Jefferson County residents can get a good start on the new Smallmouth Slam program without ever crossing the county line.
Earning recognition for participating in the program requires catching fish from at least half of the state’s special management areas.
The state Department of Conservation and the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance are cooperating to honor anglers who catch bronzebacks from the 12 streams in the state with regulations that limit fishermen to one smallmouth bass that is at least 15 inches long.
Anglers who catch smallmouth bass in six of the streams receive a certificate and bronze pin. Silver-level recognition is given to those who catch a smallmouth in nine of the streams, and catching a smallmouth from all 12 streams earns a certificate, pin and medallion.
In 1989, a segment of Big River in Jefferson County was one of the first streams in the state where rules were established to protect smallmouth bass and improve fishing opportunities. That regulation is now the standard on 12 streams, including the entire length of the Big River. One of the more recent additions to that list is Jefferson County’s Joachim Creek.
The Joachim is one of the toughest assignments for anglers who are seeking to reach gold status for the Smallmouth Slam. While the Big River has multiple public accesses in the county, Joachim Creek has very few in the special management area from the Hwy. V bridge south of De Soto to the Hwy. A bridge near Festus.
The other 10 streams in the slam are:
■ Big Piney River from Slabtown to the Gasconade River.
■ Eleven Point River from Thomasville to the Arkansas state line.
■ The entire length of the Elk River in McDonald County.
■ The Gasconade River from Hwy. Y in Pulaski County to Hwy. D in Phelps County.
■ Jacks Fork River from Hwy. 17 to the Current River.
■ James River from Hooten Town to Hwy. 265 in Galena.
■ The Meramec River from Hwy. 8 to Bird’s Nest Access.
■ The Mineral Fork from Hwy. F in Washington County to the Big River.
■ Osage Fork of the Gasconade from Skyline Drive to the Gasconade.
■ Tenmile Creek from Hwy. B in Carter County to Cane Creek.
“Missouri’s Special Management Areas provide excellent smallmouth bass habitat,” said Andrew Branson, conservation department fisheries programs specialist. “These areas have regulations to help smallmouth bass populations increase and to allow more fish to grow to a quality size.”
I have had the good fortune to have landed smallmouth bass from seven of the 12 streams on the list, but past success is only good practice. To receive slam recognition, the fish must be caught since March 1, 2022.
Smallmouth bass of any size qualify for a Smallmouth Slam, but all fish under 15 inches must be released. Anglers complete an online entry form each time they catch a smallmouth bass and may also submit a picture, but photos are not required. Pictures should be taken of the fish in the water and handling of all fish should be limited.
Once participants accomplish one of the three Smallmouth Slam levels, the state will verify their submissions and mail the award. Additionally, anglers can have their successes listed on the Conservation Department website. Include #MOSmallmouthSlam. Sharing images on Twitter or Instagram should include the hashtag.
All pins and medallions awarded to participants have been provided and underwritten by the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance.
“We expect many river anglers, both veterans and newcomers to the sport, to actively participate in the Smallmouth Slam,” said alliance president Augustus Knickmeyer.
To learn more about the state’s smallmouth bass special management areas, go to short.mdc.mo.gov/4i3.
To learn more about the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance, go to
missourismallmouthalliance.org.
John Winkelman is marketing director for Liguori Publications near Barnhart and associate editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas to share for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.