Fishing Dude

Can't seem to ever do the night fishing. Usually it's a get up, drive down, fish all day and get home before the wife beats me over the head with a frying pan kinda thing. I was wondering if topwater was working well. I've always been a dock flipper. I like it when the bite is behind the docks and under the walkways, but I just haven't found any fish there yet.

So, I've been twice and fished based on water temps. It's the strangest year I can remember in my life. I've been fishing that lake about 8 times per year for about 15 years now. Not an expert, but starting to learn it. THIS year, I'm getting my butt kicked. I was down there twice in the last few weeks. Stunk up the joint BOTH times. Fished from Grand Glaize to Hurricane Deck. I based my approach on water temps............they were around 60. So, to me, they should have been getting ready to spawn. BUT.......turns out they WERE NOT!!!! Caught basically nothing. Talked to many guys at the ramp that were still fishing traditional Feb/Mar patterns - jerk baits on main lake points and nowadays, the A-Rig. Haven't been in two weeks, but thinking about going down again in a few weeks. Curious what you guys are finding success on. I see the water temps are now past the traditional spawning temps. Are they up shallow on beds yet? Are they just making it to secondary points? I can't figure out if they'll be in POST spawn, on spawn, or PRE spawn in 3-4 weeks?? I'm just hoping to actually catch a couple next time I make it down there. Who's fishing the LOZ?? Please help me figure out this crazy odd year! Thanks. The fishing dude.

I'm doing the same. Might run the Niangua too. Probably fish mid-lake area first though. Can anyone answer the question on water clarity mid-lake also?? I'm assuming it's dingy (2 foot clarity maybe)?? But would love to know for sure.

Yeah, being the guy that can't sight fish, I agree. Wish I could visit the Ozarks more than 4 times a year. But......generated too many kids to be able to do that! :-) I'm a skipping/flipping/rigging fool though and I find plenty of fish doing it the blind squirrel way. Any chance there will still be fish on beds or up shallow in 10-15 days?? OR.....do you think they'll all be post spawn and moving back out through transition spots towards points and deeper banks?? I'd love to know an answer to that question from any of you locals. I've got a chance to come down and fish a small tourney on the 15th and won't have a practice day at all. Just gonna launch the boat, check the well, and head out. Will they be done and gone?

I'd agree about the sight fishing, at least from what I hear. I've been bass fishing for 30 years and I just can't figure out how to find em, see em, or catch em by sight fishing. I also probably don't have the patience for it even if I did know how. I make my way tournament to tournament without that skill though, so I deal with it. If you have that ability, this IS the time. I just can't do it. Good to hear they're still on beds though. I just entered another tournament for teh 15th, so I'm hoping I can still stick em in the skinny water. I likes that!!

Right now you can catch them on alot of things. If you like messing with docks, throw 3/8 - 1/2 ounce brown jigs anywhere you can around and under the docks with brush around them. Fish under the walkways to the docks any time you can get to them around the cables. Also, you can NEVER go wrong fishing any concrete in lake of the ozarks. Fish any odd turns or corners or ends to the retaining walls and all concrete supports for walkways. If you don't like or have success with fishing the docks, get out to the secondary points in teh bigger coves or the transition banks and throw a carolina rigged brown lizard or baby brush hog. Use a 1/2 - 1 oz big weight and an 18-24 inch leader and just drag it around. You'll catch bigger fish on the jig, but you can catch a bunch on the carolina rig.

Wish I knew how to do that. I have top notch vision and I have good expensive glasses, but I NEVER see bedding bass. I just don't get it. On the other hand, I don't lose sleep over it. I try to fish the right areas and just hope for the non-sight bites. One day, maybe I'll go with somebody that knows how to sight fish and I'll figure it out, but I've been at this for 40 years and "working on it" just hasn't worked. But, I'm thrilled to hear that the fish will be shallow. Hey - I was hoping to explore the Niangua arm for the first time. Anybody got any good areas of that arm that are good this time of year? Should I fish the Niangua or spend more time in the Little Niangua? I'm wanting to see some new water.

So, in 9 days, there oughta be a bunch up shallow eh??? That would make my trip! I don't know how to sight fish, so that doesn't matter to me, but I'd sure like to know that if I'm pulling that spinnerbait through the shallows that I might bump into a female in there.

Haven't been able to do much fishing yet, but am coming down on the 22nd. I'll be near the Niangua. Will the spawn be over or do you think there will still be a bunch of fish in the very backs of the pea gravel pockets and coves?? I'd love nothing more than to be able to chuck a spinnerbait in 2 foot of water, a jig or tube, or a shallow running crankbait. Think I got a shot or do you think they'll already be done with their business and moving back out towards the transition spots or secondaries?? Any help or opinions you might have would be appreciated!!