Best Smallmouth stream in Missouri?

[MObassin95]

Greetings, 

I was talking a to a buddy of mine from Minnesota and we were discussing smallmouth fishing. I know it doesn't compare to Minnesota but I explained to him that Missouri has some great smallmouths streams (which isn't a lie), and he asked me which one was the best. I told him I couldn't really answer that, because it's incredibly subjective. BUT, it got me wondering: which one IS the best smallmouth stream? I would be inclined to say the Gasconade, but I am very curious what others would say. I would love to start a discussion about it. Not giving away honey holes, but discussing which stream one thinks is best for smallies. 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

The best smallmouth streams in MO are "creek x" or "stream x" haha. Gasconade is really good. So is the James. I personally love the lower Gasconade. My buddy Tommy Bench guides down there. Hit him up. 

[Gavin]

It’s within an hours drive (North or South) of I-44.

[fishinwrench]

In all honesty?  The lower Niangua.   But not necessarily because of the number of 18+" Smallies.    It's because of everything else that most of us love river smallmouth fishing for. 

Lack of party floaters, lack of jetboat traffic,  awesome gravel bars spaced perfectly apart, big rocks, plenty of wood cover, clear cool water.    The only deterrent is that access points are a long ways in-between (too long for most).....but that's its saving grace. 🤗 

If you're strictly after Bigguns.....the Meramec and it's lower tributaries.

[Ryan Miloshewski]

14 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

In all honesty?  The lower Niangua.   But not necessarily because of the number of 18+" Smallies.    It's because of everything else that most of us love river smallmouth fishing for. 

Lack of party floaters, lack of jetboat traffic,  awesome gravel bars spaced perfectly apart, big rocks, plenty of wood cover, clear cool water.    The only deterrent is that access points are a long ways in-between (too long for most).....but that's its saving grace. 🤗 

If you're strictly after Bigguns.....the Meramec and it's lower tributaries.

Second this! The lower Niangua in the winter or outside of plastic hatch season is great.

[Mitch f]

24 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

Second this! The lower Niangua in the winter or outside of plastic hatch season is great.

Just watch out for the Amish with stringers

[fishinwrench]

27 minutes ago, Mitch f said:

Just watch out for the Amish with stringers

I don't think they get many Smallies.   They seem perfectly happy sitting over a rootwad catching goggleeye.   😊 

They seldom (if ever) float below Leadmine anyway.

[Flysmallie]

42 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I don't think they get many Smallies.   They seem perfectly happy sitting over a rootwad catching goggleeye.   😊 

They seldom (if ever) float below Leadmine anyway.

I’ve seen them. I think they put whatever they catch on the stringer. Me, Harps, and Chief ran into a whole gang of them a couple of years ago. It wasn’t their first time out there. 

[fishinwrench]

4 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

I’ve seen them. I think they put whatever they catch on the stringer. Me, Harps, and Chief ran into a whole gang of them a couple of years ago. It wasn’t their first time out there. 

Probably, but all they catch is goggleeye.

Y'all didn't go below Leadmine either.  So WTF are you even talking about? 

(Sorry, but this is the way you respond to ME lately....so I guess this is how you and I communicate now)

[Flysmallie]

27 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Probably, but all they catch is goggleeye.

Y'all didn't go below Leadmine either.  So WTF are you even talking about? 

(Sorry, but this is the way you respond to ME lately....so I guess this is how you and I communicate now)

Your right. You are superior. It wasn’t below leadmine and all they had on the stringers were smallies. You’re batting 1000 genius.