Crazy spotted bass question

[drew03cmc]

I am wondering which river system in the state of Missouri would produce the biggest spotted bass. I know they're looked down upon in some flows, but I'm legitimately curious. I've caught river spots to 17" from a SWMO stream, so I'm wanting bass of that size range. 

[MoCarp]

Spring river shoal creek in sw Missouri 

[moguy1973]

I'm going to guess any river in the Missouri river basin.  Osage has some big spots in it.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I caught a 19" out of the lower Meramec,

[moguy1973]

10 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I caught a 19" out of the lower Meramec,

That one too.  They've taken over the lower Meramec with the asian carps.

[Flysmallie]

Lower James used to be good for them. Can't see why that would have changed. 

[Guest]

Deleted.

[MoCarp]

A good pattern in the summer is a small buzz bait in the ripple areas, used to get them at Southtown bait, take off the standard blade and replace it with a larger 3 blade plastic one, 1/8 oz head, white, sometimes black, weird thing only the black caught smallies...big ones...I used a tiny bait caster Ryobi and trilene 6# xt ( same diameter as regular trilene 10#)

[Fish24/7]

I have that reel!

[drew03cmc]

Shoal does have nice spots. I've caught several over 14 and my PB 17, but I'm considering going fishing for some spots this summer and figured maybe some marginal smallie water may be loaded with them.