Baxter Area Sun 3/23

[SKMO]

Pour Dennis and I fished in the Baxter area about 6 hours yeserday. Back in the coves around Baxter and then went downstream to within a mile and a half of the James.

We launched at the end of H Hwy South of Shell Knob (not the H that leads to Baxter Marina) and had no problems with that. Dock is well positioned and although you launch from the parking lot is has a good slope and there is plenty of parking space.

We saw few if any large floaters so boating was not problem.

The leaves, sticks and debris had all moved into the flooded shoreline trees so fishing was not a problem.

Catching was a problem and we did none of that.

It's quite muddy back in the coves at Baxter, water was a little clearer on the main lake near Baxter but still muddy, and when we got in the Goat Island / Wolfpen area we hit serious mud backing upstream from the mouth of the James. Never saw water clarity more than about 12-15" anywhere and the real muddy stuff was half that. Water temps had not changed much, still 48-50.

We threw mostly jigs into the trees and bushes, also slow rolled blades through the bushes and a little bit of crankbait. Pretty much all water 14' deep or less is flooded trees and bushes unless you hit a stretch of mowed lawn. We also drug some stuff around in the 15-20' water on gravel points outside the bushes. Dennis had one for sure bite on a jig and that was it for the day.

We did not see another boat the entire day which was amazing to me. I would have thought there was at least one other optimist out there who thought he could catch a fish in high, muddy, cold water under a north wind. I guess others are not as optimistic, or were smart enough to have stayed home.

[rps]

I'm sorry you didn't find fish, but in a way I feel better.

This morning I go back to work. Last week was the Spring Break for school. I had planned to fish all break. I got one trip before the deluge. Since last Monday I have needed a boat to reach my boat at Holiday Island marina.

If you couldn't find fish, I know I would have had a very tough time. I can tell myself I really didn't miss anything.

Hope things turn on later this week.