Friday, February 26, 2021

Friday Facts 02.26.2021

02.26.2021

Vintage Fishing

The year was 1985. I had just gotten my drivers license. To a 16 year old consumed with the outdoors, that little piece of plastic was freedom. No more relying on parents, older friends and the like to get me where I wanted to go.
And where I wanted to go was the river. A lot.
The internet hadn’t reached our portion of the Ozarks yet, nor would it for another 10 or 12 years.
I was lucky that I had a father that loved to fish almost as much as I did. Lucky as well that everyone I associated with also fished or hunted.
I knew some spots, my buddies knew some more, the major problem we had to overcome was how to get there. To this point in my life, I’d relied on my dad or the aforementioned older friends (some of whom might have been less than reliable in the memory department) to take me where the fish were.
Now what?
This is a dilemma the modern angler doesn’t have to worry about.
At last count I belong to at least a dozen “fishing groups” on Facebook.
I see at least 10 posts everyday asking the question “I’m here and/or going here and need help finding fishing spots”
Or “what’s the go to lure for xyz river or creek?”
Hence the topic for this Friday Facts:
Going it Old School.
Ever wonder what separates good anglers from great anglers? I feel it is three things;
Curiosity (why does this work and not that, why are they here and not there)
Ability to find new water and fish it effectively (Research)
Willingness to go it alone, and learn by doing. (No fear of failure)

One of the most rewarding things in any Sportsman’s life is discovering that spot. The one that always produces. The one you’ll return to time and again knowing you’ll have success.

One of the most disheartening things you can endure is to see said spot “Blown Up” on social media.

I’m as guilty as the next guy of over sharing. It’s in my nature to help.
The dichotomy of this situation is palpable. You’ve got this honey hole. It’s amazing. You’ve caught so many big fish out of it, and posted pictures of them, that at some point word gets out. One morning you show up, and there are people in YOUR spot. It’s a real paradox.

It’s so easy to jump on Facebook or other social media and ask questions about spots (or presentations or patterns and so on) you’re interested in that I don’t think we actually stop and ask ourselves “How did so and so learn this spot, or technique?”
There are a ton of us out there that had to sniff these things out the old fashion way; ask a friend, look at maps, rely on the kindness of strangers or just flat out luck into a favorable situation.
Being old enough to remember what pre-internet life was like gives some of us a distinct advantage in our ability to actually research a location, and, maybe, more confidence in our ability to assess “foreign water” and the fish that swim there.

All of that leads to this:
How can I become more self-reliant? What resources are available to make my own way and find my own honey hole? Where is my damn net? Wait. That’s a different topic.

Believe it or not there are still a ton of “analog” resources available for those that want to make their own path.
Socrates said “To find yourself, think for yourself”
Here are a few tools to help you along the way.

DeLormes Atlas and Gazatteer
This gem is a county by county atlas of each and every state. All roads, blue lines(rivers and creeks for those not familiar) bridges, low water crossings are there in glorious topographic detail. I have one for MO, AR, OK, WI, WY, MT and CO. Invaluable for sniffing out “easement access “
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/575993

Google Earth
Although ABC and I have some differences in political opinions, there is no arguing that Google Earth is absolutely invaluable for an explorer. If you’ve got the computing horsepower, you can get pretty granular on access points, river bends, shoals and other likely spots. The Mobile version is fairly comprehensive as well. But there is no replacing the research you can do on your home PC with this powerful software application.
https://www.google.com/earth/

Fishing HotSpots Maps
If you’re a lake angler, and don’t have the latest gizmo to show you maps and fish underwater(Don’t ask my opinion on LiveScope...) Fishing Hotspots Maps is your new “besfren”. Detailed topo maps with depths, contours and even structural anomalies (e.g. brush piles, old road beds, creek channels etc) are a must have if you’re gonna go it alone.
https://www.fishinghotspots.com/#home

USGS Waterwatch
The USGS maintains several thousand water level gauges throughout the United States, giving viewers almost real time water level, flow and some very important historical data on rivers across our great nation. Knowing a rivers mean and median levels will help determine not only which stretch is fishable but also help you stay safe. I have text alerts set for a dozen or more creeks across the Ozarks to let me know when a specific river reaches what I feel are it’s “safe” levels to float.
https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/?m=real&r=mo

A Paddlers Guide to Missouri
The “bible” for Missouri river rats.
Access, river miles between said, and elevation stats for almost every floatable water in our region.
Mine is so worn I’m almost afraid to take it out.
Almost.
https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/discover-rivers-streams-mdc-revised-paddler-s-guide-missouri-0

200 Missouri Smallmouth Adventures
Chuck Tryons’ masterpiece detailing mile by mile smallmouth creeks all across the Missouri Ozarks.
It’s really hard to get. I have two copies; one for the Bookshelf and one I carry with me. Last I knew Missouri Smallmouth Alliance gave away a copy with a paid membership. Get this book if you’re even remotely serious about blazing your own trail.
https://www.bradwiegmann.com/books-and-dvds/54-books-and-dvds/512-200-missouri-smallmouth-adventures.html

Hire a guide
I've guided for almost 30 years now. Most of the guides I know care deeply about the fisheries they service and want to present them in the best possible light. 
They've also earned the knowledge they will eventually pass along to you, Casting, mending, fish habits. A good guide can save you an immeasurable amount of time searching the water you're interested in. Money well spent...
https://www.venku.com/ 

I’m sure there are more binary resources available. But how will you be truly “self-reliant” if I give them all away?

I’ll be the first one to tell you what I'm doing, how I am doing it and with what patterns. But I'll be a bit more gaurded on locations. Publicly. Privately, I'll still be happy to help!
I won’t do it publicly anymore.
Nature was meant to be discovered.And not by Facebook. But by intrepid explorers willing to brave failure and despair for a chance at glory.
Find your way.

Monday, February 22, 2021

Friday Facts for 02.12.2021

Friday Facts for February 12, 2021

Been lax on these, life gets in the way but I have a couple of them in the chamber, ready to fire, starting with the results from the Survey we posted a couple weeks ago. Enjoy!
This will be a long-ish post, so I'll apologize in advance (i.e. Sorry, not sorry)
A couple of weeks ago, we posted a survey link asking for your input. Ya'll delivered!!! 937 responses!!!
We've closed that survey now, and I'll try to share the data as thoroughly as possible.
First of all, a disclaimer(or two); This was not a scientific survey; The groups we choose to share this survey to were "Conservation centric". This was a calculated decision. Even though we may have hedged our bets, we still received more than a few "Smallmouth are delicious" and "Fry the Fighter" type responses. Baby steps, right?
I am still not sure what, if anything, I'll do with the data. Maybe use this first survey to refine our approach and ask more detailed questions, in more "diverse" groups? I am open to any constructive suggestions, but for now this will remain mostly anecdotal data, meant to prove a theory; The river Smallmouth is the Ozarks premier gamefish. According to the results: Hell. Yes!!
There were 7 questions in this survey; 6 multiple choice and 1 "input required".
I have added pictures of the table data from the multiple choice questions. you can make your own conclusions based on the responses, but what really surprised me was the answer to Q1: Over the last five years do you feel Missouri smallmouth bass fishing has improved or declined in numbers?
"Somewhat Improved" and "About the same" led the way. To me it reflects the push to release smallmouth and protect the resource.
Question 6 was "Where would you like to see more attention to Smallmouth regulations, or new Special Management Zones?"
This was "Participant input" question. I've put a few screenshots of the most relevant answers in the pictures, but here are some of my observation (Yes, I read all 937 of them):
Lower Creel limits were a popular theme
CnR areas were mentioned prominently
You fellars on the Meramec hate Spotted Bass; Like deep seeded, vitriolic hate. I need therapy after reading some of the responses..
Habitat loss is blamed for population declines as much or more than creel limits
Better enforcement of existing regulations(i.e. more agents on the water)
In order of precedence, here are the waterways you want to see more, or better enforcement of, regulations:
Missouri
1. (tie) Current/Meramec
2. James River
3. Jacks Fork
4. CreekX (no, I won't tell you where this is publicly:-)
5. Big River
6. Black River
7. Big River
Arkansas
1. Crooked Creek
2. Kings River
3. Spring River
4. Mulberry River
5. UIR (Upper Illinois River) This one surprised me; The UIR is an amazing fishery, and needs protection.
Well. There ya go. We sincerely appreciate the time you took to complete this survey.
Ozarks Smallmouth Alliance exists because of you. OSA has always had one mission; to Protect, Preserve and Promote the Ozarks Premier gamefish; The Smallmouth Bass.
We have another "Facts" in the hopper, and I may post it tomorrow evening. We'll see.
In the mean time, please feel free to discuss and comment on this post. Open dialogue is the only way we will accomplish our mission to
Free. The Fighter!!








Friday Facts 12.11.2020

First in a series that will run each and every Friday!
Enjoy!
Friday Fact 12-11-2020
Smallmouth Candy-The Crayfish
Chances are if you fish for Smallmouth in the Ozarks, you’re fishing some type of crayfish imitator a good deal of the time.
Why not! Studies have shown that crayfish can make up well over 50% of a smallies caloric intake! Some river studies have shown that they make up over 70% of the bronze bombers diet from March until late October.
Here are some interesting tidbits on this tasty morsel.
35 species in Missouri
26 in the Ozarks Region alone.
Nearly 60 species in Arkansas
30 species in Oklahoma
(Below reflect species in MO)
Largest-Long Pincer
Found only in the White river region in Missouri and grows to 6” or longer.
Smallest -Neosho Midget Crayfish, 3/4” up to 2” and is found only in the Elk and Spring river drainages of the Missouri Ozarks where it’s quite prevalent.
The Ozark, Spothanded and Ringed Crayfish are most prevalent prey species in Southern and Sw Mo/ NW Ar
Golden and Spothanded are most prevalent smallmouth treats in the North and eastern Missouri Ozarks
Crayfish become most active when water temps reach 50 degrees F.
Crayfish breed in the spring (when spring water temps hit 50F) and fall, young come in the spring, and a female can carry up to 500 eggs.
The fall breeding period see's the most activity (made up of all mature adults) but is often overlooked by Bass fishermen.
Adults can molt twice in year, while young can molt up to 12 times in their first year. The molting process leaves them very susceptible to predation, therefore most craws will hunker down in a crevice or in the rocks and activity levels will be low.
Many fisherman think the spring molting period (for some species) is cause for the high catch rate on craw imitations but studies have shown its likely due to the spring spawn. The spawn is also one of the only times male crayfish will actively walk on top of rocks in search of a mate, leaving them vulnerable to predation.
Interesting note; one study put on by Pure Fishing showed that crawfish baits with no pincers or legs got the most strikes. (But Marketing Studies showed we wouldn't buy such a bait!!!)
Fishing Tip; fish crawfish patterns parallel with rocky banks, changing depth until you find feeding fish.
Scouting Tip; Set crawfish traps the night before you’re going to fish a body of water and check on color, size etc before you launch the next day(please check local regs beforehand).
Favorite patterns for the fly rod
Hadas Creek Crawler
Near Nuff Craw
Scrat
Nancy P
Favorite baits for gear
Ned rig (my personal faves are Molten Craw and PB&J Finesse TRD from ZMan)
Baby BrushHog(Watermelon Red and Watermelon Orange are my preference, fished on a finesse head like the Spot Remover)
Rage craw
Skirted Jig and trailer
Wiggle wart
Any crawfish square bill crank from Live Target, YoZuri, Strike King etc.
Crayfish are an important part of a Smallmouth's diet, and understanding their habits will help you become a better Smallmouth angler!
Many thanks to Tyler Goodale and Cody Holloway for their input!
Free. The. Fighter!!








Friday Facts 12.18.2020

Friday Facts
12-18-2020
Winter Smallies
Saying winter smallmouth fisherman are obsessed is an understatement.
Passionate
Fanatic
Possessed
Rabid
Superlatives more suited to those of us that chase Bronze when the mercury drops.
Some of the biggest fish of the year can be caught when smallmouth decide to “hole up” in winter.
But where do they go in our Ozarks Rivers? And when do they go there?
We’ll explore that in this weeks “Fridays Facts”
What: Winter migration
When: Water temps dropping below 60F (50F in some Northern waters)
Where: Smallmouth need deep water to “hole up” in the winter. Deep is a relative term for Ozarks River Smalljaws. Some of the bigger rivers in the eastern part of the Ozarks find smallmouth seeking depths of 20’ or better. In the smaller rivers in the western Ozarks “deep” can mean anything over 8’.
Why: Smallmouth seek deeper, slower pools in the winter months to conserve energy as their metabolism slows to a crawl. There are smallies in northern waters (like Wisconsin and Minnesota) that actually enter a period of “hibernation“ where the need to feed is reduced to every 30 days or more!
How: Catching sluggish, almost dormant smallmouth in winter is a game of chance.
Timing is everything.
Smallmouth living in tributaries of the big hydro lakes in western Missouri (think Table Rock and Bull Shoals) can migrate 20-30 miles downstream to find the depth and conditions they desire. By contrast, smallmouth in the bigger rivers of the eastern Ozarks (Current, Meramec etc) may only move a few miles to find that winter spot. Regardless, finding winter holes is the first, and most important, step to catching them.
Look for long, straight pools with consistent depth and cover such as boulders and wood.
Weather is key as well. I prefer sunny days that will warm water temps a degree or two when the sun is at its apex. That’s all you need. Smallies will absolutely move out of deep water to chase forage that’s been motivated to feed by a slight warm up in water temp.
Presentations should be slow and deliberate. Remember, everything the Smallie feeds on has slowed down as well.
Bottom bouncing baits like a jig or finesse worm are money in the dead of winter.
Slow rolling a bladed jig or spinner bait is a great technique also. As are suspending jerk baits.
And don’t overlook a Wiggle Wort bounced off of rocks.
If you’re fishing the fly rod switch to the sink tip that matches the depth you need to achieve and fish craw or other “critter”patterns slooooowly. If you see baitfish activity it’s never a bad idea to slowly strip a clouser or similar forage pattern slowly.
A word to the wise; if you’re gonna hit the river in cold weather, plan accordingly. Sun or not, 40 degree water can kill you in a matter of minutes if you’re not ready. Here’s a good article I wrote about being “winter river ready” that covers some import safety tips. https://ozarkssmallmouthalliance.blogspot.com/.../winter...
Winter is an absolutely amazing time to be on an Ozarks river. And cold weather doesn’t have to mean the end of your smallmouth journey. Do some research and you may find that PB waiting for you.
But if you wanna stay in, warm and cozy by the fire, we few “Fanatics “ will gladly take the solace our Ozarks stream offer in the off season...
Free. The. Fighter!!!



Friday Facts 01.08.2021

Friday Facts 01.08.2021

After taking the holidays off to be with friends and family, we’re back!!
A year in the life....
As the Ozarks most sought after gamefish, and the hardest fighting fish that swims, much has been written about fishing for this Bronze Warrior.
But did you ever wonder what a year in the life of a Smallmouth Bass consists of? Where are they in say, January, and where do they go in June?
We’ll examine that and some fun facts in this weeks “Friday Facts”!
Smallmouth Bass
Micopterus Dolomieu
(Cool fact- The Genus name Micopterus is the mix of two Latin words literally meaning small-fin. The specimen on which the name was based had a mutilated dorsal fin and the author of the name consequently believed its fins were small)
Range in the Ozarks:
Predominantly in cool, clear Ozark streams and large reservoirs in the Ozarks.
Life Span: Up to 18 years. Average is well under that.
Growth Rate:
Slow. 3-5 years to legal size in the rivers of the Ozarks. An 18” fish can be as old as 12 years.
Missouri State Record: 7lbs 2oz from Stockton Lake in 1994
Arkansas State Record: 7lbs 5oz from Bull Shoals Lake in 1961
Oklahoma State Record: 8lbs 7oz from Lawtonka in 2012
World Record: 11lbs 15oz from Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee, 1955
Habits and Habitats.
Late winter(Jan-Mar)
Still hanging in winter over holes and avoiding expending energy as much as possible. Smallmouth activity is at a minimum while the water is under 50degrees. River fish still have to feed as they will burn some calories even in mild currents. Look for them in deep pools protected from late winter flood currents by large rock and wood structure.
Spring (April-June)
Once the water temp starts to rise, smallmouth begin moving out of winter spots to feed, with one goal; procreation.
Studies have shown that smallmouth will spawn in the same areas each year, and females are the first to move. When the water temp hits 60(ish) spawning behavior begins in earnest. Males build nests in shallow areas on pea gravel or other soft substrate. They do their thing and males will guard the nest through the hatch, and for a short time while the fry hover over the nest. Post spawn females won’t move far until it’s time to feed for winter.
We’ve seen smallmouth spawning well into June here, and studies show that habitat loss is the biggest factor in poor spawn years, not low fish numbers as some think.
I got some really good underwater footage of a male and female on a nest in late may on CreekX, check it out;
Summer(July-Sept)
Once the need to reproduce is over, fish move to their summer habitat, mainly deep pools below riffles and runs where food is abundant and cover is close.
A radio telemetry study done on Neosho strain smallies in Oklahoma showed that most fish didn’t move far after the spawn, staying within 2-3 miles of their native spawning sites. It also showed that adults moved to the same summer haunts year over year.
The young of the year will group up and stay tight to cover to avoid predation, feeding mostly on plankton and other micro organisms.
Fall (Oct-Dec)
My favorite time of year to chase SmallJaws, fall finds fish slowly migrating to winter haunts and trying to eat everything edible on their way.
For fish above large dams, i.e. Table Rock, Bull Shoals etc, that migration can be 20+ miles to where the tributary feeds the reservoir. For freestone fish, the trip can be as little as 2 or 3 miles. Baitfish, crawfish, large insects, rodents, small birds and the well placed lure or fly are all on the menu in the search for calories.
Once the water temps drop below 50, activity slows and fish become more lethargic.
It’s long year for our smallmouth.
Floods, fishermen, birds, otters, other fish, habitat loss and many other perils had to be avoided for survival. With our help, this Warrior will survive 10-15 of these individual journeys and become that 18 inch trophy every Smallie angler hopes to latch on to.
Free. The. Fighter!!