Spoonbill At Springfield Lake Dam

[KansasBoy13]

Saw a guy post a photo on photography forum that he snagged a bill by the dam. I'm live in branson but grew up snaggin back in Kansas and was wondering if anyone else had be snagging any or heard of any reports and where exactly the dam is. About all I know is I cross the lake on my way up to springfield lol. Thanks

[RSBreth]

You exit 65 before you reach the cloverleaf at 60/65- and go west. It's called Even's Road- turns into Kissick. You turn off Kissick before you cross the dam and there is a parking lot right below the dam. Popular spot, pretty hard to get it to yourself, but there you go.

Use the +- menu at left of screen on mapquest link below, when you pull out a ways, you'll see how to get there from 65.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/%5B5464-5499%...field+MO+65804/

[Seth]

I'm planning on coming down and snagging there this Friday evening and Saturday morning. Last Monday I was down there snagging and caught a bunch of common carp as they were everywhere, but didn't see any spoonbill caught. From what I heard from the locals, it's best early in the morning right away and then right at dark.

Good luck if you go down there and let us know how you did.

[KansasBoy13]

Thanks RS for the directions. Stopped by on our way back from Springfield to check it. No one there when we got there but saw tons and tons of carp and my girlfriend said she saw what appeared to be a spoonbill surface, wish I would have seen it to know if thats what it really was. Talk to an older fella that came down to catfish and said snaggin ended the 15th but I could have sworn it ended the 30th. Anyway, Seth, I'm excited to hear how you did and I'm ready to give it a go myself even if its just a few carp I get into...

[RSBreth]

I stopped by there today after running an errand into Springfield with my son, went down to look at the water and watch the half dozen snaggers for a minute. This was about 10:00 A.M. One guy was in a tiny cartopper boat. Didn't see much catching going on.

[Seth]

Well I am back and this was the best snagging I've ever experienced in my life. I decided to bring the boat and glad I did. We found a school of fish that were holed up that would blow your mind. Friday night three of us limited out with fish ranging from 30-75 lbs and today four of us limited out in under an hour. My brother is law caught the biggest spoonbill I've ever seen personally today and it weighed 79 lbs AFTER bleeding a bunch from gaffing and riding in the boat air drying for 3 hours so I'd bet it was pushing 85 lbs when we first caught it. She was a horse.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

[KansasBoy13]

Well I am back and this was the best snagging I've ever experienced in my life. I decided to bring the boat and glad I did. We found a school of fish that were holed up that would blow your mind. Friday night three of us limited out with fish ranging from 30-75 lbs and today four of us limited out in under an hour. My brother is law caught the biggest spoonbill I've ever seen personally today and it weighed 79 lbs AFTER bleeding a bunch from gaffing and riding in the boat air drying for 3 hours so I'd bet it was pushing 85 lbs when we first caught it. She was a horse.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

Wow, sounds amazing, I need to get my father and myself up there, but all we have is a bass boat. Would it be completely irrelevant to snag from the bank? Didnt look like it would be too bad snagging from bank when I stopped by though unless of course it was crowded...

[Seth]

My friend goes to college at Evangel and has found a couple good holes BESIDES the dam area to snag from the bank. He went last night and caught two small males and a sow in the 60 pound range. I just talked to him on the phone and he is heading out again to catch some more paddlefish from the bank.

[KansasBoy13]

Probably wouldnt wanna share those spots would ya??? But they still catching some up right by the dam? Only place I know how to get to unless I break out the waders Anyway much luck to if you head back out...

[Seth]

I don't care myself, but my friend said he might kill me if I tell everybody haha.