Finley At The Park

[mmirg]

Hey all. I am new to the forum and glad I found it. It looks like you all have some good info and are helpful. I took my 10 yr. old son to the park in Ozark last night. We put the canoe in at about 5:30. Fished the lily pads with a rubber frog and 7" green senco worms to no avail. We did get some short strikes on the 7" senco and a 5" french fry in motor oil around the docks. Ended up with one 13" largemouth on the senco.

I tried a pop-r on the way back to the ramp with no takers. It was slow as far as the fishing goes but it is always a good time when you take the kids fishing with you. I might take one of the other kids tonight and try Springfield Lake for bass and bluegills. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Sam]

Take the canoe and one of the kids back to Ozark Park.

Go up just above the park on the side near the bluff and away from the upper park - the main river, not the slough. Use pieces of nightcrawlers on gold minnow hooks, no bobbers or sinkers, and flip the nightcrawlers under the shade of the overhanging trees along that island.

Just watch the line on top of the water as the worm sinks, and when the line twitches and takes off set the hook. That's a great way for kids to learn to fish.

You'll be surprised at what you catch there - big bluegills and sun perch, goggleyes, small bass and catfish. I don't think I'd eat fish out of the Finley any more, too many septic tanks - but the kids will sure have fun there.

[mmirg]

Sam, Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. I might give that a try tonight if we don't get rained out.

[OzarkFishman]

First let me start by saying that this website is awesome. It is because of this website that I decided to fish the lower Finley, and since I am just an average fisherman, it is perfect fishing for me.

In the past three weeks I caught 203 fish on the Finley, ranging from the Ozark Park to just south of the 14-bridge in Ozark. All the fish were caught on either floating crank bait or night crawlers. Most were caught on night crawlers. The following is a summary of my past 3 weeks.

July 19th – I went just below the dam at the park in Ozark (morning). There is a nice pool of water to the east of the spillway (like sgfweatherstud said in a previous post).

I caught 30 fish in 2 and ½ hours.

Highlights (12” largemouth, 6” longear sunfish (multiple), 7” bluegill)

July 21st – I went to the park in Ozark (evening).

I caught 5 fish in 2 hours.

Highlights (all 4” – 6” sunfish)

July 26th – I went below the 14-highway bridge in Ozark (morning). I parked at the Chinese restaurant.

I caught 10 fish in 3 hours.

Highlights (8” smallmouth, 6½” longear sunfish)

July 30th – I went below the 14-highway bridge again, but I parked in the car dealership parking lot back by the walking path (morning).

I caught 26 fish in 2 ½ hours.

Highlights (8” bluegill, saw 3 or 4 decent carp (4 – 6 lbs))

July 31st - Back to the dealership (morning)

I caught 18 fish in 2 hours.

Highlights (6” longear, 8” spotted bass)

August 3rd – Back to the dealership (morning). This time I brought the waders and waded the stream coming off Finley just 10 – 15 yards west.

I caught 31 fish in 3 hours.

Highlights (6” longear, 6 ½” bluegill, 12” northern hogsucker (1st ever sucker for me), 7 other suckers 7” – 10”, 9” spotted bass)

August 5th - Back to the Chinese Restaurant (evening).

I caught 12 fish in 2 hours.

Highlights (all 4” – 6” bluegill and sunfish, except one 9” largemouth)

August 6th – Back to the dealership (evening and waders).

I caught 28 fish in 2 hours.

Highlights (9” hogsucker, 10” spotted bass, a bunch of average sunfish, 7” creek chub)

August 7th – Back to the dealership (morning and waders)

I caught 27 fish in 2 ½ hours.

Highlights (12” spotted bass, 6 ½” bluegill, 7” longear (very nice fish))

August 7th - Back to the dealership (evening and waders).

I caught 16 fish in 2 hours.

Highlights (2 logperch 4” and 5” (my first ever), 6” hornyhead chub, 6” longear, turtle J, and I actually hooked an Ozark minnow 3”)

All in all it was a great 3 weeks. I would recommend fishing the Finley if you are looking for quantity and some quality. Also, if you want to catch a variety of fish, then the Finley is for you. I am from the Kansas City area and our waters do not harbor the vast amount of species that the Ozark waters do.

[OzarkFishman]

I was deleting pictures from my phone and found these two pictures from last summer. A goggle eye and a logperch.

OzarkFishman

[RSBreth]

From the background in the second picture I know exactly where that picture was taken.

Keep up the reports this year, it's always good to hear about other people here on the Finley.

[OzarkFishman]

I had a little over an hour to fish tonight, so I threw on my waders and hit finley. I only brought 2 bobbers, some hooks, and nightcrawlers (basic, but it works when short on time). I caught 15 small fish. 5 different species and there was one point that I had three straight hook ups with three different species. Here are some pictures of the little guys.