Newbie To The Area

[Daveinozark]

so I'm new to the area, and fishing for that matter. I've tried fishing over at the park but haven't had any luck. There are some smart fish in there that can eat a worm off of my hook

Any suggestions on spots to do shore fishing (haven't invested in a boat yet). I saw a post about going near the once Jeep dealership. Should I go with worms or crankbaits?

[Guest csfishinfool]

so I'm new to the area, and fishing for that matter. I've tried fishing over at the park but haven't had any luck. There are some smart fish in there that can eat a worm off of my hook

Any suggestions on spots to do shore fishing (haven't invested in a boat yet). I saw a post about going near the once Jeep dealership. Should I go with worms or crankbaits?

i would take a zoom horny toad and go right before dark , rig it weedless and weightless on a 5/0 hook. Use mono or braided line and a stout rod. Just keep it moving and buzzing and you catch some fish in the park. Anywear that water willows grow up you should get some pretty exciting strikes. If that doesn't work a weightless sinko is always good on the Finley. The lake up from the park, Lindenlure has some big smallies and largemouth in it. You can put a caneo on there. I have caught two or three over five out of it. You could probably do alittle bank fishing there too by the dam.

[Daveinozark]

thanks for the tip! I've never fished weightless like that, but it makes perfect sense with all that lily pad cover there in the park.

Any spots on the Finley better than others w/o a boat?

[RSBreth]

It's hard to get easy access to wading spots on Finley, there aren't very many. I know a couple of folks who bought little inflatable kayaks just for fishing and wading, cheap, but works. You might try Lindenlure (east, off 125) and where the Finley dumps into the James, down southwest of Nixa.

Both are kind of busy on weekends.

[smallmouthjoe]

You could also try the 1-60 bridge south of Nixa. There's good fishing both up and down stream. As far as what to throw at them keep it simple, stay true to the classics. Tube, Grub, Jig, Crank, Senko, Poppers.

[Daveinozark]

thanks for the tips guys. I've driven over to both spots actually. The bridge on Linden looks like a party spot complete with graffiti so that wasn't too attractive to me for fishing. I took the F over to the bridge by 160, it looks like a really nice spot to try. I saw a bunch of no parking signs though, do either of you know a place to park there? I don't have a boat yet so I'm still looking for shore spots. I tried Lake Springfield this weekend and no one there was getting bites off of the shore. That water was really dirty there though along the shore

[et84]

I've never had much luck around Ozark Park with big bass, but I have caught lots of panfish/ smallmouth. There's a little pool directly behind Riverside Inn that you're GUARANTEED to catch bluegill in. I have always parked in the side lot of the restaurant (where its gravel), and I park FAR AWAY from customers' parking. No one has ever given me grief for parking and fishing there, but I can't say with 100% certainty that it is legal. Same goes for the Jeep dealership. No one has ever run me off. I know you said you're a bank fisherman, but fishing the finley is much better from a canoe/ yak. The James has better access from the shore- I agree with RSBreath- fish lindenlure. I own a boat, but I am ALWAYS looking for good bank fishing spots. You should check out a post stared by Amp under General Angling Discussion>Did you know?, for the bank fishers out there. It's on pg. 2 right now. Hope this helps!!

[Daveinozark]

thanks for the tips, I've been meaning to try by that Inn and Jeep dealership. That was a good read on bank fishing, I'll have to check out that golf course lake too.