ICI

Was thinking about getting out tomorrow if rain isn't too bad. Any ramps thawed? Maybe state park or kimberling? Are creeks frozen?

I agree, they are fewer and far between now. I’m no expert. But I go deeper, no top water and really even any bobber set ups. Almost all dropshot or mini swimbait. unlike the spring where you’re looking for beds, I am looking for places where they can suspend 15-25' but stay within 30ft of structure. Sometimes I’ll run the coves and luck into a couple but if I’m being picked apart by the small ones or pesky green sunfish, I just move on. At least at table rock, if you're catching long ear and green sunfish, there are no bluegill around. They don’t seem to hang together that often, happens but not much. Now, this is if I’m on my boat in the lake of course. Totally different if I go smaller high pressure, like valley water or public ponds. The best thing I can say about really high-pressure spots is "fall rate". You can stand and watch your jig, with worm all tasty and they'll look it over, maybe one or two will test it. For sure the artificial stuff gets ignored. But if you take that worm, or crappie bite and throw it in by itself, it’s on, they nail it. So, you have to rig something that falls in the water at a natural pace. weightless in other words. I do a lot of weighted bobber with weightless hooks for these places. That and spider like top water. You can find these in the fly section and then just put on with a weighted bobber. This works for a lot of the overgrown places, especially with water down in the small lakes/ponds. They congregate in the small open spots in the moss or vegetation away from open waters in the ponds, and nail the top water stuff. not sure any of that helps.

Just going to throw this out there. I only catch and release for pictures for my Instagram and website. So, if you have a honey hole/pond around SW MO and are willing to let me fish for sport and pics, i would super appreciate it. Just saying.... Thanks

Thanks for all the replies. I did run out to Lamar last night; weather wasn’t great but I wanted to take a look before dragging my boat out there. Caught a few from the bank and one red ear. It seems really shallow, and my dropshot weight was dragging up black gunk every time. I wouldn't eat anything out of there personally. Walked away not feeling too hot about the place but after catching up on the thread. The idea there are a few, although hard to find, big'uns in there, I may just take the boat out for a day. As for some of the gills I’ve caught at Table Rock, I figured I should share some pics.

I live in Nixa. I’m looking for big bluegill. I’m fairly new to the area really and just got a boat so finally not beating the banks anymore if I don’t have to. 90% catch and release, just looking for good size gills, for pictures mainly. Here’s what I’ve found: Table Rock: caught quite a few 9-10” bulls. Obviously better in May/June but I can find them now around 20ft around Aunts creek and Indian point. Mostly out runouts and sometimes in a quiet cove. Only been out only about 6 times on Table Rock so I would gladly take any suggestions Stockton: Went for first time this week and caught maybe 30 midsize.(was bass fishing most the time) Unlike Table where I catch maybe one decent to every 5-10 small ones, Stockton was all midsize(keepers if I wanted dinner) but nothing over 8.5". However, I did see someone land one that looked 10” while out there. So, I have hope. Only been on once, so can’t say too much. Valley Water Mill in Springfield. Can catch small-mid all day long. High pressure so I have to use different techniques, but they do have great colors due the water clarity. But still, nothing over 8” Local ponds, I have a few I fish in Springfield and Nixa, biggest out of these are 8-9” Haven’t tried: Lake Springfield: Don’t feel like breaking the kayak out. Bank spots look way too pressured Fellows: only seen small ones pulled from banks and boat is too big. Pomme Bull Shoals So, suggestions on spots would be super appreciated. On table, Stockton or otherwise. Also, any accessible ponds that might have some slabs. Thanks

Agreed, either linden to the Ozark park. There are a lot of spots on google maps that look like a spot you can put in/take out, but its not so, or its blocked off and marked as tresspassing if you do. I have driven a few times to places, like i.e Riverdale access.

This is a short version of it. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2015/03/13/high-water-mark-resolved-lindenlure-controversy/70295854/ I guess there are a few differences. I have a kayak, and do float the James a few times. But i have a couple spots i like just south of the public area. Sucks because i generally pick up a few things on my way out, hate trash and those who leave it.

So, went down this last weekend to fish for an hour or so. I have fished from the ramp on down into the woods for the 3 years I’ve been in MO. Not to mention, I bought a house in Pebble Creek subdivision, less than mile away, last April. Not 100% because of the James, but it did play in. Well, now they have signs both at the west side of parking lot and just east of the ramp stating "End of public access". What the heck? Why and what can we do if anything to find out more? I doubt any reprieve will be applied, but why not try? Isnt the bank public access? I mean thats what they told the residents of lindenlure right? I am so frustrated.

Was thinking of driving up and throwing a line in. No answer at marina, does that mean its iced over?

I will be visiting my brother in the Claremore area in the next few weeks. Its been 25 years since i fished Grand or Oologah. Being boatless, any suggestions?

Thanks... i have to have projects when i'm not fishing. That was my project 2 years ago. Predator 6.5HP 212cc from Harbor Freight. Unfortunately it started out as a CA compliant version because I was in CA when I built it.

Finally figured out what to do with them

while everyone was arguing. I caught 2 muskie yesterday. one mid 30" and the other high 40's. 5 total bites, but 3 came off and 2 missed the lure. Honestly, not really my thing personally. Too much trouble getting unhooked. Prefer bass way more.

So the saga continues between my favorite popper and the Muskies... Yesterday i went and replaced the popper the muskie took from me earlier this week. However, i had a beast of a muskie take the dang same popper from me today. This time when he turned to go away from me the line cut like butter, was short and sweet. The muskie was at least as big as the one above, seemed a good 10 lbs bigger from the size of the tail. Good news is, before he could take my favorite popper, I caught 13 of my 16 total today on it. Here are a few pics of the decent ones. Started day of with this 5.5lb Next one was this guy at 3lb Then this 4.5lbr Then next cast, same spot i caught the best of the day at 6.0lbs Last decent one of the day at 4.2lbs I caught 6 around this 2lb size Then 5 guys under 1.5lbs Again, caught 13 on popper and 3 on a spook. As you can imagine, i went right to the store and got another of my favorite popper, x 3 this time.... Lastly, i did hook up with something on the spook. I thought it was a bass by the bite, but if it was, it was 7-10lbs. Took me in the moss. I slowly pulled in about 300lbs of moss only to find no fish and my new hooks on my spook looking like so:

Oh man, i wish... I did replace it a couple days later though.