A Smallmouth Fishermen's Primer To Missouri

“Where did you catch that fish?”
It’s a question we get a lot here at OSA and honestly it might be the most common question in the greater fishing community behind “What did they eat?”. Luckily for us, Missouri is blessed with an almost unfathomable amount of amazing water that is teeming with aquatic diversity waiting for those who wish to catch it. Because I don’t assume you clicked this link looking for my favorite Longear spot (which is a REALLY good one by the way) we are going to keep this limited to rivers that are excellent smallmouth fisheries. Consider this your introduction to smallmouth bass rivers of Missouri.

Northeast Missouri:

Salt River, Monroe and Ralls County- We start our journey in what is arguably the most difficult region that holds them to consistently find and catch smallmouth. Not because they are rare, in fact it is entirely possible to have days that rival the best Ozarks streams in both numbers and quality of fish if you can manage to hit a good stretch on the right day, but because good public access are a rarity and no outfitters service the Salt River anywhere along its length. Salt River is split into two separate entities by Mark Twain Lake with the Forks above providing consistent and scenic wading and float fishing (albeit generally smaller fish) and the lower Salt providing bank and float fishing opportunities for larger fish with a less consistently floatable river due to fluctuations in river level from the reregulation dam. While landowners have generally been amicable to me when putting in or taking out at bridges on the lower river, common sense goes a long way in not getting every bridge posted. Don’t be a jerk. If you are a purist who requires a spring fed and clear river for a day of fly fishing, this river isn’t for you. But if you can see the beauty in a river who has been altered over and again by dams and farmers but still produces some stretches of wild river and fish, put Salt River on your list.

Where to Access: Union Covered Bridge and Cedar Bluff Accesses will get you on the Elk Fork of the Salt. Bluff View and Indian Camp access on the lower river both allow for bank fishing and have the only two public boat ramps on the lower Salt River.

Nearby Outfitters: Hahahahaha. Naw man. Just...naw.

St. Louis Region:

Courtois Creek and the Huzzah River, Crawford County-Infamous among fishermen as party rivers that are to be avoided between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Courtois Creek and the Huzzah River are wonderful fishing rivers in their own right. Flanked by towering bluffs, Courtois Creek especially is a classic Ozarks stream, full of with deep submerged boulders and logs teeming with fish.

Fish during the work week if you can, or weekends when the threat of inclement weather keeps the “aluminum hatch” at bay but do not miss the opportunity to float or fish these rivers.

Where to Access: Huzzah Conservation Area offers walk in access to Courtois Creek with nearby accesses to the Huzzah and Meramec Rivers. It also offers free camping between September and May.

Nearby Outfitters: Ozark Outdoors, Huzzah Valley and Bass' River Resort  all provide shuttle service, lodging, and general goods stores nearby.

Big River, Washington and Jefferson Counties-
Depending on who you ask, Big River is either the best kept secret in Missouri smallmouth fishing or a river that a combination of word of mouth, residual effects of mining spills, and the dreaded spotted bass has on the ropes. The truth is probably somewhere in between and the fact remains that the upper/middle Big River and its tributaries are some of the most consistent smallmouth fishing in the state. One of the first Special Management areas for Smallmouth bass, the Big River consistently produces fish in the 16 to 18 inch range with plenty more under. It may not be as good as “the good old days” but the Big River is still one of the premiere rivers in the state for bass fishing.

Where to Access: Leadwood Access, St. Francois State Park, and Washington State Park all offer access with St Francois and Washington State Parks offering Camping.

Nearby Outfitters: Washington State Park offers a canoe rental service and lodging. 

Rolla Region:

Current River, Dent County- I can say without hesitation that the Current River is unequivocally my favorite river. You will notice I didn’t end that previous statement with “in the state”, and that was intentional. For as long as I can remember in my life I have loved the Current River above all other water. From its headwaters in Montauk State Park to below Cedar Grove it is a phenomenal trout river with a mix of stocked and wild rainbow trout and brown trout of all sizes (including some true drag destroyers). As the trout thin out, smallmouth bass become the apex predator of the river and they are thick throughout it's length. While you can wade the upper portions, from Baptist Camp access down it is decidedly a floating river. While you float be sure to stop and take a look at the many bluffs, caves, and springs that make this river one of the most unique and beautiful fishing experiences in the state.

Where to Access: For trout; access at Montauk State Park, Tan Vat, or Baptist Camp accesses. For bass; Cedar Grove, Akers Ferry, Pulltite Campground, and Two Rivers.

Nearby Outfitters: Akers Ferry Canoe Rental, Jadwin Canoe Rental, and Two Rivers Canoe Rental all offer shuttle, rental service and lodging. Reeds Cabins and J. Cook Fly Rods are the local fly shops that can outfit you best to fish the Current.

Big Piney River, Pulaski and Texas Counties:

The Big Piney is the largest tributary of the Gasconade River, which is a fine smallmouth river in its own right. In 2017 the Missouri Department of Conservation expanded the Black Bass Special Management Area on the Big Piney to include everything from Slabtown Access to the rivers convergence with the Gasconade , a stretch of over 40 miles. I tell you this so you realize I am not exaggerating when I tell you that there are a lot of fish here. While wading access can be tricky, it can be done by those willing to do the research, and a float on the Big Piney’s beauty is only matched by its productiveness. In a region full of amazing fishing the Big Piney should be close to the top of your list.

Where to Access: Boiling Springs, Slabtown and Ross Access all offer access to the river.

Nearby Outfitters: Wilderness Ridge, Rich’s Last Resort, and Boiling Springs  are all well suited for any Big Piney adventure you may desire.

For these next regions I needed a little help, to be honest there are still regions of this wonderful state I haven’t been able to explore. Since I still wanted a guide that could hopefully help someone get started smallmouth fishing or hopefully find a new place to fish in Missouri no matter where they were. To that end I reached out to my good friend and Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance founder Ryan Walker to show us around his backyard.

Springfield Region:

James River-Christian and Stone Counties
Upper Pomme De Terre River-Polk County

James River; Winding 130 miles from its origin near Seymour, Missouri to Table Rock Lake, the James River is a popular destination for recreational floaters and anglers alike.

Teeming with Smallmouth Bass, the James also has a good population of Largemouth, Spots and Goggle Eye, it’s my go-to destination when I need a quick fix. Weekdays are the best bet between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but if you can get out at dawn, you can usually beat the crowds during floating season(at least for a little while).

Where to Access: Delaware Town and HootenTown Access are two of the more popular public access points. Both have nice ramps and lots of parking. No camping is allowed at either location, but you can camp at HootenTown Canoe And Campground year round.
**The river between Delaware Town and Hootentown is in an MDC Smallmouth Special Regulations area. Consult the Rules and know before you go.
*** Statewide length limit on Goggle eye has changed to a 7” minimum.

Outfitters: The aforementioned  HootenTown Canoe And Campground provides Canoe and Kayak Rental along with some shuttle services.

Ozarks Stream Guides provides a complete guide service and instruction, along with shuttle, and a limited number of Angling Kayaks for rent.

Upper Pomme De Terre River-Polk County Missouri; A tributary of the Osage River, the Pomme De Terre is divided into two sections, Upper and Lower. Upper is “above”  Pomme De Terre lake, and the Lower section eventually flows into Truman Lake. We are going to concentrate on the Upper Section.

This a do-it-yourself section of the river, with one MDC access that has a great ramp, and good parking. Another river with a healthy population of Smallmouth, this one does not get the pressure it’s larger, southern cousins get. Two really good floats on this one:

Where to Access; Sunset Park MDC Access has a good ramp and good parking. Paddle up stream if there is water and hit some of the water above the E 475 Road bridge.

Hwy 32 Bridge, east of Bolivar is an easement access with ok parking, but really good wade in possibilities. You can wade a mile or more downstream and if the waters right about the same up river. I prefer to go downstream, much more riffle/pool water.
Roberts Ford is a low water bridge with easement access and is a good wade-in spot. I tend to head downstream..

Southwest Missouri
Elk River; Starting in Pineville MO, every mile of the Elks 30 mile journey to Oklahoma is a treat for the eyes and soul. Home to a native population of Neosho Strain Smallmouth, the Elk also offers great largemouth fishing and some really good Goggle Eye opportunities on it’s upper reaches.

This is another river that gets heavy floating pressure in the summer months, so plan accordingly.

Where to Access; Pineville MDC Access

Located in the small village of Pineville Mo, this is the upper and beginning stretch of the Elk, where Big and Little Sugar Creeks join to form the river proper. Very scenic float. It’s about a 7 mile(ish) float to our next access:

Mt Shira MDC Access: Mt Shira offers easy access to the Elk, with a boat ramp and good parking. From here, the river flows into the town of Noel, and a small spillway dam forms Shadow Lake. Great fishing along this stretch, and easy access. Shira to the Town of Noel is a great half day float.

**Most of the Elk River is in an MDC Special Regulations Area, consult the rules and know before you go.

Outfitters:Little Sugar Farmhouse and Melissa Nichols Two Sons Floats and Camping Both provide lodging and shuttle services.

Big Sugar Creek: One of the founding tributaries of the Elk, Big Sugar provides some really good scenery and great fishing. Be wary in high water, it can be tricky…

Full of smallies and a decent LMB population, Big Sugar is gin clear in the summer and early fall. This one gets some pressure from recreational floaters in the summer, so plan accordingly.

Where to access: Cyclone Low Water Bridge
A great place to start. You’ll need a shuttle for this one as there is no parking along the road.  Lots of float trips start here, but you’ll need the right water conditions. Mid-Summer is usually too low for most folks…

Deep Ford MDC Access

Just shy of 6 miles downstream from Cyclone is MDC’s Deep Ford Access. Good, easy access and a great float coming from Cyclone or floating to Pineville.

Outfitters: Use Sugar Creek Kayak. Melissa can pick you up at your take out and take you back up to Cyclone to launch, or help you leave a rig at Pineville.

Well guys and gals, that’s about gonna wrap it up for our whirlwind tour of a few of your best opportunities to tangle with some smallies in Missouri.  Before we all head out, I do want to let you know that this is by no means a comprehensive list. There are close to 4000 miles spread between hundreds of creeks, streams, and rivers that are teeming with bass in this state. Hopefully the places we’ve shown you will give you a great introduction into what awaits you in so many of Missouri’s waters but soon enough you’ll want to open up a map, find a skinny blue line you’ve never been to and start your next adventure.

Until I see you again, whether that’s on this page or at Bronzefest (Hootentown Campground Sept 8-9, tickets on sale now!) be good to each other, tight lines, and Free. The. Fighter.