countryred

My main goal is just to fish more in 2015. 2014 was a rough year. One highlight was watching my daughter hook and land about a 4 lb channel cat , by herself, and then help me clean and cook it. She really enjoyed it. I did catch a 17 inch smallie on the Jacks Fork during our May vacation. That's my best one so far down there. Seen some bigger ones there and hope to tangle with them this year.

Good list. Some traveling to do there. Most of my 'Minnow Bucket List" is in Missouri or very close.

Why is that? Turbulence in the water, baitfish, others species?

Good read and info. They are a neat critter. Hard to believe how much some fish travel.

Square bills tend to catch on cover, for just a second, and pop free. That fast burst causes a reaction strike. A rounded bill tend to go around cover, if it can. They both can be worked through heavy cover. I love working a Bagley killer b 2 through laydown logs on heavy line in the spring. I liked the square bills more for fishing upriver in the summer and fall. The old alphabet plug craze in the 70's made square bills popular. They kinda faded away until the Late 90's when Clunn, KVD, and other guys had tournament wins.

Might be truer than we think......good read

It really really depends on location. In murkier areas , use pretty much what you would fish for largemouths. Clear water areas dictate topwater, jerkbaits, or natural colored plastics. A small jig and craw combo is probably my favorite.

Wrench...I grew up stomping around that area. Plenty of danged otters there now. Fun place to learn to fish.

Cool read Al. thanks for sharing. I loved setting minnow trap in our local creeks as a kid. Green sunfish, chub minnows, crawfish and the occasional bullhead were the most common catches. I did catch an orange throated darter once, very cool fish for the tank. Made the mistake of adding a larger predator and the darter became lunch. I don't think we have very many up here in northeast Mo. Stonerollers are another cool tank fish. I also had a baby snapping turtle. He would get picked on by a crawfish at feeding time. One day I came home and the crawfish was dismembered and the turtle was innocently sitting on his long. I remember catching my first smallmouth as a kid. It was in otter creek which flows in to Mark Twain lake now. We also caught "muddpuppies", hellbenders,....."Eels.".. lamprays ..The ecosystems were different back then..

I hear ya there guys. My Dad passed away in February He found out his time was short on December 1st and wanted to try to fish one more time. But we had so many negative temps everything was froze over and he wasn't able to travel. He and Mom went on several good trips in the past. He hired a guide, Bill Fletcher, I think... on Norfork to catch stripers but they weren't biting, they did have fun catching Kentuckies under a bridge. . Another trip they hired Steve Custer on Truman to catch White Bass and Hybrids, The lake was flooded but they caught a bunch on the Long Shoal Beach on spoons. He and Mom were going to make a trip to see our 10 acres near the Jacks Fork last fall....Wished that could have happened. That's one of the reasons that I am making a list....to get a chance to do some cool trips before I get too old..lol

Thanks guys for the ideas, keep them coming...I used to fish 50-75 days a year minimum , now I just try to .cram a few good trip in per season.

If you could pick any 10 fishing trips for any species, all in Missouri, to put on a personal bucket list,...what would they be?? Examples: 1. Paddlefish snagging below Truman in March. 2. Trout and Smallmouth fishing and floating the Eleven Point during early spring. 3. Bass fishing on Lake of the Ozarks in early June, weekday. 4. Crappie fishing on Table Rock during the spawn. 5. White Bass runs up the creek, somewhere. 6. Blue Cats on the Mississippi River near St Louis during the hot summer. 7. Wade fishing for Smallmouths and Goggleyes on a small Ozark stream. 8. Spotted Bass fishing in deep water on Table Rock during late fall. 9. Hybrid Stripers on either side of Truman in the Spring or Summer. 10. Walleye fishing on Stockton during early spring.

thats an awesome thing to do,...find a good kid or young adult just getting into the sport....I'll keep an eye out. I know some of the schools are having high school teams, might try those

I am old school,,,Bagley B's...1,2,and 3's.....

Thomas Hill's hot water arm is suitable for a kayak. Some of the best fishing is right at the ramp. Hybrid stripers sure could pull you around. Lots of easy to find brush piles around the corner for crappie and bass. Do not go past the island in a kayak if it is even slightly windy. Good fish'n!

please delete

I have 4 Diawa baitcasters for sale...procasters 5:2-1 ratio...5 ball bearings..I used them spinnerbaits and crankbaits. 4 reels for $ 100 shipped....I paid 75-90 each https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=827080677314886&set=ms.c.eJw9z8ERRCEIA9COdoCAhP4bW0X8xzcBjLQUysqEOrl~_bEOOyzBOoqjhNl4iy2mWY682OGa2RcYVx1qzryZ97~_Uq1VYdI7qP8s33~_3734QpPI~%3BfBse1KZhrPrjf~%3B5g0VsT~%3B4crQzx4Gev322d~%3BVzT2K85ORZGOfNNf6ER0DE.bps.a.816117911744496.1073741844.100000388834309&type=1&theater

Danger, sorry don;t have the table rock upper any more, I think it blew out of the boat around Baxter last time I was there.lol 5bites , pm sent .....they are yours

Flathead'n is fun. We used to catch them on the Salt before Mark Twain was impounded. Mark twain was good too. Big sunfish near heavy cover, big hooks, big line, big baits. Great eating, gave the Blues and Channels to he neighbors.

I have a collection of lake maps for sale. Would like to sell as a lot if people still use maps. Still cleaning on the garage. Truman, table rock, lake of the ozarks, mark twain, Ky and Barkley, lake Eufaula, alabama $15 shipped https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=827341820622105&set=a.816117911744496.1073741844.100000388834309&type=1&theater

good one!

SOLD

please delete......all sold

Yep. I watched all those. Very informative and entertaining. I always hated those tournaments where the fish were grouped up on a few small spots and everyone knew where. Lots of dangerous boat racing and fighting over the holes.I never felt it was right to go in on someone within a 100 yards or so,if they were sitting on a spot. Or if they were leading on day 1, I wouldn't go near them. We used to have a group of guys that would share patterns and tell each other places, but no one would go in on someone unless invited. Times have changed, and mindsets too. Probably another reason I don't tournament fish anymore. That and work, kids softball, work,kids band, work, family stuff. more work, health reasons , $4 gas and 50k boats and work. But looking back, I had a blast.

looks good