WEST PLAINS - Missouri conservation officials want help from anglers who catch smallmouth bass in certain Ozark streams.
The Conservation Department said in a release people who fish select Ozark streams can help with a research project by reporting their catches of tagged smallmouth bass. Bass season for Ozark streams opened Friday and runs through Feb. 28.
The department will use the project information to help manage bass habitat and harvest. The tagging effort involves MDC staff catching and tagging wild smallmouth bass to learn more about angler catch rates and fish movement in the Black River, Castor River, Courtois Creek, Current River and the North Fork of the White River.
Each tag has a phone number that anglers are asked to call and provide the information about the catch.