Fish of the Kings

Catch and release the right way

  • Pinch the barb on your hook flat so it’s easily removed.
  • Bring the fish to the boat or shore as quickly as possible to avoid extreme exhaustion.
  • Keep the fish in the water and resuscitate it. Handle the fish gently with wet hands. If you must net it, use a release net made of soft knotless fabric and keep the fish under water in the net.
  • Have tools and a plan. A simple pair of needle nose pliers will do. Make sure your eyes are covered in case the hook flies free. Locate the hook, then decide how to gently approach it.
  • Fish responsibly. Alter your method to minimize hooking mortality. That may mean setting the hook a little sooner.

If we are responsible in our approach today, it will mean more fish in the future for everyone.

 Smallmouth Bass

The smallmouth bass is generally brown, appearing sometimes as black or green (seldom yellow) with red eyes, and dark brown vertical bands, rather than a horizontal band along the side. There are 13–15 soft rays in the dorsal fin. The upper jaw of smallmouth bass extends to the middle of the eye. The smallmouth’s coloration and hue may vary according to environmental variables such as water clarity or prey diet. Males are generally smaller than Females. The males tend to range around two pounds, while females can range from three to six pounds. Their average sizes can differ, depending on where they are found; those found in American waters tend to be larger due to the longer summers, which allow them to eat and grow for a longer period of time.

Their habitat plays a significant role in their color, weight, and shape. River water smallmouth that live in dark water tend to be rather torpedo-shaped and very dark brown to be more efficient for feeding. Lakeside smallmouth bass, however, that live in sandy areas, tend to be a light yellow-brown to adapt to the environment in a defensive state and are more oval-shaped.

They have been seen eating tadpoles, fish, aquatic insects, crayfish, anything that they could swallow, they will. They have been seen eating frogs, small mice, and small birds. There are two recognized subspecies, the Northern Smallmouth Bass (M. dolomieui dolomieui) and the Neosho Smallmouth Bass (M. dolomieui velox).

 Spotted Bass

Not near as dominant as the smallmouth bass in terms of numbers, the Spotted Bass can get just as large and fight almost as hard. They are usually found in calm deep pools next to tree roots. Their diet is very similar to a smallmouth and can be caught with live minnows, crawfish, lures and flies. A very beautiful fish with jaw line that does not extend past the eye. The back is dark olive and the sides are yellowish. It has a dark lateral band with rows of dusky spots beneath.

 Spotted Gar

The Spotted Gar has a short snout with one row of teeth and a long cylindrical body. It’s brown on the top and is a little lighter on the sides. This intimidating looking fish has a white belly and the entire body and fins are spotted. It has very thick scales. Spotted Gar have a large mouth packed with sharp, pointed teeth. They are generally sluggish fish but are capable of impressive bursts of speed. They usually drift motionless near the surface waiting for smaller fish to swim by. When prey approaches, they whip their heads around and snare their victim, often sideways, then turn it to swallow headfirst.

One of the reasons they’ve survived as long as they have is their ability to thrive in even the most inhospitable, murky, low oxygen waters. They have a swim bladder that they can fill by gulping air which they use to supplement their gill breathing in low-oxygen environments. You can often see them surface to refill with air.

Different techniques can be used to catch a gar such as a shiny spinner bait or even small perch. Gar are edible but very bony. It’s important to note that gar eggs are NOT edible and are toxic to humans.

Channel Catfish

This elusive and strong fish has a flat wide head while the upper jaw is just past the lower jaw. It has a bluish gray back and the belly is white. Its sides are silvery with black or olive spots that lessen with age. No scales are present and it has a set of whiskers near its mouth. The Channel Catfish is found in moderate flowing rivers and creeks. It is a ferocious fighter when first caught but will fade quickly. Perhaps you’ve caught one in the Kings River hiding under a big rock or bluff? They like to eat at night and can be caught on chicken liver, worms, crawdads, live minnows and jigs.

Longear Sunfish

This beautiful fish has a large mouth with a wavy line on the cheek. It can be identified with a long black “ear” flap rimmed red or white. It has a green or blue-green back. It has olive sides splattered with yellow and blue- green spots. The belly is yellow or burnt orange. It has short round pectoral fins. You can find these fish in slower pools with rocky bottoms. They grow to about 9 inches long. Can be caught on live minnows, worms, small crayfish, spinners or poppers.

Green Sunfish

The Green Sunfish has a very large mouth compared to other sunfish. It has an elongated blue-green body. It has a pale green belly with dots in rows on the sides and also with black dots on anal and dorsal fins. They can grow up to 10″ in length. Found mainly next to logs, root balls or other thick weedy cover near the bank. They like to eat worms, live minnows, and craw-fish. Can also be caught on artificial baits such as spinners, poppers and streamers. 

Ozark Bass

The Ozark Bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family. It is native ONLY to the White River area of Missouri and Arkansas. It has a very large mouth, red eyes and scaled cheeks. The sides are irregularly freckled. It can grow up to 10″. They can be caught using live minnows, crawdads, hellgrammites and small jigs or crank baits. Ozark Bass are usually caught in slow moving pools with large rocks or cover.