shrapnel

Fishing is VERY tough right now for the occasional anglers. If your not out there 2-3 days a week tracking them they can be hard to find. Unlike a couple weeks ago when the crappie were on the banks being caught 3' deep, the colder and muddy water has moved them a bit and it will take a week or so for them to recover. Fishing docks isn't a requirement right now, you can find them stacked in fairly large schools on secondary points somewhere between the mouths and backs of larger coves /creek arms and just cast to them. Side imaging is almost a must if you don't have proven spots to fish. We had been averaging 5-10 crappie a day on jerkbaits while bass fishing. Fished 8 hours yesterday and did not catch a single crappie on them.

Joe Bass had a moment of silence for him this morning before take off or I wouldn't have known yet. He seemed like a great guy.

A Z19 will do fine as long as you drive per the conditions. I just smile when guys pass me doing their best not to bounce out of the boat.

lmao

In my opinion, the rains 3 weeks ago hit at the worst time for this lake, being 4-5' into draw down at the time so I understand there was more exposed sediment in creeks and shallow flats to be washed in. But WHY does it take so darn long for this lake to clear up VS others? The lake is almost 80yrs old, and 99% rock banks. Cold water isn't supposed to hold sediment well. Which major feeders are mud bottom, or draining a ton of tilled farm land? None I can think of. Little ol Stockton received more rain than LOZ and doesn't suffer near the sediment influx it seems, I know not near the watershed feeding it either.

I feel for them, fishing is going to be VERY tough for most of the field. Not sure why they scheduled that so early.

I like finding the clear water creeks feeding the backs and fishing the transition lines when the lake is dirty.

It's reasonably priced, comfortable to the point I forget it's on. I know it works because it went off in my rod locker when it got soaked and i had to reload it. Whether it works as intended I hope to never find out.

I have the $89 Onyx from Academy and like it a lot. As far as comfort...I often forget I have it on when I get out of the boat until I get in the house and someone reminds me...lol. It's a much better price point than the Mustang and I believe the same technology?

I wish they would find a paint that actually bonds to the plastic, is the red bad about peeling off? The Chrome and Sexy Shad versions are terrible.

Closer, yes. But I don't think it will get there, not the chocolate milk anyway. It's 20mi from the dam now and will filter out along the way. A good portion will likely get stained up. It's a little different each time depending on where the heaviest rains fell, level when it fell, how fast they drop it back etc. I think this was the worst time to happen when it was at drawdown, a lot more sediment exposed than a runoff at summer pool.

Yes, muddy. Most of the state south of I-70 had 5+ inches of rain last week, it happens. Temps from the boat. Up to you to move or not, I rarely make it into the Little Niangua, but it is one of the first places to clear up after a heavy rain. Call Wilson's resort or someone up that way and ask them the conditions.

40*-45* All arms muddy. Osage muddy to the 20MM. Mid to lower lake stained to clear closer to dam you get.

Apparently they paid 5, and we slipped into the last spot. Either way, beats a stick in the eye. It was a good tourney, thanks Slothman for posting it here I probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise.

We caught around 30 yesterday with 9 keepers, but nothing over 4lbs. The big ones are gorging on dying shad and hard to fool right now.

From their facebook page: Cold Water Challenge Results. I only have one name from each team. It was a tough day. Only four limits were weighed. Only five sacks were weighed. The top five teams were: 1. Chris Embry- 19.88 2. Scott Danek- 17.87 3. Ryan Sonders- 16.86 4. Tim Gallatin- 14.81 5. Eric Dierduff- 13.94

Ouch, sorry to hear that, makes for a tough day for sure. I was saddened to see the wall of mud at PB2 on the way back to weigh in. Going to have to take a number to fish spots mid-lake to the dam and the gravois now until the water gets 8-10* warmer.

Fishin must have been a lot tougher than I expected. 37 boats and only 4 limits, we got lucky and had one of them. Slothman I missed ya, saw one red Champion this morning but didn't see an OAF sticker...you got the 225 EFI that sounds like it loves to turn 6500 RPM?

A fluid bed is cheap, easy to make and the ONLY way to go. We made one that has T's in the line and 4 cups running off one pump.

Fishin out of a friends boat, we will be in a black Legend V20.

The switch is flipping. I doubt anyone gets skunked tomorrow, but limits might be tough. Lake is up a couple feet and a few degrees warmer they just might bust loose tomorrow.

Exactly, multiple patterns. I will say we caught good fish (12"+) both deep and shallow, the deep fish were mostly white's and the shallow fish mostly blacks.

There's two distinct patterns for crappie right now. We caught them GOOD this week on condo docks 25' deep, and found some stacked on secondary points 6' deep. Either way side scan would be a huge help. Crappie don't care about color, their the dumbest fish in the water put a jig in front of them and they eat.

And they give great discounts to employees. My Son said "I don't care if I end up being a doctor Dad, I'm staying here part time for the deals on gear"

Osage Beach Bait and Tackle is actually owned by a woman I believe. Carol is good people, and hosts the Friday nighters in the warmer months.