Fishing small rivers....

[marty92xrd]

Is there very many people here that like to fish the smaller rivers and large creeks? Its one thing I love to do I just dont get to do enough of it. We have a few around here that arent big enough for a jet boat, but perfect for the Old Town canoe. Some of the BEST fishing I have ever seen period. It can be alot of work to get to some of them, and to navigate them, but most of these fish have never seen a lure before. You would be surprised at the size of the fish in alot of them also!! Most of the ones I am speaking of are in my own county, and until I was almost forced to go fish one with a friend I would have never thought of them having any quality fish. Its amazing what might be within a stones throw of your own house, plus you will never have to fight for your hole unless its with the person in teh canoe with ya!!

[Skeeter Jay]

With the gas prices getting to where they are now a canoe is starting to look better and better I actually went on several trips last year creek fishing, except we were incorporating it along with riding 4 wheelers, had a blast riding into different holes and wade fishing. We caught a lot of small mouth and kentuckies. And like you said, sometimes the size can be impressive, I caught a Kentucky last year that was around 16"-17", which was a blast on an ultralight spinning rod.

[BrownTrout]

When I lived in Jeff City, MO I wade fished a lot of the small streams in that area as well as in southern MO. That state is covered with them. Some really great smallmouth bass and rainbow trout action. You can either wade or canoe most of these small streams.

Around here, the only place I know of is Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River. I didn't do too well on Crooked Creek at least in the stretch around Yellville that I fished awhile back but floating the Buffalo River is a blast.

When I lived in Benton, AR years ago my son and I used to wade the Saline River in the spring. We had a great time there catching bream with light spinning gear and a tube of crickets! Occasionally, we'd catch a LM bass as well.

[cmclairday2]

The Buffalo is awesome, the upper Illinois Bayou is good too.

[Skeeter Jay]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cmclairday2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the upper Illinois Bayou is good too.</TD></TR></TABLE>

[GhostComanche]

St. Francis River for me..............awsome Kentuckies and Blacks..................especially in the summer through late fall..........................Roger

[cmclairday2]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The Green Hornet &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">St. Francis River for me..............awsome Kentuckies and Blacks..................especially in the summer through late fall..........................Roger </TD></TR></TABLE>
What part of the St. Francis do you fish?

[marty92xrd]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BrownTrout &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
When I lived in Benton, AR years ago my son and I used to wade the Saline River in the spring. We had a great time there catching bream with light spinning gear and a tube of crickets! Occasionally, we'd catch a LM bass as well.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

The Saline is one of my favorites!! The north fork and alum fork were the ones we used to float alot.

[GhostComanche]

Mark, from the Missouri line down. ..........................Roger

[cmclairday2]

I have seen some good looking stretches of that river from the highway. Wondered how the fishing was.

[GhostComanche]

in sections of it, it has some of the best fishing for both spots and largemouths that you could ask for.....................it is mainly a flipping river. Lots of guys throw spinnerbugs, but give me a jig n pig or big tube and a flippin' stick and I will be happy.......................Roger

[cmclairday2]

Im gonna have to throw a boat in up there sometime.