Daveinozark

ozark park was very crowded yesterday afternoon. I knew better but the kids wanted to try for perch. Not a thing. And no one else was getting them either. I threw a small yellow spinnerbait a dozen times into the lily pads for bass until I lost it. Darned if I didn't even see 1 fish jump. I recommend early mornings for Ozark park if that's where you want to try. Should get better with no rain on tap this week I hope. High water seems to throw me off my game for some reason. I've had the best success with this: http://www.lurenet.com/productdetail.aspx?id=f91478v catches the little ones and big ones, including perch. You'll be surprised how far you can cast that little thing too

haven't been by, but have seen the park pics yikes looks worse than the flood in 08 wonder if the spinnerbait and crankbaits will work now. Something loud and flashy

there's a small turn in road that looks like you're going to check into work at the power plant, but it goes past it. You can do well getting there early or late. It's a popular little spot that gets fished hard so you have to beat the crowds. As far as fish variety goes, all types can be caught there. People are even after spoonbills coming all the way up from Table Rock. I'd suggest waiting a week though, till water goes down. they probably aren't biting

yeah I'm planning on hitting the park area Sat morning since it'll be so warm. Couldn't find the fish over by the warm water outlet last weekend though. The fish were still sluggish, not chasing anything

wow, surprised they have the road closed sign. There's still a house up there. guess you could still park on that clear spot and walk up the way if you want. That home owner must be going around that barracade

I was hoping you'd check in. Yeah, I haven't been over there in a while. Just wondering if anything's changed now that the road doesn't go through. I have parked at that intersection before and fished over by Riverside without any issues. I can't see why a person couldn't park over there if it's now public property

with the bridge being closed, has anyone tried to park near Riverside? It's a great area to wade and shore fish, but I haven't been down recently to see if signs are still up everywhere or not

i agree, leave it open for pedestrians and bikes. (though a few barricades probably don't stop many). Living north of that bridge I used to travel it many times. My daughter now has to use the NN in order to get to work on her bike instead of cutting down Riverside, which isn't safe. Plus everytime I'm fishing there, I see joggers and bikers because it's such a pretty area. A nice trail from the park would be great community development project. we can hope

I've had my share of problems getting bites after rain on the finley too. surprised you made it that far in the 14 foot boat though

yep I've been looking for a small creek to set up some nets and kill anything I catch. Then, thanks to this forum, I'll move on to the next one until I have all the fish!!!!

hit a wading section of the Finley about a mile below the 65 freeway off of Mcaughley road. good time for wading, all the fish are piled up in the small pools since the river is so low right now. I used a tiny rebel rattling crankbait in tenesee shad. First time trying it, the size was just right for rock bass. They were hitting it with every cast until about 9:00am then the bite shut down. Better get some rain soon or this river is going to dry up!

I see both sides of the arguement, and don't imagine anyone's mind will change on this subject. I do, however, find it funny when people are tight lipped on the Finley and James river accesses. While I'm sure these streams may have been cleaner and produced better prior to my 2 years of living in Ozark, the fact that they run through the fastest growing county in Missouri is going to bring pressure regardless if someone is willing to tell me on here where the honey holes and access spots are.

where abouts are we talking about? where are you accessing?

I was planning on putting in at Delaware on Fri and heading up stream. Is there decent depth up from Delaware?

well, slept in too late. didn't get out of bed till 6:30 so I figured I'd better stay closer to home before it heats up. Ended up at Linden, which has become my favorite spot with the inflatable. Caught some large mouths of good size and small small mouths and a few sunfish. Water was too cloudy still from storms the other day though i'll try that spot next weekend maybe

awesome, I'll check it out tomorrow morning thanks

so, looking at Google earth, I see a possible parking spot. Where the Finley dumps into the James. Going down the M, taking a left on the M-140, then left on 2 rivers road there's a bridge over the Finley there. It looks as though there's a dirt path there along side the bridge. anyone know if I can park there? Randy, Joe, you there????

yeah I got the wife and kids into catching the pan fish at the park. If you see a guy hooking the worms and removing the fish from hooks for his wife and 5 girls, that would be me. I rarely get a line out when we all go, but those are some of the best times

only went 1/2 mile upstream, then downstream. Tried topwater, cranks, tubes and worms but couldn't get anything going

I didn't get too far before calling it quits after nothing in 4 hours of trying. Actually, I noticed a school of gar so I threw a 4inch plastic several times. then, BAM, that gar hit it and scared the crap out of me. He jumped and cleared the water, it was approx 3ft long. When it jumped it tossed the hook right back to the side of my boat, guess they're hard to hook from what I've read. oh well

I'll probably check it out this weekend and report

I just don't understand how a power outage causes this to happen. twice now. looks like they're in hot water for not reporting it right away too

in my quest, I've located a new spot for me to try. It's off the 160, by the go-cart track. Any trespassing concerns? any reports good or bad?

upper James it is then.....

i was debating on hitting the Finley or James for a bit this weekend. James it is. there have been several 1hour or so power outages lately at my place in Ozark. Makes you wonder if this happens every time the power goes out. In this day and age, with all the environmental issues, it's totally unacceptable that a power outage causes a sewage spill. mayorjackson@ozarkmissouri.org shootin an email. concerned citizens should do the same