THE REAL TREASURES OF TURKEY HUNTING IN THE OZARKS

The Real Treasures of Turkey Hunting the Ozarks Bill Cooper for May 17, 2017 Early prospectors traveling through the Midwest discovered gold near the present location of Fredericktown, in the southeastern quarter of Missouri. In 1717 European Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac discovered lead and consequently named the La Motte mine and community after himself. He later became the Governor-General of Louisiana. La Mothe spent considerable time mining for gold as well, before attracting the attention of the French, who were intent on finding sliver. He found several veins of gold in Trace Valley along the banks of Captain Creek. Despite his eloquent writings to attract miners to the region, a Missouri gold rush never happened. Lead became the mineral of Missouri miners and is still mined in the region today. History lessons aside, the greatest treasures found in the Ozarks currently, are its abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, including the best turkey hunting in the United States. Missourians endured a penchant for mining and in the process acquired a taste for conservation and outdoor recreation. Consequently, they voted in 1936 to establish a politically free department of conservation, which is now regarded as the model of conservation in the U.S. and around the world. The return of the wild turkey to Missouri is one of the greatest conservation stories ever told. From a remnant population of birds deep in the Ozarks, professional biologists brought the wild turkey from the brink of extinction to a population of 600,000. Hunters now harvest 45-50,000 birds each spring and can reasonably expect to do so into the foreseeable future. “Turkey hunting has become a spring tradition in the Ozarks,” said Joe Hollingshad, owner of Devil’s Backbone Outfitters in McDonald County. “I killed my first wild turkey when I was eleven 11 years old and I’ve been in love with them ever since.” Ray Eye, of Dittmer, Missouri has made a life-long profession of hunting, filming and presenting seminars about wild turkeys. His lively, entertaining seminars have been a key drawing card for hunters at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual convention in Nashville for well over two decades. “I can’t imagine my life without wild turkeys,” said Eye. “I have logged thousands of hours filming turkeys every month of the year, written books about them, aired radio and tv shows about turkey hunts and have hunted them in almost all of the 49 states that holds seasons.” The average Missouri hunter has access to what many call the best turkey hunting in the nation. All 114 counties are open during the spring season. “Hunters have a reasonable chance to bag a gobbler, particularly if they pay attention to the success rates in the various counties,” said Jason Isabelle, the wild turkey program leader in Missouri. Southern and Southwest Missouri, the heart of the Ozarks, has seen growing turkey populations in recent years. And, there is no shortage of places to hunt. The U.S. Forest Service owns 1.5 millions acres in the Ozarks, while the Missouri Department of Conservation owns close to another million acres and manages another half million, scattered across the state. The National Park Service administers 80,000 acres along the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, while the nearby LAD Foundation owns another 160,000 acres on the headwaters of the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers, most of which are open to hunting. Additionally, the Corps of Engineers owns tens of thousands of acres surrounding Corps lake project in the Ozarks. In total, Missourians have access to over 3 million public acres, most of which is in the Ozarks. Turkey hunting camps have become a part of the turkey hunting scene each spring in the Missouri Ozarks. Ray Eye has held annual media turkey hunting camps for decades. Others pop up annually. Brandon Butler, the executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, began his own turkey hunting camp during the 2017 spring season. “I was fortunate enough to acquire a piece of land on Sinking Creek in Shannon County,” he said. “It is a beautiful piece of ground and is surrounded by thousands of acres of public lands.” I enjoyed sitting around the evening campfire with Brandon and the other hunters. Four a.m. came early as usual. Strong coffee stoked our fires. Good luck omens passed through our hunting party as we headed to our chosen turkey hunting havens. My cameraman, Greg Long, and I called two Ozark Mountain gobblers to within 35 yards. Greg took one of them with a single shot. We were on the scoreboard. Our camp buddies told tales of close encounters with the ghosts of the forest. I had already enjoyed youth turkey season with my 12-year-old granddaughter, Jaydin and the first weekend of the regular season with my wife, Dian. We made memories that will be told in our family circles for decades to come. Ray Eye held his 2017 media turkey hunting camp on the North Fork of the White River at Joe Hollingshad’s Devil’s Backbone Outfitters. We hunted 1,700 acres of rough, rugged, well-managed turkey hunting country. Record rains and floods raged, but we caught a break in the weather and took three toms on a sunshiny day. Two of them sported triple beards. Eye acquires new products hitting the market for media members to test while turkey hunting. Mossberg supplied a selection of new shotguns, which performed flawlessly. Winchester provided their new Long Beard XR turkey loads. Their Shot-Lok

pellet packing and guarantee of twice the pellets in a 10-inch circle at 60 yards proved to be dead on. The triple bearded gobbler I shot at 40 yards never knew what hit him. No doubt, the lead for those shells came from Missouri mines. The people, the places, the experiences we all enjoyed throughout the Missouri 2017 spring turkey season became the real treasures of hunting wild turkeys in the Ozarks. Hunting wild turkeys in the Ozarks is pure gold.

Catch Crappie Now at Lake of the Ozarks

Catch Crappie Now at Lake of the Ozarks Outdoor Revelations Bill Cooper for RDN 2/9/17

Crappie are the mot popular panfish in most parts of the country. Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks is chock full of the tasty fish and anglers can catch them any month of the year. “Sure you can catch crappie here at LOZ now,” guide Jack Uxa said over the phone. “You could have caught them all winter long, too, had you been here.” Lake of the Ozarks is a crappie producing machine and has been for decades. Two factors are key to crappie abundance there. A bountiful food supply in the form of slow growing shad is a major cause of the heavy crappie numbers, according to Uxa. Too, the abundance of cover in the lake gives crappie superb places to hide, feed and rest. “Lake of the Ozarks is home to thousands of boat docks,” says Uxa. “And many of those boat docks have brush placed around them put there by the dock owners.” Many dock owners are also crappie fishermen. Having a crappie bed right out the back door is a dream come true for many homeowners on the lake. It’s easy fishing. Build a dock, toss in some cedars or discarded Christmas trees and the crappie will come. “The sweet thing about those docks,” say Dale Goff of Rolla, “is that anyone can fish them. I’ve fished dozens of them over the years and caught thousands of crappie at Lake of the Ozarks.” Dock owners expect anglers to fish around their docks. However, anglers should respect the docks as private property. Stay off the docks and good landowner-fisherman relationships stay in tact. Both Goff and Uxa agree that winter time is a great time to crappie fish. “If it is above 35 degrees, I will be on the lake most weekends,” Goff said. “I love it. You will see a few die hards, but not many people like to fish in cold weather. You can have some good spots pretty much to yourself. To, you don’t have to fight the boat traffic that is so prevalent in the summer time.” Uxa spends in the neighborhood of 290 days a year on the water guiding fishing clients. “Summer time is just crazy,” he said. “I seldom get a day off. People who vacation here, or have a condo like to fish in warmer weather for the most part.” I met Uxa at the lake a couple of weeks ago to spend the day with him, both bass and crappie fishing. Temperatures were supposed to climb into the fifties by afternoon. It was late afternoon before that happened. Once on the water, Jack nailed a small bass on a jerkbait in a matter of minutes. Then matters got tough. I heard the old adage, ”you shoulda been here yesterday.” A stable wether pattern had hovered over the lake for several days, along with heavy cloud cover. “The fishing has been great for days,” Uxa said. “Now today, th cloud cover is gone and the wind is out of the east.” “Wind out of the east, fish bite the least,” I chided. “I don’t really buy into that theory,” Jack explained. “It is true to some degree, but we will put a pattern together as the day goes by.” Bass fishing was slow. Uxa watched his electronics for baitfish near docks. “Here we go,” he said an hour into the trip. “There’s a ball of bait fish a few feet out from this dock.” Uxa positioned his Nitro boat facing the corner of a dock. He grasped his chartreuse, plastic crappie jig, pulled a heavy arch into his rod and slingshotted the jig several feet back up under a dock. He allowed the jig to sink perhaps six or eight feet and lifted his rod tip slightly. Bingo. He swung the first crappie of the day into the boat. Crappie filets are heavenly and I wasn’t bashful about asking Ux to put some in the live well as I kept filming. Uxa methodically worked his way around the dock, flipping his Bobby Garland Baby Shad jig into openings between the dock floats. Crappie after crappie fell to his technique. “These guys are running smaller than yesterday,” Jack said. “I caught some dandy crappie yesterday. The stronger light of today may have run the bigger fish to a little deeper water.” I wasn’t complaining. He steadily added crappie to the livewell. I made plans for a crappie dinner as I filmed the fishing action. The bite slowed and Uxa moved on down the bank, with his bass rod in his hands again. The bass bite remained slow, but he picked up the occasional largemouth. Soon Uxa found another ball of shad near a dock. He traded the bass rod for the crappie rod and went to work on crappie once again. “Wow, look at this on the locator,” he said. “Those white spots are crappie.” The white spots created a blur on the LED screen. It was a big ball of crappie hanging at the edge of the dock. Jack was already swinging crappie into the boat. “Pick up a rod, Bill,” he said. “This is going to last a while.” Having a good deal of film footage laid down, I grabbed a rod and began flipping a jig towards the dock. It took me a few minutes to get the right depth, but soon I, too, slung one crappie after another into the boat. “I can’t wait to get these babies into hot grease,” I laughed. “Well, anybody can do this, Bill,” Jack said. You can Google Uxa under Jack’s Guide Service, or give him a call at 573-434-2570. Don’t tarry too long. His phone rang steadily while we fished.

30 Trout Day on Meramec River

A Trio of Trout Fishing Factors for the Meramec Bill Cooper for MWO April 2017

The Meramec River flows practically out my back door. I can be there in a matter of minutes. Coupled with the fabulous weather lately and the fact that the Missouri Department of Conservation has been making monthly stockings of brown trout, my close proximity to the river has prompted frequent fishing trips. A cloudy, blustery, misty day may not be the ticket for fair weather fishermen, but brown trout anglers recognize such days as perfect for pursuing this first dpecies of trout described in the 1758 edition of Systema Naturae by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaues. Brown trout have been introduced to many regions of the world and were first introduced into the United States in 1883 when Fred Mather, a New York pisciculturist and angler acquired brown trout eggs from a Baron Lucius von Behr, president of the German Fishing Society. Subsequent introductions came from Scotland and England. Specimens form all three locations were intermingled to create the American generic brown trout and a single species of the North European brown trout. History lessons aside, my intent for my most recent trout fishing excursion included getting to the river for a day to avoid the telephone and my computer. My choice of days paid off handsomely and quickly. I arrived at Maramec Spring Park around 10 a.m. My vehicle looked splendid as it sat alone on the parking lot. Perhaps I would enjoy the river alone on this dreary day. I scurried down the Maramec Spring branch towards the Meramec River. I carried my rod broken down because winter fishing had ended in the park. I made quick time with my waders and wading shoes bundled up and slung over my shoulder with a strap. My method also kept me from overheating and getting sweaty as I quick stepped it in my tennis shoes. Fifteen minutes later I slipped on my waders after putting several hundred yards between myself and the park boundaries. I tied a 4 1/2-inch trout colored stick bait onto my line. Brown trout are voracious meat eaters and feed heavily under dark conditions. I felt I had picked the perfect day. My speculations proved dead on. On my second cast into a deep, swift pool, my spinning rod thumped in my hand. I set the hook and the first battle of the day with a brown trout ensued. The combined power of the current and strength of the lunging fish made it feel much larger than it was. Regardless, a pleasurable smile covered my face as I brought the wriggling fish to hand. Minutes later a surprising revelation came my way. I hooked a brown in less than 18-inches of water. I had discovered, by accident, that fish were actively feeding in shallow riffles due to the dim light. I knew immediately that I was in for special day of fishing on the Meramec River. I began scanning the shallow riffles below deeper pools and soon began picking out the dark shapes of feeding brown trout. Stealth became the order of the day, as I quietly and slowly approached actively feeding fish. As soon as the fishing slowed in one riffle, I moved on to the next and repeated the process. It worked like a charm. The incredible fishing sure beat answering the phone and pounding the keys of my computer. Too, I felt a bit smug for having picked the perfect day to catch fish and avoid people. I continued to catch brown after brown, until the temptation to cast into a deep, swift pool, which was choked with logs, overtook me. I snagged my prized stick bait. I yanked and pulled, thrashing the water with my line. As my lure broke free, the water erupted. A big rainbow trout, of three pounds plus crashed my lure. It tail walked across the surface and gained its freedom. I stood spellbound at what had just happened. Such moments engrain themselves into the minds of fishermen. Heavy wingbeats behind me caught my attention. A dozen or so wild turkeys soared across the river, creating another magical moment on the river. Another log jam with swift water appeared up ahead. Perhas I could hook another big fish there. Wrong. My first cast into the fray cost me my highly successful rainbow colored stick bait. Disheartened with the lure loss, I figured my good fishing for the day had ended. Ten feet downstream, I found a 3-inch gold and black Rapala partially buried in the sand. I’ve caught many trout on them over the years. I tied the Rapala to my line and a dozen casts later had my first Rapala brown of the day. I continued downstream, having traveled much farther than I intended But, the fishing proved phenomenal and I wasn’t about to quit. I found another long riffle. To my surprise, it held both bowns and rainbows. Two or three fish chased my Rapala with each cast. Fifteen minutes later the action slowed. I had caught a half dozen fish. I moved on down stream. A long pool, dropped into a shallow run. Just for a change, I tied on a rainbow colored Rooster Tail and caught a rainbow trout on my first cast. Several more bows fell to the flashy Rooster Tail. Weary but happy I began the three mile hike back to the truck. I revisited several spots on the way back and picked up another half dozen brown trout. Near the park boundary, I encountered two older gentlemen, older than me that is. We exchanged greetings and asked the usual how did you do questions. I nodded, “I did OK.” If they only had known about the powerful combination of living close to the river, fishing a gloomy day and knowing that lots of brown trout finned the shallows far downstream, they would have been OK, too.

4J Archery 3D Competition 2016 Shoot Out

4J Archery Grand Finale 3D Shoot Off a Success Bill Cooper 9-6-16 4J Archery, north of St. James, is owned and operated by Bryan and Janet Jenkins. In just four years they have brought 4J Archery to the forefront of archery shops and ranges in the Midwest. Over Labor Day weekend they hosted the grande finale 3D competition to wrap 2016 activities. “Archery is a passion for us,” Janet said. “Bryan, my husband, introduced me to archery and I’ve been hooked ever since.” “I’ve bow hunted for well over 20 years, Bryan stated. “I love bowhunting so much, opening a bow shop seemed like a natural step. And there was a need for a quality 3D range in this area, so we took the steps to make it happen.” Quality begets success and the Jenkins have clearly demonstrated they are all about quality, service and hard work. The Labor day weekend shoot provided a perfect example. A phenomenal 133 archers showed up to participate in the Labor Day Weekend 3D Shoot Out. They came from all over central and southern Missouri. Youngsters, men, women and families enjoyed the 3-D course, which meandered its way through an oak-hickory forest, intermittent stream and open fields. A variety of 3-D animal targets placed at various ranges gave competing archers targets to shoot at under realistic conditions. Dent-Phelps R-3 student Anna Howard has been participating in archery competitions for three years as part of the National Archery in the Schools Program. In 2016 she placed 14th among hundreds of Missouri students in her grade. The 4J Archery range is a regular part of her practice routine. Brian and Sheila Arthur, of Edgar Springs, were on the course with their two children Austin and Callie. According to Brian, they have been enjoyed archery for a long time. “We love to shoot,” Brin said. “It is something we can do as a family. Too, it allows us to get outside and get some exercise together.” Mike Turnbough, of Steelvile, shot the course with his two sons, Mikey and Austin. “We love it,” Mike stated. “The folks at 4J maintain an excellent 3D course and they put on some quality events. I recommend this place for anyone who is into archery.” The Turnboughs are definitely into archery. Mike is a Pro Staffer for Commando Hunting Products. Mike took third in the men’s Known Distance Division, while Mikey took first place in the Junior Youth Division and Austin took first in the Cubs Division. Justin Sapp and the crew of “Keepin’ It in the Ozarks” Online TV Show shot through the course as well. Shooting gave them a much needed break from filming and editing shows. After all shooters completed the course, everyone gathered at the range by the archery shop. The top 5 shooters in each category, for the year, then competed for three places. When all scores were tallied, the winers for the Ladies Division were 1. Lacey Crain of Rolla, 2. Kristine Gerbing of Edgar Springs and 3. Sheila Arthur of Edgar Springs. In the Men’s Bowhunter Division, First Place went to Bill Edwards of Rolla, 2nd to Josh McBride of Rolla and 3rd to Lonnie Heinbaugh. In the Men’s Open Division, national archery champion Dusty Snelson, of St. James, tool First Place, while Kevin Stricklin of Sullivan took 2nd and Richard Rawson of Farmington took 3rd. In the Men’s Know Distance competition, once again Dusty Snelson took top honors, with Wes Kinder of Licking taking 2nd and Mike Turnbough of Steelville taking 3rd. In the Kids Cubs Division places were 1st. Austin Turnbough, Steelville, 3rd. Austin Arthur, Edgar Springs, 4th. Harlie King- Newburg. In the Junior Youth Division, 1st. Mikey Turnbough, Steelville, 2nd. Callie Arthur, Edgar Springs, Placed, Zeke Turner, Newburg. In the Youth 14-16 Division, Remington Boyer, of Sullivan, took 1st, while Allen Noltkamper, of Rolla, took second. The competition proved keen in every category. “There were some excellent shooters in the competitions today,” said Dusty Snelson. “I really had to concentrate to make the necessary scores to win.” Sideline activities included marshmallow golf. Many of the archers were fine golfers as well. It took a special finesse with the clubs to chip a fat marshmallow into a Grizzly cooler 10 yards away. What can you say. Competition is competition. Some just can’t resist a challenge. Most of the crowd hung around for drawings for dozens of top quality give-a-ways. Tree stands, quivers, targets and a host of archery supplies sent everyone home happy. Bill Edwards summed up the crowds feelings about 4J Archery. “Bryan and Janet Jenkins are two very fine people. They do an incredible job with the shop and range. Any one needing equipment, service n a bow, or if they simply want to shoot a range, 4J is the place to come.” The Jenkins expressed their gratitude to their customers by providing free concessions for the day. 4j Archery hours are Monday and Tuesday 6pm.-9p.m. and Saturdays 9a.m.-2p.m. The phone number is 573-201-8659. Check them out at www.Facebook.com/4Jarchery, www.aoutdoorstv.com and www.Facebook.com/Outsidealways.

Feeding Spree Creates Fabulous Fall Fishing

As late summer wanes into the early stages of fall an itch develops deep in my soul while an insatiable instinct erupts in the smallmouth populations of the Ozarks. Brown bass begin gorging themselves in preparation for winter and slower metabolisms while I dream of catching one more big brown bass. Tom Gallagher, of Sullivan, is a smallmouth fishing guru when the summer time heat fades away to the cooler temperatures of fall. He has been chasing his favorite fish, the smallmouth, on the Meramec River for over 40 years. “There is nothing in the outdoors quite like catching a big, chunky smallmouth bass,” he said. “They are a powerful fish, period. Their long, slender, muscular bodies are perfectly built for the environment in which thy live. And they are the apex predator of the fish world in the Meramec.” “I’d hate to be a crayfish in the Meramec,” Gallagher laughed. He well knows that smallmouth bass feed heavily on crayfish in his beloved Meramec River. Anytime you check the business end of his rods they are rigged with crayfish imitators. A black and blue jig ‘n pig rig is his favorite bait. “Imitates a big crayfish perfectly,” Sullivan said.” I catch more smallmouth on a jig ‘n pig in the cool weather months than on all other of my baits combined.” Gallagher says, with a grand grin on his face, that deer season is the absolute best time to be on the Meramec River for smallmouth. “I generally have the river to myself. Everyone else is deer hunting. However, the river has calmed down, the fish are settled into regular fall patterns. But, the best part of all is the fact that smallmouth are on a feeding binge, making that last big effort to feed up before the really cold weather sets in and slows their metabolism rates.” If you want to give up your deer season to hunt big smallmouth bass, you can find Gallagher on the Meramec River somewhere between Sullivan and Pacific. Dale Goff, of Rolla, lives to catch big smallmouth bass and is quick to state that fall is the magic time of the year. “I catch smallmouth all year long,” he stated without bragging. “Fall is my absolute favorite, though. I catch good fish throughout the summer when their metabolism is very high and the fish are aggressive. But, as fall approaches, the fish can sense the changes that are coming and they go on the feeding spree of the year to get ready for winter. I look forward to that window of opportunity more than any other and I always take time off work so that I can spend several consecutive days on the water.” Goff’s favorite smallmouth bait is a pearl colored Fluke. “Smallmouth hate those things. They attack the bait with a vengeance. It’s like they can’t help themselves. It’s a reaction bite. The Fluke drifts downward with a dying minnow action that a smallmouth bass cannot ignore.” I made a trip recently with Goff. I paddled the canoe and photographed his catch. I have never seen so many three and four pound smallmouth bass caught on one trip in the Missouri Ozarks. He caught every fish on his beloved pearl colored Fluke. Goff spends most of his smallmouth fishing time on the habitat rich Gasconade and its tributaries. Corey Cottrell, of Huzzah Valley, is one of the best known smallmouth fishermen in the state. Cotrell grew up on the banks of the Huzzah and fishes it regularly, as well as the Courtois and Meramec. Cottrell has never failed to astound me with the shear numbers of smallmouth he catches on every trip we make. He stays “in the zone.” Cotrell agrees with the two aforementioned smallmouth gurus that the fall feeding spree is one of the best times to chase big smallmouth. “I generally head to bigger water when fall arrives,” Cottrell began. “However there is one stretch of the Meramec I like to fish in the fall that is still small water. The stretch of trophy trout water from Highway 8 to the Maramec Spring Branch really gets hot this time of year.” Cotrell fishes the stretch with a Sammy 65 in chartreuse/shad or American shad colors. On the bigger waters of the Meramec, from Steelville to Stanton, Cottrell throws the bigger Sammy, number 100, in the same colors. “Topwater action can be tremendous in fall,” he stated. “Another bait I like to use is a frog bait, either in the buzzbait style or the regular frog with wiggly legs.” Cottrell sticks with topwater baits until November.”Smallmouth turn onto crayfish big time as the temperatures begin to cool,” Cottrell explained. “That is when I turn to crankbaits in crawfish patterns. I like the Storm Wigglewart and Bomber’s crayfish crankbaits. I use them up into December.” Anytime the water gets high and muddy Cottrell switches to a white spinnerbait. “White spinnerbaits are killer baits in December and January around the spring holes.” Cottrell stays on the water all winter. “When the water temperature drops below 48 degrees, I break out the jerkbaits. The Pointer 98 is my favorite.” Cottrell knows the Huzzah, his home stream like no one else. “Going into the fall feeding spree, I use the same baits which I use on the Meramec. I also use a 4-inch Senko in green pumpkin or watermelon. For the deeper water I add a 1/8 ounce jighead.” I would trust my smallmouth fishing life to these three gentlemen. In fact, most of the big smallmouth I have caught in my life I can credit to one of these guys. My next move is to coax one , or all three of them, to take me smallmouth fishing during the fall feeding spree.

Chanterelle Mushroom Tacos on the River

The Gravel Bar Gourmet August12, 2016 Bill Cooper The October sun hung low over a multi-colored ridge to the west, bathing my riverside campsite in its last warming rays of fall splendor. The air gradually took on the October chill, while a glowing camp fire nearby worked its counterbalancing magic. It had been a charming fall day on the Meramec River. I had drifted alone, the melancholy of a magical October day had soothed and soaked to my inner core. I’m outdoors often, thus contentment is a part of my everyday life. The outdoors has that effect on the soul of mankind. Most are so far removed from the opportunity to enjoy the stillness of a sunset and the morning chill of an October morn. Regardless of the time and contented state, which I borrow from the outdoors, there are those special moments that take me away to heightened states of mental and spiritual happiness. This afternoon alone on the Meramec proved to be one of those times. My gradual float had paid handsome rewards. Fish, both rainbow trout and smallmouth bass, bit my lures often. Time passes far too quickly when fishing action matches your dreams. Then to enjoy fast fishing action amidst the brilliant fall colors, convinced me that the Creator hand handcrafted my day. I pitched camp early, around 2:30 in the afternoon. I love a comfortable camp and the simple chores required to fashion one. From beginning to end, my camp fell into place in less than 20 minutes. A good stash of firewood completed my chores. I grabbed my breakdown Ruger 10/22 from its bag and took a short walk up the colorful slope just behind camp. Visions of fried squirrel filled my cranium. However, as broke I over the first hillside bench, a colorful spread of bright orange Chanterelle mushrooms blanketed the forest floor. Chanterelle mushrooms often pop up after late summer and early fall rain showers. I had hoped to find a few during my float and camp trip. My wishes had come true. Prepared for the moment, I pulled my plastic bag from a side pocket on my camo pants and started pulling mushrooms. Within a minute, I had gathered more than enough to make Chanterelle tacos for dinner. I sacrificed the rest of my squirrel hunt to return to camp and began preparing my delectable dinner. I quickly cleaned and washed the mushrooms and cut them into large bite-sized pieces. Next, I placed them on ice in my cooler to chill them a bit while I prepared the other ingredients for cooking. I stoked the fire for warmth and light. The sun was fading fast in the western sky. My backpacking stove brought the olive oil and butter to a quick bubble. Chanterelles need to be cooked quickly. As the pieces of fungi quick cooked, I sprinkled them with crushed thyme leaves and stirred in a teaspoon of minced garlic. When the mushrooms were well caramelized, I flipped them over to brown the other side. I glanced towards the river at the sound of a smallmouth chasing minnows in the shallows. A crescent moon had begun to peek over the horizon. The first coyote of the evening howled and yipped excitedly far off in the hills. I ladled the mushrooms onto a paper towel to drain. In the meantime, I grabbed a taco shell, slathered the insides with sour cream, sprinkled in grated cheese, mild banana pepper, onion, lettuce and chopped tomato. On top, I placed a healthy portion of meaty, tasty Chanterelle mushrooms, grabbed my cold drink and sat in my camp recliner by the fire. My contentment had reached new heights.

Proven Tactics for Ozark Smallmouth Bass

PROVEN TACTICS FOR OZARK SMALLMOUTH Bill Cooper for RDN Pursuing smallmouth bass on one of the many splendid clear water streams that course their way through the Ozark Mountains is a favorite pastime of thousands of anglers each year. Understandably, as is in all sports, some fishermen stand far and above the masses of anglers who call the smallmouth bass “King.” Tactics separate the consistently successful smallmouth anglers from those who occasionally hook a big one. I have had the good fortune to spend some long days and nights chasing Ozark smallmouth bass with several of the best fishermen to ever ply the waters the brown bass call home. All the great fishermen have one thing in common; they revere the smallmouth bass. That reverence comes, in part, to the fish that got away, the ones seen and not caught, the clear memories of bruiser bass caught under idyllic conditions and the rivers visited and the friends with which the angler shared such moments. Too, these dedicated anglers stand constantly on vigil, looking for a new tactic that will help them catch more of the wariest fish to swim our Ozark streams – the smallmouth bass. I caught my very first smallmouth bass from the Meramec River in the late 1960s and immediately fell in love with the muscular, bronze colored fish with the red eyes. The 14-inch fish hit a white marabou jig with bulldog force. My light rod arched to the point of breaking. I gasped as the bass tail-walked across the surface of the Meramec, shaking its head violently to free itself from the jig in its maw. My heart raced as the fish jumped five more times before I slid it to hand and grasped its lower jaw. Its raw, wild beauty left me spellbound. That moment began a lifetime love affair with smallmouth bass. I have since traveled thousands of miles and talked to hundreds of fishermen who, too, love the smallmouth. From them I learned – tactics are everything. Smallmouth bass can be caught from our Ozark streams all year long. However, the season on black bass is closed from the end of February to Memorial Day weekend. Smallmouth bass spawn during this time. The closed season helps to sustain populations by leaving egg-laden females in the rivers. Cold weather is a top notch time to chase smallmouth bass. “One of the advantages to smallmouth fishing during cold weather is that there is very little competition,” says Mike Jones of Hufstedler’s Canoe Rental in Riverton. Mike is a long time fishing guide on the Eleven Point River. “I guide mostly for rainbow trout, but the Eleven Point is a tremendous smallmouth stream as well. I use a lot of live bait, primarily big minnows which I seine from the river, for trout and smallmouth. However, my favorite time to go after big smallmouth bass is in February. The bass ball up in the deeper holes. If there is a spring seeping into the bottom of the river, smallmouth will concentrate around it.” Jones catches smallmouth on a variety of lures and big minnows. On one trip I shared with him, he clobbered both trout and smallmouth on a rough, deer hair jig he had tied himself. It consisted of a wad of white deer hair, about 5-inches long, tied to an eighth-ounce lead head jig. Bass ate it up as he bumped it slowly across the bottom. “Trout and bass both scavenge on the bottom,” Jones explained. “A dying minnow, or its imitation, or a totally dead minnow rolling across the bottom is an easy target for smallmouth. Too, really big fish are smart. They don’t want to expend any more energy than is necessary to get a meal. A big dead, or dying minnow, or something that imitates it, will catch these fish.” Jones also tosses black RoosterTails and minnow imitators, but the darnedest thing I ever witnessed was Jones throwing a big dead minnow. He used a slow retrieve that made the oversized minnow wobble in the current. That tactic drove fish nuts. “My favorite lure to throw at smallmouth during the high water of February is a one-eighth ounce brown Roadrunner,” Jones said... They work like a charm in the murky water, but you do have to know where the fish are congregated. That only comes from time spent on the water.” Tom Gallagher, of Sullivan, is another avid cold weather smallmouth fisherman. He spends most of his time on the Meramec. “November, right in the middle of deer season, is my favorite to be on the Meramec chasing bruiser smallmouth bass,” Gallagher confidently instructed. Being an engineer by trade, Gallagher is death on detail. “Being prepared is an important part of my fishing tactics,” he admitted. “I do not want to have problems with my boat, motor or my fishing equipment while I am on the river. I am there to catch smallmouth and have a good time. I check my equipment after every trip and I check it again the night before I head out on a trip. Makes for more of what I like to do- fish.” Gallagher, too, likes to use live minnows for smallmouth. He sets traps baited with crackers, or his favorite, Fruit Loops cereal. Gallagher has fished the Meramec for four decades (conservative estimate) in the Stanton area. He knows it well. “Minnows are common in the Meramec and make great bait, but smallmouth also love crayfish,” he began. “I often fish soft plastic baits which resemble crayfish, especially Chompers. Green pumpkin is an excellent color.” “You can have all the best baits in the world, but if you don’t put them in the right place, you might as well stay home,” Gallagher continued. “Big smallmouths are creatures of habit, not unlike humans. I know that food at home is in the kitchen. Bass tend to find their food in the same places, or types of places all the time. The trick is to learn where those ‘bass kitchens’ are located. I have found many of them over the years and consistently catch smallmouth year after year in the same locations. That is not to say that the river doesn’t move the fish’s refrigerators once in a while. Every flood changes the river, and often the hangouts of big bass. That just adds to the challenge.” Upon returning from deer camp this year, empty-handed, posted on my e-mail, I found a blaring photo of Gallagher with a 4-1/2-pound smallmouth bass. Unfortunately, most fishermen are fair weather fishermen. They miss a lot of action. However, there is lots of smallmouth fishing to be had during the warmer months of the year. During the spawn is a fabulous time to fish for smallmouth bass on our Ozark streams. The stealthy fisherman can catch some of the biggest fish of the year, egg laden females on the nest. However, every angler should remember that these girls are producing the fish of the future and should be treated with proper respect. Sight fishing for big nesting smallmouths is as fun as it gets – almost. Smallmouths seek shallow spots associated with cover to build their nests. “The buddy system works well to approach these fish in a canoe,” says Corey Cottrell of Huzzah Valley Resort. “One guy perches in the front. Standing up offers a much better view, but you had better make sure your paddling buddy in the rear of the canoe is paying attention.” Once a fish is spotted, the paddler must bring the canoe to a quiet halt and hold in position while his partner tosses a bait to the fish. That is one tough assignment! “The angler must be deadly accurate with his cast,” Cottrell continued. “The bait needs to land in the nest. Bass instinct is to protect the nest, so the nester will usually viciously attack anything that falls into or near the nest. She will then swim away from the nest, crushing the intruder in her mouth as she swims, and then spits it out several feet away from the nest. This can all happen quickly, so the trick is to set the hook swiftly. Miss a strike, and you will be assigned to the back of the canoe. There is little mercy among nest fishing anglers.” If a bass refuses to take your bait for some reason, do not continue to harass that fish. Move on. There will be more. Salamanders are the favored bait to throw at spawning bass. The “water dogs” are common marauders of bass nests, and smallmouths attack them religiously. Jigs, plastic craws, and small worms and grubs will also entice nesting bass. After the spawn, bass are thin and hungry. They are ready to eat and put on to restore their bodies to normal conditions. However, tactics must change. The fish will have changed locations looking for food. The post-spawn period can be one of the toughest to fish, simply because the fish have changed locations. “You simply have to ask yourself where the food sources are,” says avid smallmouth angler Dale Goff, of Rolla. “By this time of year the weather is warming and the metabolism rate of fish is picking up. They need to eat and are more willing to chase a bait. The strikes can be awesome.” Smallmouths hide out in rocks, rubble and around logs and brush. Crayfish and minnows are plentiful there. However, boulder cover near deep water is another favorite lair from which to ambush unsuspecting prey. “I like to toss a spinnerbait this time of year,” Goff said. “A spinnerbait is a great prospecting bait because I can cover a lot of water with it quickly... Once I get a few strikes, I often change rods and pick one with a crawdad colored crankbait or some sort of plastic bait like a Chomper or a Brushhog. I then work out the same areas thoroughly, trying to poke a bait into every likely looking piece of cover. It takes a lot of time, but it is amazing what I pull out of those. Lots of guys like to hurry to the next place. In the process, they miss many quality fish. Slowing down is a key tactic to rooting out these fish.” Vern Clements, of Rolla, was the best smallmouth fishermen I ever had the pleasure to meet. Clements loved the Gasconade. It became his last resting place. Clements tossed giant buzzbaits at summertime smallies, sometimes all day long. “I love to so those mean bass blow up on a big bait,” Clements used to say. “There ain’t nothing meaner in the water than a hungry smallmouth. They attack like they mean business. I know as soon as one hits, that it is a smallmouth. They hit like a freight train!” Clements was famous for floating his river jon on the upper and middle portions of the Gasconade. “The big boats can’t run up here,” he would say. “It is quiet and peaceful up here. Too, the smallies get big up here. I know I have caught some of them a dozen times over the years.” An incredible expert with jig and pig and crawdad colored wiggle warts, Clements was something to behold on the river. “Watch this,” he once said to me as we floated near a rocky point jutting into the river. He pointed his rod tip towards a trio of rocks at the end of the point. “I will get that three-pounder hanging there. Caught him twice already this summer.” I watched, thinking he was nuts. The Wiggle Wart plunked down exactly where Clements said it would. Three fast cranks of the reel handle put the bait down and fleeing from the rocks. “Whissh,” he set the hook. “Gotcha, you dummy,” Clements laughed as he hauled the three-pound smallmouth to the boat. Only the “King” of the Kings would call a smallmouth bass dumb!