Big Slabs In Finley

[fishinokie]

I just moved to this area and love to crappie fish. Went to the Finley Park area in Ozark for the first time. I was using some of my hand tied 1/64 oz black and orange jigs when I found some big slabs. They have not schooled up yet, they are down in the rocks about 3 to 4 feet off the bank, 4' of water jigging very slow. They were all full of eggs and all were between the 11 to 13" range. As the water warms up, this area looks to be great. Can anyone tell me how the smallmouth fishing is in this river? I live in Ozark and am not too familliar w/ the area. Any advice on smallies would be great!

[WebFreeman]

Smallie fishing in the Finley is pretty good. I've usually gone further upstream where it's wadable, but I think any section you could float would be good. I've always done well one brown or green gitzits.

[RSBreth]

Generally the stretch between Linden and the Park is good, it has some nice deep pools. There are fish all thoughout the river, you just have to fish it. I can hardly wait to see how it looks after all the flooding. The James is also pretty good and close, go look at some of my posts from last year. Oh, and welcome.

[Buckshotdad1960]

Man some people have all the luck. I have fished that Finley Park a bunch of times and I’ve never found any crappies, in fact I’ve never even ever heard of anyone catching a crappie in the Finley River any where. Maybe I’m just zigging when I should be zagging? So you caught those in April did ya? Does anyone know where I could catch some now in October?