Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

Lots of choices this afternoon. Table Rock Dam area and looking for whites in the back of coves, ie denjac's report this morning; great report from Beaver Creek but putting a boat in and the extra 20 minutes on the road... or Swan Creek where we felt like we had the best chance to catch some whites IF we could put in.

Not sure if I can give the directions to the place where we did put in but it was the road that's flooded that runs along the creek from Shadow Rock Motel- from the other direction. You get there by going up the hill at Shadow Rock thru the housing addition. Not the easiest but it worked. No one else used it tonight.

Ran up past the bridge plus another 1/2 mile. Lots of debry in the water on the way up. There's a road upstream- that's where the creek met the lake and the current started. Gin clear water.

Saw quite a few species of fish in the water when we got up there. Shad, buffalo, walleye, whites...

At 6:30 pm the sun was still up and the whites weren't cooperating. Wasn't till closer to 7 did they start chasing our baits. We caught whites from the bluff on the left down for about 100 yards, alot of them on the shallow side close or in the brush. Best lure was Jeremy's rebel- blue with an orange belly- he can tell you what size. Also did well on a 1/8th oz purple jig (Vince) and swimming minnows - smoke, purple and motor oil.

Ended up with 50 plus between the 5 of us. Mostly small males with a few sows up to 2.5 pounds and yes we did release probably half of what we could tell were females with eggs. Vince is cleaning them so I can't say how many had eggs but if I were to guess alot of them were females that were spawned out. We saw them circling all thru the area.

One boat on the way out was about 300 yards above the bridge. I asked them how goes it and they said very good. So there must be alot of whites all thru the creek, probably alot still staging, waiting to move up.

There were people fishing from the road and catching fish. Not sure how to get there... get a map or ask in town. But it isn't the easiest place to cast- lots of trees and it's a steep bank.

Jeremy with a keeper walleye (released) I think we had 4-5 "eyes" with 2 keepers. Saw some real big ones up there.

One of the seed sows that's dropping her eggs as I type!!

[Fishhand]

FYI for anyone fishing above the Highway 160 bridge in Swan who may not be aware of the new 2008 regulations...Walleye may be taken and possessed only between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset from Feb. 20th through April 14th....why keep walleye anyway when white bass are tastier? Just wanted to let folks know 'cause of the four times I've been checked by the Game Warden in Missouri, two have been at Truman Dam, one at Taney, and one at Swan Creek. Jimbob

[Phil Lilley]

They watch Swan closely mainly because Buck lives just over the hill, our Taney agent. That's why Jeremy double checked before keeping a few walleye the other day- to make sure he was legal.

On keeping walleye when there's whites... well I think walleye taste alittle better than whites but there's alot of people who will swear they are 100 times better so you may have an argument on your hands.

Up until a couple of decades ago, white bass were considered trash fish in neighboring states and were thrown on the banks when caught. My how taste buds change!!

[Fishhand]

I don't really like whites better than walleye. But, it does seem walleye are too mild sometimes and lose their flavor to breading when deep fried. I like to eat all kinds of fish except for Taneycomo stocker trout. I'd rather eat Ol' Roy from the can.

I've been fixing whites this year by filleting them out, but, leaving the scales on the flesh. Cut out the rib meat (or not). Get a hot bed of coals going, season the meat with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a little butter and then place the fish directly over the coals scale side down (or season with your preference of spices). Close the lid and let 'em cook like that until the meat turns white. Flaky goodness.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Sounds good to me Jim. When you do that with redfish they call it redfish on the halfshell. Sandy's on the halfshell? White's on the halfshell?

SIO3

[Fishhand]

Sandy's on the halfshell. I like it. I watched a fishing show a few weeks ago and the guy on the show was fixing redfish the same way. That's where I got the Idear. Fixed some more tonight and man are they good. The majority of the red meat will stay on the skin side after you've cooked 'em. The flame was hot enough tonight to dry out the edges of the fish and the scales were burnt to a crisp, but, the center was moist and delicious. Even the dried out edges of the fish were good. Did I say they're good. Man, they're good.

[bryantsmallie28]

Phil what was Jeremy drinking while you were fishing. haha his hats all crooked and his eyes are crazy. Just having a little fun with Jeremy. My brother was one of the guys on the bank up there, that Jeremy talked to. He ended up with 9 i think he kept 7. He said he was catching them on a lure like jeremy and then had one break his line when he got it on the bank and it flipped back in the water and he couldn't find another lure they liked quite like that one. What do you think the water will be like tomorrow, I was kind of thinking about going.

[Jeremy Rasnick]

I was using the smallest size Huskey Jerk, blue back....orange Belly. It really made a difference, Same water same technique as a lucky craft I let phil borrow and the huskey was much more productive. These are a pretty common lure, you can get them at Walmart.

Speaking of Byant Smallie and funny recipes......I heard bryant smallie ate a "Slick" boiled in a tuna can on the creek bank while fishing for walleye, that sounds about like a white bass with the scales and redmeat over the coals.......not sure which would taste better the white bass or the coals.....just kidding, i bet its good.

[Fishhand]

I've been skunked many times when walleye fishing, but, I haven't resorted to eating my bait (yet). Although, the Gulp Alives do exude a pungent aroma that is pleasant yet repulsive....Good fishin', Jimbob

[bryantsmallie28]

Yeah I will admit to eating a slick more than once while sitting on a lake shore walleye fishing. Jeremy you know as well as i do how boring walleye fishing can be. I can honestly tell you that im pretty sure there is no good way to cook a slick. I dont know the old timers in the depression did it. We fried them in various things, cooked them scaled layed on a pop can, boiled in a can of water, and they were absolutely disgusting every time. But hey it had more to do with peer pressure than anything, and then once we had done it one time everytime we went and got bored the subject came up again.