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

Guys, go to Crappie.com, Missouri forum and check out the HUGE crappie from Truman today!! Don Rogers

Dennis Davey, the guy in the middle of the picture is my tournament fishing buddy!!! Called and told him to check out the pic, as he was now an internet star! Just needs a cool new jersey like all them other tourney fellas!! Don

Just got checked in to Branson Yacht Club this evening. Will be out as early as possible in the AM. Get on the lake and be on your first spot as soon as you can see and try top waters. My favs are Spook & Redfin. Point hop on the shady side OR fish the metal seawalls around your area. I would try top waters, could be good all day if overcast, and a shaky head worm on the points and seawalls in Indian Creek. If you fish points, I would start with my boat in 20 - 25 feet and throw towards the point. Jigs, carolina rigged baby brush hogs, wobble heads, etc. These fish like green pumpkin, watermelon red, occasionally junebug. Lighter colors overall. I will be in the Yacht club area tomorrow, I have a white Champ with grey flake arrow trimmed in red. Stop and chat if you get over here. I plan on expanding over the next few days, working towards Kimberling City. Good luck, you should catch some!!!! Don Rogers

Not the Ozarks, but I work in KCK (traveling teacher), and I have seen a couple of eagles around the Kaw river going across 18th street bridge this winter. Really cool to see how they have adapted to that area. Don Rogers

Bluebasser86, Melvern???? Don Rogers

Ric: Go to Youtube and type in Doug Vahrenberg (sp)? He has posted a ton of videos using Humminbird SI, DI, and 360. Highly recommend any one to check these out, includes features, how to set up, and a bunch more. Don Rogers

Cabelas has the boot you need in the shop. They're cheap, I buy 6 at a time. Don Rogers

Looking for some lake info regarding spring temps. What arms of the lake warm the first in the spring, and a rough time frame? Have never fished early in the year, looking to start over there in March, general info only, not looking for exact spots.

Downhill: Check Crappie.com. Go to the Forum section, scroll down to Missouri, click Missouri fishing. A LOT of people will post daily results for crappie. Locations may not be mentioned, but they are good about telling how deep and general locations. Most of the crappie fishing is done dipping jigs or minnows on long (10 - 15) foot poles. You will have a lot of good areas around Long Shoal, I would start at the mouths of the creeks and coves, then check out the channel trees if that doesn't work. The crappie like chartrues (sp?). You should be at prime time for the crappie!! Can't help with the walleye, most of mine are accidents, if the lake level is up, I have caught some on cranks fishing the top of Possum Ridge early and late. This is a long ridge with most of it out of the water unless the lake is up. Hope this gets you in the general ball park, Long Shoal has great camping. Don

Bluffboy: I fish the Am side in Heartland, have not been front-ended quite that bad, but I found if the pro is sticking his nose behind the dock, work any open water you can get. No law against throwing from shallow to deep. I use two baits in this situation, a shakey head worm and a heavy jig. You can't control when or how the boat will move, but by using a heavier jig you can get some fish to bite literally right under the boat. Drew a fellow that paralleled bluff walls at LOZ, I pitched a heavy jig literally 5-10 ft from the boat to catch a limit that got me a 5th place finish. Use a heavy jig or shakey head to get your bait on the bottom fast & shake it in place. I would have been as disappointed as you to have the guy burning down the bank looking for bedders, but dragging a C-rig finesse bait should have gotten you a few bites. Don't give up and keep learning from the pros, we have some mighty fine sticks in this part of the states. Don Rogers