fishinwrench

Kayaker, We got 3 1/2"+ last night...... so she's completely blown out now. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv/?site..._cd=00065,00060

For spinning gear I've settled on P-Line Flouroclear in 6# for lightweight stuff, and P-Line CX Premium in 8# for medium sized baits and/or slightly bigger hooks.

Yes both pics are of the same track, just different angles. No I don't see cause to "alert the media", I know that there are a few bears around here and we used to see tracks alot when I lived in Georgia but they looked more like oversized cat tracks (probably the front foot) and I saw what I'm pretty sure was a small black bear near Mill creek here in MO. several years ago. I was just kinda shook over the size of it at first....but I think the sand exaggerates that somewhat.

There were other tracks in the gravel and mud that looked like they were from the same critter, but they weren't as clearly defined.

More like 13" And yeah, I think I'd rather run into Bigfoot, or a bear, than to see a turtle that big. LOL Actually I think gunner was referring to a turtle digging (like they do when they lay eggs). But there would be tracks where it exited the hole, no? Besides, there were other "footprints" from whatever it was nearby....but that one was the most distinct. If it is a footprint then whatever made it was either 4-legged or wasn't very heavy, because my own footprint in the same sand was alot deeper. I dunno, but it looks like 3 big toes in front with a 4th toe kinda off to the side. Do you think it resembles this? : cuz I'm beginning to think so.

Dropped in at Fiery forks at 10:30am and paddled up a mile or so. The water was up about 1 ft. from normal and had some good color to it. After catching a few dinks on poppers and muddlers I grabbed the spinning rod and pitched jigs to the woody cover along the banks for awhile but they either weren't in it, or they were so far in it that I couldn't get a bait to them. I switched to a small tube and put a little pattern together by fishing the weed edges inside the eddys, By concentrating only on the eddy grass I caught a bunch of 10 - 12 inch Smallies and lost one on the jump that would have gone 15-16". Later in the afternoon I parked the canoe, grabbed the flyrod and took a walk up past a section that was too fast to paddle up through, to try some poppers in the slow weedy section above it. I caught 4 little smallies and a couple of largemouth and then I ran across THIS ! .... WTF makes a print like that ?

Sure ! And BTW, it doesn't require "big, fast & fancy"....it just has to float. Gunnels: (slang for gunwales)..... more commonly known as the side of the boat. You swing the big boys over the port (left) side if your right handed, starboard (right) if you're a lefty. To holler "NET" when flippin'/pitchin'...is a sign of weakness

My sentiments exactly. I had a copperhead take up residence right next to my mailbox ... and he had to go. But all others get a free pass with me.

So is a Cadillac salesman that drives a Tracker. Seriously though....For starters I lost 3 boats and all my bassin' gear in the tornado. Besides, I did nothing but chase green bass in the lakes for 23 years, I've owned 11 bass boats, 3 pontoons, 3 jon boats, and a racing rig in the past. I just sold my 364 Ranger (simply wasn't getting used), and I have my jon boat on ebay and here on the buy/sell section for the same reason. When you work on them for a living the last thing you want to see, hear, or smell in your free time...is a motorboat. Not that I don't still enjoy them, and LOVE working on them, but my fishing has switched almost entirely to rivers and creeks. So my bassboats come and go, but the canoes, paddle-toons, and waders are what really get utilized these days. I have plenty of boats available if I truly want to hit the lake. Believe it or not there comes a time when swingin' a 6-7lb. bass over the gunnels doesn't get you excited anymore, but a 12" smallie or trout at your feet still DOES...that's when it's time for a switch.

You met me too late in life I'm afraid.....been there/done that, and moved on

They used to fire a cannon when someone was spotted floating the river. I've heard it go off (5 or 6 times) from way downstream, about 8 seconds between shots....so they must either be fast loaders, or have more than one. The OF is apparently not considered a "navigable waterway", inspite of the fact that you can legally access it both upstream and downstream of that particular section. I wish someone would challenge that (the right to float that section) in court....cuz I think it could be won.

Cricket, You need to first get real familiar with a section of "clearer" water (the best night fishing is usually from the dam to Tan-Tara area, or the Niangua and/or Gravois arm). Locate some 8-15ft. brushpiles that are either on or close to structure or close to backend flats. Texas rigged worms and deep crankbaits will catch the brushpile fish (make a pass with the crankbaits, give it a rest, then make another pass with the worms). If the brushpile fish won't cooperate head to the backends of the bigger creeks and coves, there are always some keeper fish cruising those backends at night and they'll eat buzzbaits, big jigs and worms, ect. Stealth is important in those backends, hunt those shallow fish as if you are trying to sneak up on a flock of turkeys. If you make a bunch of noise (or heck...even a little noise) you will miss out on a lot of bites.

I don't use braid myself, but my buddy that does carry's a Swiss army knife.

Looks good. Thanks for posting the pics.

Man that sounds like a blast.....if I could find a spot with fly eating cats in my neck of the woods I'd be all over it. You're gonna mess around and hang a big ol' flathead eventually. If it's connected to the river there's gotta be one in there. Snap a pic of that strip fly if you get a chance, I'd like to steal....I mean SEE it. It will be interesting to see if you can stay on them all Summer without having to resort to bait.... keep up the reports if you can.

I doubt that Wally would bother eating a Cricket......He's foraging on jetskiers.

Gross ! As of midnite I see that it still hasn't crested at Akers.

The upper Gravois and upper Little Gravois arm of Lake Ozark are ate up with huge carp, and it blows my mind that nobody is up here tearing them up, not even the bowfishers. I wouldn't be wading it though...until they locate "Wally" (a 5ft. Alligator that recently came up missing in that area)

You'll probably want to get away from the mid-lake (Osage Beach) area unless you only plan to fish after dark. During the daytime the upper Gravois arm, upper Niangua(s), or upper Osage (above milemarker 45) is where I go when the lake is crowded. But for night-fishing bass it's hard to beat the Dam to Tan-tara area, because those fish get very little pressure at all during the day and can really turn on once the docks stop bouncing.

16ft. Ouachita Jon boat & trailer. Side depth: 20" Beam: 67" Transom: 16" No Title 600.00 OBO in Gravois Mills, MO. 573-692-2926 Boat is solid (few minor dents) and transom wood is in excellent condition. Trailer tires and bearings are in good condition, but the trailer needs new lights/wiring installed. 1 7/16 hitch.

Gotta go with soft plastic. Either a Fluke type bait, or a texas rigged worm.

Now is the time to get'em on the fly if you can find them in the right kind of places. Sounds like Esox has located a concentration in a shallow backwater flat. Enjoy it and get'em while you can, cuz they'll be gone, or spread out considerably in a few weeks I bet. Channel cat up to 5-6 lbs. run up the Lake Ozark tribs in tight schools during the early Fall (Sept.-Oct.) and you can sight fish for them (with clouser type flys) if conditions and timing are right. It's fun if you hit it right....but darn hard to predict.

11.6 ~ on a 1/4oz. lime green buzzbait, January 1998, inner-canal milfoil beds, North Okeechoobee. darn, I've put on a little weight since then !

The wild trout thing really only seems "special" to me if a fish is born in the river....of wild parents who were also born in the same river. And to my knowledge the only river in MO. where that is most likely to happen is the NFOW. I have a hard time buying the Crane creek/McCloud legend, but the fact that I have my own personal (self-induced) doubts doesn't take anything away from Crane, as far as I'm concerned. I just happen to be one of those guys that never rules out a potential conspiracy. I mean seriously, Crane was dry as a popcorn fart for years....then we get one wet season and ShaZam ! Wild McClouds Everywhere ! I've seen hatchery rainbows in Georgia and Tennesee that look so rough, beat-up and pale that they might as well be chubs ... but MO. hatcherys produce some really pretty and healthy trout. Good enough to pass for wild (obviously) or we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Just my opinion.

This time of the year you don't get many head-shot oppurtunitys at Gray's if you are packin' a .22 Too many leaves....and Grays NEVER sit still. Oneshot has the right tool for the job, no doubt.