Getting A Suprise Fishing Trip Wednesday

[FishinCricket]

So I am going to attempt to put the 16 ft john boat on the fork on Wednesday, supposed to be 60 degrees! A friend and I are going to play on our day off..

Anybody been down recently? I am guessing the smallies will be hearing up the top, but I might be wrong.. Planning on taking plenty of rattletraps and buzzbaits.. Also an extra crappie pole and plenty of maribou jigs.. Maybe some twister tails.

Any suggestions? Colors, baits, etc?

[Ham]

I really look forward to hearing how you do.

The water warms much more slowly than the air, but I would expect increased activity.

I didn't have much topwater action all last year for smallies (or anything else really) so I'll be thrilled to hear you say you got some on top.

I'd start off throwing jerkbaits and jigs. And probably keep throwing jerkbaits and jigs UNLESS I saw fish feeding on the surface.

Good Luck. I hope you catch a bunch.

[riverrat]

I think Ham is on the right track. I've always had better luck with suspending jerkbaits and and bottom baits in winter. The water is still going to be very cold. Read some of Babler's posts on fishing jerkbaits on Table Rock-same kind of deal. I like to use a jig and pig- black and blue with a black trailer. The smallies will be holding in the deeper holes. I've caught some hogs this time of year-just not the overall numbers of fish as in warmer water. Good Luck

[bclift65706]

when I was gigging all the fish were piled up in the deep water around cover that has been a few weeks but the water hasent warmed that mutch and there was a bunch of them I seen lots of big crappie they was hanging around thick brush but only in 4 to 6 ft of water not big schools just 1 or 2 in just about every tree. As far as I know they are still there becase I dont gig game fish. where you putting in Cricket. I am ready to go to the 133 when I get a warm weekend and a chance to go.

[Al Agnew]

Anything is possible, but I'd be surprised if you caught anything on or near the surface. We've had a lot of very cold weather and Osage Fork isn't all that heavily spring-fed, so chances are the water temps will have been down in the 30s before this warm-up. On a warm sunny day a river can warm maybe 3-5 degrees, and today wasn't exactly hot, so I'd guess water temps tomorrow will be in the low 40s by the end of the day. That's not enough to make them move from winter holes, nor enough to make them come up and feed really actively. Jigs, tubes, jerkbaits fished slow in slower water will probably be your best bet.

[FishinCricket]

Thanks for all the advice guys.. They were sluggish at best, even though it got up to 65 degrees while I was on the water. We fished the Orla area and 5 miles=2 Smallies and one perch.. LOL

Great float though, never been on that stretch of river.. Lots of bluffs and caves and stuff to check out.. Kinds skinny water for a John Boat, but since it was warm it wasn't that bad to get out and drag a bit..

As for the what and how of the bite? Mr Agnew was right on the money. Slow little worms jigged off the bottom in the deepest holes produced the two smallies... And they were small smallies. Maybe 7 or 8 inches?

Funny cause the smallies have been very active on the Niangua, but now I understand the importance sprigs play in maitaining the water temp.. That river was COLD today, even though the boat seat was getting HOT from the sun.

Anyway, took a couple pictures, but didn't bother taking pics of those baby fish.. Hope to WADE it again someday.. LOL

[bclift65706]

when the water temp gets right that is a awsome place to cath fish of about any kind. that is were the special regulations start 8in goggleeye and 15in smallmouth.