Smallie slam

[Devan S.]

@Prifish and I took off and dipped our toes into starting the smallie slam. We decided to start with the Elk river on the 4th of July weekend. We were shocked to find people everywhere. Just kidding. I lived in Anderson for a couple years and would rather pull teeth than float over there. We showed up at daylight and fished 2 spots about 20 minutes each. Both caught a couple dinkers and then skedaddled before the river turned to pee and beer.

[Quillback]

I should fish the Elk, I am not that far away.  Get there early like you did and catch a few fish before the thundering herd shows up.

[Terrierman]

I went to college in the early '70's at Joplin and Neosho.  There was no such thing as a canoe rental livery in that area.  I spent real quality time in the canoe that I owned down there on the Elk River, both Sugar Creeks, Indian Creek, Shoal Creek, the Spring River and Center Creek.  It was a good time to be alive and in SWMO.

[Devan S.]

We did beat the herd but did not beat the trash....its everywhere. 

[Prifish]

@Devan S. I wouldn't mind going back for a winter float. I have to think there are some good fish there. 

[ollie]

Get with Buzz or I and we can hook you up on the float. I went with him a couple of weeks ago and we did alright. The recent floods have taken a toll on the fish though or so it would seem. A couple of years ago we were hammering 14-15" constantly, now we get lucky to catch one that size it seems like. They are in there, but it just doesn't seem like as many. Terrierman is right about the 70's though. Hardly saw anyone down there floating because there weren't all the liveries like now. That and NWA wasn't big like it is now.

[tjm]

5 hours ago, ollie said:

 NWA wasn't big like it is now.

That is the main factor, imo.

It's not natives of the county that support those liveries.

[Devan S.]

Had some business in Springfield yesterday so took a little detour on the way home and knocked out James River too. 

The weekend mafia was already at Hootentown so I just kept going on down to HL Kerr. Ended up with 3 smallies, 1 longear, and 1 green bass.

[Devan S.]

Big day today. Knocked out all the streams along HWY 60. Started at Jacks Fork about 7am....Run and gun deal will come back later and float w/ @Prifish. Took about 30 minutes to finally find a fish....water is low...low never got wet over my knees. 

After this headed toward Tenmile creek, I had very little to go on except confirmation from Sheriff I could be where I planned to be. On my 3rd cast I hooked into a really nice smallie. I would guess 16".....he took off downstream on loose drag. I tightened the drag and he pulled off. Then the grind began. After 2 hours and giving up, I was wading back downstream and hooked a baby. Thankfully done.

Then I headed back to 11pt. quick and easy....took longer to drive down the dirt road in my car. 

 

 

[Devan S.]

Had big plans today that just fizzled. @Prifish plus me creek hoping makes things tougher for sure. Left in the middle of the night to drive to Joachim. Took about an hour which was faster than I expected. I thought this would be our hard creek. This checks off the bronze level for me.

Next up was Big river @ Washington State Park trying to keep things close. We blanked but didn't spend a lot of time. Just fished right at the boat ramp. Water was too high to wade across and we didn't feel like swimming so headed of to Mineral Fork. Showed up to a full parking lot. 

Cross stream and head downstream and within 300 yards find someone in front of us. Kept going and ran into a group of guys all fishing together.....No bites and not a lot of fish seen. Working back to the car I stumbled into one pitching a ned deep into the brush and had to pull it out over the brush. 

We just couldn't find another smallie and since we have to go back to Big River we bailed and headed to Meramec River but couldn't find anything easy there so headed back west and south.