doroger

You might consider Uncle Gabby's Motel. Right on highway 7, pretty good BBQ joint within sight. That will allow you to launch at Longshoal to fish the lower Grand arm, or put in at the state park and head up the Osage. If you have a mapping chip, you should be fine running the main lake, just be careful when you head into creeks or pockets. Most of the timber has broken off at the surface under normal pool. As you head up any of the main river arms, you will get dirty water. I would tell you to look at the lake map and choose the off-color water. Check major creeks and bigger pockets close to the channel. Truman fish are shallow fish, 15 feet is deep on this lake. Pay attention to what type of tree or cover you catch your fish on. Sometimes they like hardwoods, sometimes they like cedars. If the lake is up, look SHALLOW! Don

Yea, had a brain fart when I typed that. But, I did enjoy your Pssssst!! Don

Look at Ozarkanglers.com, Table Rock forum. Been some pretty impressive gills caught the last couple of weeks. You will get a general idea of how deep, where to look, and baits. Don

Bill: Sometimes you're the bug, sometimes you're the windshield! Go get'em tomorrow! Don

I had the honor to draw Charlie on the second day of a Heartland Pro Am championship. I found him to be one of the finest people I have ever met. I am a school teacher, so we had a lot of common ground to talk about besides fishing. This event was on LOZ, I was the point champion for the year on the Am side. Charlie was so happy for me, I think he enjoyed it as much as I did. Charlie spent all day fishing that Spook! He told me the night before to have a jerk bait tied on at all times, and if he got a fish to blow up on the Spook and miss, throw that jerk bait at the spot, no matter where it was! He even offered me the use of one of his Megabass 110's, but I was too scared to lose one of his baits! We didn't have a great catching day, but boy we had a day of fishing I will not forget. Thank you Charlie! Don

Look at Sparrowfoot if you want the upper Grand. Don

The best part was being with your dad. Like many on here, I lost my dad years ago, but I can remember just about every trip we went on. He started me early on bullheads in a city pond, through many years of crappie and white bass fishing, up through that once in a lifetime fly-in trip. I still think about him and those trips and all the funny things that just happen when you go fishing. Enjoy each day you two have, they are special. Don

Don't be afraid to try a small minnow/fluke type bait as the water gets colder and they switch to a heavy shad bite. I fish it year round, till the water gets too hard to get the rig to sink!! Don

Check Crappie.com forums. Some fish are being caught shallow in the backs of creeks. Don

I installed an extra receiver on the front of my truck. I live in a cul-de-sac, just drop the boat, turn the truck around and DRIVE that bad boy right into the garage! Yes, it might take you an extra 2-3 minutes to do this, but you can get that boat right where you want. Don

Bill: Great story. My Clunn story involves my daughter who was 4 years old at the time. We were at the Spring Fishing Classic at Basspro in Springfield, back when they held the seminars in the building next door. Wife had gone to grab us a sandwich, daughter and I were standing near the front doors waiting for Clunn's seminar to start. At the time, Poe's had a Clunn's boxed set of crankbaits that I had bought and we were looking at the baits. Well, in walks Rick, see's my 4 year old looking at those baits, and kneels down and talks to her for about 20 minutes. Nothing special, just talked about if she liked going to the lake, catching fish, and being with family. He asked if those baits were for her or for Dad, she said "they're daddy's!" He then asked if SHE thought daddy would like for him to autograph the box, she nodded yes, he signed, thanked her for being there and headed for the stage. I will always remember Rick in this way, he provided a lasting memory for me and my daughter. Don

Met a kayaker 2 weeks ago on Smithville. Pulled in to fish a large pocket, noticed he was on one side, I fished the other and stayed out of his way. Yes, they do have as much right to the water as all of us. You might also want to remember they are providing their own power to control the kayak. What bothers me the most is the increase in lack of courtesy not only on the water, but in every day life. People these days seem to have a overly large sense of self entitlement. It seems to be all about "me" and forget you, get out of my way. I teach public school, so I have seen this growing more and more in my 22 years of teaching. Personally, I feel we as a people are losing our ability to enjoy and appreciate all the little things in life that pass us by on a daily basis. Don Rogers

Goose: Not to give out too many secrets, but you can fish just about any of the points around the Yacht club and catch fish. Wife and i stay down there about every other year for a week. Just started fishing the Ned rig, haven't been down there with it yet. Some topwater VERY early, won't last once the sun starts to get up. My favorite 2 rigs for the area are Carolina rigged Baby Brush Hogs in green pumpkin or watermelon candy and Biffle hardhead with Menace grub in the same colors. Expect to catch a lot of smallmouth in the area, some Kentuckies, a few largemouth. Fish the points from 12 to 30 ft deep. If you get any wind, stay in it!! Cloudy, overcast, rainy be safe but GO!!!! You just MIGHT want to fish the point with the shallow area orange buoy out on the tip, look across the lake from the marina, you should see the buoy. Not saying you must fish the point but I MIGHT try it! Have fun, be safe, catch some fish! Don Rogers

Joe: All this free advice comes at a cost! Full detailed report (the good, the bad, and the ugly!) mandatory! Let us know how you!! Don

Update: Heard the fish was held overnight, then transported to Springfield alive to be put on display at the Wildlife museum aquarium. Bass Pro is donating a replica mount. Don Rogers