MSUFisherBear

I am thinking about dragging the Yak up from the park in Ozark and doing a little fishing. Any news or reports on how the fishing is on this area?

Hey all, I have been looking for a "CPR" tournament to try and join. I'd love to have one that wouldn't take me to far from town, so that I could fish the mornings before work. I'd like to do one that's for Kayaker's and canoer's only. Anyone have any good ideas? I found the idea when looking for kayak specific tournaments online, since I don't have a boat. I'm open to suggestions. It'd be AWESOME if we could do a derby on Springfield or Fellows like this as well!!!

Honestly, I usually do pretty good on this lake. Far and above the rates that I catch on Fellows. It would be nice for a little more variation in the fish (i.e. if the MDC would manage a little better for crappie), but there are really two things that I have noticed since I started fishing the lake. One, to be successful, you have to be willing to change it up. This is no-offense to any of the other anglers, and for all I know they do well, but when I see the majority of guys pitching jigs, fishing spinnerbaits or crankbaits, or tugging frogs around the lake, I go to the exact opposite. And I will sometimes change the color to something completely different. This may be just a confidence thing for me, but I do think that fish have a fair memory and do hold on to information like that for an extended period (only the good Lord knows exactly if that's true, and if so how long). The second thing that I have noticed is you have to look for the water in between. I see a lot of guys fish very specific areas, and for good reason. A laydown just underneath the water. A pocket in lilly pads, etc. However, I find that if I can distance myself and get away from where everyone eles has been beating the bank I find a little more success. I did go out again this morning and did great on the senko again. Different day, different bait. I could go out this coming Sunday and slay 'em on a grub, or maybe a jointed shad-rap, or really have a slow day. I do think that the slow weather changes and the persistance of cool water has really got the fish and fisherman off timing. Typically by this time, I am starting to see more and more bass crusing the flats and shallower water. So far, in 3 trips over the past week, I've counted 5 (and all looked like little bucks). I have a tendancy to believe that we really are in a transition phase, and a good pattern hasn't set in yet.

Nope, I was a loner.

If you were out yesterday, I would say it's because the turtles are finally starting to come out of hiding for the winter. They were on every rock and log sticking out of the water yesterday.

Redtick, what time were you out? I tried a Senko, which is how I caught them on Easter Sunday, but yesterday the only way I could catch them was on a tiny swimbait.

Well, a little late on typing the report, but here's what happened. Started the day throwing a wacky rigged Senko around brush. After failing to even secure a sniff, and judging by the nearly high bluebird skies, I decided to downsize to a two inch swim bait and pull it EXTREMLY slow. Right after switching I caught a chunky little female just outside of the Conservation center area. I ended the day with three. All together not bad considering how slow it was. But... It sure was a pretty day!

Well... Seeing as I work the weekend and have the day off, it's time to load up the yak and head to Springfield. Gonna let the sun get out for a while before starting. I'll post results this evening.

Chief- thanks for the report. Ma have to fish some moving water soon. And for the report from today. Took the little red yak out and did fairly good. Not on what I thought I would though. The lake was chalked full of anglers today, and I seen that most were doing one of three things... Flipping jigs, cranking crankbait /spinnerbaits, or fishing Texas worms. So, figuring the bass had been about beaten to death with those three, I switched to a wacky rigged BPS Stick-O. I caught 6 in about an 2 hours of fishing. Not anything of great size, but they inhaled it. I did try out the berkley worms as well. I caught 4 big red eaR on four straight casts all within about 5 feet of each other. Beautiful day, and the fish biting never hurts.

That's what I was afraid of. I love the hard strikes but I have a tough time slowing down. Twitching a shad rap may be a hot ticket too. I drove by this morning to look at water color and feel temp. It looked good, but I guess I can let the fish tell me that on Sunday :-P

True arch. At one pont in time I came across an article that said that lake Springfield is one of the quickest bodies of water to completely replace its water from it's stock source. Lakes of the same size could only replace their water completely twice a year whereas Springfield was around 6 times per year. My problem will be that I have a very small window on Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon to wet a line or i may be forced to wait a couple more weeks.

Little late on this one, but that's an awesome trip. I've made the trek to hike the AT a couple of times and spent a lot of time in the park. I haven't fished it yet, but I intend to this summer on the vacation trip I take. Great write up and certainly spot on!

One other item to tack on here.... I want to try the Berkley Gulp nightcrawlers. I thought I may let a hungry bluegill or cat possibly tell me if they like them. I got a trial pack from a friend, so I don't want to invest in 'em if they don't work, but they would be great for the girlfriend, or her kid brother when I take them out. Basically, it's a trial run, but I don't want to skew my results because of the weather.

Depends on area and rain amounts that we get. I'm partial to stayin in the areas of somewhat moving water, so staying nearer the river section of the lake seems like a better guess. I've been catching most of my bass lately on craws and jigs, but I was thinking that it's just about time to break out a few square billed cranks and bounce the rocks and timber. I really don't like to fish cranks like some guys do when the water is cold because I get a little antsy and pull the bait too quick (talking super cold water here, and dead sticking to barely moving cranks), so I have better luck on the aforementioned baits. Give me water that hits the low 50's and it seems the fish are a bit more reactive, thus I do a little better. Also, I have some homemade spinnerbaits that I would like to try out on the fish. Not anything special, but it's always a huge thrill to catch a fish on a homemade bait. I got hooked by remaking cranks by spraypainting my own in patterns that resemble our native baitfish a little more. The first bass I caught on one just made it sink in more.

I've got a hunch on a technique that might work well this weekend if some of the rain that we get is warm. However, I don't want to mess with it if the water turns to chocolate milk. I've heard there is a 50% chance for Friday at this point. Has anyone heard how much? Also, anyone who has been down to the lake this week: Has the two recent snow amounts jumped the water up a whole bunch?

I have a lot of luck on burning cranks believe it or not. Specifically lipless with a rattle. I've caught 'em on all sorts of different colors before, so it's tough to pick just one. I will say that it's not always a sure deal to catch them, but when those fiesty males hit one, it feels like you just hooked up with a monster. When they are biting, it's a really quick way to get a good arm workout in. I've also had luck on crappie sized spinnerbaits, tail spinners, and shad-rap style baits worked in a slash-pause-slash pattern.

Parsons, I also meant to tell you... Don't look for enormous schools like you would see on the lakes Bill mentioned. Someone may correct me on this but I believe the whites are not managed in Fellows like the other species and tend to be an inhabitant of the older river system. I was once told that they were placed there by other anglers. I don't know the validity of that statement but from what I have ever gathered from the MDCs outlook, it seems to be that they are certainly not intended to be a considerable portion of the population.

Very true Wayne. I believe one of the best approaches is the run and gun. Once ya find 'em, you can catch 'em all day.

That was what I was figuring on. Thanks for the report there RSBreth. I think with NOAA's forecast of rain and highs between the mid-50s and low 60's may really set us on our way in that department. I think it could be very possible for the whites to make runs up around Cox if the water does get up from the snow and rain. All speculation, though, I suppose since the weather can certainly change in this state in an instance (a la 80 degree weather a week and a half ago, and now snow) :-S

I think this is why I love this little lake so much. It's a great fishery and odd. I have caught fish in places and at times where all practical experiences would have told me "there is no way there is fish there". I loved going out here about 2 years ago in a large snow storm and catching some rather agressive fish on a Shad-Rap, a day I would have thought not likely, but tried it out due to the warm water flow. I think one of my favorite aspects of the lake is the miriad of fishing opportunities that it presents. If you like grass, it's the place to go. Like fishing bluffs? Well, theres always a fish or two there. River type of guy? There's log jam upon log jam in the upper portions in flowing water. I think one of the other reasons I love the lake so much is because it mimics the lakes in SEMO, where I grew up. If anyone has ever fished Wappapelo, you would know what I am talking about. The massive shad schools just make it that much better. It doesn't hurt that I think some of the most curteous fishermen reside in Springfield, MO, and the lakes in this area are blessed to have them. From experiences on several bodies of water, I can say this place tends to be the exception to the norm, IMHO.

So, for those of you who have been privileged enough to hit the river and upper reaches of the rock.... Are the fish still staging. I heard that folks where still catching quite a few down around cape fair. I also have the hunch that these two recent rounds of snow have got to set us back.

Twas a bad idea to read this post while taking a drink of Dr. Pepper. Nearly lost it from laughing.

I couldn't agree more. I took one of my friends out in the canoe last year with a popper one morning, very early. We drifted down from Southwood and fished in and around the grass on the shallower edges and flats along the channel. Every isolated pocket held a fish, and I watched as my friend recorded back to back personal bests on the day of 4lbs 2 ounces, and 5lbs 6oz. Sadly, I didn't have my phone that morning as it had been raining and I didn't want to ruin the phone. No pics that morning, but it was one of the best fishing memories of recent past.

Bill, I certainly agree with your comments on those waters. If you have the time/money make the trip. Otherwise, if you are looking for a quick afternoon out, this is what I have found from Fellows and McDaniels. Fellows - I have only found schools of Whites on the south arm of the lake when schooling on shad. Problem with that scenario is you need a boat to get out there. If you don't have one, or don't have a partner, then I would focus my efforts close to the bridge on the upper end of the north arm. I have caught them there schooling at night through the spring. Problem is this time of year, there are LOTS of people in that area catfishing, so getting a good spot to throw for whites can be difficult. McDaniel - This one is iffy. Considering the only real place to throw from is the Bridge, it can be tough. The sad thing is, this time of year the whites, especially the males that are making their run right about now, can really do a number when you find them in those flats. Being confined to the bank on that lake with limited fishing areas really limits your abilities.

gurzik, Same way I found them, except I did well this last trip out with the darter head and single tail 5" grub. I had that feeling that the temp was in that range. Based on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday's forcasts, it sounds like that temp may very well drop back into the lower 40's X-(