Fly_Guy

I can see it being at least 45', but I don't know if it has the weight... the phish in the photo of the current record has the girth as well...

Don't you mean you live a "rolls throw" from Lamberts? thanks for the advice - are there smallmouth in the "lake" around the Ozark park? and down from the mill? I really want to put him on some smallmouth - not interested in size, just numbers. He doesn't get to catch them where he's from. I've been to the tailwaters once - but I didn't know if you went downstream if it got less "trash infested" Behind the old jeep dealership would work too - though that's Finley isn't it? Should post in the Finley forum I reckon.

glitter boats you mean?

Never mind

My cousin's coming into town, and I got him hooked on river smallmouth last time he was here. We're looking for a place to wade and catch a few in the am, before we rent a boat on taney in the pm. We live close to Lamberts in Ozark, so I was thinking below the Springfield Lake tailwaters. Is this good for wading, or are there other spots that are better? I don't go often at all, maybe once a year, but I want to treat him to a couple of unique Ozarks fishing experiences. Any advice on wadable smallmouth streams around here would be awesome - though I am specifically curious about below the lake. (it's real close to us) Thanks a bunch Brian

Fellows hasn't heated up yet aparently. I went the other day and caught a 10 inch crappie off the bridge, and a 16 inch walleye as well, both on swimmin minnows. I thought my luck was on, and went and got some real minnows, and not a bite afterwards. You have to get there early - I was there at 6 am, and a stiff wind was blowing into the bank. Talked to another fellow who fishes there regularly, and he said after a week or so of good weather, crappie and white bass will turn on, and you'll catch a limit off the dock if you get there early. I've never had a lot of luck at fellows, but I aim to change that this year. Crappie and White bass can both be caught at McDaniels lake - I was there yesterday as well for about 1/2 hour, and saw about 5 or so crappie caught - casting out from the bridge with crappie jigs or minnows, and slowly retrieving/jigging. Also saw a nice white caught - chap was going to throw him back and asked if anyone wanted him - I said 'sure' - and he joined the walleye and crappie. If you're reading, - thanks - cousin said he was tasty! If you're going right now, I'd say McDaniels, and go early or late. Not a lot of access, but the bridge seems productive.

where do you fish at McDaniels? I've never been, but I've heard there are only a few roads in and out. thanks brian

Do the crappie generally spawn around the dam area? Or all over (I can only bank fish) thanks

Even I was catching crappie today - I had a period of about 30 min where I thought I found the magic brush pile. Almost a fish a cast. Most just under the limit, but I took home 14 keepers. In less than two hours. Fishing from the same 10 ft spot, from the bank. Fish were in about 10 ft water. There can be no better way to start your mudane day at work than to get up at 5 am and wallup some crappie.

I thought you meant 'whip it' ... into shape...shape it up...get straight...go forward...move ahead...try to detect it... its not too late...to whip it... whip it good!

Howdy next door neighbor!

Had some time last night - fished for about an hour around Aldrich - caught 12, 6 keepers between 10 and 11 inches. This new length limit is killer! 4 of the 6 I couldn't keep were nine inches! Shoulda stayed longer, but something told me to head down to lil sac for the evening white bass. Wrong! Caught two - one 5 incher, and one 15. Biggest white I've ever caught - hit like a train! not a bad 2 hours tho - ended w/ six crappie and two whites. (from the bank ) swimming minnows for crappie, rooster tail for whites.

They say imitation is the highest form of praise - unless it involves someone in your fishin hole. I had fun today - was catching whites on a chartreuse curly tail, and 4 kids came right up close to me, switched to chartreuse curly tails, and started casting right where I was. I just had to chuckle - it's a big river and I moved, but as I passed them later, one told me of the fish they had caught after they moved to the spot I vacated I guess I should feel complemented?...

Thanks I went this afternoon, and kept 13 in a coupla hours on chartreuse curly tails - that's a new personal best (I'm new to this 'white bass run' thing ) I went downstream of Blunk - I'll have to start going north I reckon - it was a tad crowded tonight.

I think that has happened to all of us at one point in our lives - Wife and I were catching walleye and crappie trolling crankbaits on Stockton a coupla years ago, and she had been whuping me, till I got a huge 'walleye' on. Turned out to be a stinkin' drum She had the last laugh!

Anyone been lately? I'm contemplating whether to get up tomorrow at around 4 and head to Blunks or not. It would be a fitting way to start the day that I have to take comprehensive exams to pass with my Masters in Biology Or have they all moved up past Blunks yet? Any info would be appreciated - if they are past Blunks, is there any access for us bank fishers upstream?

congrats!

Went down yesterday - got to Taylor at around 4 pm - fished till after 8. Caught 5 whites, 1 lgmouth, and one 8 inch crappie. Kept 3 - only two whites were decent size. Saw a lot of dinks and males being caught. A lot of folks there - a few had probably 10 or so.

Just wondering if anyone has been lately and how the water is looking? I will be going tomorrow, so at the very least I'll be able to report something Friday.

I have wondered about that... it seems like an awfully big fall for a heavy fish to survive. I may give er a shot tomorrow am - I did well on smb a couple of years ago.

Did that smallmouth last topic wash over the dam you reckon? And if it did (and imo so), are there more? And do you think any wallys came with him? Just musing... I didn't know if the spawn was on yet, but i guess if walleye are in the James, they'll be on the dam as well... Anyone know anything?

How do you advise people to fish powerbait? I'm just curious - my favorite method is using six pound line, with a 4 pound leader. I like a worm weight up in the six lb line, with a tiny split shot underneath it, and the 4 lb leader under that. Then an Owner Mosquito hook and a couple of white gulp eggs. I always trim the barbs - it makes releasing super easy, and with the worm weight, it's very easy to detect bites. I see some people with just a few split shots above a hook - I would think strike detection would be more difficult... I know it's probably not that complex, but if you do it right, you can c&r with powerbait doing minimal damage to the fish. I always hate to see folks rip a hook out of a bloody fish, and toss it back in the river. With the water up, this feeling strikes instead of sight fishing is actually pretty fun.

I have yet to see a RR report in which the powerbait eggs and the plastic worms were doing poorly. Thanks for the reports - I need to get down there w/ the fly rod soon...

Been following this topic and a thanks to Ann for getting it sivulized again. Here's hoping this next week will be enough to get the walleye on the move. I've only caught one keeper this year so far. Keep us posted - the thread "Fishing Report" will draw my eye because it will hopefully contain fishing reports. Thanks! Brian

smaller soft-bodied invertebrates are often the best indicators - their tissues readily uptake chemicals, and because of their size, relative toxicity is higher. I don't know if there has been real studies done on Springfield Lake though... What Joe says is correct - you typically see bioaccumulation in the tissues higher level predators - like sportfish, so the danger of course is that the sportfish you're eating is much more toxic than the environment would indicate. I don't know too many people who died from "lake springfield toxic fish syndrome" though. You eat everything at your own risk - from plants to beef to fish. I wouldn't really worry about it.