There are grass pickerel in Pearson Creek just outside of Springfield. I have about a 10' pickerel here at school. There are also grass pickerel in Crane Creek
As I was sitting in my office trying to find something other to do than research on my thesis, a friend stops by and says "Hey thinking about going down to the James and doing a little scouting" I looked outside and said heck yes I'll go fishing. We got down to Hootentown and met up with a another buddy and fished downstream... nothing. So we headed up to another spot and fished a nice run and caught four medium smallies on jigs. Had a nice one on and had my drag set to tight and... bink!! broke him off. Man tomorrow is gonna be cold.
I use a gold rapala F3 or F5. Gold Mepps spinners work well also. when the shad start to die and come through the dam anything in silver or white will kill them
I'm not that much of a flyfisherman but when I pull it out and go for smallies about the only thing I use is a woolybugger. Olive and black work the best in my opinion. Anything that looks like a crayfish or small minnow will work also.
I got down for a little while before I did some Christmas shopping. Was using the trout jigs that Don Luna makes. Caught three on a gold tinsle jig. 2 bows and a nice little brown
Went down with a buddy and fished from about 2 to 5:30. I just took my spinning gear and caught three right below Outlet 2 with a panther martin spinner. A little dink bow and two beautiful but small browns. Then about dusk I finally caught 3 bigger bows on a rapala down past rebar. Not the greatest day but still caught some fish. Might have to hit Friday night with the raps.
Havn't been since March but when I'm throwing raps at night I use my 6'6" medium light rod gets the bait out a little farther and I have better control with it. In my opinion the make and model of a rod and reel doesn't matter except to yourself. Use what you are confortable with and what you can afford.
Just a little question to help with my thesis. Do you guys feel there is quality fishing at public access points here in the Ozarks, Ex James River, or do you use these access points to get to another spot on the river, wading or canoe?
Can I run any type of good light off a battery for a night? I don't have the budget for a generator and wondering if that would work better than propane. Thanks
You nailed it I made this post so all of you could send me Thank You cards and invite me to all of the Ozark Anglers get togethers and shake my hand thanking them of where to find big trout in a little creek.
Yeah I know how to hold a fish but the guys that I was with didn't. After I saw what they were doing I recommended that wasn't the best way to hold that fish.