catman70

Well, the crappie are definately begining to move shallow. Limited out on nothing smaller than 11" Thursday night and Friday morning using minnows and jigs in 4-8 feet of water on or near brush. We're directly across from the Gravois Arm on the 6-mile marker – much farther downstream than from where most of the reports have been coming in. Bass still seem to be fairly sluggish and have not moved shallow. We did manage to catch a few in the 2-3 lbs. range using shad-raps and jerk baits in a perch color. There are a lot of bluegill around the docks after the sun comes up for a bit. Using these we were able to catch two blues that probably went 40-50 lbs and one smaller, probably 20-30 lbs. After that front moved through Friday night it pretty much shut everything down. Should be a great weekend over Easter. P.S. All fish released unharmed save for a dozen crappie.

Brian, I enjot reaading your reports on fly fishing the NFWR, but could you post a little information for us spining guys who don't want to fool with all those knots? Sometimes it seems the spin fishermen are overlooked in preference for the fly guys. Not just in your report, but in anything relating to trout. Prehaps I just need someone to show me how to properly fly fish. It just seems that I so rarely (2-3 times a month) get to visit a fine stream that I'd rather go with what knowledge I have than spend a bunch of time learning something new. Thanks, Tim

There may be a new world record in the books out of California. He did foul hook it, though. You can read the article at www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20060320-1251-bn20bass.html. I still wouldn't move out there. We get folks moving here interested in log homes that are upset over how the lakes are run – apparently heavily regulated by the government, you can't have a boat out after dark.

My brother caught a nice smallie out of that hole last summer using a 3" plastic crawdad. Here's an idea to solve your paddling woes: Old Town sells a bracket that fastens across the canoe behind the stern seat for roughly $30. You can buy a 30lbs. thrust troller for about $70, and have it cut down and the electrical wires lengthened and alligator clamps put on for about another $20. A good marine battery tops off the deal and for about $150-$170 total you have an electric powered canoe that can get you upstream to the holes, allows for easy boat control in the wind and can get you downstream in a hurry should you need to make a break for it.

Not to the Cook (Thanks, Bryantsmallie28). Riverside will shuttle you to the next access upstream – about 10 miles. I don't know if the walleye have gotten up that far, but maybe. I don't see why you couldn't talk one of the folks at the gas station on the corner to shuttle you for a few bucks. If you can wait till next week I might meet you down there for a float.

Didn't mean not to share, I just don't know the proper name of the access. At the junction of 160 and J West of Tecumseh there is a gas station and small store. There is a road just to the West of the store that will lead you North to the access. It's marked all the way. If you need tackle check out the tackle store just West of 160 and PP on the North side of 160. A fella named Vernon owns it and he'll take care of you – you may have to call him and wait though.

Floated from Cable Hole down to 160 Bridge Saturday afternoon. Using 1/8 oz. Chartreuse Road Runners tipped with crappie minnows we caught one 4 lbs. walleye, lost one of equal size and had a monster straighten a hook on us. Caught a few bass on jerk baits, but no walleye. Didn't see any whites. With regards to the previous topic; I think the law sees the Norfork impoundment as beginning at the convergence of the two rivers. My neighbor did very well under the 160 bridge Friday night on jerk baits - had one that must have been 8 lbs. We did some bank fishing on Sunday at Dawt Mill and about 10 miles up the Bryant without a bite. Maybe it got too cold for them. Saw lots of row on the ground around Dawt Mill Bridge. Small and yellow, I don't know what type of fish they were from - lots of piles, though.

I think most of your metal and mercury levels are coming from the burning of fossil fuels. That's why I'm for nuclear power instead of a new coal-fired plant up here in Springfield, but nobody's going to ask me – and the coal is a lot less expensive. However, this new report is news to me. The last time I looked (probably 3 yrs ago) the only bodies of water in MO with warnings on them were the 2 major rivers. Hard to believe it's getting worse, but I guess it makes sense.

Brian, I suppose the cold front moving through this Friday will really knock them down, or do the spawners not respond as much as thoughout the rest of the year? Also, I've heard that it's illegal to posess Walleye from dusk till dawn on the Bryant and North Fork – is this true? Thanks, Tim

It helps a lot. I've got a couple of buddies meeting me up therre this weekend, but maybe I could talk you into joining me sometime. Thanks again!

I moved down to Springfield August of 2001, graduated State December 2004, bought my fist house last year and got engaged two weeks ago. This adds up to me finding less and less time to hit the holes. I mostly fish, but do enjoy the occasional hunt. Tried deer and turkey for the first time last fall. Saw turkey during the deer hunt and deer during the turkey hunt, so maybe they'll get it right this year. I'm a spin fisherman who generally sticks to artificials, but who's not above going live when the going gets tough. I have an old fly rod, but I treasure my water time so much that I'd hate to spend what little time I do have learning a new technique. My travels have been limited to Lake Ozark, Bryant Creek (since last spring), Montauk, Taneycomo and occasionally AR tailwaters. Just got a trailer for gandpa's old boat at Lake Ozark – he never saw the need, but we can't keep the troller in the water any more b/c of the traffic. So, hopefully I'll be trying my luck at a few more lakes and deeper rivers. I think I'll try below Bagnell Dam this weekend for whites and walleye. Maybe I'll even drift a rod for cats. Speaking of the name; about three years ago my buddy and I figured out how to catch large catfish off our dock at Lake Ozark, with the largest being about 70 lbs. – or so we guess. I've attached a pic of one of the smaller ones – probably 30 or so. If you have a better guess, let me know. I'm about 5'9" @ 175lbs. I don't have a digital pic of the big one. Anyway, all released. We don't keep them after they get larger than 7-8 lbs. If anyone needs a partner for a trip let me know. Most of my fishing buds hail from St. Louis, and it would be nice to meet some folks a little more local. I'll be working a log home show in Fayetteville over the 24th of March, but I'd be ready for some well-deserved water time after that. Till then!

Thanks for the info. I've read back about looking for walleye on the channel swings. I've also had someone tell me that there aren't many walleye up close to Bagnell becasue of the mud bottom. Is it good water for walleye and whites from the dam down to the Missouri, or what should I be looking for? Thanks again!

I've never fished below Bagnell and wondered if someone could tell me if it's deep enough to run a bass boat all the way up to the dam, or what the best ramp would be to put in/how far up to go. Thanks!

Talent is a NO, but only becasue he thinks Missouri will get the short end of the stick – not becasue he's against the principal of the matter. Haven't heard back from Kit Bond.

Fellas, I just got back from Roy Blunt's office here in Springfield. From what I understand the sell off would allow private investors to develop the land which would increase the tax base. The Eleven Point is not in Mr. Blunt's district, so they didn't have any infromation on that. They did claim that most (if not all) of the acrage was donated by folks who passed on or for one reason or another, but it was not seized under eminent domain (again, just in this district). However, I voiced my opinion and learned that Mr. Blunt plans to vote against the measure. My next contact will be with our Senators, but I would urge anyone living to the East to contact your House Representative.

Just looking for any info on how it's been on the lake lately. Probably gonna be tough on account of the cold front coming through this weekend, but thought I'd ask anyway. Probably just hit the commercial doocks in search for crappie. On a different topic: How do you catch shad in deep water? I usually use a throw net in the fair weather months. Is it just snagging them? If so, what kind of rig?

Fellas, Other than a "no wake zone" I wouldn't think there is anyway he could keep you from fishing around his dock. This does bring up another question, though. It is my understanding that land up to the high water makr is considered public property on a navigable body of water in the state of Missouri. However, it would seem that some landowners (I'm thinking specifically of the upper Black River) insist that you can't camp or occupy spave on "their" gravel bars. I imagine local law enforcement would side with the landowners everytime as a typical road officer probably doesnt have an understanding of marine law. Anyone have any input?

Will you sell a trailer without the boat?

Here's an idea: Find a live bait shop in Springfield (I think there's one on Division) or between here and Forsyth. Throw your crawlers in the cooler and place a dozen or so ice cubes in with the minnows – enough to get the water nice and chilly. That should save your bait until you get down there.

In the winter we'll usually float fish from Baptist to Parkers – shorter days, less floaters and if you get into trouble it's a walkable distance to either access.

Haven't been down that stretch of river in sometime. With most folks using bait below Cedar it always seemd to me that this water was less productive than above Cedar unless you hit it at the right times – particularly after a stocking. That being said, it is a beautiful stretch of river with Welch included. Pink Lady Glo Balls and white jigs are my baits of choice, although I'm not a fly guy. Sam Potter would probably be of great help to you. I think you'll probably need a canoe to get through some of the deeper holes. Water is down now but a rain beofre your trip (particularly being downstream of Welsh) could make wading hazardous, and you don't want to take a dive in Feb. Let us know how it goes.

It's posted undeer a new topic heading.

I've never heard of any one mentioning a walleye run below the dam on the Osage, but I imagine they're in there. Anyone ever tried?

If you are looking for a last minute gift idea for anyone who loves the outdoors there is a book by the name of "I Fish; Therefore I Am" by Patrick McManus. It's a compilation of several short stories and is really three books in one. It's a great read and will have you laughing out loud - I promise.

Well, no water to speak of this weekend. But we made the best of it between White Hole and Wildcat Shoals. Didn't start off with Rapalas because of the low water. Worked brass and brown spinners, jigs and glo balls before finally settling on a Pink Lady glo ball. This seemed to be the most productive color when floated under a strike indicator by about 2'. Caught one nice Brown, several nice Rainbows and missed a couple lunkers. Sunday was not as overcast as Saturday and the glo balls seemed to not produce as well. The wind picked up and was pushing us upstream at a pretty good pace – making drift fishing impossible. So we decided to cover lots of water with spinners and Rapalas. I began to have immediate success with a 4-5" silver Husky Jerk, so much so that the other two in my party switched over right after I netted a 24" Brown. We caught another 20" Brown on a #6 Jointed Brown Trout pattern and missed a couple of large fish as well. All and all it was a pretty successful trip. Should have gone out as they turned the water on Monday morning and should have been throwing Rapalas the whole time, but we did miss some fish that would have topped 24" on glo balls. Also met a fella who might build one of our log homes near Eureka Springs. Thanks to the folks at Fulton's we had a great time on and off the water. -- My digital died on the water so I'll posts pics as I get them!