Springfield Lake

[RSBreth]

I had a great day fishing my old home pond, one of the best days ever fishing Springfield Lake. If you get a good warm-up, clear water, and the right day off, you can hit it right for a change.

I fished from just before 10:00 A.M. until a little after 2:00 P.M. - a pretty short trip, really.

I was trying several newer things including a swimbait, but wound up catching most of the fish on a suspending jerkbait. I was using both a Rogue and a XCaliber XS4, both in orange belly silver sides/blue back. Nothing huge, just a good dozen or so above the couple pound size, and 6 or so little guys.

Here's one:

Most of the fish would hit the jerkbait after you let it sit suspending for 15 seconds or more, then move it again, at which point they'd crush it. No dainty "tap tap" stuff. Just weight on the line, then a split second before the fish realized something was wrong, then screaming drag.

Most were like those two before, but this guy was a beast. Just fat and hard fighting - such a hard fighter I snapped only one quick (and kind of crappy) picture before sending the worn out fish quickly on its way.

Got that one on one of the newer XRap Shad cranks in "Purpledescent".

Just a hunch about a deeper spot that panned out. Slow stop-and-go retrieve. Again, it hit after a pause.

I won't bore folks with a bunch of pictures two-pounders, so the details.

Just about anywhere I found submerged timber on deeper banks there active fish. Fish hit after the pause, and I did catch another one (besides the one picturered) on the crank worked the same way. Missed one on the swimbait due to the dam belly-weighted hook. I hate those things. Also caught a couple of smaller guys on a 5" Kalin's grub in pearl swam on a 1/8 ounce jighead, but nothing big.

When I was leaving and finally got the solo canoe wrangled back into the truck I looked around in the bed and realized someone had "liberated" my bungee cords while I was fishing. Well, isn't that special? Of course I had back-up methods of tying the boat down, so the jokes on you, anonymous bungee thief, the jokes on you. It didn't faze me one bit, I just shrugged then tied it down with my back-up ropes, and off I went.

[Trav]

Nice report! Sure wish I could use my boat there. Would save me a bunch of gas this summer.

[Daveinozark]

bungee cords for sale!!!

nah, it wasn't me. I was wasting my time for a few hours on Sun at the Finley around Riverside. Trying from the shore, ignoring the no trespassing signs. Didn't get a bite or see any signs of life except for a few small ones. still too cold yet i guess

[chiieef]

Went out today at lake spfld during 10-2, caught 16 bass between the 2 of us on the jerk bait, havent had a day like that in months thanks for the info.

[smallmouthjoe]

Maybe I should have stayed at home over spring break and fished Springfield Lake instead of Table Rock. Caught nothing but short spots pretty much all week down there but at least I caught a lot of them. Nice looking fish. I have a question, I bought a couple of suspending rouges in Branson West and they are sinking instead of suspending. I've downsized the hooks and the split-rings but they are still sinking ever so slightly. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get these guys suspending?

[MstStudent10]

Glue Styrafoam Packing Peanuts to them!!

[smallmouthjoe]

I was thinking today in class that I could stick some strike indicators to the belly. That would have about the same effect.

[MstStudent10]

The packing peanuts thing was a joke, lol. Maybe the strike indicator thing would work I dont know. Possibly drill a little hole in it and inject it with a little bit of that foam stuff that expands, then glue up the hole.

Or for the trouble, just by some more rogues.

[smallmouthjoe]

Man, I'm so cheap I can't bear the thought of wasting my money. But you're probably right though, if the strike indicator doesn't work I'll bite the bullet and take the loss.

[Cajunangler]

Regarding your question about getting your jerk baits to suspend. First, most of us would love for our baits to sink very slowly. And secondly, depending on the water temp those same baits may very likley rise slowly. I beleive I have it correct in that : colder water makes these baits less boyant and warmer water has the opposite effect. And if I have it wrong it is the reverse and I am sure someone else will correct me.

But personally I would leave them alone and be glad that they appear to be working well.

And RS Breth, great report but you might want to leave out a few of the specific details when making post about a small body of water that could get a lot of local pressure. I know we all like to share our successes when they occur but general suggestions might be better in the future, at least if you hope to return and experience similar trips in the near future without waiting in line behind other fishermen.