tarpon14

Dude, feel your pain. One of my kayaks is rigged with electronics and I like to hit a depth and use the wind so I can do more fishing/less paddling. There are jerks all over the place that will cut you off - maybe they just don't get it. As for Taneycomo? Used to do it, but the bigger boats will send you rockin'. Great for kayak surfing, crappy for fishing.

Kevin, Stockton is my favorite for kayak fishing, but you have to pick your days. The wind can get you. My usual go-to spot is Mutton Creek access of Hi Y. Lot's of places to park & put in, some sheltered spots to fish, and great smallmouth in the Fall whin I hit it the hardest.

Kevin, you can have a blast kayak fishing. I have fished all the local lakes on a Wilderness Tarpon 14, which I have rigged with electronics and rod holders. While I don't have too much problem with boats blasting by (can be fun to surf their wake, unless you're tying something on), guys trolling usually are moving into the wind, while I drift with the wind. Some are rude, but most will give you leeway. In the spring when the whites are running, I love to head up James River around Blunk (Galena). In spots like that, yoou can fish hard from the boat, and if the current is up, pull up on bank and hop out and wade. I also like to crappie fish year-round; just invest in a good wetsuit for the colder water temps. I have only dumped once while fishing and it was in March; wakes you right up. Finally, invest in good paddle/gear leashes; if you have a 5-pound bass on it's nice to be able to throw the paddle aside and not have to worry. Godd luck - be safe.

Put my kayak in at Blunk yesterday (4/16) - water was running pretty good compared to last weekend - and I forgot to bring an anchor. After paddling upsteram and drifting back catching a few small males, I beached the 'yak and started wading and throwing rooster tails. Attached pics show the few I brought back (foul-hooked the little males). They really turned on about noon - I quit at a little after one (darn, I hate having to work!).

I fishout of a 14' yak rigged with electronics - mostly at Table Rock (James River) and Stockton. Taney was the lake that caused the most boat problems for me - so narrow that the idiots blasting by made it hard to fish. do enjoy getting on the wake and "sufring" though. Nothing like a giant smallie pulling you around. I'm gettin geared up for the whites right now was they get up into the river...

I agree with other posters - canoe traffic on nice weekends makes the Barclay area tough after 10:30 a.m. or so. I have caught many nice browns, nice for me being anything around 20", lots of rainbows, and the occassional smallie on spinning gear. Biggest on a fly - 3 lb brown on a mouse pattern. Never fished it at night, but I'd bet that is a blast.

Fished Barclay today - amazing how much the channel structure can change after these big rains. It's still pretty stained there, with a lot of water flowing... tough to wade it when you can't see the bottom. Just took out the spinning rod, but managed a couple of 15" rainbows. It ought to be a lot more fishable in a few days.

Hey, Perchjerker - what's crazy about the kayakers (of which I sometimes am, but hardly ever on Taney anymore...)? I do miss "surfing" on the wake the big boats leave down there. Don't miss trying to tie on while the bass boats fly by. One thing about the kayaks, they're a heck of a lot more quiet and less smelly than you outboard guys!

The pic is the Conservation access just below Bennett - I think they call it Bennett access. Took me about ten seconds to get it - some of you are probably quicker... Ran up to Barclay access this afternoon, water is clearing up, caught a half dozen small browns in 20 minutes, best one about 14".

I drove by before the rains hit - maybe a couple of weeks ago - pulled my ultralight out of the trunk and threw a rooster tail below Bennett for a few minutes. Water was low, but I caught two big strong bows within a few minutes before the cold ran me off. Hope this weather brings it up a bit - should be good!

Stopped at conservation area near Bennett and also at Barclay on Wednesday afternoon. Swimmer's in the riffles near the Park, still high and muddy at Barclay. Didn't look good enough for this amateur to try - left the waders in the car and headed home.

Last poster is correct - I kept a few Rainbows for the smoker Saturday morning from Barclay area. The old biologist in me had me checking their bellies - full of snails (escargot if it makes you feel bettter). The rainbows are really good quality this year, but I have yet to get any Browns of any size. Oh, and if you're going to fish Barclay area on a weekend, the canoes start piling up around 10:45. Looked like the strip in Branson, only with canoes. Fishing over!

Oh, no, Phil - I hope that wasn't the reference I think it is - I'm closing in on 50 myself. Seriously, though, thanks Marty for the report. Kayak fished a couple of times last week around CC. Best walleye 20'' on chartreuse swimming minnow in 15', couple of short bass by accident, I guess.

Wow - 50 replies to this thread... stirred 'em up! My chime in on the boats and cut-off's - my bass boat is a 14' kayak (I have two kids in college). Don't mind the wake of you fast guys unless I'm up against the bank tying something on, but I hate it when I'm trying to drift a bank and some folks - working against the wind - act like I'm not even there. I'm thr trolling motor, cut me some slack. I see more guys fishing kayaks lately; it's good exercise, quiet, and a great way to get to a lot of good spots. We are at the mercy of the wind though, so consider letting us drift. Thanks.

Site newbie here - I appreciate all you guys. Put my kayak in at McCord's on James Tuesday, paddled up to Blunks. First three casts had a smallmouth, and a couple of decent-sized whites. Picked up a few small males, then it cut loose for me about noon - big 2-3 pound females in shallow. Cleaned 10 - put some back. All on white swimming minnows and white in-line spinners - bigger fish on rooster tails. Saw wome guys doing well on purple seimming minnows as well. See me out there in a green 14' kayak, give me a wave.