OzarkFishman

When I said a little hard work ... I really meant quite a bit of hard work. But it was all about the challenge for us. We wanted to see how far we could go and honestly we could have went further, but we were getting hungry. Actually, going down was harder because once the trolling motors are pulled up the water has all the control. We got ourselves in a few situations, but managed to escape unharmed. Tight lines, OzarkFishman

I put in my 14 foot jon boat at the park and headed up river with a buddy of mine. My initial goal was to get to the one-lane bridge. After getting there (with a little dragging and a little work) we kept going. The river was still up a few inches, otherwise it would have been a lot more difficult. We made it all the way up to the bluffs (if you've been there you know what I am talking about). It was nice seeing part of the river that I had never seen before. It was a great trip. We ended the day with only 7 fish. 5 smallmouth, 1 largemouth and 1 green sunfish. All were caught on small plastics. Biggest fish went 14 inches. OzarkFishman

I don't eat anything out of Springfield Lake, but honestly I don't keep what I catch 98% of the time. As far as being safe, it really comes down to moderation. Smaller fish are safer to eat, because they don't have as much "bad stuff" built up in their tissue. Tightlines, OzarkFishman

I still have yet to fish upper Finley. I have heard a lot of good things. I plan on going back tomorrow morning, hopefully I get some more good action. Good luck on the water, OzarkFishman

I was on the water for about an hour and half today. I picked up three quick dink smallmouths. Then, I moved up river a little to a pretty good pool with a tree creating a nice pocket of shaded, slack water. On my third cast I hooked up with a good fish. It took me into some trees, made a couple good jumps and then I landed it. It was a nice fight for my 5'6" light action rod. I picked up a total of 11 fish, with all but 2 being smallmouth. A couple smallmouth would have went 12". OzarkFishman

Good luck finding close ponds to fish. Don't overlook neighborhood ponds. I grew up in Blue Springs and the Waterfield ponds hold some good bass. I have a neighborhood pond down here that I hit a few times a month.

This was the first time that I C&R with jugs. No one needed any meat and we were just out having a good time on the water. The black and blue jig has caught more fish for me this year than any other lure. Except maybe a wacky rigged stik-o on a flick-it jig head (use the o-tool). Tightlines, OzarkFishman PS - I can go to these pits any time I like, with one young boy and another boy on the way I am not looking to wear out my welcome. Sorry, Jerod, no can do.

I let everything go.

Here is another picture of that snapper. Look at the head on that thing

I started off the weekend jug fishing for a few hours on Truman with fresh shad. Between 2 boats we boated 15 cats (mainly blues) and 1 gar. The other boat had a good one snap off. The biggest blue boated was 5 pounds. We were C&R fishing. I then went to a farm pit that I hit a few times a year and started out with a black/blue jig with a blue paca chunk. Second fish went 4 pounds and 12 ounces and was about 20 inches long. I boated 20 the first night, mainly pounders with some 2+ mixed in. I caught most of the fish on a 5" watermelon Strike King Senko style bait. The next day I took a family member out with me. We hit a different pit on the same property. We boated 35 fish over 5 hours, not as much action as I am used to at the pits. But the water was like bath water and the fish would only hit jigs and worms tight to structure. I tried a bunch of different tactics, but the jig was the most consistent. The guy I went with caught his personal best (4 pounds 1 ounce) on the exact black/blue jig that I caught the big one on the day before. He then lost the jig to a tree ... too bad. That Eakin's jig was well worth the money. I got a little bored, so I caught 2 sunfish and set out two jugs (set at 10'). I saw a big hit, and then the noodle was pulling under. I was hoping for a catfish, but I got a huge snapper. OzarkFishman

F4F, I put in under 65 bridge and troll around the lake. I use my 30# in front most of the time, but when I want to skip over some parts I use my 50# in back. I've tried some spinnerbaits and cranks, but I can only get a good bite with plastics and jigs. If you can cast accurately, then you will have success. I pitch with a spinning reel and power pro braid. I have better accuracy with a spinning reel. JDC, If you can cast to structure, then you should have success. I usually catch a few along the North bank where the walking trail is. If you just walk and look for spots to cast from, then you should pick up a few.

I have hit Springfield Lake 5 times in the last 2 weeks. I have been trolling around pitching plastics and jigs right up snug to any cover (trees, grass, shore, any abnormality). I have taken a few different people and each time we boat between 10 - 12 fish (mostly bass, with some big sunfish mixed in). Mainly we are catching pounders, with a few bigger ones mixed in and some dinks along the way. I plan on trying some different things in the next few weeks. Good luck and stay hydrated, OzarkFishman

+1 on the 3" sliders (paired with a 1/16th pro series slider head) They will catch anything from trout to bass and everything in between.

When it happens, I will be cussing. Until then, I will be wishing. Good point though .

Thank you guys for the information. I will probably only troll with light wire trebles (thanks for the idea). I will probably troll 2 poles at a time, with one braid (power pro 20/6) and one P-Line Florocarbon 8-12. I guess all that is left is to try it out. Thanks again, OzarkFishman PS - I will be trolling without the use of electronics. Tips are welcome.

What is "long" when referring to long lining? What type of line? Would you want mono to allow some stretch for the trebles? I would probably use 8-12 pound P-Limne Floroclear, unless advised otherwise. Thanks in advance for any advice, OzarkFishman

BPS stick-o 4 1/4" (Black/Blue) Brush Hog (Watermelon candy) Any 3 - 3.5" stick-o or creature bait on 1/16 oz slider 10" black worm

That's a nice fish. Funny, I heard they liked chicken too. KFC here I come

While I don't trout fish myself, you might be careful slamming trout. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but there are a lot of trout lovers on these boards and it is always best to show respect. Not trying to be negative, just trying to stop a tread from becoming something bigger than it needs to be. There have been too many flare ups lately on the boards (Actually the last week has been a little better). Good Luck, OzarkFishman

Hopefully you will get into some Ozark bass and smallmouth. Good luck. OzarkFishman

Like others have stated, small plastics and jigs work well. I usually don't throw a plastic over 4 1/2 inches. You will be amazed what you can catch on an 1/16 leadhead paired with a one-inch creature bait. If you are taking a kid, or are like me and just a kid at heart, then pair the small creature bait with a bobber and pitch it next to some cover. Let it sit and then twitch it back and cast again. OzarkFishman

I went back today for around an hour (noonish). I took my waders and started throwing weightless plastics. It was nice not being hot in the breathables on the 4th. I picked up a quick 12 inch largemouth. I then switched to a grub with no takers. I went back to a bulkier weightless plastic and started casting as close to shore as possible. I made a cast that landed inches for the shore, twitched the rod tip once and an explosion. I saw a guy pick up a few on a white walking topwater (both looked to be between 12 and 14 inches). Tight Lines, OzarkFishman

What size hook and what kind of hook are you using? For cut bait, I go with a 4/0 or 5/0 Circle or Kahle hook. Hope this helps, OzarkFishman

I got to the lake Thursday afternoon. The place I stay is on the Osage arm at the 34 mile marker. I caught some bait (bluegill and sunfish) and then set 2 anchored jugs and some throw lines off the dock. Friday morning I checked the lines and had a 5 pound 2 ounce blue, a 2 pound 12 ounce blue, and a 1 pound 8 ounce flathead. Friday we got more ambitious and set an anchored jug in 25 feet of water (5 hooks set from 2 feet off the bottom to 4 feet under water). We also set a 40 foot limb line on the opposite side of the lake (channel side). We baited both of these and all the lines I threw out the night before. When we got up Saturday we saw the jug (pool noodle) bobbing up and down. We finished breakfast and looked out and the noodle was gone. We got in the boat and saw that the noodle was moving around under the water 1 foot. It took a few passes to get the noodle in hand (no trolling motor). I first pull up a gar, then a 20 pound 8 ounce blue (35 inches) and finally a 2 pound blue. We boat over and pull a 8 pound 15 ounce blue from the limb line. We checked the lines again on Sunday and only had a 2.5 pound and 1.5 pound blue on. It was a great weekend and I even had a bass break me off while bait fishing with crappie nibbles under an indicator. Set some lines and get those freezers full, OzarkFishman

I wade around there some, it's pretty hit and miss for me. I just floated down a little and then paddled back.