Mid Mo Smallies

[TroutRinger]

35 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I didn't experience any "truly good" days this year, did you?

I betcha if I had run up to my old stomping grounds in Monroe county I'd have had a truly good day.    No angler pressure, no giggers, no float partiers.....and plenty of stupid hungry fish.   Plus I would have gotten to see some bullfrogs.   

No bullfrogs in the Ozarks 

I had four excellent stream fishing days within 30 minutes of you...and that was just in a three week period from late August to mid-September.

I invited you to go at least once so that's your loss 

[Gavin]

Had a couple of great days, but it was a weird year. Was fun figuring old spots again but sad to see all the flood damage..

[AlexFish1]

I’ve been up to Monroe county quite a bit didn’t know the fishing was so good there though 

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, AlexFish1 said:

I’ve been up to Monroe county quite a bit didn’t know the fishing was so good there though 

Not many do, we're laying some good stuff on ya here man!   You'd better prove worth it.    There were only a small handful of river rats back before MT was impounded and all but a few were strictly catfisherman.  My grandpa just happened to be one of the few.  After the lake was built the tributary rivers pretty much got completely deserted and forgotten.  They aren't the kind of rivers that you float just for fun, and your girlfriend/wife will NOT have a good time so you should probably leave her at home.  But there are some nice fish to be caught.  It isn't "Ozark Smallie fishin'" it's just Bass Fishing, and some of the bass you catch will be Smallmouth.

Monroe, Audrain, and Montgomery counties have an interesting geological substrate. As you go down the rivers there will be areas of mud, areas of white clay, areas of limestone rock, flint, sand, and gravel.  So what you see when you cross a bridge or pull up to an access area is not what you're gonna see all day as you move up or downstream.

[AlexFish1]

2 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Not many do, we're laying some good stuff on ya here man!   You'd better prove worth it.    There were only a small handful of river rats back before MT was impounded and all but a few were strictly catfisherman.  My grandpa just happened to be one of the few.  After the lake was built the tributary rivers pretty much got completely deserted and forgotten.  They aren't the kind of rivers that you float just for fun, and your girlfriend/wife will NOT have a good time so you should probably leave her at home.  But there are some nice fish to be caught.  It isn't "Ozark Smallie fishin'" it's just Bass Fishing, and some of the bass you catch will be Smallmouth.

Monroe, Audrain, and Montgomery counties have an interesting geological substrate. As you go down the rivers there will be areas of mud, areas of white clay, areas of limestone rock, flint, sand, and gravel.  So what you see when you cross a bridge or pull up to an access area is not what you're gonna see all day as you move up or downstream.

When it warms up I will be posting my catches at these various locations for sure

[Gavin]

Post up some pics and a story,sure, we love that stuff, but  don't name the location if river basing. Some will know where, some won't.

[fishinwrench]

 If you're strictly targeting smallmouth you are gonna need something to get you up and down the river.  On Elk fork I used a 2 man ABS catamaran type boat for awhile and it worked ok BUT those little things are like paddling a log raft and with 2 guys, a battery and gear they draft over 12".   Middle Fork is big enough for a full size 16' jon boat with an outboard.    Canoe or yak is great as long as you're not fly-fishing.  

[Mitch f]

That’s the only river (Salt) in Missouri where I’ve ever seen very large live mussels. We are talking 6” in diameter size, and lots of them. I’m wondering why other Ozark streams don’t have them that big?

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, Mitch f said:

That’s the only river (Salt) in Missouri where I’ve ever seen very large live mussels. We are talking 6” in diameter size, and lots of them. I’m wondering why other Ozark streams don’t have them that big?

Lots of big ones in the upper Niangua (above Bennett).  My daughter trys to fill the canoe with shells everytime we float it.   All are bigger than your hand.  

When I was a kid my dad had one on his gun cabinet that he'd throw spent brass and stuff in. That shell was HUGE and I'm not sure where he picked it up from but I assume it was either from the Salt or Mississippi.  I wish I knew what ever happened to that thing because it had to be near record size.  I'd say 10" or so long and at least 6-7" wide.  

[fishinwrench]

 pretty pic of UCB in southern Monroe county.