MCrump

From aldrich bridge to the old bridge pillars was a MAX of 4 feet deep. Most of it was shallower than that. Buddy and i were tempted to go further in the river but just past the pillars it narrows up and shallows even more. We started churning mud in the deepest part of the channel with a shortshaft 3 horse Johnson and decided to give it up. It is likely similar depths until you get around the corner and start straighter down the long eddy that approaches orleans. Continued warmth accompanied by a decent rain should make them brave enough to run it. Run it in numbers that is. I would think herons and other birds could feast like crazy if they tried to go now as shallow as it is. At least when i was there last week. Haven't been back. Haven't heard on the news how much rain that area got last night. I hope this year is similar to the 2013 run. This is the first time they've let the lake start off this low since then, and that was a great year.

Went yesterday morning and tried it. The initial goal was crappie but couldn't find them over brush (I think we managed two shorts after hiting multiple brush piles). Minnows and jigs with every presentation was unsuccessful. Then we went further away from the lake hoping to find whites or crappie. After we managed one white trolling we stayed in that area and managed 7 more with 2 shorts. Had to be trolling though....(I think we caught one by casting and reeling) Same bait with same presentation while casting would not yield fish. Why is that guys? Are the fish just following the lure that long before they agree to strike? I ran into that one time before on Stockton this time of year on the little sac and it was so frustrating that you HAD to be trolling. Pull start the old 6 horse... get a fish, kick it in neutral, half the time it died, restart it and kick it in drive, repeat.... We loved how consistent the whites were that day but so frustrated that we couldn't just cast for them and I never could understand why. Fishing yesterday wasn't nearly that good but the few we managed really only like the lure if we were trolling. Anyway, water temps started about 65 and were up to 69 when we left that afternoon. The friend I went with managed a hybrid as one of his fish but it wasn't any bigger than two of the best whites. We had fun and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather. Wind was blowing harder as we left and I was tempted to return to the lake to find whites on wind blown banks that evening but since I had been gone since the early morning I figured the girls at home would want me there.

I was curious if anybody has been near any water on the Niangua to provide info on clarity. I've been working and haven't had a chance to look. I did drive over some Osage Fork water that was still up and muddy on Monday but haven't been near any Niangua water. Trying to decide if I would rather fight bugs at night on the river or seed ticks in the woods first chance I get away from work.

Wow.... I have been away from the forum for a couple weeks. Wish you guys would have been up to something more productive, like a cure for cancer or something but then again this is a fishing forum. I've always wondered what topics would get the most views/comments/posts.... To challenge this one I think my buddy and I need to get a whole stringer full of keeper smallmouth and take pics of us filleting them and cooking them. He's always said nothing will get us crucified on here faster than that and I've agreed. (I know some people keep smallmouth and as long as the law is being obeyed I don't care either way. But as for me there is no reason to worry gentlemen, I'm no smallmouth fisherman, most days not much of a fisherman at all, although I do love being out there trying it.)

Buddy and I gave it a try in the spillway yesterday morning. We knew the forecast but our days off at work together seem slim, especially when the honey-do lists tie up most of our other time, so we remembered the rain gear and headed out. Got started a little after daylight and things were slow. And stayed slow. No water coming over or through the dam. I did catch 6 crappie in about 30 minutes from one location with a keeper rate of about 17% early. Then no crappie the rest of the day. It stayed slow but managed to pick up 2 smaller hybrids, 3 whites, and one smaller blue catfish spread out all morning. Gave it a break and went into town for ice, lunch, and break from the drizzle. Came back and they had started generating some with a slight rise in the water level. I was hopeful but nothing really changed, managed one more white during that hour and then gave it up. Had fun being there and getting to hear/feel the drag go out a couple times. Oh, and the water color was pretty dingy for the spillway's norm.

I was wondering how it was looking there. Considered trying gigging there before season ended but went to a couple different spots instead. Was the ramp looking usable oneshot?

Went last Thursday night with some buddies up on the Gasconade, water was impossible to see through past 4 feet. We got enough to satisfy, although we held off on cooking, which got me out of work because my buddy agreed to take them home on ice and clean them the next day. Went again Saturday night on the Niangua and water clarity was good to probably 8 feet or more. This time we cleaned them and ate them on the riverbank which is my favorite meal this time of year. It is nice to be able to gig in just a long sleeve shirt and no gloves, but I'm ready for the time to change so I can get home a little sooner after one of those nights. Wasn't a ton of fish there but with no moon and some luck even a guy with my skills (which are slim) can get enough to not go hungry. Got to stay in the same hole of water. Access at Prosperine is rough but you can manage. I wish the gravel bar wasn't so grown up. Anyway, I hope to be at it again soon.

Wondering anybody had tried to battle the 46,000 cfs for any fish and what the results were if so... I have never tried been up there when that much discharge was occuring so I don't know if it is even worth a trip to try. Looks like they shut discharge back down for a day or two and plan on cranking back up again Saturday according to the forecast. Any info would be appreciated.

So the southeast side of the spillway, correct? That is where I have seen the gates, but like I said before the gates are open every time I'm there even though the sign is on them. The road to get to the northwest side of the dam also has gates and they were closed the couple times I tried to drive in there. I'm wondering if that will end whenever they get done with installing blades on the new impeller and get it up and running.

I have made a few trips to fish below the dam before. One time when they were letting a lot of water out last fall I even picked a few good crappie. But every time I go I fish near the gravel bar (on it if it's exposed) and I always see people way up close to the dam. There are gates with a sign that pretty much says "do not enter" but they are always open - does that mean do not enter when the gates are closed or always? Just curious if anybody has ever been up there? Or do the guys I see have some special privileges? I would love to go up there but certainly don't want to be doing something I'm not supposed to. Any insight would be appreciated. (Successful fish stories from that spillway would also be appreciated.) haha