Interesting fish pics...

[Al Agnew]

JD, I've worked with Mike as well, and we've discussed the whole problem with Big River quite a bit.

I don't think the malnourished look is because of heat stress, as the river, even as low as it is, was surprisingly cool, around 80 degrees at the warmest. Smallies don't get seriously stressed until the temps get up into the mid 80s. However, the spotted bass are ALWAYS a lot fatter than the smallmouths in this stretch, so like I said before, I think they must be outcompeting the smallies for the available food.

Yep, the one was colored something like a redear, but with the large mouth and fin coloration of a green sunfish.

Bill, nope, insect hatches are exceedingly rare on this stretch of Big River. Crayfish are present, but in nothing like the numbers they are on most Ozark streams. I believe that minnows, especially stonerollers, make up the bulk of the forage for adult bass on this stretch. Stonerollers, unlike some minnow species, don't depend upon invertebrates for their food but utilize the algae, and they are fairly abundant. However, they aren't easy for a bass to catch. Of other species of fish, hogsuckers are very common in this stretch, and there are a lot of quillback carpsuckers, but redhorse suckers are less abundant than on most streams. There are very few topminnows (northern studfish), which are very common on most streams. Not many carp or gar, not many catfish other than bullheads. Goggle-eye are present but not abundant. The bass don't have much competition for the available food, and I suppose they eat a lot of young hogsuckers as well as minnows. Fishing pressure isn't light, but is probably less than it is on sections of the river that are better looking.

[flyfshn]

Al, do you typically fly or spin?

[Fishhand]

Great stuff, Al...we've been fishing the James River fairly often this summer and have noticed some smallies with extreme "tiger" stripes and black fins. Do you know what causes some fish to color up different than others? I'd post some pics but can't figure it out. thanks, jim

[Fishhand]

Here's an example of some of the smallies we've caught this year...black markings on the tips of all the fins and very pronounced markings on the body. Is it the bottom structure where they are hanging out? or diet? thanks for any info, jim

[brownieman]

Jim,

jmo but water quality, clarity, temps, lighting conditions, diet, genetic backgrounds...imo many variables come into play concerning the coloration of most species...the mentioned are probably just a few.

bm

[Al Agnew]

Jim, I think Brownieman is right...also, look at the background of your photo. Notice that the smallie is about the same color as the river bottom? Smallies can change color VERY quickly to match their surroundings. Over a mottled gravel river bottom, they could very easily be colored with stronger markings to match that bottom. The dark edges to dorsal fin and tail are pretty common. A lot of times, you see smallies in the water that match the bottom so closely that you can ONLY see the dark edges to the fins until you look closely.

The dark markings are also a sign of stress. Catch a smallie and (horrors!) put it on a stringer, and it will soon get those strong dark stripes. Also, spawning smallies have the dark stripes. So bottom line, it might be their surroundings, or it might be any of the factors brownieman mentioned.

[Fishhand]

A truckload of information. I've never fished Big River, but I hope it's problems are corrected. Al, personally speaking, it appears to me your fishing journals and chronology are invaluable resource tools. I've started a journal this year primarily due to some of your posts...along with encouragement by some friends who keep journals. Thanks for all the information and photos you provide to us fishermen. jim

[Phil Lilley]

ditto! ditto! ditto!

[Terry Beeson]

Hey Jim... Are you related to any of the Stouffers around Ft Smith, AR?

Al... very good information and interesting. I was in agreement on the surface that the fish in question was a warmouth... and this does beg the question if I have in the past caught "warmouth" that were not actually of that species. Not that it makes any difference really since they still fight very nicely...

I use to fish a lot of small creeks and streams in Arkansas and it was sometimes a bit "amazing" some of the fish I would pull out of them. Differences in one stream to another seems to verify there are aspects of "adaptation" that are quite true.

[Fishhand]

Hi Terry, I don't think there's any relation around Ft. Smith. We're kind of the runts of the Stouffer litter...not related to the frozen foodies, the hoteliers, or candy makers...we moved to Ridgedale in '79. Most of my kin lives in Iowa.