Quest For The 4 Lb Creek Smallie 2024
Ozark_Basser reply :
My boat is out of commission for a bit, so I am starting a thread/fishing log for the remainder of the winter in search of a 4 lb smallmouth caught out of one of the creeks around NW Arkansas. I have only achieved this once and it definitely wasn't in winter so this should be pretty interesting. Feel free to chime in with a report on catching a big creek smallie or any size creek smallie form that matter.
I will be fishing tomorrow and will give a detailed log tomorrow evening of how my day went.
BigSkyBasser reply :
Looking forward to seeing the catches! Creek fishing for bass sounds like a hoot. We only have trout in smaller streams out here so I always like hearing about it. Post some pics of your stringer!
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 1/31/2015 at 10:20 AM, BigSkyBasser said:Looking forward to seeing the catches! Creek fishing for bass sounds like a hoot. We only have trout in smaller streams out here so I always like hearing about it. Post some pics of your stringer!
We have some better than average streams around here so a 4 lber is in the cards. Pics will be posted as well.
HoosierHawgs reply :
Have caught plenty of creek smallies wading in my area. I plan to get a little more serious about it this year myself. I'm looking at some cost effective waders to help keep warm/dry.
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 1/31/2015 at 10:47 AM, jakob1010 said:Have caught plenty of creek smallies wading in my area. I plan to get a little more serious about it this year myself. I'm looking at some cost effective waders to help keep warm/dry.
All I have is some Mucks (waterproof boots). I rarely ever get in the water but sometimes it helps to cross a small shoal.
Paul Roberts reply :
4lbs? 20"? Try a river! Guess what we call "creeks" are different. 
Look forward to your exploits. I sure have loved creek (and river) smallie fishing.
Ozark_Basser reply :
I guess I should call them "streams." Holes do not generally exceed 8 ft. I have pulled one out of one of the streams that was a smidge over four on a hanging scale. I have lost one that would have went close to five at the canoe on the same stream (Crooked Creek). I will be fishing the Little Buffalo National River tomorrow where I have caught my longest at 21". However, it only weighed 3 lbs.On 1/31/2015 at 1:17 PM, Paul Roberts said:4lbs? 20"? Try a river! Guess what we call "creeks" are different.
Look forward to your exploits. I sure have loved creek (and river) smallie fishing.
brgbassmaster reply :
Miss creek smallie fishing. Biggest smallie I ever caught was out of a small creek my aunt lives on in Michigan. 6.2lbs. Freaking giant. Its know for 3lbers occasional 4 but a 6 man that was awesome.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
On 1/31/2015 at 10:47 AM, jakob1010 said:Have caught plenty of creek smallies wading in my area. I plan to get a little more serious about it this year myself. I'm looking at some cost effective waders to help keep warm/dry.
Get breathable waders and layer underneath. Stocking foot and get good cleated wading shoes skip the felt bottom ones.
Ozark_Basser reply :
I went out today for a couple of hours for some bank fishing. Fishing today wasn't too bad given the conditions, but it could have been better. No giants today, but three keepers nonetheless. All three keepers were caught within ten feet of each other, with two of them from the exact same spot which was a deep, still hole with large boulders located where the river makes a 90 degree turn. I couldn't get bit anywhere where current was present. Usual hot spots such as eddies, heads of shoals, logjams, or pretty much any hole without deep water were unproductive. Both smallies were caught on a football jig with a gy twin tail trailer. The largemouth I caught was on a hand poured reaper on a shakey head.
BigSkyBasser reply :
Well at least you were out on the water and learned something! What were the weather conditions like? Seems to me that river fishing is much easier to predict when It's a sunny day with a high pressure system moving over the area.
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 2/2/2015 at 2:38 PM, BigSkyBasser said:Well at least you were out on the water and learned something! What were the weather conditions like? Seems to me that river fishing is much easier to predict when It's a sunny day with a high pressure system moving over the area.
Conditions were overcast skies with little wind. A cold front just moved in a day before. Water was crystal clear as usual. I expected at least one over the 17" mark but never got it. I need to get the canoe out. Winter fishing in the streams around here can be quite tough, but I have been told by one of the biologists for AGFC that the biggest smallmouth have been caught in the winter in our streams.
Trenton reply :
Man you really got me thinking now that I need to break the waders out and go try to rock some smallies out of the small river in town here. I've fished them on my birthday the last 2 years (4th and 5th of July my birthday is the 5th) but never now when the rivers got ice on the sides
MSWV reply :
I fish small streams a lot and have caught some nice ones but a 4lber is tough to come by. Heres an 18" fish I caught last March out of a small stream while on my way home from work...
Spinnerbait fish..
Ozark_Basser reply :
Around here anything 18" or over is considered a big one. I've only caught two over 20" out of the creeks ever. Its far more likely in Crooked Creek to catch a 4 lber than it is out of the Buffalo National River if you ask me. Although both are supposedly Blue Ribbon smallmouth streams.
BigSkyBasser reply :
On 2/2/2015 at 3:42 PM, Toad Mode said:Conditions were overcast skies with little wind. A cold front just moved in a day before. Water was crystal clear as usual. I expected at least one over the 17" mark but never got it. I need to get the canoe out. Winter fishing in the streams around here can be quite tough, but I have been told by one of the biologists for AGFC that the biggest smallmouth have been caught in the winter in our streams.
Yeah that's what I've always read is that in winter conditions you will catch less fish, but they will generally be considerably larger as they have to eat more frequently. Most pros and tournament fisherman recommend fishing incredibly slow and pitching on a single spot multiple times with a huge jig. We really can't fish winter bass here unless it's through the ice (which I have no interest in,) so I'm pretty jealous. I'd go back and see if you can find a pattern, which with smallies in mind is one of the hardest fish to get a consistent bit with unless you can find them schooling. From here it gets even trickier when you throw them in an ecosystem like a small river where there is current nearly everywhere. Really tough to assess these types of fisheries but it's inspiring to see somebody trying to tackle it! Keep posting your results!
Ozark_Basser reply :
As far as a pattern goes, I think I'm just gonna have to hop in the canoe and hop from one deep pool to the next till I find some stacked up. Got plenty of jigs since I make my own.
retiredbosn reply :
On 2/4/2015 at 10:52 AM, Toad Mode said:As far as a pattern goes, I think I'm just gonna have to hop in the canoe and hop from one deep pool to the next till I find some stacked up. Got plenty of jigs since I make my own.
Smallmouth are the easiest for me to pattern, mainly because that was the only bass available to me. Smallmouth in small rivers, creeks etc in the winter will be in the deepest water available to them. Current is not key during winter like it is during summer. One of the best tactics in winter is to position yourself above the water you want to fish. Cast ina four inch curly tail grub into the beginning of the hole. Let it sink, dead stick it, then let out line keeping it semi slack stay in contact with your grub, and work it all the way to the back of the hole. White smoke or salt and pepper seem to work best for me. Use light line and the lightest jig head or better yet use a split shot about four inches above the grub, again the lightest weight that keeps the grub on the bottom and u in contact with it. Good luck
moguy1973 reply :
Good luck on getting a 4lb stream smallie. Not many of them out there. Those are the big ones.
My biggest so far is a 3lb 18" fish out of a small local river/stream.
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 2/5/2015 at 12:14 PM, moguy1973 said:Good luck on getting a 4lb stream smallie. Not many of them out there. Those are the big ones.
My biggest so far is a 3lb 18" fish out of a small local river/stream.
If you are ever in NW Arkansas, take a float trip on Crooked Creek around the Pyatt area. I have caught five 18" in one float before. However, I rarely catch them any longer.
adam32 reply :
Streams and creeks that hold big smallmouth in the spring and summer don't always hold fish in the winter. Especially if it's close to the confluence of a bigger or deeper river.
adam32 reply :
On 2/4/2015 at 10:52 AM, Toad Mode said:As far as a pattern goes, I think I'm just gonna have to hop in the canoe and hop from one deep pool to the next till I find some stacked up. Got plenty of jigs since I make my own.
Don't always concentrate on the deepest water. Check shallower sunbaked soft bottom areas near deeper water. I always look for areas that have a place for smallmouth to escape the current no matter how high the water gets throughout the winter. Also don't be afraid to let your jig sit for 30 seconds at a time, or even longer.
Weld's Largemouth reply :
On 1/31/2015 at 1:35 PM, Toad Mode said:I guess I should call them "streams." Holes do not generally exceed 8 ft. I have pulled one out of one of the streams that was a smidge over four on a hanging scale. I have lost one that would have went close to five at the canoe on the same stream (Crooked Creek). I will be fishing the Little Buffalo National River tomorrow where I have caught my longest at 21". However, it only weighed 3 lbs.
8 ft! My ponds and some lakes don't even exceed that... you're in a river I believe
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 2/6/2015 at 5:11 AM, adam32 said:Don't always concentrate on the deepest water. Check shallower sunbaked soft bottom areas near deeper water. I always look for areas that have a place for smallmouth to escape the current no matter how high the water gets throughout the winter. Also don't be afraid to let your jig sit for 30 seconds at a time, or even longer.
Good point. I tend to target good looking shallow areas adjacent to deeper water first since those are usually the more aggressive fish, and they are easier to catch if they are there to feed. I'm not too sold on the soft bottom idea. The softest bottom I usually target is sand. Although there isn't a lot of areas with soft bottoms where I fish or sand for that matter. I suppose crayfish could use these areas to burrow and come out when the sun warms the area enough. Is that what you are getting at?
adam32 reply :
On 2/6/2015 at 6:19 AM, Toad Mode said:Good point. I tend to target good looking shallow areas adjacent to deeper water first since those are usually the more aggressive fish, and they are easier to catch if they are there to feed. I'm not too sold on the soft bottom idea. The softest bottom I usually target is sand. Although there isn't a lot of areas with soft bottoms where I fish or sand for that matter. I suppose crayfish could use these areas to burrow and come out when the sun warms the area enough. Is that what you are getting at?
I guess I should have said darker bottom areas, which in my area are usually mud/muck. They tend to be a little warmer on a sunny day and a few degrees can make a big difference when water temps are in the 30's.
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 2/6/2015 at 5:20 AM, Weld said:8 ft! My ponds and some lakes don't even exceed that... you're in a river I believe
They call one stream a river and the other a creek. The last half of the Buffalo National River really does seem like a river, but around the area where I live, it's more of a creek if that makes sense. Crooked Creek is actually the better of the two If you ask me. Everything in there is just bigger and more plentiful for some reason. Carp, catfish, minnows, suckers, along with bass are all bigger. It's strange, but I can't complain.
BigSkyBasser reply :
We drop shot for river smallies during every phase of the bite. Granted the river we fish on is of formidable size and is a prize hyper-trophic habitat for the smallmouth as they are one of the primary predators in here. This makes finding them a lot easier, but during winter we still have to fish very slow and even then the bites are really tough to come-by because the water gets so cold. Using a braid with 12lb flouro leader and rigging my hook about 14 inches above a quarter ounce weight I'll slap on either a 4.5 inch sniper bolt or a bluegill roboworm wacky rigged.
Catch 22 reply :
Long ago I became interested in a small stream in southeastern Pa when a co worker showed me a pic of a 5.2 #smallie that he caught in an area that I had driven across XXX times but never wet a line in it. He said he weighted it and the pic justified his claim.The size of the stream was such that a moderate cast would cross it anywhere.
I began wet wading it after work a few times each week.1 to 1-1/2 pounders were the norm with an ocassional fish above 2#.Virtually un fished, that water had some of the horniest smallies I had ever encountered.There was about 15 to 20 miles to chose from, so it went unmolested until the local B & T got wind of it.You can guess the rest of the story.
Even though they had no big water to retreat to,finding them in the winter was difficult, but I wasn`t the angler then as now.
Small spinner baits were best,with tubes and twisters making a decent showing.
Times were more simple then.
C 22
tbone1993 reply :
wont be too hard. Took my gf out to get her first smallie and she caught 15 fish and the biggest was 3.5lb. Smallest was around 1.5lb
BigSkyBasser reply :
We have this dream spot where a dammed river creates these giants pools below the main outtake for the dam. You can sit there and vertical jig for an entire day and catch 50-60 fish ranging from 1-5 pounds. It's such a blast but eventually you leave to find more of a challenge. On a side note it's also the coolest swimming hole I've ever come across.
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 2/7/2015 at 10:25 AM, BigSkyBasser said:We have this dream spot where a dammed river creates these giants pools below the main outtake for the dam. You can sit there and vertical jig for an entire day and catch 50-60 fish ranging from 1-5 pounds. It's such a blast but eventually you leave to find more of a challenge. On a side note it's also the coolest swimming hole I've ever come across.
There are definitely no spots like that here. There are only two or three deep holes (~10 ft) every five miles around where I live which is the upper half of the Buffalo River and Crooked Creek. They both flow parallel to one another until they flow into the White River. This is where everyone usually fishes in the winter for trout due to the constant water temperature in the low fiftees coming out of the dam from Bull Shoals. Im not much on trout fishing and I usually have a boat so I usually just hit Bull Shoals or Table Rock, but this will be okay for now I guess not to mention it's much cheaper.
Ozark_Basser reply :
Well at least they are getting bigger. Caught a lot more fish today as well. There was snow on the get ground yesterday and today it was in the low 70's. That's Arkansas for ya. Probably caught around a dozen with none being below the legal length limit which is only twelve inches, but it was still fun none the less. Lost an absolute TOAD. When I set the hook the rod just about came out of my hands. She pulled drag then came off about halfway through the fight. Sounds about right. Could have been the 4 lb smallie I was looking for, but was probably a good size largemouth or spot seeing as how I caught the spot in the picture right afterwards. All of my fish came on a black, green pumpkin, dark green pumpkin, rootbeer, and tan colored football jig I made myself with a green pumpkin beaver trailer. Conditions were bluebird skies and windy. The smallie in pic was caught out of a laydown I was pitching to in about 6 ft of water. The spot was caught on a rocky flat located on the outside of a channel swing in about 8 ft of water. The hole I was fishing was the same as last week. Just a deep hole located on a 90 degree turn in the river with distinct contour changes, boulders, and some large trees that have fell in the shallower part of the hole. Still no giants landed but at least they are getting a little bigger. Here are the biggest two landed.
The smallie pic wouldnt enlarge, but you get it.
countryboy65 reply :
this thread has inspired me to try some winter creek fishing of my own. I fish creeks for smallmouth here in se mo but I haven't tried in the winter yet. The biggest i can come up with is 17 3/4", can't break the 18" mark. I went out yesterday and found a likely looking hole, so we will see how it goes.
Drew03cmc reply :
Four pounds is a beast for the Ozarks. My biggest Ozark bass is a LMB from a creek near Joplin at just over four pounds. My biggest smallmouth was caught the same day and was 15.25" long and is in my avatar. The largemouth was a hog from a backwater slough.
BigSkyBasser reply :
I love catching river smallies. They get so strong swimming in that current. You reel set a drop shot fish and a 1 pounder feels like a kicker until you get it to the surface
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 3/9/2015 at 1:25 AM, Drew03cmc said:Four pounds is a beast for the Ozarks. My biggest Ozark bass is a LMB from a creek near Joplin at just over four pounds. My biggest smallmouth was caught the same day and was 15.25" long and is in my avatar. The largemouth was a hog from a backwater slough.
Which Ozark stream were you fishing?On 3/9/2015 at 1:25 AM, Drew03cmc said:Four pounds is a beast for the Ozarks. My biggest Ozark bass is a LMB from a creek near Joplin at just over four pounds. My biggest smallmouth was caught the same day and was 15.25" long and is in my avatar. The largemouth was a hog from a backwater slough.
Ozark_Basser reply :
Very true. Although not as chunky, even though that spot I caught was much chunkier than your average creek bass, every time I catch a 17" smallie in current it feels like a beast.On 3/13/2015 at 9:38 AM, BigSkyBasser said:I love catching river smallies. They get so strong swimming in that current. You reel set a drop shot fish and a 1 pounder feels like a kicker until you get it to the surface
Well winter's over now. No four pounders but caught some decent creek bass. I figured if I put myself on blast haha I'd put in the time to make sure I caught that twenty incher, but that wasn't the case. Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. I'm making it a mission to catch that 20" 4 lb smallie before the end of the year. Its happened before so I don't see why not.
Drew03cmc reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 12:11 PM, Jiggin said:Which Ozark stream were you fishing?
Shoal Creek. I caught a 17" spot from it last March as well as a 19" largemouth.
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 3/13/2015 at 9:08 PM, Drew03cmc said:Shoal Creek. I caught a 17" spot from it last March as well as a 19" largemouth.
Never fished Shoal Creek. Always wanted to do the Kings River up around the Missouri/Arkansas border. Heard it's as good as it gets as far as a float trip goes for catching smallmouth. I find it hard to believe it outmatches Crooked Creek around my parts.
chrisdm4 reply :
On 2/7/2015 at 7:13 AM, Catch 22 said:Long ago I became interested in a small stream in southeastern Pa when a co worker showed me a pic of a 5.2 #smallie that he caught in an area that I had driven across XXX times but never wet a line in it. He said he weighted it and the pic justified his claim.The size of the stream was such that a moderate cast would cross it anywhere.
I began wet wading it after work a few times each week.1 to 1-1/2 pounders were the norm with an ocassional fish above 2#.Virtually un fished, that water had some of the horniest smallies I had ever encountered.There was about 15 to 20 miles to chose from, so it went unmolested until the local B & T got wind of it.You can guess the rest of the story.
Even though they had no big water to retreat to,finding them in the winter was difficult, but I wasn`t the angler then as now.
Small spinner baits were best,with tubes and twisters making a decent showing.
Times were more simple then.
C 22
I think i know what stream your talking about. There are defiantly some great small mouth streams here in SE PA. Always along and the fishing can be great. Beautiful water as well!
Drew03cmc reply :
On 3/15/2015 at 11:32 AM, Jiggin said:Never fished Shoal Creek. Always wanted to do the Kings River up around the Missouri/Arkansas border. Heard it's as good as it gets as far as a float trip goes for catching smallmouth. I find it hard to believe it outmatches Crooked Creek around my parts.
I have heard good things about the Kings, but probably my favorite stream system is the Elk system. The scenery is as good as the fishing. Sadly, I haven't done much as far as size goes, but I hooked and lost a couple 17s a few years back.
Ozark_Basser reply :
On 3/18/2015 at 11:04 AM, Drew03cmc said:I have heard good things about the Kings, but probably my favorite stream system is the Elk system. The scenery is as good as the fishing. Sadly, I haven't done much as far as size goes, but I hooked and lost a couple 17s a few years back.
I have heard good things about the Elks River as well. I'm planning two trips this year, one for the Kings and one for the lower Buffalo where it meets the White River. Both will be multiple day floats where I'll have to camp on gravel bars. Lookin for that five pounder or at least another four lol. Can't wait.
Drew03cmc reply :
I'm hoping to catch an 18" River smallmouth this year. That would make my year.
If I owned my own kayak I'd drive down after work and float on a Friday soon, but can't swing a new yak...
frogflogger reply :
Almost 50yrs. ago I floated and fished the Mulberry river in Arkansas it was an excellent smallmouth stream - I've heard nothing about it since.
gall reply :
all i do is wade for the ol bronze back in criks and my profile pic is of a female that just got done spawning she weighed out to 6 something caught her on weightless zoom trick worm i had to pin her in ankle deep water she put up a hell of a fight
gall reply :
this one i caught last winter on a soft plastic craw black and blue in maybe 40 degree water if that
gall reply :
and these also all caught out of the conodoguinet crik which is primarly very shallow
Ozark_Basser reply :
Nice fish. By the looks of some of those smallies, that looks like a very fertile creek. I'd be saving up for a yak for sure.
gall reply :
there some grass patches that one came out of the first one came from a log jam near some grass the other off a bed but my tax return is coming son and thats what im buying is a kayak and ive seen some monster musky in the waters i fish just been trying to find some reading on how to fish criks and small rivers on them
gall reply :
as you can see most of the water is primarily shallow less then 8 ft but the fish lurking there are nice size and not to mention the fight youll get out of them is incredible even small ones run like a 10lb
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