FullTiltAngler

Was pondering coming up to fish my spot and am looking for any good info on where they are and when their feeding and what their hitting on. Any info as always highly appreciated and again good fishin to all and be careful out there. Will be fishing at the 8mm at the end of horseshoe bend.

Thanx for all the good info guys. Think I'll go ahead and drive up and give it a shot. Will post how it goes over the weekend. Thanx again for the responses and good fishing to all!

A thousand thanks for the reply. I had been told the late evening into overnight bite had been pretty good but have not heard much as far as the early morning hours. have you got any input or info on the morning situation or is it basically the same all the way through the day. Again thanks for the quick response. I will be fishing a big set of docks that are bedded well in the wee hours of the morning so any a.m. info I can get will be greatly appreciated.

Was pondering driving up to fish my spot at the 8mm this weekend. Have'nt been up since the heat wave of 2012 ended. Have been hearing conflicting reports on the crappie bite so am trying to get a good idea how things are going up there.Any info greatly appreciated and good fishing to all and be safe out there!

Stayed and fished our favorite spot at the 8mm from Friday morning into early afternoon Saturday. We arrived and had lines in the water by 7:30 Friday morning. Mainly throwing 1/32 and 1/16 ounce chart tinsel jigs with chart nibbles but also had a couple of slip bobbers in the water with minnows as well. Crappie bite was slow to start but in no time began to start really picking up. Were'nt getting many bites on the minnows but the jig bite was on fire in a short time. All bites were coming from approx 20ft deep in 30fow casting out then letting jigs drop to depth then retrieve very slowly. All crappie were averaging 10-11 inches with a couple of 12 inch fish in the mix(did also keep a few nice fat 9 1/2 inchers as well). One of the guys in our group of three pulled out a really nice 13.25 incher at one point. By the time 2:30 rolled around we ended up with 43 nice keepers between the three of us. If we included all the throw backs and lost fish probably hooked somehere in the neighborhood of 60-70 total. Was the best Crappie fishing experience I had ever had all the times fishing that spot. After fishing non stop through the day called it quits until later in the evening. Tried again about 7 in the evening but bite was almost non-existent(ended up with 4 in the basket) so called it quits for the day and broke out the steaks and beer and made plans for the morning. Got up Saturday morning about 5:30 and tried to stir up my buddies but after a night of frolicking and alot of beer they were none to ready to rise to the occasion(was running pretty slowly myself but i'm a die hard) so went down and started fishing by myself about 6:00. Had the four fish in the basket from night before to start with and by the time 8:00 rolled around already had a full limit in the basket.Using same exact techniques as day before but were getting most fish around the 10-15ft mark.Were also getting some good bites on the minnows as well. My buddies finally rolled out of bed and showed up about 9:00 but as the old saying goes about the early bird getting the worm they both could only muster a couple small fish before the bite completely shut down around 10:00 so we packed it in and called it a day and headed home. Been fishing on that lake in that location for some time now and can honestly say it was the best and most productive fishing experience I can remember and hope that some of you can experience some of the same with your adventures as well. Happy fishing and stay safe out there and a good summer to all.

We definitely had a good time. We were actually surprised we did as well as we did also. The way this season has gone so far with no winter and early summer like conditions make it hard for a guy to tell just what the fish are doing. Thats been the best day we've had since mid March. Crappie not hitting like last year thats for sure. Last year was the best crappie fishing I ever experienced on that lake. Oh! The memories!! Good fishing all!!

Drove up early Monday morning to fish my spot on the 8mm. My buddy and I had lines in the water by 7:00 in the morning.By 11:00 both had our limits of crappie.All were ranging 9-11 inches. Got a couple of them using minnows setting about 15ft in 30fow but minnow bite was all but non-existent through the day. All the rest we caught using using 1/32oz and 1/16oz chart tinsel jigs with chart nibbles. Seemed to get most bites around the 12ft mark in around 20-25fow. Were casting out,drop count then very,very slow retrieve.Action was heavy untill about 11:30-12:00 then just shut down from there on. Was very surprised on amount of people and boat traffic on the lake. Seems that everyone either left sunday night or very first thing Monday morning. Kind of a nice suprise compared to how I thought it would be all day. A good summer and good fishing to all and be careful out there.

Was thinking about making a venture up to try some dock fishing for some crappie Sunday at my favorite spot(8mm). Was curious how nuts it is up there right now(lol!!) and also how the crappie bite is now that the spawn?? is over. Any info appreciated and a thanks to all the all vets out there for your service on this, Memorial Day 2012. Good fishing to all and be careful out there.

I was reading the outdoors section of the newspaper this last week and they had a list of fishing locations in the area. They had the lake at valley water mill on this list saying it was open for fishing as of this spring. Continued to say that the lake had been fully re-stocked with bass,bluegill and channel cats. Was curious if anyone has even tried that lake and what the results were. Was thinking of giving it a try to see but any info on this would be appreciated.

Spent the whole weekend at the resort. Arrived and started fishing about 8am and could not buy a crappie bite on anything I threw at them up until 11 then was like a light switch turned on. From 11 to around 1and ended with 9 nice keeps ranging 10-12" all using a 1/16oz chart jig with matching nibble all at 8ft in 15fow throwing out with a very slow retrieve. All went quiet again around 1:30 so took a long break and hit it again about 6:30 in th evening using slip bobbers with minnows set at 10ft in 20fow and by 9 ended with 6 more good keeps with one that went 13.5"(all others were right around 10"). Since I had my limit called it a day. Got up Sunday to go at it again but as we all know mother nature had other plans so after waiting until the worst of the storms had passed started fishing again about 8:30. Was getting some pretty good action as the heavy rains were moving through(even got a few nice channel cats on the minnows during this time and my buddy hooked a nice 4lb lm as well). All the bites from the crappie were on minnows all setting slip bobber at 10ft in about 15-20fow(my buddy was also getting some bites by dropping to bottom then reeling up about 2ft and suspend) but when the front finally moved through and the winds died and sky cleared the light switch went off and not another bite from there so ended up with another 9 all from 9.5"-10.5". Water temps were running pretty much dead on 65 degrees and water was dingy(especially after the downpours through the morning). I did notice a quite a few fish carrying eggs with males very dark and spotty so I have to think they are either quite ready to spawn or already in the process even though we and no one else fishing the area got any fish less then 10ft deep so no shallow fish of any kind. Between the lake level being to low and strange weather patterns occuring looks like a we'll have different kind of season than this time last year.Good fishing to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Alhonna is where I will be. Which dock(s) were you fishing from and what time of day was the bite best? I tend have more luck off the very first dock to the left of the fish house but also do really well in the house on the far left hand corner as your walking in. Have also had success fishing the dock where they have all their rental toons moored up.Have always used mostly jigs but I will have a full arsenal with me on this trip.Thanks for the info and any more updates I can get rom everyone will be greatly appreciated. Also thanks to all who have posted info on this. Nice to know us fellow fisherman have each others back and help each other all we can to ensure everyone has some success.Good luck to all and good fishing the rest of the year(I hope!!!! lol!). Be safe out there.

Thanks for all the info gentleman. I will be up on my spot at the 8mm over this entire weekend so any other info I can get for the remainder of the week would be greatly appreciated and will be sure to let all know how it went when I get back home. I did see there is a weak cold front moving through friday-saturday but I don't think it should be a problem. Good fishing to all and be safe out there.

How low is the lake level right now and what are water temps sitting at since this front moved through. I wonder if our lack of winter has really thrown a curve into things this year. I'm starting to think this year may not be anywhere near close to how good crappie fishing was last season.

I was under the impression that the open was this weekend and was curious as to how that was going and if anyone was running away with the lead at this point. Any info appreciated and good fishing to all and be safe out there.

I am fairly familiar with the stockton lake area and have been trying to get info on possible good locations for bank fishing spots for crappie. I have heard there are some good places to try but never have been able to get any exact locations. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Good fishing to all and be safe out there.

Had a good buddy of mine dock fishing for crappie at my spot at the 8mm and told me the fishing yesterday was lousy. Said he could'nt buy a bite if he tried. Was curious if anyone was having any better luck either in this area or others around the lake. I am aware the water levels are still way down(even though I don't get why Ameren is not in the process of gettin it filled up for summer boat action) and also suspect due to the major cold front that came through at the end of the week did'nt help him on his quest. I figure the spawn should be well under way if not at the tail end but have been hearing different reports through last week. Am planning on being up there over this up coming weekend so trying to get any info or opinions I can. Thanx for any input and good fishin' to all and be safe out there.

I would recommend checking out the Alhonna Resort on Horseshoe Bend(8mm by water). I have been visiting them exclusively over the past three years and know of no better place to stay. They are close to all area attractions, very family oriented with comfortable and fair priced accomodations. They have several docks on the property with two boat launches and all the rental boats you could choose from. Indoor and outdoor pools with two hot tubs,on site restaurant and bar with simple groceries and supplies with a game room as well. Also has probably the best dock fishing for crappie on the entire lake and have bait on site. Definitely recommend checking them out either on the net(just type in Alhonna resort in you search box to see all that they have to offer) and their staff is second to none. Enjoy.

Going back to my spot at the 8mm on the lower Osage for the weekend. Was just curious if anyone fishing in the this area and how the crappie bite is after all this great weather we have been having this week. I would think things would really be getting moving now but any info highly appreciated. Good fishing to all and be careful out there.

What part of the lake are you all fishing? I'm still hearing that the crappie bite is slow lake wide. I figured due to the bass moving in for their spawn as well as the lake temps and levels still low that it would most likely be a few weeks before the little guys will start showing up shallow for their spawn. Just curious where you all are finding these limits and what are you using, how deep and what time of day?

Started fishing some docks around the 8mm about 7 in the morning. The crappie bite was extremely slow off the start.After spending about 30 minutes or more and only two crappie to show(both were under 9") decided to go around the docks and throw a rogue around to see if any bass might be found. After about an hour and half had hooked 7 nice largemouth all running 1-3 pounds(returned all to the water). I was using a 5" black/chrome rouge and throwing either from out on the dock back toward the bank or running along the bank throwing somewhat out/parallel to shore. Got three from the inside corners of two docks and then rest from I estimate approx 20-30ft from the bank. Once the bass bite quit went back to try for the crappie but after over two hours ended with only 7 keeps 9-11 inches. Oh well! It is still early in the year and with the bass taking up the slack from the little guys made it a very good day.

Just curious how the crappie fishing is doing lately. I know the lake is still way down and have been hearing the bite is very slow at best. Any info appreciated.

If you really want to have a good chance to get into some good crappie you need to go over to the Alhonna Resort which sets down on the end of Horseshoe Bend pkwy past the Four Seasons. They have a website that you can check out just look up Alhonna Resort. It's $5 to fish from sun up to past sun down. Have enclosed dock as well as others and all are bedded.If you read the "Fishing report 1/14" post below your post that is how we did this last Saturday and how we have been doing all year long.Good luck!

Was fishing off some resort docks at about the 8mm on the lower osage arm. Thought we were going to have some fairly good weather but the wind was howling out of the west all day but at least had sunshine throughout the day.Started fishing around 8:00 in the morning and by noon my buddy and I both had our limits of crappie for the day.Alot of 10"-12" fish on average. Were getting them fairly shallow(10-15ft range)over brush piles under docks using 1/16 ounce jigs in both white with white nibbles and also red head-white tail with red sparkle nibbles.Had no bite at all on minnows. Caught most by dropping jig straight down to around the 15ft mark then retrieve very slowly but had quite a few hit on the way down as well(seemed to be a fairly aggressive bite for sure). Other than howling wind definitely had a good and productive day.Hope this info helps get somebody into some action.Good luck.

Thanx for the info Jack. Think I'll be up to give it a go and hope for the best.

How is the crappie bite right now.I keep reading and hearing conflicting reports.Was thinking about coming up Saturday but not sure if it will be any good or not.Any info you have is appreciated.