Linhardt

Was fishing below Truman Dam throwing hawg sticks at hybrids. Caught one that was 12 lbs. I reached down to lip the fish. The fish jerked around and the next thing I know I got the fish lipped and a large treble hook from the hawg stick in my thumb. The same treble hook that is hooked in the fishes mouth. Was thinking how I am going to get this fish off the hook and then my thumb. But as I was thinking the fish jerked around and slipped out of my grip and ripped the hook out my thumb in an instant. I bandaged up my thumb with first aid kit in my tackle bag and went on to fish. Bad thing was that during the time all this was happening I was missing the topwater bite frenzy that was happening in front of me. When I got done the topwater frenzy was over.

Thanks for answering my question. I have used some swimbaits before with some success. If you ever need a fishing partner let me know I would love to pick your brain on Hybrids. I love to fish for them and have for many years, but I still have not got them down. I live in Jefferson City. You can contact me anytime at alinhardt@embarqmail.com

Congrats! Biggest I ever got was 12 lbs. from below Truman Dam. Just curious if you were targeting hybrids or did he just happen to hit. What were you using if you dont mind me asking.

That is a nice fish. I mainly go after hybrids below Truman dam and sometime below bagnall. Never fished the lower osage for them eventhough Im from Jeff City. If any of you need company fishing for them and want to show how to fish the lower osage for them I would be greatly appreciatative.

Here

Speaking of lipping fish with two treble hooks on a hawg stick. Was up a truman dam and was fishing the generator side by the fence. Hybrids started hitting the top close by so everyone including me started throwing their hawg sticks at em and walked the dog. Hooked a 12 lb hybrid and reeled him in. Lipped him and as I was getting ready to pull the lure out he shook and my hand slipped off his jaw and one treble went all the way through my thumb and the other treble still had the fish on it. Before I could even grab him again he violently flopped and ripped the treble right out my thumb. Needless to say the fish were still hitting the top so I quickly wrapped tape around my thumb, put him on the stringer, and kept on fishing. Boy was my thumb sore for several days. Now I carry boca grips along when after those big fish.

Where were you fishing? Bank fishing or from boat?

Good info. guys. I am just waiting to try out the spring run at LOZ and look for some good spots to give it a try. Incidently since some of us were unable to attend the White Bass Seminar, can someone post a summary of what info. transpired?

Thanks again for the info. I will give it a try. Let me know if you hear any reports around there, and I will do the same.

Thanks for the info. One last question. Do the whites run up past the boat ramp there at Swinging Bridges, or do I need to go further downstream to try my luck.

Riverrat, Thanks for the info. Swinging Bridges is one of the areas I would like to try. Have you ever fished there before? Any tips / advice you could give me. Thanks.

You don't have to twist my arm much to join in a fishing trip. Just drop me a line any time on my email addy linhardt@mowaterfowl.org and I would be happy to meet up with you and fish. Good luck, and reply back how you did. Forgot to let you know, if you do go up to the dam, make sure your boat does not go any closer to the dam than the yellow line on the shore. You might get ticketed

Any word on white bass running up the rivers and streams yet? Looking to try and fish a few bank areas around LOZ and osage river area.

I do not have much experience in walleye fishing around there, only caught a couple here and there. I am not sure what they mean by mud bottom, but it is all gravel bottom from the dam down. In fact there is a gravel plant about 2 miles down and they come up stream close to the dam to get gravel sometimes. There have been quite a few people who catch walleye below the dam. My guess would be to concentrate on up stream of deeper holes where it meets the riffles, and bounce a 1/4 jig or larger and minnow combo to get down to the bottom and keep it vertical. Whites are abundant and should be running soon, hit the fast water for them around structure and up stream from deep hole where riffles meet. When the dam is generating water then the fishing can be good, when no generation I would focus more downstream in the areas with current. I do not have a boat and have only fished that area out of a boat once, so my experience is limited that way. But I have fished the bank up near the dam for a long time, have done well on whites and hybrids when they are running and the dam is generating water. Hope this helps a little.

There is a nice concrete boat ramp about a mile down river from the Dam. It should be fine for your boat. You can get there by turning off Hwy 54 on the outer road that goes up to the dam.

Thanks Butts, I definitely give that advice a try this year.

Hybrids are my personal favorite...... I fish for them on Truman and Truman Tailwaters. Trying to learn the spring white fishing in the tributaries, creeks, and rivers but not having much luck finding right areas or time in my neck of the woods. I have only caught 1 striper in my life and it was a small one about 6 lbs.