Another Spring Float

[Chief Grey Bear]

I took another float trip with my dad on Sunday on Spring River on the eastern fringe of Jasper county. We hit the water about 1100 and it was really slow. Then about 1200 I finally caught a couple. It took all day but I did end up with 17 total. Dad, who kicked my butt last time, got his handed to him this time. I think he ended the day with 5 or 6. We both would have scored higher but, myself especially, lost many of them coming to the boat.

Here is my first one to start the day. Dad did not want any part of operating the camera but, this trip didn't mind being in the pics.

Not a big brownie but one none the less. I ended up with four brownies for the day all about this size.

Just a shot of the river.

(edited) Here is a shot of my biggun of the day. This one was only 7 oz smaller than the one my dad caught on our last float. This one came out at 4'7".

Here is a shot of my biggun of the day. This one was only 7 oz smaller than the one my dad caught on our last float. This one came out at 4'7".

(edited) This is a pic of my 3'3" Kentucky. I thought this was a really nice one for a river Kentucky. This one and one my dad caught had extremly pointed lower jaws. I have seen this in trout but never in bass.

This is a pic of my 3'3" Kentucky. I thought this was a really nice one for a river Kentucky. This one and one my dad caught had extremly pointed lower jaws. I have seen this in trout but never in bass. (edited) No it isn't. But I think I now have the capitons where they should be.

Here is a pic of the first bass caught on a tadpolly that I painted myself.

Here is the big one for the day that my dad caught.

I have to hand it to my dad. For a man that is 70+ years old, he still refuses to let me sit in the back of the canoe and do the paddleing. Its still like I am a young child and he is still teaching me. I guess I will be like that though when Dylan and I are in this role. I bet I will still be in the back while he is fishing. "There is a biggun right there Dylan, catch 'im!"

[Chief Grey Bear]

Well, looks like I mess up a little.

Here is that shot of the river.

[fishinSWMO]

Those are some darn nice fish Chief. Great picture of the river also.

I bet your Dad wont hold it against you for catching more than him.

Can you still buy those tadpollys new? I have one that looks just almost like yours, have had it for years but dont use it.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Sadly no you can't. Southtown in Joplin is the only place that you can find them but, you won't find the older version that mine was patterned after. They have the newer style that is once again no longer in production. The newer style has more shiney, metallic, chrome type color to them.

The color that I patterned mine after was called white coachdog. It is practically impossible to find anywhere. I have seen a couple on ebay for sale but they were the narrow billed body style and I don't like that stlye.

So if that is what you have that is a great river plug to be using. I would use it if I were you but, I would also plan on doing a little swimming if need be.

[GloryDaze]

Chief- I'm always reading your posts about the Spring and I have a question or two for you- I have extended family that live in Purcell- so nice and convenient to the river. Do you ever float that section between where county road 200 comes out of Alba to where Hwy 43 crosses near Quaker Mill??

I've been thinking about floating when I visit, but it seems the river is full of strainers and is constantly blocked.. is that true??

[Chief Grey Bear]

GloryDaze - no I don't float that section. I am going to some day but heck I have been telling myself that for about 20 years now. My mom's husband and his borthers float that section a few times a year and do pretty good. They mostly catfish though. But they do some bass fishing too. I have not heard the stories about the strainers but then again that ain't what we usually are talking about either.

The sections that I float are many miles to the east and out of the 10 miles or so that my dad and I have floated the last couple of weeks, we only had two that we had to drag around. But according to my dad who floats all summer long, he was able to get around them but now that the water is much lower, we had to drag around. There are few areas that can be very very tricky if one doesn't have alot of time river floating.

Did you mean Hwy D south out of Purcell? That is where Quaker Mill was. Hwy 43 is a few miles to the west of there. MSUBobcats lives in Purcell and if still around here may be able to give more localized info on that section of Spring River.

While in that area check out Dry Fork just to the north. It has some hidden treasures just waiting on someone to toss a plug to them.

KCRIVERRAT - Love the name!!! When coming down 71, I take it you are crossing Spring River on what us locals still call the 'by-pass" on the western side of town? That is a very good section that doesn't see a lot of attention. You can put in at the Quarry and take out at Tuckers ford. Well you can't unless you take me with you.

If you come through town on old 71 and stop for a Whistler burger (I always get a pig n bull w/cheese and everything, which is only onion, pickle and mustard, and yes, if you haven't ever had one, than don't come through town again without doing so. I think it may even be a law. ) you also cross over a section of Spring River that two weeks ago Monday, dad was floating by himself and got 50. He said the last 10 was the hardest and he really had to work at it.

Check out the Shoal Creek forum for some reports.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Hello Chief,

Enjoyed your pics! My wife and I cross the Spring when we head down U.S. 71 to the in-laws in Shell Knob. My neck's a craning when we cross the bridge over that and Center Creek. Have you fished Center Cr.? How about Shoal Cr.? If you've got any info on those two I'd appreciate it.

I've floated Flat Creek between Jenkins and Shell Knob and it's an excellent smallie stream not far from you.

Here's a pic of a decent largemouth caught in a N.W. Mo. farm pond near Albany - hope you enjoy, caught a bigger one but too many MB's to download it. This one was 5lb's 10oz's. Good fishing to ya and even better catching. I love STREAMS!

[KCRIVERRAT]

Chief,

I was just surfing about Spring River info and found some stuff from a stream team concerning e.coli levels on the Spring. If you're interested I'll e-mail you the story. I have it bookmarked.

KCRR

[fishinSWMO]

Thanks Chief

Here is a couple pictures of my tadpolly. I have had it forever, but I don't think I have ever used it. Just hanging on the wall.

I might need to put some new hooks on it and give it a try.

[fishinSWMO]

GloryDaze

A co-worker told me about a float he went on spring river, I think it was 2 weeks ago. Anyways he went with a bunch of guys on a catfish tournament for 2 days and 1 night. They put in at Carthage and camped at Alba, then on to Quaker mill. He said there was a lot of log jams on the first half. I guess they flipped the canoe and had a bad day overall and decided not to float the second half.

I would guess it would be about the same on down river.