Winter Snagging

[Seth]

Where's some good area's and patterns to hook into some bills in the winter time? I've watched several videos of guided trips where they snag a bunch of spooners during the winter months. I'm getting the itch to do some snagging and don't know if I can hold off until March 15 here in Missouri.

[duckydoty]

I dont know about Grand Lake, but take a flyrod over to the Arkansas River right there next to Tulsa and fish with a 200 grain sinking tip with a large clouser minnow targeting stripers and hybreds, you'll get into some spoons there for sure. Cant keep them there, but one or two is fun to get ahold of every now and then.

[wily]

most of the early spring snagging is done in the neosho river from twin bridges (near wyandotte ok) north to miami

but they also snag around the sailboat bridge in grove pretty much year round.

i've attached a link to ivan martins site...he's the best guide on grand lake. keep an eye on his report...there'll be some spoonbill talk soon.

http://grandfishingreport.com/pgs/reports/reports.htm

[Seth]

Thanks a lot for the information. Seems everything I've read about winter snagging happens in the deep holes around Sailboat Bridge like you said. I need to finish working on the boat so I can go get some paddlefish slime on it.

[wily]

seth, the majority of boats i see fishing for spoonbill around the bridge are on the side closest to grove, and on the downstream side (SW side)

they are close to the rip rap...throwin out into the channel. this is a little piece of the hotspot map to give you an idea.

the best ramp to use would probably be the city ramp in wolf creek...it's about a mile or so south of the bridge and just out of the map area.

[Seth]

When you say throwing in to the channel do you actually mean casting or do you mean just trolling through it? We usually cast with our surf rods when we snag and usually do pretty well, but that's on a section of river that we can throw all the way across also too.

[wily]

by throwin -- i mean casting

i've always assumed that they were casting. i just see them as i drive past them in my boat. it seems to me like they are outside the channel on the edge.

[streamer]

Seth,

I just got through sending you a message via youtube on hooking up for a snagging trip, before I found your post here! I've never snagged anywhere below sailboat bridge, or before March15th for that matter! But my OK fishing license expires February 28th I believe, might as well get some use out of it. I might be able to find a buddy to tag along also, and I've got a 20ft boat in SW MO so you wouldn't have to tow yours all the way down. Get back with me on that thought!

[wily]

you might check that expiration date before you go...in oklahoma the fishing license expires 12/31.

[streamer]

Your right, Oklahoma fishing permits go Jan1-Dec31, I guess I'm used to Missouri regs. Oh well, I'll need to purchase one in the next few months anyway! Thanks for the Tip!