RSBreth

Finley is up, actually over what is the winter low water flow. They closed the gate at the Ozark mill dam a couple of weeks ago, now it's full. Good winter fishing ahead.

Man, I laughed at that post forever.

Pond fishing may lend itself more to the 'toon, but the subject has gone around and around.... http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3035

No length limit in streams for crappie. Just use common sense in keeping them.

The crappie don't stay in one exact place. Just find a deep, slow pool with some timber and go from there...I can't really be more clear than that. And let big crappies go. Keep the 10" ones, and not many of those. Stream populations aren't very dense, maybe a dozen or so live in an average pool.

I agree on the no-kill. But you guys know I think you should get a tag for stream smallmouth, you can keep a big one to verify a record or mount it, whatever, one per year. But even with that, enforcement of the pitiful limits we have now is hard enough. The only good thing is smallies tend to go back downstream in fall to the largest, deepest, slowest hole they can find to winter in. Most of these are far from easy access, and the average poacher won't go to all the trouble of floating a river in winter. Now, giggers are another story. Crappie are everywhere in the streams, I've even caught them in Bull Creek in one bluff hole almost everytime I've floated it. Small Rapala Husky Jerks (like in the picture) twitched near timber work great, along with the usual grubs and jigs.

Calm down folks. Smallies are back in the winter holes already, and these are the deepest parts of the river. I saw the Finley flood in 2002, where Heritage Dodge in Ozark had several cars washed away, now it's low. Both will not kill the fish as long as it isn't permanent. The greatest threat to the fish populations remain catch and kill fishermen. For example, in the past couple of weeks in some "secret" holes, I've caught a few fish of several species. All released.

You don't have to worry about treble hooks on Taney, just bait. Trophy area is "artificial lures only" but there aren't restrictions on what those lures are.

Most likely Gadwall. There are so many on some rivers (and Taney)in the fall/winter I often think of packing the shotgun when fishing. That's one way of keeping a good hole to yourself!

I fished early sunday from about 4:30 to 8 A.M. down by the boat ramp. I caught about 10 browns, only one rainbow of any size, and for some reason, several tiny rainbows on a rainbow color X-Rap 8. Always funny when a 6" fish hits a 3" lure. Most brown were the same size - 16-17" Lots of people started showing up so I left.

I don't get to fish there as much as I would like, my in-laws live on the lake and I visit w/ my boat about 4-5 times a year. Mainly fish for the smaller bass, but I don't pass up topwater stripers. I spent Labor Day weekend down there, but didn't post a report because it seems no one is active on this topic. I'll post anything I do down there now that I know someone is still looking.

Upper North Fork, above the springs, is great a smallmouth area. Just hard access. For a float trip, like has been said, go on Bryant.

Thanks for the report. I have had good luck on Spit-N-Image and the smaller Sammy topwaters for both spots and small stripers on Beaver. Big enough, but not too big. But sometimes when I get blow ups but can't connect I have done better on soft jerkbaits worked on the surface. If the fish hits but doesn't connect, I let it flutter down on a semi-slack line, often the fish (or another one) will hit it on the fall.

It's funny, I posted today then left and went up there. (had business in Springfield anyway) There are several St. Croix Premier 4 piece fly rods, most were 9' 8 weight, for 79.99. Not bad, the tips weren't broken, just no bag or tube. Must have been displays. Lots of last years models of spinning reels, like was said, mostly lower end, but I did see several Penn saltwater reels that are normally 100$or so for 40$.

I have thought of the Ebay thing when I saw 50 rods marked down half price on clearance, but I don't have the time for all the hassle of babysitting bidders and shipping, etc. So someone has more time and even less money than me. Things are seasonal, sometimes large lots show up, and other times there is nothing of a certain type of tackle (flyfishing, waders, etc.) I like the fact that the rod and reel repair is right there, and I get to check out what reels are being returned in large numbers. If you see a bunch of a certain reel returned for repairs, stay clear. I do like the place, I have found some great deals, I bought some nice Lucky Craft, Team Daiwa, and other high end baits for pennys.

I fished from about 4-8:30 A.M. Started down by the boat ramp and caught 3 pretty good browns, biggest about 20", and one 16-17" rainbow on a rainbow trout pattern Rapala X-Rap size 8. They started water some time this morning, it came up and the ramp area seemed to shut down. I went up to the area where outlet #2 dumps into deeper water and caught 2 good rainbows on a small Excaliber ghost minnow, firetiger color.

Wow, Kelly Power not doing well? The James must be just be flat shut off. Let us know the final, would love to be there but have other fires to attend to.

My first wading trip since my leg injury in June. Shot w/my little HP 525 digital. Sorry forum members, I was trying to feed my son and must have been hitting post multiple times...Admin, please delete all but one...

The great outdoor writer Charlie Waterman said he just couldn't bear to fish on Table Rock, Taney, or even for trout under Bull Shoals because he had floated from Hootentown to Branson many times, often camping where the James dumped into what was the greatest smallmouth river in the world, the White River. I wish I could have seen it, too. Is that the Kimberling bridge?

Thanks for the info, I would love to fish that one, rocks or not.

I think a kayak is fine for light travel w/one rod and a small amount of gear. A fair comparison is Kayak vs. Solo canoe, not tandem canoe. Kayaks are cheaper,at least entry level playboat kayaks, but that's about it. I had a Swifty for one summer, and though I liked the ease of portaging, it sucked for anything but exploring with one rod and a limited amount of gear. I couldn't carry the stuff I like to and still portage around when I carry upstream, which I do often. A kayak is a good start, but it's amazing how much more you can carry easily in a good solo canoe, like the Old Town Pack I bought a couple of years ago. This is a 12' foot canoe that only weighs 33 lbs.

Yeah, the Finley is a great little river, and the park lake is pretty good for numbers of largemouth. You fished it when you lived in Springfield, now I see you are in "Do Da" (Wichita, for those who don't know the knickname)I live in Ozark now, but grew up in Wichita. Small world eh?

Uh, no, you can't wade fish the Finley at the park,it's a little too deep. I fished out of my solo canoe. Still, it's a fun little lake full of educated bass. Don't know who educated them... If you want wade-fishing access on the Finley it's few and far between. Mostly canoe and drag up or float down.

I finally got to fish this week, I got out of the hard cast last week and now, in the walking cast, I am free!(To those who don't know, I had my left achilles tendon repaired). Well, almost free. Free enough to fish the park here in Ozark. They have let the water level down at the dam to kill the water lotus, so it's a little constricted. Still caught a dozen little largemouths on jigs and finesse worms, mostly on timber near the bluff. Can't believe no one posted a report since my last.

The sub-12" fish are there for people to keep, for beginers and tourists, and to feed the state record brown I should be catching here in a couple of months. A couple of 10-11 inchers smoked and served on toast sound really good about now.