3-4 Day Smallmouth Trip in March

[TylerD]

I am trying to plan a 3 or 4 day smallmouth trip for the middle of March. I will be going with my father most likely in a canoe, or possibly in kayaks. We are trying to choose a river.

I have floated the Current, Big Piney, and upper Black River before, but always in the summer, and I've never been in the spring. I have heard that the Big Piney, Gasconade, and Buffalo River are good, but thought I would ask here about where to go.

[fishinwrench]

Mid-March is a tad early to make solid plans.

Could be a foot of snow over an inch of ice, or it could be flooded.  

Personally I don't start chasing Smallies until late April.....once it's warm enough to wet wade. 

[tjm]

March usually means flooding or flash flooding to me. Fishing sometimes possible and just as often   not. Nothing can be planned more than a day ahead on streams that rise from 130CFS to 15,000CFS randomly. You might want to have a plan "B".  As to choice of streams, I personally would pick one near a good "plan B" .

[TylerD]

Thanks for the input, I'll definitely have to watch the weather and water levels when it gets close. Unfortunately that the week is the only option I have until May, so hopefully it will work out. 

[gotmuddy]

What stream you choose is going to be determined that week or the week before.  How many people in the party?

[TylerD]

 

17 minutes ago, gotmuddy said:

What stream you choose is going to be determined that week or the week before.  How many people in the party?

It'll be just me and my dad, so two people

[Al Agnew]

As the others have said, you can't make long range plans for March trips.  March is one of the least consistent times of year not only for water conditions but for actually catching fish.  My suggestion: pick some options of middle portions of larger rivers.  March on smaller streams can be really iffy.  And have several widespread options, in case you get a lot of rain in one area and not in another.  Like maybe middle Gasconade around Waynesville, Current below Round Spring, James above Table Rock, Buffalo below Gilbert.  Put them in order of which you want to float the most to least, and then make your final decision a few days in advance while watching weather forecasts.

[gotmuddy]

On 2/4/2022 at 10:09 AM, TylerD said:

 

It'll be just me and my dad, so two people

That makes it way easier.  I am going to pm you some recommendations. 

[TylerD]

12 hours ago, Al Agnew said:

As the others have said, you can't make long range plans for March trips.  March is one of the least consistent times of year not only for water conditions but for actually catching fish.  My suggestion: pick some options of middle portions of larger rivers.  March on smaller streams can be really iffy.  And have several widespread options, in case you get a lot of rain in one area and not in another.  Like maybe middle Gasconade around Waynesville, Current below Round Spring, James above Table Rock, Buffalo below Gilbert.  Put them in order of which you want to float the most to least, and then make your final decision a few days in advance while watching weather forecasts.

After talking to my dad, we're basically planning something like this. Picking about 3 options, and choosing the best one the week before based on weather and water levels. Thanks for the advice.