sms_alum

Thanks for the quick responses. I'll be sure to post my reports.

I have upcoming trips to Kentucky and then a few weeks later to Arkansas. My boat is registered and everything licensed in Missouri. Beyond fishing licenses does anyone know if I need to get the boat licensed in anyway to take it to these states and put it on their waterways? Thanks. Jason

Head a great weekend on the crappie and a nice largemouth as a bonus. Friday we were able to get a limit in the morning and still make our tee time at Osage National. Caught them on jigs and grubs in pretty much any color and 1/16 ounce jig heads. They would be shallow early (5-10 foot water) and move out deeper later in the day. Easily caught just as many short crappie as keepers. We had planned on using minnows at some point but never needed them. Also saw some really nice largemouths up on beds, but didn't bother them as the crappie kept use busy.

Fished near the dam this past weekend and we slaughtered them. Still about half and half keepers, but we were throwing back the 9-10 inchers back.

If you put in at George Winter park you should be fine. There is plenty to run down stream as long as you use common sense. I have a similar size boat and have never had any issues with that part of the river unless the water level was down.

Both of the tournaments last year had snow and ice but there was still a decent turnout. It definately makes for interesting fishing when the temps are that far below freezing. It seems like alot of the people in the past were staying at Lilley's and were from out of town so you can probably count on those people still fishing it.

X

I caught my first trout at Susan park on my 11th birthday taking part in these urban winter trout programs. It was alot easier getting Mom to drive me 5 minutes to Susan Park then an hour and 30 minutes to Meramec Springs. Coming from a family that did not really fish this was a huge part in getting me into fishing and eventually hunting. Would I probably have gotten into it anyway, yes. But it definatley opened up fishing opportunities to me. Now I'm almost 27 and fish/hunt more then I probably should. I lease a farm for hunting, own a bass boat and spend alot of time and money persuing these life long hobbies. I can definatley see the value of the state spending money other ways (primary in more agents), but I do think these winter urban trout programs do get people started. I probably won't visit Busch, Susan Park, or any others this year because I have other opportunities, but its important to realize some people don't.

I'd have to agree with oneshot on this. Those fawns are alright to be on there own by now, and if they're not they wouldn't have made it through the winter. Unlike the bass you fish for the deer in most areas of Missouri are getting too thick. Thinning out the population by taking several deer is encoraged by the conservation department with hunters being able to apply for several tags especially during the bow seasons.

Well, I went to check it out yesterday and took my bow. Didn't see any deer, but there are signs of them all over. I probably wont head back until we get a few good freezes because that place is incredibly thick and there are more mosquitos there then I care to deal with. Still would love to hear if anyone else has had any luck out there.

Anybody on here ever bow hunt Howell Island before. I have heard some good things and was planning on heading out there after work today to check it out. From what I hear as long as you are willing to hike it can be productive. Hopefully the rain stays away this afternoon.

Hey Phil, any idea on the number of boats signing up for this. I'm trying to head head down this weekend but having a hard time swinging it.

Found a nice LM bite on main lake points in 5-20 ft of water a few weeks ago when I was down. Most of the evening/night time fish came on Black 7 inch plastic worms rigged Texas. We really fishing mainly during the day but would stay out until 10 or so. Hope that helps.

Is this a bait tournament?

We had a pretty good trip. The weather was a little unpredictable at times, but that seems to be common on Stockton. Never founds any whites or walleye, but found a pretty consistant largemouth bite. We ended up with 8 keepers that were all released, the largest was pushing 4. Most of the bass seemed to be just off main or secondary points in 5-15 feet of water. We would progressively move deeper as the day heated up. Caught most of the bass on pumpkin french fry rigged carolina. Caught a few keepers on texas rigged black or red shad in the evening. We also caught several bass out deep near the surface chasing shad, I thought we had found whites. I guess smaller black bass were schooling up shad because we had several blow ups and that was all we seemed to catch. Thanks again for the great fishing reports, I hope to be heading back down in a few weeks. I'm having some issues posting the pics but hopefully can get them up.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll be out Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning so hopefully we can get some good weather. We may have to book a trip with your guide service next time we are down, but this was kind of a last minute trip. I will be sure to post how we did next week. Thanks again.

I am taking a my Dad down this weekend and we will most likely be putting in at Mutton Creek. I haven't fished Stockton yet this year and he really only fishes a few times a year if I take him so any advice would be much appreciated. We will probably focus on bass, but if we run into any whites, walleye, or crappie it won't take much to change our objective. Thanks in advance.

I have also used in the past. He knows that part of the river about as well as anyone for trout fishing. That can be a very difficult area to trout fish and if anyone has had difficulty fishing it in the past I would recommend getting him as a guide for a day. Also, as far as guide prices go he is very reasonable compared to guides on Taneycomo and some of the more popular trout streams.

Any idea on how many people might fish the tournament this weekend? It seems like Phil's tournamnet last month had a pretty good turn out. I was planning on skipping the trout park crowds and staying at Lilley's this weekend, just curious who else had the same idea.

It looks like the weather for saturday should be great. Any idea on how many teams might turn out for the tournament?

Just curious when everyone starts looking for sheds. I have had limited success with shed hunting and want to be out there looking as soon as they start to drop. Thanks. Jason

Sounds like a pretty good trip. Did you do any trolling with spoons or in-line spinners? Also, what parts of lower Taney did you fish? I will be heading down in a few weeks and would like to spend some time on the lower part of the lake. Thanks. Jason

These tournaments have been alot of fun in the past. They are very well organized and there is usually a dinner afterwards. I recomend trying them even if you do not think you would do well. It seems like a anyone out there is a keeper brown away from winning since very few brown trout are ever wieghed in. You seem to meet alot of different types of trout fisherman. Plus there is not much else to do outdoors on a January or February weekend.

If I remember correctly there are MDC signs at cardiac and suicide that state no one is permitted 1 hour after dark and 1 hour before sunrise. But in the words or Roger Clemens I may have "misremebered" that.

Be careful in what areas you are thinking of fishing for catfish. Right above and below the park is a trout portion of the river, meaning no live bait or soft plastics. The areas are fairly well marked.