MSUFisherBear

Certainly. I'm still not sure that I am completely a fan of the A-Rig. Not so sure if that's because I feel that it's not completely legal (even with only three hooks) or just because I am jelous I don't have a set-up to chuck that beast (nor do I want to invest the money). I still feel I do just as well on my mainstays of soft plastics and jigs!

I noticed a few boats that were chucking the A-rig this past weekend out on the lake. It's the first time that I have been able to get out in a while. At any rate, I am wondering if there has been much success down there with that particular set up. It would make since, but I would think fishing were the shad are congregating would be the most logical place to toss them. Just wondering what the success rate has been and if people are targeting more of the schools of shad, or are fishing the bait more like a giant spinnerbait. Will say that I had some success on single tail grubs in the river being jigged on a darter head. A few dinks, but it was nice to have the line tugged again after so long!

Hey guys, I took the yak out on Saturday morning. Brand new one, so I needed to get used to it and figure out the balancing since it was a bit shorter. At any rate, I did more paddling than fishing learning how to use it and in all honesty I didn't see anything. I did notice around the the flats across from the boat house that the algea had turned a bit greener, so it may be starting soon. I didn't have a thermometer, but I would guesstimate that the water temperature was in the upper 40's to low 50's in that area. Maybe someone who has been out can post a recent surface temp recording. We should really start seeing those bloom out when the temperatures return to the mid to upper 50's.

F&F - Thanks for the tip. To me, any time I wet a line, I have to call it a great day

Thanks Mic. I'll let you guys know as soon as I have some info on it. According to the NWS, a cold front is supposed to push through on Wednesday night. That probably will equal a cold and windy day on Thursday so who knows what it will be like. If I do get to go out, it'll probably be really downsized and super slow. I am thinking of throwing a curly tailed road runner fished under a slip bobber and reeled extremely slow. I've done well on this set-up in the winter before in some other deep lakes when probing for fish. Also, I appreciate the info Ollie. Hopefully I can get a few to bite so I can judge this a little more. I'd like to do a weekend camping trip to there or Bushwhacker later this spring and possibly with the canoe to boot. This is more of just a way to relax and unwind and celebrate a little (I can't think of a better way!)

Thanks for all of the tips about Shawnee. I was a little worried with duck season going on. I "graduate" Friday and have to take a certification examination in Carthage next Thursday. Being as it's the birthday and hopefully the end of the road for school for a while, I'd like to celebrate for a couple of hours afterward, and I couldn't think of a better way to do so (especially since the girlfriend has to work for the day). I had forgotten the other day that I had the old Sea Eagle inflatable kayak that I had bought when I was still in high school to hit some of the larger farm ponds back home. If it's not too windy, I may break that out to fish from. If not, I will be going it on foot. At any rate, I'd like to hook up with a big bass. I am figuring on really slowing it down because of how cold it's been, but is there a prefered bait for the area. This time of year, I love jig fishing (my heart get's to racing when that line dances off), but I have heard that these "pits" can be a horse of a different color. Any particular version of baits (i.e. crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, soft plastics) better than the other for strip pits in general, or is it more like fishing farm ponds? Also, I hear there are REALLY nice bluegill in these ponds and pits. Are there any crappie in these ponds? Are the bluegill active this time of year? Finally, I really appreciate you guys warning me about the duck hunting. I scoped out the area from Google Maps and the MDC website and I think I have a pretty good peg on where I need to go to avoid the hunters and have a shot at some success. I'll let you guys know how I do. I'll take the new Kodak camera out for some shots. Least ways, I am hoping to see some wildlife.

Hey guys, it's been a very long while since I have been on. A new job, internship, and classes has really kept me away from the water. Hopefully I can get back out there quickly. Right now I'm looking for info on Shawnee... I'm currently without the canoe, so I won't be able to use a boat out there. I would like to know... Are anyof the ponds/pits fish able by foot? If so, are they worth fishing? I have to make a trip to Carthage on the 20th and I thought about hitting it up as its a place that's always intrigued me. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Hey guys, thanks for all of the tips on this. What do you use for minnow bait Daryk?

Hello everyone, Fished Springfield yesterday afternoon for about 4 hours. Caught several largemouth (I think 8 total) with the biggest being 20 inches. Caught all on crankbaits and green pumpkin finesse worms. The fish hit the baits hard all night. We also caught several large redear and bluegill on the cricket style crankbaits. I have also noted how much shad there seems to be in the lake. I know the lake has a very healthy population anyways, but the fry from this years hatch are amazing to me. Barring a super bad cold snap this winter, we should have some great fishing over the next few years due to this enormous amount of forage. Till next time, tight lines.

Hog, It took us probably about 4.5 hours, but alot of the time I was paddling to little stobs and stick ups and letting her dunk a worm for fish. It's not a long float at all, but it's definetly a good afternoon float. Also, there are a lot of good places to really slow down and fish.

Very true Wayne. I know that I have heard that preached by so many different professionals it almost makes my head spin. I think it's just the fact of seeing a bass (or any fish for that matter) nearly as plain as day that makes me want to cast at them. It's one of those things that I really need to work on. That along with crankbait fishing.

Jack, if it means less crime, it means less crime. I personally don't want to think of Springfield becoming a rough city. After moving here four years ago, I found out real quick that this is a place that I really want to stay and build a life at. I guess if it takes being strict across the board, that's what it takes. No complaints out of me. I was just irked at the fact that I had a tub of chicken liver that was going to spoil even more so.

Hey guys, thanks for the tips and advice. It was strange to see them laying on bed the way that they where. Like you all have said, I usually find them in the slower portions of the river stacked against brush and rocks. However, the ones that I seen where laying on the backwater flats (just like any other sunfish/panfish in the spawn) and wouldn't offer at anything. I will certainly be back to float the creek again with my full arsenal of panfish plugs. It was just odd to drop a bait like a YUM craw on a jig head, put it in the middle of the bed, and not so much as get a motion. Oh well, I wasn't in the mood to keep and eat them that day. I had stuff to BBQ. Just wondering why the little boogers wouldn't touch one. Again, thanks guys!

Alright, I know that Springfield and Fellows both have good populations of cats in them. I have seen them before on both lakes cruising the shallows during the early morning and late evening hours. My question for the board is, what is your favorite bait to use on these two lakes? I have a lot of success with livers and/or worms. It seems to be one day one, and another the other. Sadly, I can't say that I have had that much. I did fairly well when they ran the water inlet from Stockton in to Fellows fishing around that point and on the bluff along that wall. I have tried the upper end in the evenings with absolutely no success whatsoever. I have caught a grand total of two on Springfield, and both where by accident (I was fishing worms looking for goggle-eye and snagged a couple of babies). Am I missing something on those lakes, or are the cats just that persnickity? On a completely unrelated note, has anyone heard if the county has made a decision on the bridge at McDaniel yet?

Yeah, I could certainly see that. I know that the Springfield PD and Sherrifs Department are not too fond of individuals who are in the area after dark (I guess due to the seedy things that tend to happen in the late hours). Fact of the matter is, two years ago I was catfishing at Crighton one evening, on my own and not really bothering anyone. After being there for about 30 minutes, a deputy sherriff pulled up and inspected my tackle bag and told me that I was not allowed in the area after sunset (this was the first time I had ever been told that I had to leave a conservation area after dark, even though I had no alcohol was making no noise or disturbance, and just enjoying the peace and quite). Of course, I would say that's better than a department that doesn't care about much of that and responds only after it's too late.

Hello all, This is my first post in this particular section of the forum, so to those of you whom I have not had the pleasure of conversing with, hello. I just wanted to give a quick report on my recent float trip from below the 125 bridge down to Ozark park. The girlfriend and I wanted a quick get-a-way day, and we decided it would be a nice trip for just a few hours. The smallmouth bite was great. Caught a total of 6 all together, although I did not fish for them nearly as hard as I probably should have. The best looked to be about 1.5 pounds. Nothing major, but all where over 12" and caught on a Wacky Worm fished weightless. Before anyone does spaz out, all 6 where measured and released unharmed (I wanted to see what type of fish the river produced since it was my true first trip). Also (and on a very different tangent), I want to send a big thank you to RSBreth. I was under the impression from the individuals that I had fished with when I was younger that black bass where completely illegal to target out of season (whether they where catch-and-release or not). Now that I know, I don't have to put up the rod and reel during that time period. Not that I like keeping them in season, I just didn't want to be doing something wrong. Again, THANKS RSBRETH!!! Lastly, I will say that we both targeted goggle-eye the entire trip. I could see the fish and they did appear to be on bed. We casted both artificial and live baits, but to no avail. I have still been stumped by the SW MO goggle-eye. Won't keep me from trying though. Until later, tight lines!

Hey, RS, correct me if I am wrong on this, but isn't night fishing on the lake still legal? CU's website says that it is, and I see nothing on the MDC about it. It should just be the park that is closed past sunset. It intrests me as well. I have been in the canoe and put in well before sun up at Southwood in the hottest part of the summer to avoid paddling myself to death in the heat. Am I in the wrong on this one?

By the way, does anyone know if the MDC stocks the lake for them? I've not heard of a stocking, and I figured it wasn't a top priority, but Ive been pretty curious about that for a while.

The only thing I have seen or heard of crappie being caught on is cranbaits and spinnerbaits. It's strange to not see a more booming population at that lake though. From the time that I have been fishing it (which is since I have started attending classes at MSU in '09) I've really noticed how large of a shad population that there is. The bass really do well as well as the channel cats. It's just strange not to see a bigger crappie population with that much forage in the lake. I have wondered for a long time about the current in the lake. I read an article (by whom I can't rightly remember) that the lake's entire water supply changes 5-6 times in one month. I know crappie don't necessarily like high flow, and I wonder if this has something to do with it. Possibly not enough ideal habitat? Just a thought, as I may be way off base with this. The only thing I really ever have known about catching crappie is that where there is one there tends to be more.

Hey all, Long time and no updates. Between school and work I have been very busy, so not much time to wet a line, less post about it. At any rate, I wanted to see if any body has been out lately and how the lake is. Mainly, I wanted to see if the water temperature has dropped any due to the rains or if it's held pretty steady. I took a trip out mid-week last week for all of about 4 hours and surface temperatures where reading between 64-67. I'd like to know because I am getting the itch to do a little catfishing. About the trip, I was able to pick off a few little dinks here and there on jigs. I will say that I didn't fish hard, just to get out and mosey around and enjoy the warmer weather. At any rate, I hope everyone is keeping tight lines! Best!

Didn't know if anyone has been fishing the spillway lately. I know the warm water outlet is a favorite for a lot of people through the winter due to the congregation of fish to that end of the lake. I'm hoping to have a few hours over the weekend to get away, but I don't know as much as I really want to drag the canoe out and get on the lake (I'm not a big fan of the freezing cold air and having to load a wet canoe with that). Anyway, to cut to the chase, I was wondering if any one has fished down below the spillway lately. I have heard really mixed reviews. The couple of times that I have fished down there was during the summer months. The last time, the hole was so full of gar that I think they just about had all of the smaller fish cleaned out. At any rate, I figured a lot of fish would run to this area or in the couple of holes down to get to the warmer water coming from the lake. Any idea on if anything is biting, or what people usually catch in this area. I see a lot of people catfishing, but I'd really like to look for a few bass or possibly small panfish before the season closes until May. Thanks for any tips. Also, if I find out anythign or catch anything, I'll be sure to post back. TIght lines and God bless!

Thanks for the tips. I know it's sometimes just as easy to go pick some up from the local bait stores, but I always seem to do best on channels on just about every river I have fished with live minnows. I am hoping that I can do well with these so I can pick some up and do a little catfishing over those evening stays on the gravel bars.

Hey all, It's been about a week and a half since I have been near a body of water and even longer since I have been really serious about doing some fishing. I have noticed this time of year that I can catch some big bull bluegill and the occasional cat or two by fishing some minnows. However, I am to the point that I am tired of paying for minnows, especially if I have a slow day and I don't nearly use the amount I bought (which as anyone knows can happen a lot this time of year). So I decided it might not be bad to use the last $10 I had on one of my BPS gift cards to get me a minnow trap and try my hand. It's not something I have done before, but I sure would like to learn how to do it, especially for those two day floats when I want to do some catfishing of an evening. So, to cut to the chase, I am looking for some ideas from anyone who may have tried this on the James or Little Sac. I have an idea just off of what I have read and researched through various online articles. I'm thinking of using bread and cornmeal stashed in either cheap pantyhose or onion bags (that way the minnows don't eat the food right off the sides of the trap). However, where should I anchor one of these in the river? I am thinking close to the bank, but I have heard that a lot of people have put them on the lower end of a shoal with the funnel opening pointing down stream. Does anyone have suggestions on what I have found or what I may not have found yet? I appreciate all the advice. Also, I am hoping to hit Fellows or Springfield here in the next week (maybe Sunday) for some bass. I'll be sure to post any pictures/reviews and possibly some video from my new action camera if I can. Till then and as always, tight lines and God bless!

Hey, I took a trip up here about a week and a half ago, but wasn't fishing for bass. I threw a few jigs tipped with some minnows looking for whatever would bite. It was a pretty slow day. I caught a couple of bluegill from some of the pockets doing this. Wasn't really looking for much, just enjoying one of those pretty (albeit windy) winter days we've been pretty blessed with lately. Speaking of the subject though, I am going to try and hit either there or Springfield on Sunday. If I do, I'll be sure to post any results I find. Here's a question for you, or for anyone else... Has anyone tried dropshotting this time of year on any of the three Springfield lakes? I haven't really tried it yet, but I have had some success in the past on some of the lakes back "home" (SE MO). Just wondering what colors would be best. Tight lines!

Hopper, I'm from Ironton (grew up just outside of Elephant Rocks). I actually went to a small church just outside of Fredericktown (over near Silvermines). Maybe we could get together some time. Also, Thanks everyone for the excellent ideas. I love to fish, but a day out floating would always be nice. Heres to waiting till a little later in the spring for some warmer weather and a few good rains! Happy New Year!