8 to leadwood

[moguy1973]

My 4 1/2lb smallie in my avatar went 21.5".

[Smalliebigs]

I caught one last year that wasn’t even 21 and it weighed well over 5 on Two different scales 

[Smalliebigs]

Caught this one in 2020 just recently and it was under 20 and weighed 4.10 

 

[Smalliebigs]

I totally get what Al is saying though way over estimated on weight for Smallies is a constant. The Big River is getting blown apart unfortunately, I guess because of Coronavirus and nobody works anymore but, it SUCKS

[snagged in outlet 3]

12 minutes ago, Smalliebigs said:

I totally get what Al is saying though way over estimated on weight for Smallies is a constant. The Big River is getting blown apart unfortunately, I guess because of Coronavirus and nobody works anymore but, it SUCKS

Everywhere is.  Crazy!

[curtisce]

Caught this onelast week in a different state. 19 1/2" 5.8#  Here's the state record from a nearby lake 193/4" 7#2oz 

[Al Agnew]

9 hours ago, Smalliebigs said:

I totally get what Al is saying though way over estimated on weight for Smallies is a constant. The Big River is getting blown apart unfortunately, I guess because of Coronavirus and nobody works anymore but, it SUCKS

Yup, that's what I'm saying.  Those extra fat smallies are not very common in the Ozarks.  You're more likely to catch a 20 incher that's under 4 pounds than you are to catch a 20 incher that's over 4.5.  

And this spring just simply sucks for me so far.  Had one day that was a little better than mediocre, and that was only on numbers, not size.  Every other day since March has been slower than normal to really bad.  Like today...floated a little known and little floated section of stream with Mary, caught maybe a half dozen fish, nothing over 12 inches.  It's gotten to where the last couple floats I've put the rod down and just paddled and watched wildlife by the last couple hours of the day.

[Smalliebigs]

16 minutes ago, Al Agnew said:

Yup, that's what I'm saying.  Those extra fat smallies are not very common in the Ozarks.  You're more likely to catch a 20 incher that's under 4 pounds than you are to catch a 20 incher that's over 4.5.  

And this spring just simply sucks for me so far.  Had one day that was a little better than mediocre, and that was only on numbers, not size.  Every other day since March has been slower than normal to really bad.  Like today...floated a little known and little floated section of stream with Mary, caught maybe a half dozen fish, nothing over 12 inches.  It's gotten to where the last couple floats I've put the rod down and just paddled and watched wildlife by the last couple hours of the day.

Oh man that’s troubling to hear....I did well once then as you said not very great and then the last couple times have been frustrated by the amount of people out. I went on the Middle Meramec and was blown away at the amount of boat traffic WOW!!!

[Al Agnew]

4 minutes ago, Smalliebigs said:

Oh man that’s troubling to hear....I did well once then as you said not very great and then the last couple times have been frustrated by the amount of people out. I went on the Middle Meramec and was blown away at the amount of boat traffic WOW!!!

Yeah, I kinda know how to get away from the crowds, but that's because I go only during the week.  I haven't been running into many people, but the accesses are all beat down and there are fishing lines hanging from the trees everywhere, so I know these places are getting pounded.  And the fishing has been frustrating, to say the least.

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Do you guys think smallies are caught on trot lines?   I have several spots that I have been consistently catching fish from the past 3 years and about a month ago it really dropped off.  That’s when I noticed beer cans in the trees.  They strung 3 trot lines in the area.  I didn’t touch them but they did not have identity tags on them.