Big Bay Outdoors

Well, I have traded in my rod and reel for my gun and bow. Time to start getting ready to shoot some deer!! I might take the canoe out one more time since we got this wonderful rain today but that will be all. I'm winterizing the boat and storing it!

I took the canoe this afternoon about 4pm and put in under the Jackson street bridge below the dam. I'm pretty sure your not suppose to drive all the way down to the water under that bridge but I did anyway. There was no way I was dragging that canoe and all my gear for 100 yards to the water. I did park in the appropriate place after launching though. I headed back toward the dam where there are quite a few sunken trees and nice rock ledges. I rigged an 1/8 ounce jig head with a brown watermelon seed "BPS, MR. Finess 4 inch". I cut it in half and made a tube effect with the bottom. (picture below) My second cast I caught a nice 14 inch smallmouth. Got several more hits but I believe they were just small perch. I left there and headed back toward the bridge fish both banks finding little to no bite at all there. Not a football field away from where I put in was my first walk. The water is very low and in total I walked 5 times in about a 3 to 400 yard float. On the other hand the fish were grouped together in small pools of deeper water. I found several smallmouth and largemouth in groups of 3 or more trapped (so to speak) in small pools. They were active and willing to eat. I also used a wacky rig of the same color Mr. Finess worm. They were not very aggressive but if you throw, bump it and let it sit they are right there to pick it up. The topwater bite was obsolete for lures but I broke out the fly rod at dark and caught some very nice perch and even smallmouth. Using a topwater chartreuse and red popper. Other than those few baits I used a good old bobber and hook with GULP minnows in the can. Caught several, several perch and even one or two smallmouth. I have been quite discouraged over the past few weeks due to this ungodly heat, but fish are just like us. They want food and a cool place to hang out. If you can find the color for the day you can do some decent catching. Good Luck!! Well sorry no photos right now, it won't let me upload.....will post when available.

I am headed there in about 2 hours, I'll post something of a report later this evening.

I constantly see people posting fishing areas, but I have no clue where they are at.... Can someone give me a web site or something that I can find these areas?

Does anyone know the HP limit for Fellows Lake and what the fee is to fish it? Also what is the fishing like? I absolutely have no desire to catch a Muskie (or how ever you spell it). I would like to catch some bass, crappie or perch. Any ideas? By the way the HEAT is killing me and the fish I think!! Big Bay Outdoors "Home of the FREE because of the BRAVE"

I have just recently moved back to the Ozark area and wanted to find other men that were interested in a Christian based outdoor group. Something where we meet once a month to eat, fellowship and discuss things that interest us in the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, camping, golf, clay shooting, archery, and anything else. It would give local men an opportunity to meet other locals that enjoy the outdoors. It would be targeted toward men, but not limited to them. Our mission is the outfitting of men for Jesus, helping them become better husbands, better fathers, and ultimately, the men God intended them to be. Plenty of men focus on building a career, a reputation, and a stable financial future, but find they have little to offer in the way of character or Christian commitment. We believe that men bear a responsibility to lead a family, not just to provide for their needs. Our personal legacy starts when we give ourselves as a servant to those who look to us for guidance. We long to inspire generations of men who will leave a legacy worth continuing… faith in Jesus Christ, and of responsibility as a man. We would have things like the following: Men & Boys Camp Outs Wild Game Hunts (deer, turkey, hog) Family Retreats and Couple Retreats Fishing Trips and Tournaments Wild Game Banquets Skeet Shooting and Tournaments Bird Hunts Waterfowl Hunts Father/Daughter/Son Canoe Trips Golf Games/Tournaments and anything else you can think up!! If this is something you are interested in, leave a comment. Good or bad (just be respectful). Thanks for reading.....

I am definitely up for helping other Soldiers out with there needs. I will have to check it out, did you have anymore info on it? Is it in Springfield, MO?

I was just about to post something about getting an outdoor group started in the Ozark area. I just think it would be a great outlet for guys like us who just need some social interaction with other christian outdoorsman. I like to hunt, fish, camp, and do just about anything in the outdoors. When I was stationed at Fort Hood there were several of these type groups. They would meet once a month on a tuesday night to eat and discuss different topics. They had different groups within the larger group that would be more specific to what you liked. Fly fishing, bowhunting, bow fishing, or anything. It would also be a good opportunity for the ones of us that have boats or canoes to meet people who don't have access to these things and could contribute to other fisherman. Or if you had land that you hunted on and could host people for a weekend or anything like that, this would be the place for it. What are your thoughts everyone?

I know that it seems as though I am complaining about one of the greatest outdoor hobbies in the world, but I guess it was just a bad day....... I don't work right now because I was medically retired from the Army (back surgery in above rant) and so I guess I'm just trying to keep myself busy with things I enjoy. It seems as though I can't even enjoy "catching" fish right now. I know, I know gloom, despair and agony on me. Not going for the pity party at all, just hoping to get the right advice for catching some fish. Like smallmouth in the Finley- what are you using? (I saw the post on the forum about Eakins rigs and others) What about Crappie- how, what and when are the best times? Largemouth- Do those spray attracters really work or am I wasting my money ? If I post on here enough will my sub name change from bleeding shiner to something else? What is the meaning of life....... Sorry got overwhelmed there Does anyone know of a Christian outdoor group that meets like once a month to exchange stories and eat, maybe plan trips or something? Does anyone go to JRA?

I don't WANT to give it all up, but man am I tired of putting so much time into it and not seeing the fruits of my labor!! AND no I could not give up SEX OR FOOD!! Craziness!!

So, I went to Springfield lake this morning. Went under the 65 bridge at Evans road, got there about 4:45 am. Put the canoe in and started with spook jr (bass color). Switched back and forth between frogs, plastic worms (every color EVER MADE!!), drop shot, carolina rig, texas rig, Gulp alive minnows, crank baits, and deep divers! Not only did I not get 1 single hit on any of those costly baits I also fought the wind and the canoe that wanted to keep drifting completely in the wrong direction! On top of all of that my seat back broke! (I had back surgery in 2011, so you can imagine a seat back is something I could not live without) I decided to turn and head home at 8:30 am. After feeling 100% wore out I made it back to the ramp all the way from the main lake by 9:30 am. Yes it took me an hour to paddle back up to the ramp. NON STOP! I believe I have said all of that to say this...... It may be time to hang the fishing up for a while!! My wife would love it if I never went again, I think! The simple solution to this whole ordeal would be to just sit back relax and just wait until next year when the crappie fishing is good and its not so hot and we're not right in the middle of a drought! I may just say FORGET IT and sell everything I have that has to do with fishing!! I mean I've tried fishing the Finley for smallmouth and Table Rock for bass of all kinds and Stockton for crappie and bass but never have I ever caught fish on a consistent basis or in good numbers!! What should I do?? Concerned and at one time avid fisherman......

HAHA Yeah I know what you mean!! Lucky for me, my mother in law is a different breed of woman. She is not the typical in law, she's pretty fun to be around.

Well today was not nearly as productive as yesterday. I began the morning by throwing the BPS Kermy frogs. I notice the bite was a lot slower. As in barely any at all. When they did hit it, it was after I bumped it and then let it sit for a second or two. I tried some of the back water and had no luck there. The majority were caught right out on the main part of the river area. Along the grass beds and submerged trees on Green pumpkin trick worm rigged either Texas style or with a Chompers shaky head. I'll be taking a rest for the next couple of days..... (mother -n- law is coming town) Not a bad thing though! I will most likely be taking the Bass boat out to Table Rock - Kimberling City area on thursday or friday of next week. I'll post reports of what I see and hear between now and then on all three forums------ Table Rock, Finley River and Springfield Lake. Thanks for reading! Big Bay Outdoors

Yes the brand I fished with was Bass pro and the name was Kermy. Any color variation works. They have very long legs and it drove the bass nuts!!

Yes I put in right there at Evans road launch and head to the left. If you stay to the right side of that area with a frog in the morning, your golden. There are all kinds of back water areas to hit and the bass are plentiful! Headed there at about 5 in the morning to give it another go. The worm works once the top water bite decreases. I like that Tequila Sunrise Texas rigged. I will note that I saw an amazing school of what I thought was Crappie tearing some schooled bait fish up! It was awesome!!