line wetter

sounds like we all had the same trip. I caught 2 keeper crappie and one bluegill. I was fishing the trees in maize creek. was a nice nigjt though so long as you weren't doong anyhting. Sure broke a sweat loading and lashing down the boat after giving it up about midnight. Yes the critters were out and about on the drive home. Next weekend being the last of the idiot boats most likely I'll probably stay away and get back the weekend after that. If I go at all duriong the Holiday weekend it will be a night bass trip.

Was just replying to another post and reminded me of a gripe. When you're using the ramps at night loading your boat, please turn off your headlights. I'm old and like most older folks, staring into headlights at the ramp while backing a boat trailer is not a lot of fun. I've found over the years it's about 50/50 on those who leave their lights on or turn them off and it seems like I catch the on ones 90 percent of the time. Other than that i think most everyone shows coutesy at the ramps. Yes there are and always will be some a--holes, but I don't let them get under my skin or ruin my trip.

I'm heading up this evening to try for some crappie. I've heard two reports in the last couple of weeks. 40 feet of water in the trees witht he fish down 15 feet from two eeks agao. 25 feet of water with fish down 20 feet from last weekend. I've been up bass fishing the last couple of weeks and I've seen crappie fishermen on some brushpile each time that are are about 25 feet deep. Boats have stayed on them through the evening so I suspect they are catching crappie or having a very good nap.

Back in the time of BB (Before Boat) I fished the boat ramps at night and would catch a lot of catfish on worms, shrimp or crawdads. Would cast a plastic worm on the ramp itself out past where the concrete would drop off and sometimes catch some bass doing that. Fished Cedar Ridge, Masters and high point ramps. Would not set up omn the ramp but beside it. every now and then a boat would come in and give me some fish they had they had decided they didn't want to clean after all. Never did much bank fishing at Stockton int he daytime, most of my daytime spots were at Pomme De Terre. "WORK" That annoying time between fishing trips!!!!!

I caught about a dozen Saturday on night crawlers in the afternoon about 20 feet deep on points. Just one keeper.

even if you're a yamaha owner, you got to admit Champ188's comment is funny!

Here's my report. Went to Stockton instead of Table Rock, lots less crazies on a Saturday. Didn't find the big bluegill. Caught small bluegill, bass, catfisha nd walleye. Did manage one keeper walleye that was lunch Sunday. Caught on nioght crawlers and preserved crickets. Nothing on the nibbles. Had some of the gulp worms but didn't try them.

went to the lake Saturday. Caught a few little bluegill, several small catfish and walleye. Did get one keeper walleye so at least I had lunch Sunday. Caught all on nightcrawlers and a few on preserved crickets. Son and grandson was up in their boat bass fishing and found big blugill up by the dam I'll know where to gwe this weekend. A side note: Just before dark I started throwing a 10 inch worm and caught 6 or 7 bass with two being keepers. After the sun went down I tried spinner bait and crankbait hoping to nail another walleye or two. ended up catching another dozen bass with 4 keepers. Biggest about 3 pounds. So I had a lot of fun anyway and did get to eat the walleye.

Fish 24/7, that was a good article. rps - I had used the Berkeley trout worms a couple of years ago when the blugill were spawning around the baxter area. They worked great then with a cast and slow reel. Haven't tried them optherwise but will this saturday in the deeper water witht he same methoid and see what happens. crawlers and worms always work but trying to get away from the mess. Might pick up a can of those fishsers cloice crickets and see what they do. I'll post back afetr the weekend and let ya'll know if I ended up with a fish fry or not.

Thanks for the advice. I'll be heading tot he lake Saturday to see if I can find some of those big bluegill. Zaraspook, I had heard of those nibbles but never knew anyone who had tried them. I'll give them a shot. I'll post back and let you know how I did. Hiopefully will have a fish fry Sunday.

Was up this weekend also. Was camping nad mainly playing int he water with the family. Did get out Friday night for some bass fishing. Caught several shorts on 10 inch worm and white spinnerbait after dark. had one keeper (17") and about 15 shorts. they were all solid and healthy and tugged good so it was fun. bites were light but once you set the hook they got mean.

Anyone catching any big bluegill? Also any suggesdtions on good bluegill baits besides messy crawlers?

anyone catching any big bluegill? also any suggestions on bluegill baits besides messy crawlers?

The last two weeks have gone up to the high point to aldrich area and took limits of crappie three times. Bets bite starts about 5:00pm to dark. Chartruese or white jigs, doesn't seem to make much difference. last week they were on the bank to 3 feet out. Heading up again Friday after work to get another mess. This is fine dinning at its best. I am SO GLAD winter is over. Been mostly males with a few females mixed in. Very few short fish. Most in the 11 1/2 to 12 1/2 range with a few larger. Crappie fishing is great there right now. Maybe this is our reward for putting up with that long cold winter. Fishing a bass tournament at Table Rock next weekend and I hear the bass are going nuts down there, just another reward.

most ice fishing in Missouri occurs at the freezer section in the grocery store.

keepng the jig just off the bottom reeling real slow, sometimes slow enough that I hit the bottom every now and then. There are a lot of brush piles in Stockton that isn't on the MDC maps. Those are put in by other anglers. I've put a few in myself. Some worked out, some didn't. I've found some just idling around in likely places watching the depth finder. I know some guys will gripe if you fish "their" brushpile, but the fish belong to everyone. You cna bet if you are fishing over one I put out, I won't come by and bother you, you're welocme to fish them if you find them and I hope you catch a bunch.

plastic jigs worked very slowly. The "rock piles" are not shown on any maps and I don't think they were put in. I have found them along bluffs where you can somewhat tell a slide occurred at some time. I stumbled accross one a few years ago bass fishing and caught a couple real nice crappie on a bass jig and that's what got me looking for them. Good winter spots and sometimes the middle of summer the crappie will be on them. Of course a lot of the brush piles will hold crappie all winter too. My best luck on them this time opf year is usually in the 35 to 45 foot depth and those are the brush piles I would fish. I went up again New Years Day with my son and we had 21 keepers. Same places, same method. When the wind switched to the north it shut down. Did get to eat crappie last night and will have some tonight too. it don't get any better.

My first post since joining up. Want to say a big hello and thanks to all who post information. Went to Stockton Saturday and had a limit of crappie in an hour and a half. 40 feet deep on natural structure (not planted) on main lake (Little Sac). Rock pile off the end of a bluff. Had the same results last week. Got a feeling this will be pretty much the winter pattern although they could go a little deeper. Using chartruese jigs with a 1/4 ounce head so it will get deeper quicker and I htink that heavier head lets me feel that light bite a lot better. Good Luck.

Have been reading comments for a couple of years but just finally got around to signing up. Fish Table Rock, Stockton and Pomme. Fish for Bass, Crappie, Wallete and Bluegill. Haven't frozen a fish for over 30 years. get to go often enough and fresh is the best taste. Usually don't keep a limit unless planning on guests for dinner as a limit is too much for me and momma by ourselves. Don't eat bass, just the crappie, walleye and bluegill. Been fishing for 50 years and still have trouble sleeping the night before in anticipaption of going. hope to pass along information now and then to help others get on some fish just hope everyone is respmsible about the harvest.