OzarkFishman

If you guys have kids and you want them to get in on some top water action ... try this ... a weightless lizard on an offset worm-hook. Tell them to reel it fast enough to stay on top, but no faster. On the small clear water creeks we have, this tears the smallmouth up. My oldest caught two 3 pounders in one day a few years back in knee deep water. Even though I said for kids, I still use this bait more than walk the dog baits (for skinny water). You will go through plenty on a good day, but you can cut the head off and throw it on a ned rig and slay them as well (not topwater of course). It does have a learning curve as far as hookset (I suggest nanofil and a leader). Tightlines

Ok, I will give you my snake identification skills suck. Here is a question, would a normal water snake kill all 4 fish in the basket. The fish went from perfectly healthy to looking like they were dying to dead in about 5-10 minutes. I’m always up for learning. I live in the Ozark’s and see copperhead all the time in some of the smaller river/creeks I frequent (guess my ID skills only work in SWMO). The fishing Saturday was good. Would have been better if I got my lazy butt off the dock, but I didn’t. Best fish was 20 pounds and 36 inches (it wrapped itself up pretty good). I released it since it is bigger than cooking size (I only keep fish under the slot). Most fun I had was catching small channel cat and some decent drum while bait fishing. It was windy and beautiful all day (sprinkled some and rained some, but under the dock cover in a rocking chair is mighty comfortable in the rain). A bass inhaled one of the bait fish. Only 1.5 pounds, but still fun. I was able to release it with its prize still in its mouth.

First night in the books. It’s been a great night. Bait came easy and the wind picked up as I showed up around 5:30. The fire in the median on I-44 slowed my arrival, but it’s all good. As I started gathering bait, I decided to leave the jon boat in my truck (wind was white capping and tomorrow doesn’t look much better). I set 3 lines from the dock and gathered more bait. Then threw out two poles with green sunfish on the hook (I mainly fish live bait) I had the bait basket pretty full when a copperhead made its way into the basket. When I pulled it up from the walkway on the dock, I saw the snake with its fangs in a bluegill. The snake stayed fang deep until I pulled out my phone, then it got camera shy and slid out a hole in the bait basket. I moved the basket to deeper water and continued catching bait. All the bluegill looked shaken, but as I kept catching bait ... those fish started perishing (venom isn’t good for a fish). I threw out the venom filled fish and thought about how lucky I was to “catch” a copper head. I could have touched it ... BUT I’m not stupid .. lol. I have one eater blue on a stringer and I’m looking forward to a great Saturday. Just keeping you filled in. We all know wrench is the reason his daughters fall down stairs and get bloody noses.

That looks like a blast. I love small water. Truly nothing better than small water top water smallmouth fishing. They just explode in 6-24” of water.

Crazy stuff happens on this lake all the time. It’s become (or has been) part of the lake. We love our night rides, but it is just early morning Jon boat line sets and late evening line checks/resets this trip. We have done well off the dock, best we’ve ever done (both set lines off dock and rod/reel). I’m hoping to slay them off the dock (there is a massive mud flat with an old road running under water). It’s pretty good sometimes and average other times. I set a goal to hand line a catfish. I will keep it close to the dock to try and limit it to less than 10 pounds. I’m stoked to try it out. It may fail miserably, but I think it will be a blast.

34 mile marker on the Osage ... I can see the Hurricane Deck bridge from the dock. Thanks for the news wrench. Figured the temps haven't changed, so fishing is just like in July.

This weekend will be a first for me. I am going to the lake without my kids, my wife or any friends ... just me, my dog and cat-fishing. I plan on setting some lines and rod and reel fishing as well. With the temps still being hot, I am assuming the lake temp hasn't changed much. Are the catfish switching to a fall pattern yet? Hoping they are still summer fish and cruising mud flats (I mainly target Blues). I will post pics if successful. Enjoy the cooler weather this weekend.

They had to drain it due to a leak in the dam. They fixed it up nice and it holds water. My only wish is that they would have made the depth increase quicker from shore to control the grass, but it is great anyways!

Yes, it is the one by the highway. It is a cool pond, but really weedy right now so topwater and weightless plastics are about the only option. The plant manager lets schools and other groups come it, but it is not open to the public. It is a cool pond with lots of fish. There are some monsters, but after they drained it 4-6 years ago it hasn't produced the big ones like it used to. Since it has been refilled, we did luck into a 4-5 pounder ... just not the consistent 2-3 pound fish that used to be there.

Ness, Your signature quote is awesome! We had a great night at Tracker pond. There were somewhere around 25 students and 35 total people (parents, siblings). We caught somewhere a little over 100 bass. Pond fishing is easy, especially when you tie on a senko for the kids. Multiple kids caught their first fish ever. Fun night. PS - Phil OR moderator ... I will not post anything else that is not related to James river in this thread! Enjoy your day!

Tonight it's time to meet some of my junior high students from my classes at Tracker pond here in Ozark. Hopefully the fish cooperate and we get some kids on some good largemouth action. I will post pics if we get any good ones. I always heard "old people" talk about how they enjoyed watching people catch fish as much as catching fish themselves ... I guess I am an "old" 35 year guy. PS - Talked to my buddy the other day (he knows James better than anyone I know) ... said they were hammering 3.5 paddletails on a jighead ... just passing the info.

Took my boys for some smallmouth fishing on the James (lower). It was a beautiful late morning, early afternoon. Fish were all over, next to structure, in the middle, shallow, deep, wherever. Tried multiple lures with varying success, but the lure of the day was the Ned rig. I tried 3 different jigheads and all worked equally well, it was just a fishy day. Both boys caught plenty of fish, but the young one caught the fish of the day (and best small mouth of his short life). I was in my 30s before I caught a smallmouth like that. His smile says it all. Hope all of you are taking advantage of the bite, it is GOOD.

SOLD ($120)

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This is a Precision Inferno Wildfire crossbow set.It comes with the following:- Crossbow (with illuminated scope)- String and a backup string- Cocking rope- Quiver (with 2 Carbon Express arrows)- The cocking devise (rope with end attachments) to take the string on and off- A gently used tube of scorpion venom rail lube- SlingThis crossbow has harvested 2 turkey and many deer. It is a great crossbow. I have upgraded to a new crossbow. I am asking for $200 OR a reasonable offer. Hope you all have a great day and stay safe in the woods this weekend!

That is awesome. Too many people focus on the competition aspect of fishing ... bigger, more, etc. I bet those trips will be as memorable for her as any rod and reel catch!

Smallmouth topwater bite is always best for me ANYTIME on the great Ozark creeks/rivers we have. I do best in shallow runs (moving but not breaking), the convergence right before a riffle, and mid-depth pools. I do not ever focus on the time of day for topwater on Ozark rivers (largemouth are a different story). To me, the depth of water and speed of water matter the most. Others on here catch way more smallmouth than me, so listen to them. As far as bait, I am a fan of fishing soft plastics on top. Try different ones out and see how they walk, crawl or move as you bring them back. Also, the smaller Whopper Plopper and buzzbaits work well for me.

It is funny to take someone to a small creek and start fishing. They usually ask within minutes, is there even fish here OR how are we gonna catch fish of any size in 6-12" of water. That is usually about the time a topwater hit explodes and their addiction to small water fishing begins. The best part about the skinny water fishing is seeing the multiple wakes coming towards the bait. When one misses, another is right there to pick up the scraps. Of course, I don't share these spots very often ...

Finally got a little time to hit one of my favorite small Ozark creeks. It is one of those creeks that seems to always produce good fish for me, but you gotta work if you want the reward. Fished topwater 95% of the time, senko the other 5%. Caught a fish in the first hole, then the work began. The riffles that are usually just high enough to get through were no where close to high enough. This is the time of a float when a person gets to decide whether or not to get annoyed. The more I float and enjoy the outdoors, the more I understand that the enjoyment a person gets out of an experience is 100% connected to their outlook on the situation. I decided to "enjoy" the 100 yard drags and the beautiful scenery. The first part of the float doesn't ever produce like the second half and this float was no different. Once we made our way to more lively water it was GAME ON. The fish were lively and fighting hard. I was having fun catching respectable fish, but I knew I was waiting for something more. As I brought the bait slowly across the top, a solid 17-18" inch fish came totally out of the water and annihilated the bait. It is one of those fish that I will remember the rest of my life. Not the biggest smallmouth, but definitely the most violent bite I have ever had. Went on to catch somewhere between 30 and 40. As for the bait, be creative and fish baits differently than other people.

I know the feeling. The good thing for you is you are on the water all the time and can tell the lake to take a hike.

Those are some nice fish! Congrats.

We put in off of that outer road that runs parallel to the lake. Literally launched from the road. It was a fun June there to say the least.

Nothing beats catching big fish out of small water that most people pass up! Congrats!

Are the frogs and insects not around due to water quality OR is it another variable? You are absolutely correct, I haven't even thought about frogs or the lack of insects.