Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

Brown bass and gin-clear running water are a match made in heaven -- there's no doubt about that. In fact, the smallmouth bass fishing to be found in the upper and middle reaches of most of the state's Ozark Plateau streams is so well known that even non-anglers and river otters know all about it.

What's not so well known is that these same streams don't simply disappear into the bass fishing mist when they tumble off the plateau to become lowland streams. To the contrary, conversations with the fisheries biologists responsible for managing each of the rivers this article will cover stressed that bass fishing opportunities become more diverse farther downstream as largemouths and spotted bass mix with -- and eventually supplant -- the cool-water-loving smallmouths.

The green bass are there, but there's a simple yet essential "trick" to catching river largemouths consistently. That trick is to never forget that a largemouth is a largemouth whether the water it lives in is flat or moving. That means seeking out submerged wood, weed beds, backwaters, and other structures that largemouths prefer. It also means using the same types and sizes of lures that work well on flat water. Finally, it means being patient enough to make multiple casts to the same cover object just as is often necessary elsewhere.

With those thoughts in mind, let's take a closer look at five rivers. Three of them are close to major population centers, and two are not. Two are large, one is medium sized, and two are small. Three flow north and east, and two flow south. Despite these differences, all of one very important thing in common -- they're great places to "go low for largemouths."

THE ST. FRANCIS RIVER
Wappapello Lake forms an impossible-to-miss dividing line between the upper and lower St. Francis River. Be forewarned, however, that the St. Francis changes from an Ozark Plateau stream to a lowland river begrudgingly. From the Wappapello Dam downstream to near Kennett, the river is a classic series of pools, runs, and riffles. Some of the pools are impressively deep to be sure, and they're loaded with submerged logs much beloved by largemouths. On the other hand, some-of the riffles -- most if the river's level is at or below what now passes for normal during the summer months -- are shallow enough to "polish" the bottom of a canoe or a jet boat. Boaters who insist on running prop boats on this part of the river should be prepared to disembark and push their craft through more than a few riffles in the course of a day's fishing.

Access to this part of the river is fairly good. There's a US Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp at Spillway recreation Area, located at the base of Wappapello Dam. The Missouri Department of Conservation maintains Chalk Bluff Trail CA (south of Campbell on Highway 62 then right on County Road 232 and left on 228) and Frisbee Cutoff Access (south of Frisbee on highway 25 then west, north, and west on County Roads 410, 411, and 407 respectively).

From Kennett south, the St. Francis River is a true lowland river with slow currents and plenty of deep water. Woody habitat abounds. An experienced river runner can get along with a prop boat on this section of the river, but there are good reasons why jet drives are far more popular with local anglers.

MDC-controlled sites along this part of the St. Francis include the Ben Cash Memorial CA/Largent Annex, which is located southwest of Kennett on Route A, and the Fisk Access, which is located east of Fisk on Old Highway 52. Numerous bridge crossings also provided access to bank fishermen and to those who wish to launch lightweight boats.