Wadin' 4 Smallies in springfield area

[shadman]

I havent been here very long, Im from the Joplin area so I dont know where the good access points are to go wadin. If anyone else knows where to go within 20 miles of Ozark, plz help me lol. I have tried a few spots, once on the james off of hwy 125. I have caught fish there, but alot of people go there and i like to get away. Fished the finley around Linden without much luck,again the young kids partyin ruin the trip for me and my kids.there has to be some low water bridges somewhere where i can go get lost in smallmouth heaven.

[Al Agnew]

Shadman, most of us are pretty jealous of our better wading spots...I know I am. Get yourself the Missouri Conservation Atlas from MDC, which has road maps of every county and all the MDC access areas. Chances are an MDC access is going to be well-used, but you can use the maps to find bridges crossing various creeks and rivers. Then it's all a matter of taking the time to drive around for a day or two and check out various bridge crossings...and if it looks interesting, taking a few hours to fish it.

The wading angler is limited on the amount of water they can cover, but I've found that if you just walk past the first couple of decent pools, you'll be in water that most of the bank fishermen and partiers never get to, and the fishing will be as good as it will get anywhere on that stream. Heck, I've caught a whole lot of good fish right AT accesses, because it seems like the serious smallie anglers apparently pass up the water right at the access, and the worm dunkers and splash-n-gigglers don't really bother the smallies. I've caught a number of big smallies right out from under rope swings (sometimes not long after they'd been in use), especially if the rope swing is put up at a little deep pocket in otherwise fairly shallow water.

[riverrat]

Shadman, Al is right about good smallmouth fishing being around access points. I find most of my wading holes while floating. Sometimes all it takes is fishing the hole from the opposite side most bank fisherman fish from. Sometimes all it takes is moving a few hundred yards. One of my favorite smallmouth holes anywhere is within 30 yards of a gravel road, but it is hidden by willows-you can only see it from the water. Good Luck-Riverrat

[shadman]

thanks guys. i may not be yr typical wader and then again i might be. I start walkin right down the midlle of the creek and fish the deep holes and the banks.

I usually just keep goin from hole to hole and walk for about 3 hours then turn back. Its nice to be all alone on the river away from everything. I release all fish always.Its about the expierence.I understand that good spots are secret,but I am not goin to fgive up. I have the fever.wont be long till the water warms up enough to get in and im ready.Let me add by tellin about my secret weapon, Rebel crawdad crankbaits.If u havent tried usin these on the shallow rivers try it. I only take about 5 crankbaits with me when i go.Softshell green seems to be the best color with the teeny craw, but sometimes they want the bigger one. Well theres Shadmans secret weapon.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Your 20 mile limit kind of hurts. There's a lot of water out 50 miles.

[shadman]

u talkin about headin south or east? 50 miles almost gets me back home where i know the rivers like the back of my hand. But im open to anything, anywhere. I would like to find somewhere i can sit on the bank and catch some yummy cats. i havent found a secluded stretch of river where i can pull out somethin over 15 inches. small channel is a i have been able to catch in my short time on the water around here.

[shadman]

i have heard of some good fishin down on swan creek definately gonna try it out but its a little drive, just waitin on that water to warm up