Devan S.

We had a great time up there. Yes the bugs are big and bad but I didn't think they were as bad as I expected. We stayed our day at Lake Itasca and thought the bugs were worse there than at Lake of the Woods. Caught all our walleye nothing huge a couple over 20 inches(jigs/minnows). Caught loads of 13-17" small mouth(Ned rig, grubs, jerk baits, spinner baits) Several northerns(grubs, jerkbaits, spinner baits). Had 2 decent opportunities on musky using large ploppers. Also pretty sure I could eat shore lunch for every meal.

Thanks for all the heads up. I feel like between the standard bass stuff I have(grubs, jerk baits, jigs, soft plastic) and the torpedos and mepps I picked up I feel fairly set. Hopefully a good time will be had and if nothing else it will be nice to relax for a few days.

Thanks MoCarp. I've got an assortment of mepps coming, have some jigs and torpedos. I'll have to pick up some leaders.

I'm spending a few days on Lake of the Woods and Lake Itasca area over July 4th. I was able to work out a deal with my wife 4 days of fishing/camping/hiking in exchange for 4 days of Mall of America. Due to the Mall of America and other detours, I'm limited on tackle choices/rod and reel choices. I'm also set up primarily for Crappie/Catfish/Bass/River fishing here in the Ozarks. I have 2 days of guided fishing at Lake of the Woods. They will handle tackle ect. but will have time to bank/canoe fish. Targeting walleye, pike, muskie, and smallmouth. What lures would you all recommend? Think as if I have nothing right now looking at medium/medium heavy spinning and bait casting rods/reels. Also any other places that are must see along the way? Hopefully this trip goes well and convinces the wife into multiple trips that way.

You might drop this on the table rock forum. There is a number of people that target walleye up that way. RPS has a ton of information on the Table Rock forum and he does spend quite a bit of time that direction(He will give very detailed reports on locations, fishing styles, ect.). Trolling and crawler harness will both present good opportunity. I catch quite a few on jerk baits right at dark or just after dark. I'm sure you could also use a spoon I just don't like fishing that way.

I've never been past Lilley's in my boat. At this level, I presume you stay in the middle and on plane to get to the cable. Any hazards one should know about to get that far up?

There is boulders at the end of the parking lot. Right now its probably not an issue but take the water down another 2-3 foot and it could be. There has been a number of rigs in the parking lot on the weekends when I go by so there is definitely people launching there successfully.

Went up to the cable last night. Got there about 7 and pulled out about 9(never fished anywhere else). Fished directly below the cable. Used Mcstick, Rogue, and smaller countdowns. Countdown was the ticket by far. Caught 3 crappie, one keeper bass, several bluegill, and had about 10-15 hook ups with trout but couldn't land them. Anyone else have trouble keeping trout hooked up on jerk baits like that? I had 2 good hits on the big rouge in the heavier current that came unbuttoned after just a few seconds.

With the releases being lowered, it looks like the gauge at the dam is reading about 708. Could one fish from the bank along the upper end throwing jerkbaits or is the water still high enough to be in the bushes and a lost cause without a boat. Not talking about wading or anything along that line just more of less a scouting mission where one might hop between 5-6 different spots to fish for a bit and have a chance at a walleye or decent trout.

If hadn't spent the last week travelling for work and didn't have a list of chores that need done with the nice weather I would be all over this.

2/12- Set out specifically headed way up river to look for walleye. Found a flat and marked quite a bit of fish on the way up. Stopped to pull cranks nothing. Found a lay down in 14' of water. First time over hooked up. Knew instantly it was big, 7lb walleye(6.96 on my scale). Trolled back over the same lay down several times(said 2 times in a row no fish and we would leave) caught several short bass. Wife caught a 21.5" largemouth, 18" white, and 11.5 crappie. Went up to bridge caught nothing else. I set my goal for 2017 to fish for walleye specifically and try to break the 5lb mark. First time out and one goal has been accomplished. Still gonna work on catching them through the whole year. Also big thanks to RPS for sharing the information he has. I am trying to duplicate patterns and locations up the Kings and learning almost every time out. 2/18-Once again after the walleye, all the way to dollar hole, nothing. Caught a catfish and 2 crappie between sweetwater and dollar hole. Pretty discourage but marked lots of fish on flat in same area as the weekend before. One the way back noticed 8-10 boats trolling the flat where we marked fish in the morning. Cruise though and caught 8 big whites and several short bass. Also got checked by the game warden. Ironically the flat cleared out once he showed up and started checking boats. Trolled flicker shads in various colors targeting between 15' and 25' of water.

2/12- Set out specifically headed way up river to look for walleye. Found a flat and marked quite a bit of fish on the way up. Stopped to pull cranks nothing. Found a lay down in 14' of water. First time over hooked up. Knew instantly it was big, 7lb walleye(6.96 on my scale). Trolled back over the same lay down several times(said 2 times in a row no fish and we would leave) caught several short bass. Wife caught a 21.5" largemouth, 18" white, and 11.5 crappie. Went up to bridge caught nothing else. I set my goal for 2017 to fish for walleye specifically and try to break the 5lb mark. First time out and one goal has been accomplished. Still gonna work on catching them through the whole year. Also big thanks to RPS for sharing the information he has. I am trying to duplicate patterns and locations up the Kings and learning almost every time out. 2/18-Once again after the walleye, all the way to dollar hole, nothing. Caught a catfish and 2 crappie between sweetwater and dollar hole. Pretty discourage but marked lots of fish on flat in same area as the weekend before. One the way back noticed 8-10 boats trolling the flat where we marked fish in the morning. Cruise though and caught 8 big whites and several short bass. Also got checked by the game warden. Ironically the flat cleared out once he showed up and started checking boats. Trolled flicker shads in various colors targeting between 15' and 25' of water.

wareaglecamo...fished Grenada last October the same way. Showed up to fish on Saturday to 30+ MPH west to east wind....guide said we can if you want but I have an opening tomorrow. Held off a day only to be greeted with 25+MPH winds. DIdn't have anymore days to spend so said lets do it. Winds had switched a bit more southwest to northeast so went to Enid. Pushing minnows/jigs in 8' water with 8 rods and probably caught close to 100 fish in the 10-11.5" range. Had 16 keepers(12"+) guide said it was a terrible day. I can only imagine what a good day would have been. Have seriously considered buying 4-16' rods to try and push jigs in the Kings after the crappie move off the bank and see if it would work just don't have enough guts to spend the money and make it happen.

I agree with Wrench.....the cost of the animals far out weighs the very minimal risk(unless your agent is your neighbor). Another forum i frequent predator masters had a post about them catching people at night from the air looking for lights and following trucks. (not Missouri but another state). I wish the state would at a minimum let us call and use shotgun or rimfire....Fox and Cats are considerably tougher to call in the daytime than the night.

https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/general-hunting-regulations Artificial lights Artificial lights may be used to hunt: bullfrogs green frogs raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs Landowners and lessees may use artificial lights on their property, but while doing so may not be in possession of — or be in the company of someone who possesses — a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife. Artificial lights may not be used to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife than the above. You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.

Nothing better than getting out and predator hunting after deer season. I'm convinced if I could stomach eating coyotes, bobcats, fox, and coon I would never deer hunt again.

Get news Muddy. Do you know if a permit will be required for launch through the winter months?

I went over the bridge Saturday.....I don't remember off the top of my head how low it was. Anyone that drives over would be able to see and tell. My guess is that the majority of the flat there is out of the water or within a foot or so. I think its usually 5-6' deep there and covered with brush. There is a channel there a bit deeper so you might be able to get through in a bass boat. You use to be able to launch right under the bridge(east side) with a 4x4 and small boat. I think someone has now blocked that off of course depending on your boat size you could alway carry it down from the other(west) side. The closest real boat ramp would be Hickory Hollow Resort. They are about 3 miles down stream from the bridge. Next closest would likely be upstream at the Romp Hole Access on the river(Arkansas side), likely too low for usage there unless your willing to drag a canoe. After that, it may be a longer distance boat ride.

No I meant from Shell Knob to Big M(Coming from KC that would be the stretch he would travel). Honestly theres probably plenty of wakers between Big M and Eagle Rock too so one might as well stretch that all the way to Eagle Rock. I don't really notice less big boat traffice until past Eagle Rock and then you start to narrow even more and only one or 2 boats still has a pretty good impact. I rarely venture past Shell Knob this time of year, the 17' xpress just isn't suited for it. Like QB said best bet would be to trailer over if at all possible.

That section from Big M on up to Shell Knob is brutal. Lake is narrow and that section really attracts the wake boats that are surfing or throwing the big waves just minutes after daylight on the weekend. 2 weeks ago I put in at owl creek at daylight on Saturday. The first bend going in was covered in 13-14" bass busting shad. I fished for 15 minutes someone came by skiing between the mouth and the boat docks after the first bend. back and forth 10-15 times.......once I got a clear opening I motored back to the ramp and went home....got all of 45 minutes of fishing.

I fished with Ryan and Showmecatfishing early this year. We lucked out and hit a very warm March day. Ryan did an excellent job of putting us on fish. Had a 50, 28, 24, and 7 under 10lb that we kept to eat.

I've ordered 2 times from them. Both times I had spoons within 2-3 days. My guess is the holiday weekend probably slowed it down a bit.

I'm not sure if there are more....I'm simply not old enough to know. I know where I hunt frequently the coyotes are smart. Lots of small tracts of land with tons of cover and tons of farmers that shoot at them from the road makes targeting them more difficult compared to when I have hunted in Oklahoma. I can tell you about 3 or 4 of the spots I have the most success calling are within a few hundred yards of good populations of turkeys. Fur prices are in the toilet and my fur buyer didn't buy at all last year. The last couple years the price hasn't even been remotely close to high enough to break even trapping and hunting.

RPS I'm looking in the next year to start specifically targeting walleye more. I catch a some every year with a jerk bait and fishing for big gills with worms on a drop shot. The worm harness idea is completely new to me, never used it or seen it used. I don't specifically want to buy pre-rigged harness but I am looking for a good starter kit (beads, blades, hooks, ect) in one kit. Is there such a kit out there you would recommend that offers all you would need to get started and provide some flexibility to change things up?

I spend most of my time when hunting specifically targeting coyotes. Most guys that use decoy dogs with coyotes are using a pair of larger dogs like a cur and some of them get pretty tore up. I'm like jdmidwest that 22 lb fur ball wont stand a chance if it tangos with a couple of territorial yotes. Your most likely issues will be with coons and possums and they can get pretty nasty too.