Annual Prospects Report
Flooding late in 2024 may impact abundances, but as in other years with extreme rainfall events, fish populations will recover. Smallmouth bass are the most abundant sport fish in the river and will provide anglers with the best fishing opportunities in 2025. Largemouth bass are rare but can reach good sizes in deep, slow-moving pools or backwater habitat in the lower stream. Anglers should have good chances of catching smallmouth bass over 12 inches in length, as over one in three sampled were greater than 12 inches. Fifteen inch and longer smallmouth were more abundant than in past years, with about one in five being greater than 15 inches. A smallmouth over 18 inches will be a relatively rare find, but a definite possibility if you fish in-stream structure with good flow. Goggle-eye numbers are slightly down in the lower sections, with about 1 in 10 reaching the minimum length limit of eight inches. Fishing for other sunfish, like longear sunfish and bluegill, should remain good as well. Anglers should target cover, like woody debris, vegetation stands, and boulders, that concentrate fish in the typically clear water of Courtois Creek.