Spoonbill?

[mohogtrapper]

Anyone been out lately? With the raise in lake levels, and the cooler water temps, wasn't sure if they had moved up yet. I plan to get out next week. I will try and get a report.

[Troutfishn]

YES! Seeing as I have never gone and I caught one today around 1pm after 10 minutes, you should go. I posted the pictures in the photography section. I will be going back tomorrow. One other guy hooked one for a few minutes but it got loose.

[Seth]

I was down there last monday in the boat and snagged from the Walnut Springs boat ramp on down to point 15 with no luck. A few fish were marked on the graph early just below Walnut Springs, but that was it. The water temps were around 58 degrees.

I'd say your best bet with all of this high water is to just not bother taking the boat and head up to the Lake Springfield dam and snag. They have started catching a couple sows up that way last I heard.

[Sam]

Some questions. Is it OK to put in at the Walnut Springs ramp (well, at the end of the road now)? I always thought that ramp was private for the homeowners in that neighborhood. I hope I'm wrong about that.

Is it safe now in a boat around the Asher Cane area? I put in at Galena last week and I wished I hadn't - the current knocked my boat and trailer sideways on the ramp.

Even with the high water, I think I could find a crappie up in the side creeks and coves off James now, if I could get to them.

[Seth]

I've always put in at Walnut Springs and never had any trouble. Lots of other people put in there too.

I was up there two mondays ago when the water was high and ended up sucking some debris up in motor and had to quit early. If you run a prop then you should be fine I would think and if you have a jet, just bring a piece of wire to clean out the "pee hole" on the motor if you do clog it up.

I'd like to make it down there this weekend and fish, but haven't decided for sure yet if I will or not due to the cost of fuel.

[CBNMO]

Put in at Galena tonight and we only caught one fish tonight but it was his first Spoonbill so it was fun. Got back and loaded up just before midnight. I got to take 4 young men snagging this year and they all caught their first Spoonbill, that was more fun than catching fish. In fact I never caught a fish this year, spent time driving the boat, untangling lines, helping boat fish for them and trying to make it fun. Making it fun was the easy part. They had a blast and so did I. Now I have more fishing partners for next year and more wanted to go, but we've ran out of time.

Next on the list is snagging over in Oklahoma. I used to hate paying the out of state fishing license fee, now I hate to pay for the gas to get there and back!

[Troutfishn]

Season is OVER Ended it for me tonight and it was a blast. I caught 15 and lost at least that many. It was a great season and I will be eating paddlefish and morels for many many months. Tonight the fish were moving and rolling like crazy. I saw 2 other groups and they had limits too. I had a couple females over 50+ full of dark black caviar .

[Seth]

Season is OVER Ended it for me tonight and it was a blast. I caught 15 and lost at least that many. It was a great season and I will be eating paddlefish and morels for many many months. Tonight the fish were moving and rolling like crazy. I saw 2 other groups and they had limits too. I had a couple females over 50+ full of dark black caviar .

What's this paddlefish that you speak of? I hear they catch them up the James right?

[Troutfishn]

Ain't nothing you want to waste your time with seth. Just some old prehistoric fish that may or may not exist. You best keep away from the James if your not a local boy

[Seth]

Thanks for letting me know. I hear if you go snagging, your motor becomes cursed and starts overheating.