MeatintheFreezer

Several springs ago I was fishing Kings river for whites. I trolled across the mouth of a cove and my graph blacked out with bait fish. When my lures came through them I could feel my line coming through the bait. I stopped and dropped a spoon down, figuring it was whites. I ended up catching a limit of channels in about 10 minutes that were stuffed full of shad. They eventually got full and it broke apart. That was the first time- actually the only time I have ever experienced catfish sholling up like that.

And never, ever use a red & chartreuse sugar-booger on anything with a spinner. All you will catch are these things.....

I have picked one up half a dozen times at BPS, but always talk myself out of it. I always tell myself I dont troll enough to mess with it, but if I had one, I might do more of it. You are right, thanks for the advice.

Seth - I have always been chasing crappie by the time season opens, so I have never taken time to learn the details of snagging. Besides that the last time I tried it my motor wouldnt troll slow enough to get the weight on the bottom because of my prop pitch. I have since switched to braiden line on my snagging rods which should help that issue. I plan to be out on opening day this year trying to snag a couple for the smoker, so if you see a red on white Ranger that is trolling way to fast, it's probably me! If that doesn't work I am moving upstream and waiting for them in the kayak. Good luck.

Lewis - I sent you a PM on a few places to try. Let me know how you do.

I have fished Walmart batteries for year and have had what I would call "ok" luck. I fish 30-40 days a year and they last me 3 years I would say on average. At that rate, I would have to get 9 years out of a Trojan. I am not bashing a higher priced battery, or anyone who uses them,but for me if I am going to replace batteries ever few years anyway 100 bucks sounds better than 300.

Does anyone know when Rapala bought Storm, and how to identify a "pre-Rapala" wart versus a new one? I was cleaning out the boat today and found several wiggle warts I haven't used in years. It has been several years since I have been back that deep in the storage compartments! I also found a box of mud bugs & hell benders!

I didn't know they made other colors besides green pumpkin!

I normally fish a jig just like I fish a texas rig worm. After the cast and the lure hits bottom, I engage the reel and lift my rod up to roughly the 11 oclock position, this gets the jig off the bottom. I try to move it in a fashion that would be like a crawdad taking off, kind of a quick twitch. As soon as I get the jig moving, I dip the rod slightly, to around 10 oclock. I want to get the rod tension off the line as soon as possible. Watch the line for a bite, or the lure to hit bottom again, which will make your line go more slack again. Nothing better than the tell tale "thump-thump" as the line jumps. Reel down and lay into it. If I turn and go back down a particularly good bank, I will change up my retrieve. Try holding your rod like you would to "walk the dog", just slower. It gives the jig a different action and keeps it closer to the bottom.

You are braver than I am going out today. Cudos. Were the crappie under shad?

Great story. I haven't heard the name "Jack Salmon" since my Grandpa passed away back in the 80's.

I don't fish for crappie or whites down that far, but I am sure you could find crappie in Aunts creek. Whites might be a different story. The closest place from there I am familiar with would be to run up James river. Depending on the conditions (time of year, temp, water level, etc), I personally would start around Bridgeport and work my way up river. I have caught whites right out in front of Cape Fair Marina, so it just depends on where you are confident fishing. You might steer clear of that area starting March 15, that's the opening day of spoonbill season (imagine a trout park opener, but with boats and grab hooks)

Smoking it is the only way to go. I was once at a big 4th of July party/cookout. I had offered to bring a bunch of spoonbill meat to fry for everyone. It was a pot-luck style deal, so there was tons of food....along with probably to many adult beverages. We deep fried the fish and everyone loved it. We had so much we sent some home with everyone. The next day, I woke up and went to the kitchen to find something to munch on. First thing I saw was a big tupperware bowl of left over spoonbill. I warmed a few pieces up and popped one in my mouth........ it tasted like I was licking the bottom of a boat dock! That was probably 10 years ago, and I swore I would not harvest another spoonbill if I wasn't going to eat it. Last year I had the opportunity to try a piece of smoked bill, and it was delicious (no beer involved). It is similar to smoked salmon, but not as flaky. It has more of a grain like meat does. Anyway, I am back on the hunt since I now know how to prepare it to where I enjoy eating it. Hog wally - I have seen jet boats above Hootentown, which is 20 miles or so above Galena. I all depends on water level.

Dito on the Freddy's Steakburgers!! I was at the one in Springfield last weekend and decided to stop in for a burger on the way out. First time I have ever ate there, but certainly wont be the last. The opportunity for a delicious burger is worth the risk of any price scanning difference!

Thanks for the detail Seth, I have snagged a few in my time, but usually only go on the opener if it is on the weekend. As soon as the crappie bite even thinks about starting, that is all I can focus on! I did smoke a spoonbill last year for the first time ever. It was the best way I had ever ate it!

Yeah, that's usually a trait of mine (over building), but I understand that it should be make as light as possible while still maintaining structural integrity. I appreciate the offer to help with ideas, I will take you up on that when I get around to doing it. Thanks.

In July a couple summers ago in a little local's tournament out of Cape Fair, my partner & I weighed in a 6 fish stringer in that weighed 27.39 pounds. There wasn't any single fish that was giant, just 6 real nice bass. Our big bass was right around 6

Here's one for you.... A few years back I was fishing on Stockton for crappie. I was bobber fishing over a shallow brush pile in about 12 feet of water, right off a pea gravel bank. I had 2 rods out & my son had 2 as well, so we had 4 bobbers floating over a brushpile that was roughly the size of our boat. We had picked a few nice fish out when another boat saw us catching fish. They slowly worked their way over, I assume to appear a little less abvious as to what they were doing. The ended up fishing on the same brush that we were! I had seen this coming since they started heading our way 5 minutes earlier, so I was already steamed by the time they made their first cast, which by the way, tangled in one of my lines. The guy untangled our lines and said he was sorry. I told him that it wasnt a big deal, but I was pretty sure my boy & I had this spot covered....maybe he should find another spot. He lurched back like I had just insulted his mother, and told me it was a public lake (explicatives removed). About this time, his buddy got hung in the brush and they trolling motored over to get it loose right in the middle of everything. I was in rare form by this time. We reeled in all our lines and packed up to go to another spot since this one was ruined. When I fired up to leave I must have trimmed my motor up instead of down, because I showered water all over them...... I really need to pay more attention

J-Doc, The deck extension looks great. Did you redo the rest of the carpet on the original front deck at the same time so it matched? I have a Ranger I would love to add an extension very similar to the one you did, but my carpet is old enough it would not match. I am completely capable of fabricating the extension, but I am not ready to dive into another re-carpeting job. I made that mistake once before on a previous boat and I hated it every time I looked at it. So all that being said, does anyone recommend a reputable & reasonably priced place to have a boat re-carpeted in SW Mo?

I'm an hour away from Stockton, and I haven't been up there since the holidays..... so no help on open ramps here. I would be interested in hearing if anyone has been on Turnback lately? I have to head up that way soon to pull down tree stands and might haul the boat if it was worth trying.

Mitch, I once told a guy who pulled in on top of me, " Just let me know if I get in your way". I was hoping the sarcasm would sink in, but it didn't. He replied back, "Naw, you're ok". Anyway, thanks for the feedback.

Anyone ever try snagging spoonbill out of a kayak? A few summers ago I was floating from Hootentown to Galena in June and noticed several different pairs of spoonbill in the water. I didn't know they stayed in the river after the spawn - maybe just a fluke deal, but it got me thinking. How much fun would it be to scale down your gear and try to snag a spoony from a kayak in the spring when they are running?! My idea would be to put in at Galena or even down at Rollie's and give it a shot this spring. My question is how many bank fishermen an I going to encounter in this area? The water is small enough there I don't want to A) be in the way, & become an tempting target for someone's next cast.

Hello, I have been reading the posts on this site for a while as a real time fishing report. I finally decided to create an account because I have a burning question / statement I would like your feedback on: I fish Stockton very regularly in the spring for Crappie. Seems like a few times a year I have someone come plowing in right on top of me and cut me off where I am fishing. I don't think I am invisible, I am in a 20' ranger. I understand the lake is the same size it was 20 years ago and there are 5 times as many boats on the lake now, but that does not give someone the excuse to crowd anyone out imo. Example: Last spring I was slow trolling down a small bank during pre spawn. Another boat came cruising in past me and pulled in about 30 yards in front of me. I had to immediately turn and go out around him before his boat even came to a stop. On top of that he tossed a home-made concrete anchor over the side of his aluminum boat, making enough noise to wake the dead. He then looked up and asked if we were doing any good. Several thoughts went through my mind on what to say, but I suppressed the urge. I told him they were biting, but seemed to have suddenly stopped. I have fished many unproductive spots while waiting "my turn" to get on a bank. I will never crowd in on someone. At the very least why wouldn't he pull in BEHIND me and allow me to go on unimpeded? I am in the wrong here for expecting others to have a little courtesy..... or at least self awareness?