Daveinozark

i bet are you putting in under the freeway or do you go to the park? I'm thinking of trying the park, by the clubhouse Fri, but the cold front is coming. i tried for a few hours from the piers on the south side until the large population showed up. one guy threw his minow net right next to me, so i gave up trying. There's always a collection of rude and grungy looking people there

if your looking for bluegills and cats, I've had pretty good luck over at the Springfield park area of the lake, which is on the north side. There's some clearings along a trail there to try, down from the large jungle gym set-up for the kids. Up at the end of the road is a clubhouse, people try there too. You can rent a canoe there if you like also. I suggest using a bobber with a short lead, otherwise you'll get stuck a lot. Fishing lures for bass in this lake from the shore get stuck a lot so I don't attempt it much. If you can wade a bit, try on the other side of the darn. Tons of fish there

you could easily put in behind the Jeep dealer, plus there's a trail along there that makes it easier for shore fishing and wading too. The times I have gone there in the summer gets very shallow quickly though. Car noise probably scares them away too

if you're broke like me, get one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Challenger-200-Inflatable-Fishing-person/dp/B0006FRVJW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1269035207&sr=8-7 i got one last year and made several trips on the Finley, James, and Springfield lake. haven't gotten a hole yet. I'm fairly careful with it, but scrapped along the river bottom in it when I shouldn't have and it's still intact. Couple of times I got scared when pulling a lure too fast and not paying attention.... I picked mine up at MC sports, I think it's cheaper there, but the link to that site isn't working

bungee cords for sale!!! nah, it wasn't me. I was wasting my time for a few hours on Sun at the Finley around Riverside. Trying from the shore, ignoring the no trespassing signs. Didn't get a bite or see any signs of life except for a few small ones. still too cold yet i guess

cool link! thanks as usual, Randy. I'll check that out, if I don't have a kayak by then

too cold for me yet, but may be starting it up next week or 2. I don't think it's any big secret that the section between Linden and the park is a hot spot and most convenient. I like to go around the deeper pools by Riverside since it's convenient for me and my inflatable. Haven't been there since getting skunked in November though. better winter fishing for me has been on the James river at the dam. Fish congregate in the warm section there

thanks! I see now on Google maps what you mean. Would be quite a walk i guess, I was hoping there was an easier way. oh well. I've been to that put-in, but there's bouyhes in the water there under the freeway to not go further so I didn't want to chance it.

Wayne's got it. anyone try this area? i imagine they are spooked there, but i fish early morning on weekends so it may not be bad. Just plotting my plan of attack as soon as the weather cooperates

i was just wondering about a certain spot. Where the 65 and 60 interchange, going north on the 65, taking the east bound 60. Looking off to the north side, there is a swampy section and a trail paved down there. Anyone know how to get to that trail? I can't figure it out. Anyone try that spot? It may be too loud for fish but it looks like a good spot for maybe catfish

i wouldn't worry about the tresspassing signs. towards the end of fall I asked if I could park there and the owners said that was fine. That was before all the press about them closing. I haven't been over there since a few bad outings late fall though. Definetly should ask if you see anyone there though. With a large new bridge it should be more accessible, once the Inn gets torn down.

i tried that section on Sat, for just a few hours from the shore. Once I got used to the weather, I settled in on the section just off the falls on the bluff side. Seems like a deep hole with plenty of rocks and weeds. Didn't do well with the tube this time, so I switched to a watermelon 4inch strike king worm. It floats well on a jig head. Caught 2 good sized in 2 casts! First time that ever happened. a stop and go (slow) presentation worked best.

i was wondering about that spot too, and the best way to get there since it was brought up a few times. Driving that road by the tracks there are several no trespassing signs so I've never bothered stopping there. Guess walking the trail or floating will have to do.

i've been having good luck there too last couple of outings. It does get busy so I try to get out early and leave early. i've been throwing brown tubes and doing well. Does anyone ever keep anything out of that spot? The water there is so foul, I'm afraid too

hey guys, try the Tailwaters dam. I've been hitting it last couple of weekends, doing better there lately than the Finley. Laid into what I think was a large gar. pulled me around in my inflatable for about a min until my line broke. Wonder if there's any video of it on youtube

didn't go far at all down stream, mostly cause I was short on time. I spent too much time near the falls, no bites there. They were caught all on the bluff side, most where that 1st large tree hangs over and in the small riffle there. Of course there's a lot of roots there and lost a few tubes in it. It was 1 large red eye, 2 smallies and 1 small large mouth. Gonna try there again Sat morning hopefully. I go early and don't stay long, but with 5 girls and a wife at home, i'll take what i can get

guess not. I saw in the paper that Riverside Inn closes 12/14. We'll see what happens to that area afterwards. Haven't heard yet of what they are planning to do there.

i fished tailwaters last weekend and did really well. 4 fish in my short 2hr trip along with several misses. i think the warm lake waters keep that section attractive for good fishing. everything was along the bank. tubes worked along the rocks there

just wondering how the fishing is going lately? I went out last Sat with high hopes since the weather was warm, but couldn't find the bass. I even found schools of shad in the current behind Riverside, but no bass. Anyone know where the winter holes are for Finley? Is it better up on Linden lake or in the Ozark park where the water is deeper?

yeah I've never had luck there either, just wondering if it got better in the winter. i've tried the dam spill over before and gotten some hits there and hear a lot of stories of big catches there. I haven't been over there since all the weather, I bet that's a good spot to try now

does that warm water outlet from the power plant draw more fish to that bank during winter? I'm thinking of trying there and the dam spill over. do some shore fishing

i'm very active

wow, I just noticed Buckshotdad joined Sep 4 this year and already has 122 posts!!!! And most are not short! ha ha very comical though

are you in the middle of the lake or near the shore? near the power plant, or park? where do you suggest

from what i hear, these rivers were in a world of hurt and conservation efforts have only paid off recently. Probably didn't want to fish much back then. Like you, Buckshot, I'd like to learn as well. Mostly because I haven't lived here 1 year yet, and never fished before I got here