top_dollar

Mutton creek was still in as of Saturday, water had a few feet of visibility. Hartley courtesy dock was pulled up. Water looked ok though. Orleans trail was in, with very clear water.

Great info! Thank you!

My brother and I will be headed down this coming weekend. @Big Keene We will be generally targeting crappie and walleye trolling crankbaits. If/when that doesnt work, any ideas on what to do? How deep have folks been catching crappie and walleye? Seems like its been cooler than in years past. Thanks in advance for any pointers. Ill post a report when we return.

I like having the bait attached when I take the pic so I can know what I caught it on. If I get stuck I get stuck. I've been past the barb once on a rattle trap. I survived. The internet stalkers don't bother me much. I don't have any secret spots or baits. I fish well known places with well known techniques.

No you cant and No you aren't. You didn't even address me directly you said "him". That said, im pretty new to fishing. whats the best way to do it?

No it wont.

That was my first thought. Quite a long shot in my opinion, but I've been wrong once or twice.

I have a camper in Terre du Lac, so I fish those lakes regularly. My experience is they almost all have great crappie fishing for 10-14 inch fish, and lots and lots of small largemouth. I've caught the occasional fish bigger than 15 inches, but it's mostly dinks. Well this weekend I was walking the dam at Lac Carmel because it was too windy to launch the boat. Bass were eating a jerkbait ok, and crappie were slower but I caught about 5 swimming minnows deeper and 1 about 3 feet under a float. Then I caught a smallmouth???? Ive fished those lakes a long time and have never caught a smallmouth before. Does anyone know how it may have gotten in there? Maybe some local put some in? Those lakes are relatively deep and clear for their size. Could there be a spawning population in there? I have no idea what it takes for smallmouth to spawn successfully, but ive never caught one from ANY small pond before. I've heard some stories about 10# bass and walleye being in those lakes, but I always assumed they were full of it....but now maybe I believe it.

The 2# is fantastic as well. I use it often for casting 1/64th oz jigs, but out of laziness/convenience I usually just have the 4# on most of my spinning outfits.

What areas and how so if you don't mind explaining? The precious few bass fishing techniques im good at excel in clear water so I struggle when it's brown.

Kinda seems like he was just jealous. I probably would be too, but instead of complaining about it I'd be asking you questions and trying to siphon information from you lol.

Good job catching in brown water like that! I never do well when the rivers are up like that.

If you're not using s.o.s line in 4# you're missing out on fish. I've run it side by side with maxima for a few years now and it's better and cheaper. I use it for small jerkbaits too. If you upsize to the 6# line you can basically forget about breaking off, you'll just bend hooks out. That said the 4 pound is more manageable and more than strong enough.

You just gotta love 2022. I bought an oz of weed yesterday.....at the store!! 🤣

Don't bring us lurkers into this!! We don't have a dog in the tournament argument! I just want some good spots to steal.

Ive only fished it in the summer time, but for 30+ years my family and I have never caught one....until a year or two ago my brother caught one about 14 inches off of a boat dock. We have never targeted them, but they are not common in that area of the lake. I think if you caught a mess out of Kimberling one time than you are doing way better than most.

We didnt have too much trouble finding places to camp, and the scenery was great. If you have the time, greer spring is worth a visit.

I found it to be deep, clear, fast and difficult to fish from a kayak. I didn't catch smallmouth, but several trout. My best luck was getting out and wading because the current was moving my boat to fast to effectively fish. I caught some using shad raps and small jigging spoons in the current. There were several deep clear backwaters if I remember correctly, and I was able to catch trout out of almost everyone using a 16th oz white maribou jig, reeling it really fast and killing it. As soon as the jig stopped I would see a trout shoot out of the grass and eat it. I saw some guides and their clients were catching lots of fish, but they were in boats where the guide would hold them in the current and the client was able to fish.

2 friends and I floated the little Niangua from Griswold ford down to Fiery Creek. Fishing was tough to say the least. Friday the river was high and brown, and I caught 0 fish. Saturday the water was high, but clearing up, and I caught 4 dink smallies (crankbait/swimbait). Sunday the water was quite a bit better, but we were pretty ready to paddle out and I only caught 2 dink smallmouth (jerkbait). It was one of the only rivers in the state that wasnt really high so we decided on it. Im sure with better conditions, and better anglers there is plenty of good fishing to be had. We didnt see another floater the entire time, which was very nice. There are TONS of trees down that create some sketchy situations, but nothing too bad. Heard several turkeys gobbling every morning, saw a few deer and several eagles. We did enjoy exploring all of the little (and some large) caves / springs that were in most of the bluff walls.

I have only met a handful of folks off here just by happenstance. Jungle Jim and Timinmo are all I can think of, I'm not a very social guy though, and not too many folks around the St Louis area on here I dont think. It sure is a great place to share stories and information though.

"There’s my report and my location very easy to Find if you know how to use Google maps and you don’t mind parking in the ghetto, Going to that spot when the fish are there is another 😜" This proves my point! Now where are you gonna be this weekend so you can teach what the heck im doing wrong? Ill be breaking off jigs and crankbaits probably in the valley park area, down to about george winter.

I know the general area where you fish, and I know from experience that other people can go to your exact same spots and not replicate your success. Trust me....I've tried it, and failed. You can post your secret spots, and by the time anyone figures out what you were doing and how you were doing it, that bite will have disappeared anyway. I wouldn't worry too much about people finding out where your pics were taken.

Nice fish! The last two times I was at that lake I got skunked, but that was back in January. I did fish a lake in Terre Du lac Saturday, and got a limit in a hurry. They were only 2 feet deep, but after the front came through Sunday they quit. The last week of February I was on the lower meremac around valley park looking for white bass, but never did find any. In fact, I never caught anything. I may try it again this weekend.

I bet the thieves were lactose intolerant vegans from California. In all seriousness, I have had my things rummaged through while keeping my boat in a slip at stockton lake. I take everything out of the boat that isn't bolted down, or that I don't want to donate. Boat batteries, and gas tanks included.