Photo By Ron Sinfelt
April 04, 2014
By Doug Smith
People who grow up fishing in Missouri often follow a pattern of behavior similar to those who grow up hunting in the Midwest. If you hunt you often start learning to stalk and shoot squirrels and maybe rabbits. Then you progress to turkeys and finally deer. While you might occasionally go elsewhere to hunt elk or bear, most hunters tend to stick with deer and rarely resort back to hunting squirrels.
Anglers follow a similar path. Often they will grow up catching panfish in a small creek, farm pond or municipal lake in a park. Then they might move on to learning how to catch catfish, crappie or bass. A few will develop an affinity for trout angling or travel elsewhere to enjoy deep-sea fishing on occasion. But the mainstay will be bass.
Here's what to expect for bass fishing in Missouri.
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Favorite Baitcasting Reel: Abu Garcia Revo MGX Abu Garcia Revo MGX, 33.5%
Bass-chaser Jamie Chmielewski is convinced the Revos are the best out there. 'I have had several Abu Garcia Revo reels over the last few years, so I got one of these about a year ago and found out very quickly it was the best reel I had ever had my hands on. Easily the best casting reel for all weights of baits! '
Honorable Mention
Shimano Chronarch CI4+, 22.2%
Quantum Tour MG, 13.7%
Favorite Castable Umbrella Rig: Berkley Schooling Rig Berkley Schooling Rig, 36.9%
Honorable Mention
Bass Pro Shops Deadly 5 Flashy Times, 33.8%
Road Runner Buffet, 13.8%
Favorite Fluorocarbon Line: Berkley Trilene 100 FluoroXL Berkley Trilene 100 FluoroXL, 63.9%
Honorable Mention
Seaguar InvisX, 19.4%
Bass Pro Shops XPS Signature Series, 13.2%
Favorite Mono/Copolymer Line: Berkley Trilene XT XL Berkley Trilene XT XL, 77.4%
G. Jacobs reported that he was using Trilene line and a Shimano rod and reel with a Strike King lure when he caught this largemouth.
Honorable Mention
Bass Pro Shops XPS Signature Series, 13.2%
Seaguar Senshi, 9.4%
Favorite Sunglasses: Berkley Zephyr Berkley Zephyr, 41.3%
Honorable Mention
Costa CatCay, 28.7%
Wiley X WX Gravity, 22.7%
Favorite Soft Plastic Swimbait: YUM Money Minnow YUM Money Minnow, 32.9%
Honorable Mention
Bass Pro Shops Sassy Sally, 14.2%
Savage Gear Real Trout, 13.2%
Favorite Rain Gear: Cabela's Guidewear Bass Angler Cabela's Guidewear Bass Angler, 53.9%
Honorable Mention
Shimano Dryfender Insulated, 20.4%
Frabill F Series, 17.2%
Favorite Jig: Bass Pro Shops Enticer Pro Series Football Bass Pro Shops Enticer Pro Series Football, 45.1%
Honorable Mention
Terminator Weedless Football, 32.2%
Jackall Spade Jig TG, 12.9%
Favorite Baitcasting Rod: G Loomis GL2 G Loomis GL2, 30.6%
'Best feeling rod I've ever held, ' wrote Dave Lapotka, also known as Fishboy1. 'It's light and just a tremendous rod. '
Honorable Mention
Abu Garcia Veracity, 27.9%
Cabela's Tournament ZX, 18.4%
According to Allison, who swears by the ZX, she caught a large smallmouth right before she caught this one, but no one was around to see it or take a photo of it!
Favorite Spinning Rod: G. Loomis GL2 First Place: G. Loomis GL2, 26.7%
Reader Gary N. Watkins says he reaches for his G. Loomis rods over all others. 'I like all G. Loomis rods. The craftsmanship is the best. ' Kevin Field voted for the GL2 because of its impressive weight-to-power ratio.
Honorable Mention
Abu Garcia Veritas, 23.7%
Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite, 20.3%
Favorite Wirebait: Bass Pro Shops Lazer Eye Bass Pro Shops Lazer Eye, 37.1%
Honorable Mention
Strike King Tour Grade Night, 30.9%
Sebile ProShad, 17.2%
Favorite Fish Finder: Lowrance Elite-5 DSI Lowrance Elite-5 DSI, 42.6%
Honorable Mention
Humminbird 598ci HD SI Combo, 39.4%
Garmin Echomap70s, 12.3%
Favorite Small Outboard: Mercury 9HP ProKicker Mercury 9HP ProKicker, 59.6%
'One of the best kicker motors available, ' wrote Debbie Harbin. 'Price is right also. '
Honorable Mention
Yamaha F70A, 31.5%
Suzuki DF20A, 5.7%
Favorite Shallow Water Anchoring System: Minn Kota Talon 12 Minn Kota Talon 12, 60.2%
Honorable Mention
Power-Pole Micro Anchor, 39.8%
Favorite Small Bass Boat: Ranger Z118C Ranger Z118C, 49.2%
Honorable Mention
Alumacraft Dominator 185 LE, 29.0%
G3 Eagle Talon 17 DLX, 12.3%
Favorite Large Bass Boat: Ranger Z521C Ranger Z521C, 54.5%
Like most of the voters who commented on their choices, James Davis speaks from experience. 'As a Ranger owner, I think that this is the ultimate bass rig. '
Honorable Mention
Triton 21HP, 27.8%
BassCat_Puma, 14.5%
Favorite Hard Plastic Swimbait: Rapala BX Jointed Minnow Rapala BX Jointed Minnow, 72.1%
Honorable Mention
Bass Pro Shops XPS Z9R, 14.2%
Savage Gear Glide Swimmer, 8.0%
Favorite Crankbait: Rapala Scatter Rap Crank Rapala Scatter Rap Crank, 59.3%
Honorable Mention
Bass Pro Shops XPS Square Bill, 15.7%
Storm Arashi Series, 10.4%
Favorite Craw/Creature Bait: Savage Gear 3D Savage Gear 3D, 30.1%
Honorable Mention
Havoc Papa Pit Boss, 19.8%
ZMan Turbo CrawZ, 19.5%
Favorite Spinning Reel: Shimano Stradic CI4+ First Place: Shimano Stradic CI4+, 27.6%
'Smooth, strong and never has a problem. Great drag, ' said Logan W. Seth Mahler also voted for the Stradic. 'Smooth retrieve good cast. '
Honorable Mention:
Quantum Energy, 22.2%
Pflueger Patriarch, 14.6%
Favorite Braided Line: SpiderWire Glow-Vis SpiderWire Glow-Vis, 50.5%
Honorable Mention
PowerPro Zero Impact, 24.9%
Sufix 832 Advance Lead Core, 18.1%
Favorite Hook: Bass Pro Shops XPS Magna Superlock Bass Pro Shops XPS Magna Superlock, 49.0%
Kyle Cortiana was one of many who likes the price and quality. 'I use these hooks on all of my Texas Rigged baits and you can get a pack of 25 for $8!! They are sharp, strong, and you won't cry if you have it off to keep from getting on top of the fish. '
Honorable Mention
Mustad Grip-Pin Swim, 25.7%
VMC Drop Dead Weighted Hook, 13.9%
Favorite Topwater: Bass Pro Shops XPS Slim Dog Bass Pro Shops XPS Slim Dog, 30.1%
Honorable Mention
Booyah Poppin' Pad Crasher, 20.6%
Evolve Nervous Walker Ghost, 15.7%
Favorite Large Outboard: Yamaha V MAX SHO 150 Yamaha V MAX SHO 150, 39.0%
'Quiet, great hole shot, and fuel efficient, ' according to Louie M.
Honorable Mention
Evinrude 150 HO, 35.8%
Honda BF250, 23.5%
Favorite Artificial Worm: YUM Mighty Worm YUM Mighty Worm, 35.5%
Honorable Mention
Havoc Federale, 13.3%
ZMan FattyZ, 7.9%
Favorite Soft Jerkbait: Zoom Super Fluke Zoom Super Fluke, 67.2%
Honorable Mention
Bass Pro Shops Shadee Shad, 24.1%
Havoc The Jerk, 8.8%
Fortunately for most Missouri anglers, the Show Me State boasts a bass population more healthy and widespread than at any time in the past. You can find largemouth bass within our state from Kansas to Illinois, Iowa to Arkansas and almost everywhere in between. Smallmouth bass fill creeks and streams throughout the southern half of our state. Trophies of both species can be found in nearly equal numbers in moving waterways and in impoundments.
We all have our favorite fishing spots. More specifically, we have our preference of moving water or impoundments. I know anglers who fish only lakes for bass, while others, like Brian Jones who lives in southeast Missouri, target a group of streams almost exclusively. Jones has spent so much time fishing south-central and southeastern streams, in fact, that he's become a consistent top finisher in smallmouth tournaments in that region of the state.
One of the best smallmouth rivers in the state for catching real lunkers is the upper Meramec, southwest of St. Louis. You can consistently find fish up to 20 inches or better. The upper stretch is home to one of the state's Stream Black Bass Special Management Areas, which stretches from a crossing called Scott's Ford to an area known as Bird's Nest. The daily limit in the management area is one fish in excess of 15 inches. Additional smallmouths can be taken outside the special area, and largemouths are plentiful as well.
Anyone unfamiliar with where the upper Meramec is located might note that the special smallmouth management area is just downstream from Meramec Spring Trout Park, one of the state's four well-known trout parks.
Head farther south and west and you'll find two smallmouth hotspots — Bryant Creek and the North Fork of the White River. Both eventually dump into the Norfork Lake south of Interstate 60. The North Fork in a small meandering stream suitable for wade- or float-fishing. It winds through a stretch designated as a trophy trout area, the same spring-fed water that grows large and hearty smallmouths .
The North Fork is also known for holding one of the state's trout management stretches of water. I've fished sections of the stream for both trout and smallmouths over the years, often staying at Myron McKee's River of Life Farm. Norfork Lake also holds a population of white bass, but it's the largemouth and spotted bass that should be targeted come late spring and summer.
For yet another year, the experts at the Missouri Department of Conservation have said the numbers of both spotted and largemouth bass are on the rise in the lake. What works best for bass in the spring-fed river and lake? That would be live baits, worms and other plastics including jigs.
Norfork Lake is unique in that it sits partly in Missouri and partly in Arkansas. Missouri anglers age 16 or older can buy a White River Border Lakes Permit for $10, allowing them to fish the Arkansas portion of the lake without having to buy an Arkansas non-resident fishing permit.
Head west and you'll pass through Branson and Springfield, the Vatican cities of Ozarks music and Bass Pro Shops respectively. Soon you'll arrive at Table Rock Lake, another haven for big bass.
A combination of angler reports and MDC samplings have shown a larger-than-normal number of largemouths produced in 2008. Those fish should have reached 15 inches or better on average in 2013. Largemouths make up the largest group of Table Rock black bass.
If you prefer smallmouths and intend to fish Table Rock, look at the area between the Route 86 bridge and Campbell Point.
When fishing a lake you have to trust your skills and instincts. Don't panic if you can't get on fish the first couple of tries. Move to the next good-looking spot and try the same baits that have proved to work in similar water before. "Run and gun" until you find where the bass are holding at the time. In the summer start looking at deep water adjacent to main points, bluffs and underwater mounds. Try jigs but don't overlook drop-shot rigs. Try what you've used with success in similar water in the past. In mornings and evenings on overcast or cloudy days, try casting spinnerbaits along shallow edges.
Returning to the center of the state, albeit slightly south-central, we pass the city of Rolla and head due east on I-44. Exit onto the north outer road and find Route RA and drive until you reach the Little Prarie Conservation Area. It's there in the CA that you'll find Towell Lake.
You can catch one of the thousands of bass in the lake by using plugs or plastics. Your best bet is something resembling the look and action of the plentiful shad, which serve as the main food source for the plentiful, if not huge, largemouth population.
Just like at little Towell Lake, a sizable shad population keeps the bass population in Truman Reservoir growing and expanding. While the lake has always had plenty of shad, high water in 2009 and 2011 caused an explosion of the gizzard shad numbers, which resulted in a gluttonous feeding frenzy by the bass population.
Local fishermen say to look for largemouths in the warm water in coves in the spring. Throw jigs and spinnerbaits, and then when the spring rains come, change your focus to the flooded cover. Once May and June arrive, switch to casting buzzbaits or throwing other topwater lures . In the middle of the day and late in summer when the sun is higher in the sky, switch to pitching a jig or large worm rigged in your favorite style.
Just up the road sits another great lake with a growing population of bass. Abundant shad continue to keep Stockton Lake — sitting in Cedar, Polk and Dade counties — an ideal place for big bass. The Missouri Department of Conservation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have worked to improve fish habitat in the 24,900 acres of water. Some of the fish attractors are marked with signs on the nearby shore. The structures are directly out from the shore markers in about 20 feet of water, or you can find an online guide to the attractors at http://mdc.mo.gov/node/9334.
Stockton holds some smallmouth and spotted bass, but not nearly as many as the largemouth population. Starting in 2008 there were two good years for bass production. In 2011 many of those fish were nearing 15 inches. While 2012 and 2013 saw some thinning of that 2008 and 2009 class, the larger fish remain.
Keep heading northwest and in a couple of hours you'll reach Kansas City. Outside of town you can find 7,190-acre Smithville Lake, complete with rocky points and outcroppings, submerged standing timber, and brushpiles.
About two years ago the lake began benefitting from a donation courtesy of the Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership. Those dollars have been put to good use increasing the amount of fish cover anglers can target. Along with brushpiles there have also been a number of rockpiles added and mapped. How to fish that new cover is not secret, just tie on a crankbait, spinnerbait or plastic.
With the exception of the North Fork of the White River, this story has focused so far on impoundments. So now it's time to start talking moving water.
The northern edge of the Ozarks and the quarter known as southeast Missouri hold what could arguably be considered the best smallmouth water the Midwest has to offer. Streams like Current River, Black River and Jacks Fork are pristine, spring-fed flowing marvels of sparkling-clear water flowing through some of the most beautiful country east of the Rockies and west of Appalachia. But there's a trio of streams, which hold even more bass — smallmouth monsters suitable for the wall or record books. Let's talk about the Gasconade, Huzzah Creek and Big River.
All three of these streams are a little less "clean and clear" than those other showplace float streams. But what they lack in clarity they make up for in smallmouth numbers. And all are ideal for accessing by canoe or riverboat.
The Huzzah sits southwest of St. Louis and just south of the small city of Cuba on Interstate 44 and the hamlet of Steelville. Here you don't worry about depthfinders or manmade fish habitat. Instead, you'll want to cast crawdads, nightcrawlers or similar-looking lures or plastics to or past root wads and downed trees. I've fished these streams for most of my 40 years, and I can "read" a root wad and almost always tell you where the fish will be lying in the tangle of roots and driftwood.
Cast into every shallow riffle you come to. Float on through and then make your way to the bank and stop the canoe or boat. Ease up on the riffle and cast upstream, letting the current carry your band down through the gravely chute and into the adjacent deeper water. Some huge bronzebacks have been pulled from what appeared to be riffles that were shallow and void of any life.
The Huzzah is made up of deep holes pocked with downed timber and root wads connected by shallow, gravely riffles. Access the river at any of several points off State Route 8, which runs from Steelville south to the community of Potosi in Washington County. If you don't want to bring your own canoe or john boat, and you want to cover more water than you can by wadeing, there are several canoe jobbers that operate on the river and nearby streams. They can rent you a craft and ferry you and your gear to a put-in or take-out point.
Flowing through the neighboring counties is Big River. Starting out about the size of the Huzzah, the Big River grows as it flows northeast until it eventually dumps into the Meramec River and ultimately the Mississippi. Upper stretches in Iron, St. Francois and Washington counties are great for wading or floating for smallmouths and largemouths. The river is crisscrossed by county and state roads, large culverts and bridges. Finding access to the water with good fishing nearby is never a problem.
As you head on downstream, or north as the case may be, you pass through Washington, Jefferson and St. Louis counties where the river widens and deepens to the point that wade-fishing is not really an option. But there are several accesses for launching a boat. I live in this area of the state and have spent many a day wading the upper stretches of Big River and Black River.
As for spotted bass in Big River, look at stretches upstream from Washington County where fish are plentiful. You're encouraged by state conservation authorities to keep all the spotted bass you can catch up to a daily limit of 12.
And now one of the best for last! The Gasconade River also holds a smallmouth special management area in Phelps and Pulaski counties. You can easily find smallmouths up to 18 inches there. And while smallmouth angling is exceptional, largemouths outnumber smallmouths in the more open, slow-moving stretches. Ply the wider pools for big largemouths and concentrate on riffles and around obstructions in fast water for catching the smallmouths.
Conservation officials and fisheries biologists have worked diligently in the past couple of decades to enhance the state's population of bass, especially smallmouths. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been invested in research of stream quality throughout the Ozarks and dollars literally "sunk" in impoundments in the form of brushpiles, rockpiles and manmade fish attractors. The state conservation department has spent untold thousands on developing an interactive Web site and mobile device apps specifically for helping anglers connect with fish.
You owe it to yourself to visit the lakes and rivers mentioned here, as well as others around our state, and reconnect with the lunkers hanging out in root wads, riffles and the shadows of rocky ledges and points. Just like a hunter eventually desires to reconnect with his past and return to the areas known as consistent producers, Missouri anglers should explore the rivers and impoundments I've mentioned. Why wait another month to hit the water?
Don't forget to share your best bass photos with us on Camera Corner for your chance to win free gear!