Big River flows through southeastern Missouri for approximately 138 miles, beginning in Iron County near Highway 21 as the outflow of Council Bluffs Lake, and meandering northeast through St. Francois and Jefferson counties before joining the Meramec River west of St. Louis. This historic waterway, named la Grande Rivière by French explorer Philippe-François de Renault in 1720, has a storied past including serving as a hub for lead mining operations in the early 1900s. While certain sections of the river bear the legacy of mining activities, the Big River has largely recovered to become one of Missouri's premier smallmouth bass fisheries, ranking third in the state for producing Master Angler smallmouth bass. The river features diverse habitats ranging from classic Ozark stream characteristics in its upper sections to slower, deeper waters in its lower reaches, providing anglers with varied fishing experiences throughout its course.