2007 Survey

[Phil Lilley]

John Ackerson

The Eleven Point River is one of the most scenic and diverse fishing streams in the state. Special regulations on shadow bass (goggle-eye) (8 inch minimum length limit) and smallmouth bass (15 inch minimum length limit) has protected important sizes of these fish. These regulations are for the 50 miles of river from the Thomasville Access to the Arkansas state line. Daily limits are 1 for smallmouth bass (6 total for black basses combined) and 15 for shadow bass. Gigging (Sept. 15th through Jan. 31st) of suckers is a favorite tradition but is prohibited in the 5.5 mile section of the Blue Ribbon Trout Area.

The 17 miles from Thomasville to Greer Spring offer excellent fishing for warm-water species. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and shadow bass are the most sought after species in this section. As part of the U.S. Forest Service's Scenic River program, access to this area is limited to Thomasville, Cane Bluff, and Greer so plan on bringing a canoe to help get to the better fishing spots. According to the 2007 surveys, approximately 28% of shadow bass and 6% of smallmouth bass are legal sized. Float early spring when water levels are higher, or plan on dragging over shoals in summer months. On days when bass are not biting, a good population of longear sunfish will shorten the time between bites.

Greer Spring instantly transforms the river into a coldwater fishery, and the next 5.5 miles downstream to Turner Mill Accesses is home to some large rainbow trout. This area is designated as a Blue Ribbon Trout Area. Special regulations include an 18 inch minimum length limit, one fish per day, no gigging, and flies and artificial lures only. Synthetic eggs and soft plastic lures are specifically prohibited. In 2007, we stocked this area with 5,500 rainbow trout in July and numbers were still high in our September sample (1,100/mile). This estimate is not as comparable to last year (120/mile) due to the new stocking season but still a promising direction for this fishery. This is another great section for catching smallmouth bass (9% legal sized) and shadow bass, make sure to use the approved artificial baits. Public access is limited to Highway 19 crossing at Greer and U.S. Forest Service gravel roads to Turner Mill North and Turner Mill South. If launching a boat, don’t use the Turner Mill South Access due to excessive gravel deposits.

The next 14 miles from the Turner Mill accesses downstream to Highway 160 at Riverton is managed as a put-and-take rainbow trout fishery (White Ribbon Trout Area). From March to December, 16,000 10-12 inch rainbow trout were stocked. Statewide regulations of four fish per day and no size limit apply. Access is provided at Turner Mill North, Turner Mill South, Whitten and Highway 160.

The 13.5 miles from Highway 160 downstream to the Arkansas state line offer great fishing for smallmouth bass and shadow bass. Smallmouth bass population density in 2007 was about 300 fish/mile with 7% of these being legal sized (15 inches or greater). Numbers of larger smallmouth is on the rise as we continue to see the effect of the smallmouth bass regulation. Smallmouth numbers will vary throughout the river. Look for smallmouth in cover provided by rocks, bluffs, or rootwads with plenty of water current. Shadow bass density in 2007 increased to 680 fish/mile with approximately 21% being legal sized (8 inches or greater). Shadow bass can be found in rootwads and submerged vegetation in the tail end of riffles where the current begins to slow or pools with adequate water flow. Chain pickerel are becoming popular on this section of river. Best fishing is in the spring in backwaters and around structure before the aquatic vegetation becomes too thick. On slow fishing days try live bait or spinnerbaits to enjoy a fierce fight from a hungry pickerel.

A few walleye can be found in the deepest pools. The minimum length for walleye and sauger is 18 inches and the daily limit is 4 fish. Over four hundred walleye have been tagged with angler reward tags since 2004. Sending a tag back to the address on the tag will yield a $10, $50 or $100 reward for aiding us with valuable catch information.

Wade fishing on the Eleven Point is possible; however, the deep pools can make it difficult getting from shoal to shoal. A leisurely float in a canoe or jon boat will help make fishing on this scenic river more enjoyable. The Eleven Point River is always floatable downstream from Greer Spring but expect some dragging if floating downstream of Thomasville Access in the late summer months.

Best bet in 2007: Rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, shadow bass (goggle-eye), and chain pickerel.

[MOFishwater]

what is a "shadow bass"?

[Gavin]

Shadow bass are a subspecies in the Rockbass family..There are three species in MO.

Common Rockbass or GoggleEye

Ozark Bass

Shadow Bass

Cheers

[Al Agnew]

Just a little more about shadow bass and the other rock bass species...used to be that we all thought there was just one goggle-eye species in MO, but there ARE major differences even in the appearance of the three different species. Which one you are catching depends on which river system you're fishing. Osage, Gasconade, and Meramec river systems, it's a northern rock bass. Current, Black, and St. Francis river systems, it's a shadow bass. White River drainage, it's an Ozark rock bass. However, the northern rock bass was not native to the Gasconade and Osage systems, and got there by stocking a long time ago. And some other streams have been stocked at different times with non-native species, so there are hybrids in some streams. Shadow bass hybridize readily with northern rock bass, but Ozark bass apparently do not hybridize with the other species.

If you know what to look for you can tell them apart by appearance. Northern rock bass have well-defined, continuous rows of very dark spots on their sides, pretty much a spot on each scale. Shadow bass have a camoflage pattern of big, dark blotches, and the black spots are only within the blotches. Ozark bass have more scattered black spots, with no particular rhyme or reason where each one is.

[Mark]

Hey Al,

I would like to talk to you about places to go in Colorado trout fishing this summer. Wyoming/Montana is too far for us. Mainly, we just want somewhere off the beaten path where we can camp, catch a few trout to eat and hang out. We don't care much for trophy areas and definitely don't like crowds. Can you send me an email with some thoughts.

Mark Vogt

mvogt@stegen.k12.mo.us

[Al Agnew]

Mark...

I'm probably not the best person to talk to about Colorado...some of the other guys on here probably know a lot more about it. I've only fished in a few places in CO, since I like Montana so much better. Problem with CO is that their stupid stream access laws make the public water somewhat limited and thus crowded...at least every place I've been in CO was crowded.

[joefish]

what artificial baits can you use(or not use) for smallmouth in the blue ribbon trout section. Or where can I get this info?

[Brian Sloss]

Any Missouri fishing regs book will have it. No soft plastics (worms and grubs, etc) and no synthetic baits (power bait) and no live bait. You can use things like rapalas, rooster tails, marabou jigs and of course flies.