ozarkgunner

It might be a her..... last time I was in there a woman was working.

I use to feel the same way about MDC being cash driven. However, after getting to know some of the agents and the private land biologists up in Cedar County, I think the department truely works to strike a balance between economic and biologic interests. The recent changes involving the 8 point limit for deer hunting is a prime example of MDC putting the deer heard health ahead of permit money. Additionally, we saw an experimental "hand fishing" season removed following a 3 year study. Lastly, I want everyone to think about the public duck areas in Missouri. It is WELL proven that bird watching generates much more economic benifit than duck hunting. Yet year after year MDC tries to bring as many youths into the sport as possible. MDC is charged with protecting the bass and I think they would take action if it was truely needed. The lack of action on TRL bass is probally due to what Bill said, a lack of decent fisherman! However, I still dream about TRL with a few more regualtions that promote and protect trophy sized bass. Tightlines.

When was it from? I stopped in there about a month ago when I fished the pothole and noticed a HUGE picture of walley also. Neat store, they had swimming minnows and pearl sliders!

I fished for cats also, but got a big ZERO. I had a few bites on my cat lines but landed nothing. Only saw one guy catch a small blue.

I went to Bagnell all day on Sat. April 25. The water was running, however the tempature was still cool, 49 degrees. Overall, the fishing was slow. I landed 5 whites, 2 crappie, 3 drum, and about 12 black bass. I will say I caught the largest river smallmouth of my life (5.5+ lbs.) on a minnow using 4lb. crappie line. WHAT A FIGHT. I have never caught a smallmouth below the dam, and I didn't even know they were in the Osage. Nobody else was catching much of anything. A few whites up by the dam, but thats about it. Tight lines.

Nice fish! When you say upper Capps do you mean above the dam and Mill? Are there any trout up there? I always thought the spring was at the park.

Guys, from the number of posts you think that only the three of us ever fish below the dam! Surely someone else has been lately and can give us three a updated report. There are a lot of views... but very few reports.................

The only time I get fish on the "fall" of the river is in Oct. The catfish seem to cluster then. Otherwise water needs to be running!

Don't quack too much........... some of the boys around here will put some steel in you!!!!!! JUST KIDDING! Come back...... I'm sure the repeat will be worth it! Tight lines!

I'll look at the shakey head also. I love Loomis because they back thier rods. I broke 2 and they sent me new ones free of charge (less shipping).

Where are you coming from Wader? St. Joe?

Thanks guys! I haved loved loomis for a long time, but want to make sure this $ is worth it.

WOW... I just picked up a bolt (2000 yards) of vanish at the local BPS and just happened to walk by the G. Loomis section. They have a casting rod called the bronzeback 6-12 lb. 6'9" med-light. I almost died after I picked it up..... feels like a million bucks. I can just see myself grub fishing with it as we speak. Anyone out there ever use one? I have two GL3's and a Mossyback, but I have never seen the bronzeback before. I appears to me the dream rod (except for the price $235..ouch!). Any imput before I buy would be great!

I hope so........... I remember last year with the gates open .............wow what a great year!

Anyone been to Bagnell lately? It should be getting hot. I fished up in Columbia this last weekend because it was so good, but now I am starting to get the itch to head down to Bagnell. Wader? Seth? anyone? FYI: I went to a new local pond in Columbia today for a hour and got skunked!

Ten years ago I would have agreed with you 100%. However, now I think we are see a lot people getting more interested in Ecotourism. There is BIG money in catch and release (Just think about when the regs. at Tanneycomo changed) so i don't think I would call it as crazy as it once sounded. Think about how many people go to Lake Fork, Tx to release most of thier fish.

I think we need a special forum (area.. whatever it is called) entitled " The Catch and Release Debate" Then we could let people go on and on about this subject, but the constant back and forth would stay out of the normal forum area.

Looks like Swan creek is starting to get hot also. Lilley would know best.

I let 99.99% of my bass go and always let them go in the Spring. I think having something like split zones during the spawn for 5 years would show people that releasing the sows really really makes a difference. This is the Show Me state..... I hope that such a regulation would "show" people that killing sows in the Spring is the same as shooting hen turkeys on the nest.

Tanneycomo is set up perfectly in my opinion. The split zones work well for all of the parties (bait, fly, keep or kill). To do the samething on TRL, I would make the limit one brown over 18', 5 spots over 12', and 3 largemouths, but only one over 18". Total limit no more the 5 combined. Any area west of the Kimberling City Bridge would be closed to harvest of black bass from March 30 until May 30. This would leave all of the other lakes (Stockton, Pomme, LOZ, Bull Shoals) open to the current regulations. This would make part of TRL a true trophy bass fishery. JUST MY 2 CENTS!

Welcome. I am kind of in the same boat as you are. I have been up in Columbia for graduate school for the last three so I only get to fish down in the Ozarks (excluding LOZ) once a month (and all summer long!). However, I am in daily contact with all of my old fishing buddies and try to keep up on the reports as much as I can. When it gets hot enough, I will drive down for the weekend. This weekend a lot of guys will be chasing toms, so the crowds will lighter. My friend hit Blunk (James River) on Tues. and did very well on the whites. I wish I had more to tell you.

I'm glad it is back up! I was starting to have OAF withdrawal! No joke, I get the shakes without my fishing chat fix!

The fishing starts to get tough in late June. The lower lake has some long points that are great to night fish. After Mid-June, I don't even think about fishing until close to dark. Try Gido bugs (plastic crawdads) in 15-25 foot out on the long points. If you aren't 200 yards from the shore, your aren't fishing the right type of water. The black and red spinnerbait (or black and blue) also start about this time. Slow roll it in the heavy timber. Lastly, as the water temp starts to heat up, and so does the 12 inch worm bite. I like all black with a red tail. There are a lot of people here who know better than I do, but I hope this helps. PS. the 4" zoom french fry worm (watermelon) always works on the rock.