Missouri Smallmouth Slam

[Ryan Miloshewski]

3 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

I'm not sure that I understand the MDC's showcasing of resources that they put forth ZERO effort to maintain.   

Wild trout?......and now Smallmouth?   What has the MDC done there recently? 

What they should be pounding drums about is Hybrid Stripers, or Spoonbill. Or maybe Walleye...... Because those are the only fish species that they seem to actually care about. 

And stocked trout. They really care about them.

[Gavin]

I dunno, don’t really care. Let there be songs, to fill the air.

[ColdWaterFshr]

2 hours ago, Gavin said:

I dunno, don’t really care. Let there be songs, to fill the air.

Agreed.  And I kinda view any promotion of Smallmouth fishing as a GOOD thing, not necessarily a bad thing, so long as a stringer or live well or tournament isn't involved.  Get out and enjoy our hundreds of miles of rivers and creeks!  Chuck Tyron would approve this message, I think.

[tjm]

It appears to me that every time MDC promotes a fishery that access is lost. More "anglers"/users aggravate more land owners and create more keep out signs. Maybe good from a management standpoint, because all those inaccessible areas become species reservoirs. 

[jdmidwest]

Smallmouth have been naturally reproducing for years.  They have been encroached upon in many areas by non-native trout introduced by man.  They have been targeted as a "rough species" by mistake while gigging the suckers that are legal.  They have had bounties put upon them in the name of research.  Someone reintroduced an otter that preys on their forage and smallmouth themselves.

But the habitat has been degrading for years.  Streams are getting shallower and straighter.  Nobody has seemed to look at that.

We have an opportunity to protect them.  But publishing a contest that targets them will not help them.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I hit two of the areas this weekend on my way to Taney.   Here’s a couple of the better ones. 

[Johnsfolly]

2 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I hit two of the areas this weekend on my way to Taney.   Here’s a couple of the better ones. 

Nice smallies Pete! Congrats!

[jdmidwest]

13 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I hit two of the areas this weekend on my way to Taney.   Here’s a couple of the better ones. 

How did they taste?

[snagged in outlet 3]

Just now, jdmidwest said:

How did they taste?

Like Andy’s breading😉

[Ozarks Euro]

On 6/1/2022 at 1:17 PM, Lvn2Fish said:

Man you guys will find anything to whine about ! I think it’s great ! I hope with more and more people enjoying Missouris outdoors the state will hopefully devote more and more resources to these rivers! From my perspective the people trashing the rivers are the locals keeping and killing smallmouth . Last time on the 11 point a local was keeping fish for a fish fry . He said he had to feed 25 people! The church fish fry theory lmao 🤣 !!! Someone completing this slam should be the least of our worries 

This is the exact case we have witnessed as well.  You are right on track and I agree.  I really hope through education, more eyes on river, more caretakers, we can really make this a world class native fishery.