Ealy

Went Saturday. water was a lot muddier than it has been. maybe 1 foot visibility. Water a little warmer though. 44-45 surface temp most places on main lake.

Ryan, don't let this guy even start to sway your interest in talking with a few clubs. I was a member of Ozark Mtn. for 4 years and recently left the club for my own personal reasons. I joined the club to become a better fisherman. I thought at first I would learn a lot from other people. While I might have learned a few things from some of the guys, the monthly tournaments (only a few other boats) ignited the fire in me to compete. I was probably one of the few who really took it seriously and prefished for every tournament, usually alone. This improved my fishing considerably learning through trial and error what works and what doesn't. I'd recommend Ozark Mtn. as a fun, laid back club to fish. I don't recall any vampires being in the club. Most of the members are middle aged dads looking to fish with different people for friendly competition. As for Trav, maybe he should keep his mouth shut when it comes to pigeon-holing everyone around "spankfield". What a jerk. If you don't have anything nice to say...

Is this the same Ryan from Greer's? Ozark Mtn Bassmasters meets the 1st Wed of every month in the basement of Sunshine Lanes. 7pm.

What's the water like on Upper Bull Shoals since the storms Tuesday? Muddy?Warmer? Last Saturday K dock area was around 41 surface temp in morn 43 surface temp in afternoon with maybe 3 feet of visibility.

How's the water color/temp. changed from the rains we got Tuesday? K Dock last Sat. was 41 in morning 43 surface temp in afternoon. Probably 3 feet visibility.

Hey guys check out the Storm website. They've got a new bait, the "Wiggle Wart Madflash". There are 4 or 5 colors that look hard to beat around here. Haven't seen any for sale yet, but you can bet I'll be looking for them. Don't discount the Cordell Wiggle "O" either. I've caught plenty of bass on their knockoff of the wiggle wart.

I've been using the Mr. Crappie 4 lb camo color line for the last couple of years. Before that I always used 4 lb Stren in either clear or hi-vis gold. At Pomme de Terre, the fish don't seem bothered by the high-vis gold line. It also makes it easier to watch for that pop in your line when they're biting light. I'm wondering what you all use. I'm looking for a line with very little memory, good castability, and good sensitivity. I have always fished 4 lb for crappie, but am open to suggestions. 99% of the time I'm fishing with 1/16th oz jigs.

The crappie enthusiasts at my work all use the 9 foot fly rods with a spinning reel for crappie, mainly for the trees at Truman. I finally broke down the yesterday and bought a 9ft Wally Marshall special at the outlet store for half price. Have any of you used these long rods? I thought it might be effective fishing boat dock slips from a boat by just reaching in and opening the bail. I grew up with 5 foot ultralites and still use one today. This long rod is gonna take some getting used to. Any tips on fishing with these? What reels are you guys using on them?

How about some love for Springfield's own Mexican Villa? This is not authentic Mexican food, but has been a Tex-Mex staple of the Ozarks for many many years. You can't go wrong with a Burrito (or Sancho) Enchilada Style. Great chips and hot sauce that will send you to the bathroom to clear out your sinuses. I've been going to these Mexican Villas (5 or 6 locations) in Springfield since I was old enough to eat tacos, and not much has changed (including the carpet). Mexican Villa is one of those places you get the itch for every once in awhile, and nowhere else will scratch it.

Unless you already know how to drop shot or do any vertical fishing, I'd recommend going to deep flats or long slow tapering points with a carolina rigged french fry or football jig. Set the boat in 30-35 foot and drag more or less parallel to the shore. Should also be fish on bluff ends. If it's cloudy and or windy get on the end of the bluff receiving wind. Also, pick up a grub and scrub the bottom with it on windblown banks. That's a good way to pick up some smallmouth. Stay more out on the main lake than in the creeks or coves. Get out early and expect it to be very tough, but not impossible. Pray for clouds and wind. Let us know how you do. I've never fished this lake before. (just kidding)

In my opinion eliminating tournaments all together would solve nothing. Tournament fishermen have fishing in their blood--you could take away the tournament, but not the fishermen. I may not have a tournament for a month, but I fish every weekend. You take my tournament away from me, I'm still coming to your lake. That goes for a lot of guys fishing tournaments. If you're going to the lake fishing anyways, might as well try to make a buck to pay for your gas down there. I've noticed that a lot of Pomme tournaments draw beginner tournament fishermen who have smaller boats. They aren't as inclined to run to the other end of the lake because it takes up too much valuable time better spent fishing. If you regulated the horsepower to say 90h.p. you would see a lot of congestion not far from the take off. You would have more boats running closer together in one small area, in turn creating a safety issue. And as far as safety goes, what about the drunk in the ski boat laughing with his buddies, driving around in circles pulling a tube, churning up the water because he doesn't ever get up on plane? That's the boat I'm worried about! Maybe it's time for a new resovoir in the area anyways. I've heard rumors that a new lake may be put in above Pomme de Terre near Pleasant Hope. Don't hold me to this, I've only heard it second hand. Let's face it, there are more and more people moving to this area all of the time. It now takes me 30 minutes to drive from Nixa to Springfield every morning to work. Five years ago it only took 15. I think it's great that you love to fish, but you have to understand that some people may be more passionate about your hobby than you are. That doesn't make you or me right or wrong, just different.

You might want to leave your striper gear at home! If you plan on fishing the Indian Point area in July plan on fishing deep. If you want to bass fish, a drop shot rig on 6lb test, A 3/4 oz spoon, and a football jig are all you should need. Look for the fish to be in brushpiles and deep tree tops. When the fishing gets tough, go and find a couple of nice bluff ends and main lake points with deep trees and come back to them after dark. Try black and blue jigs, salt craws, and big worms. I hope this helps.

Depending on the amount of money you have to spend, I'd recommend the Eagle Fishmark 320 on the low end. It has enough power to see your bait on the screen when dropped right under the transducer. Bass Pro has been selling them for a little over $150.00. If you have more to spend, I'd recommend a Lowrance X-15 or X-17.

Here is a link to a local bass club I'm in. http://ozarkmountainbassmasters.com/ We fish a monthly tournament and a championship. Table Rock, Stockton, Pomme de Terre, occasionally Truman, LOZ, Bull Shoals, and Taneycomo. We have been a BASS Federation club for many years, but it looks like we're going to be affiliated with FLW now. Our club has a meeting the first Wednesday of every month in the basement of Sunshine Lanes (formerly Sherm Lollar Lanes) in Springfield, MO. Feel free to come to a meeting, bring a friend, and get to know us.

I've got a newer model Aqua Vu. It is a lot of fun when the fishing is slow. They work great on Table Rock. The only thing I don't like is you usually can't tell which direction the camera is pointing. You can spin it around by rolling the cord through your fingers. It's best when standing on boat docks lowering into stalls. It also helps to have a friend with you,swapping postitions back and forth. One guy watches while the other one moves the camera around. It will make you mad when you go back to catch them knowing that there are fish there-and they won't bite.

The rod I use for most jerkbaits is a Shimano 6ft medium-light with Shimano Curado 6.3-1 gear ratio, 10-12lb. Bass Pro fluorocarbon. I throw Lucky Crafts and Rapalas on this rig. For a rouge however, I rig it on a 6'6" medium heavy spinning rod. I can make longer casts with the spinning rod, but lose a little accuracy. After using the baitcaster for an hour or so, it's nice to pick up a spinning rod for a while.

I think Action should be #1, followed by size. What about vibration and/or noise? In stained to dirty water those are probably a tie for first.

The Hartville/Mansfield "sucker grabbing capital" is just a decoy. The number of grabbers from Nixa might be closer than you think. Nixa residents don't have to drive into town to buy their grabbing supplies. Nixa Hardware sells grabbing weights, bottle openers, and large trebles. Many people pour their own weights. Nixa grabbers often end up in Lead Hill area, Flat Creek etc...Their probably aren't too many guys over 30 years old, lived in Nixa 1/2 their life, and never been grabbing/gigging at least once. Tell Hartville/Mansfield to BRING IT ON!!!! just kidding---no I'm not---never-you-mind.

I've grabbed on Big and Little Pigeon near Mountain Home, Bear Creek, Sugar Loaf, Carlton Creeks near Lead Hill, Flat Creek (few miles up from first backwater at Table Rock), Roark Creek in Branson where it runs into Taneycomo (drive around back side of Skaggs Hospital, park in apartment building parking lot), Bull Creek (Bridge at Walnut Shade and Bull Creek Village), Swan Creek (near Shadow Rock Park). You might even try the Finley at Bud's Bend and Beaver Creek running into Bull Shoals. I've never tried there, but have seen plenty of suckers there in the spring. To find new places go to creek arms running into the lake, start at the first backwater and keep walking upstream until you find them. Take some white bass gear when you go also. I hope this helps.

Check into Central Pro-Am's MO-Ark team series. They have some kindo of incentive for highest finishing team with one team member being under 16 or something. www.centralpro-am.com for details.

"The Ballad of Curtis Lowe" would have to be my favorite Skynard tune. A more obscure Skynard song "The Walls of Rayford" is another great one.

MWBT.com is a great website with local (missouri, arkansas, illinois) fishing info. They also have a message board. There is a lot of arguing and trash talk due to the fact that you don't have to post your name. The guys that post with their real names get attacked by anonymous posters.

Does anyone on here fish for bass on Taneycomo? What is it like this time of year on the lower end around Rockaway--water temps, etc... Thanks in advance.