February can be frigid, with ice and snow to boot. Nobody in his or her right mind would venture out at that time of year to go fishing -- except, perhaps, a bass angler.

In February, anglers targeting sluggish bass will do well to fish slow and deep. Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

Interest in cold-weather bass fishing has escalated over the last two decades. Knowledgeable (or slightly insane) fishermen have discovered that they have the opportunity to catch some of the largest bass of the year in February. The general public is beginning to realize that bass fishermen are serious about their sport -- and that size matters to them. Cold weather is no longer going to keep bass anglers watching bowling by the hearth when bruiser bass are waiting to be caught.

February is the month for the guys who'd rather catch one very large fish for their efforts on the water rather than a bunch of dinks. And plenty of waters in both north and south Missouri enable anglers to do just that.

While the largemouth bass may be found scattered over the entire state of Missouri, the smallmouth bass is almost exclusively a creature of the cold, clear streams of the Ozark Highlands in southern Missouri.

SMALLMOUTHS IN THE SOUTH

Smallmouth bass are the undisputed kings of the hundreds of miles of Ozark streams that paint serpentine lines on topographic maps. Most anglers chase the bronzed fighters during the summer months, when the fish's metabolism is at its peak. Many spring-fed Ozark streams' water temperatures vary only slightly from summer to winter. Brownies are often caught as easily in February as in June, but without the crowds of fishermen.

Smallmouth bass are known for power runs and aerial acrobatics. A big smallmouth tailwalking across the water's surface in summer is a sight to behold -- one that etches itself into the memory of an angler for a lifetime.

February smallmouths aren't as acrobatic as are summertime fish, but a big brownie caught on a mist-shrouded stream against a backdrop of snow-covered hills creates memories as warm as a glowing campfire. Eleven Point River

Flowing wild and free through some of the most rugged terrain in the Ozarks, the Eleven Point River is the classic idyllic smallmouth stream. Cool, crystalline water tumbles over rock rubble, boulders and slides as it flows south towards Arkansas. The deep holes filled with cover and multiple springs along its course make the Eleven Point a top destination for February smallmouth bass.

Lifetime Oregon County resident Mike Jones has fished the Eleven Point his entire life. His humble down-home attitude coupled with an uncanny understanding of the Eleven Point's smallmouth population, the 40-year-old Jones considers February to be a great time to be on the river chasing the brown bass.

"February can provide some awesome smallmouth fishing," Jones began, "especially when the conditions are right. I like to see a rise on the river to the point that I can see my lure at 18 inches under the surface. A 6-inch to a 2-foot rise is perfect."

These conditions on the river stimulate smallmouths into a wintertime feeding spree. "Even though the fishing picks up under these conditions," Jones said, "it is not the frantic bite of summertime fishing, but it is a treat to catch smallmouth in the winter. Too, smallmouth often ball up in the deeper holes during this time of year, providing the chance to catch several in one spot."