Wade Fishing The Finley?

[CaptainT16]

When I used to live in Springfield, I used to fish around the park there in town. I tried it the first time, and was using a zara spook right before sunset one night and I tell you what, 5 casts and WHAM, scared the heck out of me. Pulled out a nice 3lb largemouth. I used to put my canoe in there and in the summer, by the park, there used to be lillypads all over. I would take zara spooks, and cast along the edges of them, or use weedless frogs over them and used to have a blast. Always had a great time catching the bass there. This was 4 yrs ago, but I imagine it's still the same way. Never did catch any smallies, but a great time catching largemouths! Good Luck to you, and definitely let us know how you do!

[smallmouth man]

That low water bridge is gone,Stone county has built a real nice bridge there now.

2 summers ago there was a local lady that caught a 7lb smallie in that big hole at the mouth of Finley,if I remember right it was caught using a big nightcrawler.

My friend, the state record smallie is 7-2 at Stockton. Very unlikely that she caught a 7lb smallie. maybe a carp. I'm not saying you are wrong, but I'm not saying you are right.

[Tightline]

Smallmouth man,I know what the state record SM weighed,thats why this particular big fish story stuck in my mind.I heard it from more than one person also,and having fished that hole many many times,it wouldn't surprise me at all.That hole is over looked by James river floaters and wade fisherman won't bother with the long walk to get to it because there's not any good water to fish above it.

My mistake for not putting(supposedly caught) in the post.I bet you would be surprised just how many near record and even record fish are taken home, fillet and eaten without a second thought.

SMM, have good one, my friend.

[gobblergetter]

get after him tightline!! but back to the fishing, went this evening for about 2 hours on the finley and wade fished about a 1/2 mile of river or so ended up with one smallmouth about 8 or 10 inches long and 9 goggleeye ranging from about 5 inches to 8 inches long and more green sunfish and long ear sunfish than you can shake a stick at. Did manage one real nice green sunfish that was just a little longer the my hand from wrist to tip of my middle finger, been a long time since i caught one that size. all of them were caught on a small crappie tube with a black body and chartreuse tail and a 16th ounce jig head fished from 4 till about 6. might have been able to pick up a big fish or two if i would have had some big git zits but all i took with me was small stuff. may run down again tomorrow and see what i can do with something a lil bigger. oh by the way for all who are wondering all fish were released

(edit) water looked great, good flow great color lots of current so the fish are stacked in the eddies

[Whack'emGood]

Good report Gobbler... and sounded like good fun! Thanks for the info. I am hoping to maybe try it this weekend.