDd7tg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjv5v_jqfvXAhUL44MKHbxaC4QQ6AEIMzAC#v=onepage&q=Columbia %26 Boone County Missouri Fishing %26 Floating Guide Book&f=false)

There are some real gems in the book though. I have a couple very small, very awesome smallmouth streams within an hour of St. Louis (that's all I'm saying) that I found out after the fact were in Chuck's book. I'm sure he was right about some of the others as well. 

[moguy1973]

Well that there is a pretty great link.

[AlexFish1]

I will be reading through that book for sure. Thanks for that link

[Bill B.]

Look at what the MDC says about the three forks of the Salt River that feed into the west end of Mark Twain Lake, about an hour's drive from Columbia:

https://fishing.mdc.mo.gov/?f[0]=field_type%3A2&f[1]=field_region%3A555