An Ozark Imposter

[fishinwrench]

So..... it's a tributary of Truman lake ? 🤔 

 

[WestCentralFisher]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

So..... it's a tributary of Truman lake ? 🤔 

 

It's in that part of the state. 

I feel a bit silly being secretive since I doubt there is going to be a big run on a stream with apparently nothing but drum and pan-sized catfish. But a buddy showed it to me and explicitly asked I keep it on the DL, so I should probably stop providing hints at this point. Plus I'm fairly sure said buddy visits this site periodically. 

I will, however post a couple photos (tried to yesterday but it didn't work)

 

[fishinwrench]

Well, if the lake that it is a feeder to fluctuates wildly (like Truman does) then there's your answer. 

I fish the Lake O tributaries alot, and things have certainly changed since Ameren took over.   Back when UE managed the lake level all of the feeder creeks fished differently (better) with the exception of the Niangua and Little Niangua.....which both have "dams" that help sustain a decent average gradient through the year, and prevent mass migration.   

Alot of guys wanna blame OTTERS.....but it isn't just otters..... which I very seldom see BTW 🙄  Birds of prey probably get more bass than any otters do, especially when the streams are at low levels.

The fact that you're catching channel cat tells ME that you're a good bit less than 3 miles from the lake.   Am I right?

[WestCentralFisher]

27 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Well, if the lake that it is a feeder to fluctuates wildly (like Truman does) then there's your answer. 

I fish the Lake O tributaries alot, and things have certainly changed since Ameren took over.   Back when UE managed the lake level all of the feeder creeks fished differently (better) with the exception of the Niangua and Little Niangua.....which both have "dams" that help sustain a decent average gradient through the year, and prevent mass migration.   

Alot of guys wanna blame OTTERS.....but it isn't just otters..... which I very seldom see BTW 🙄  Birds of prey probably get more bass than any otters do, especially when the streams are at low levels.

The fact that you're catching channel cat tells ME that you're a good bit less than 3 miles from the lake.   Am I right?

I think you are onto something with the first bit. 

The Little Niangua is my go to stream when I have a bit more time on my hands, but even the lower sections of it are hit and miss for presumably this reason. Not that it isn't a good place to fish, I love it, but it took me awhile to figure it out. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

18 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Have you covered a sizable portion of said creek ? 

2 streams that I know of in the northern portion of the state have truly good bass fishing....but the good stretches are the ONLY place where you're likely to catch a bass (LM & SM).  It has to do with the orientation (N-S-E-W) and the bottom composition. 

I think I know one of them but I’ve had trouble figuring out the fluctuations in the flow.  If I’m right I’ve seen some large smallies out of it.  Unfortunately they were mounts.  

[fishinwrench]

5 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I think I know one of them but I’ve had trouble figuring out the fluctuations in tge flow.  If I’m right I’ve seen some large smallies out of it.  Unfortunately they were mounts.  

Elk fork and Middle fork.  👍 

No sense in keeping it secret.... because anyone who puts in the time to figure out the right kinda stretches DESERVES to sore mouth them. 😉

[WestCentralFisher]

9 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I think I know one of them but I’ve had trouble figuring out the fluctuations in tge flow.  If I’m right I’ve seen some large smallies out of it.  Unfortunately they were mounts.  

It's not far northern Missouri, but one of the most polluted streams in Missouri, and north of the Missouri River at that, has several random pockets of legitimately solid smallmouth bass fishing. The first time I caught one I did a literal double take. 

[fishinwrench]

19 minutes ago, WestCentralFisher said:

It's not far northern Missouri, but one of the most polluted streams in Missouri, and north of the Missouri River at that, has several random pockets of legitimately solid smallmouth bass fishing. The first time I caught one I did a literal double take. 

I spent the first half of my life in the creeks north of I-70 and when I moved to the "Ozarks" I was actually disappointed in the size of the Smallmouth.   Yeah the creeks south of the Mo.river have more numbers of smallies......but the average size is considerably smaller.   The AVERAGE Smallmouth on those northern streams is 14-16".  

I never caught a 20"+ until I moved south.....but I caught a lot more 16-18 inchers up there.   My Papaw had them figured out 😊

[WestCentralFisher]

Revisited my old friend this weekend,  this time armed with a fly rod and a bunch of streamers. I discovered several different things: you will still catch freshwater drum and catfish with fly gear, just marginally fewer, a ~4 pound drum is a heck of a fight on a 5-weight, which I lost, and stream crappie fishing is very much a thing. I found one deep bluff hole absolutely loaded with 8-11 inch crappie, which was super fun. I suspect these fish ran up from the lake it flows into, but who is to say. Definitely the highlight of my day. Did hook into one largemouth bass that broke a bad knot, maybe 16-17". Overall a good day wading in a creek. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

On 6/20/2024 at 2:27 PM, WestCentralFisher said:

It's in that part of the state. 

I feel a bit silly being secretive since I doubt there is going to be a big run on a stream with apparently nothing but drum and pan-sized catfish. But a buddy showed it to me and explicitly asked I keep it on the DL, so I should probably stop providing hints at this point. Plus I'm fairly sure said buddy visits this site periodically. 

I wouldn’t give too much info on this site or any other for that matter.  Unless you want company.    I think people vastly underestimate how much internet scouting goes on.   Your post here has already received over 700 views.