Wading Below Spgfd Lake Tailwaters

[Fly_Guy]

My cousin's coming into town, and I got him hooked on river smallmouth last time he was here. We're looking for a place to wade and catch a few in the am, before we rent a boat on taney in the pm. We live close to Lamberts in Ozark, so I was thinking below the Springfield Lake tailwaters. Is this good for wading, or are there other spots that are better? I don't go often at all, maybe once a year, but I want to treat him to a couple of unique Ozarks fishing experiences.

Any advice on wadable smallmouth streams around here would be awesome - though I am specifically curious about below the lake. (it's real close to us)

Thanks a bunch

Brian

[Daveinozark]

we must be neighbors, I'm a stones throw from Lamberts too.

I'd say to try Finley park to do some fishing from the shore. It's a nice setting at least

I've gone to the tailwaters many times and the catching is good, but man, the stench of the water and bellowing smoke of the power plant there just doesn't scream "welcome to the ozarks" for me. Plus I always get a lure stuck on all the cut lines that are in that part. I only bother going there in cold weather due to the warm water outlet keeping the fish jumpin.

now that Riverside is closed, you could park next to it and do some wading east of the old bridge. nice wading section there.

[zander]

another thing about wading the tailwaters of Lake Springfield is all of the huge chunks of rock you can't see and deep drop offs that you can not see. That is the only place where I have almost ended up taking a spill because you just can't see through the water. I'd fish other more scenic and easier wading sections of the James or Finely if I were you.

[Fly_Guy]

we must be neighbors, I'm a stones throw from Lamberts too.

I'd say to try Finley park to do some fishing from the shore. It's a nice setting at least

I've gone to the tailwaters many times and the catching is good, but man, the stench of the water and bellowing smoke of the power plant there just doesn't scream "welcome to the ozarks" for me. Plus I always get a lure stuck on all the cut lines that are in that part. I only bother going there in cold weather due to the warm water outlet keeping the fish jumpin.

now that Riverside is closed, you could park next to it and do some wading east of the old bridge. nice wading section there.

Don't you mean you live a "rolls throw" from Lamberts?

thanks for the advice - are there smallmouth in the "lake" around the Ozark park? and down from the mill? I really want to put him on some smallmouth - not interested in size, just numbers. He doesn't get to catch them where he's from.

I've been to the tailwaters once - but I didn't know if you went downstream if it got less "trash infested"

Behind the old jeep dealership would work too - though that's Finley isn't it? Should post in the Finley forum I reckon.

[zander]

The problem with going a ways down the tailwater is that you can't wade the whole way unless you are planning on getting wet anyway. There is a little goat trail that goes along the side of it but then you have to bushwhack your way to the river to fish. It gets a little less trashy, maybe it is better since the flood of the century. The last time I went way downstream I somehow ended up inside the restricted area of the power plant as I was on my way back out, and I had to slither under the chainlink fence at a low spot ripping my clothes up pretty good. Trust me there are better places to take him. I have been wanting to wade fish around rivercut.

[Daveinozark]

The problem with going a ways down the tailwater is that you can't wade the whole way unless you are planning on getting wet anyway. There is a little goat trail that goes along the side of it but then you have to bushwhack your way to the river to fish. It gets a little less trashy, maybe it is better since the flood of the century. The last time I went way downstream I somehow ended up inside the restricted area of the power plant as I was on my way back out, and I had to slither under the chainlink fence at a low spot ripping my clothes up pretty good. Trust me there are better places to take him. I have been wanting to wade fish around rivercut.

forgot about Rivercut, I was there once, that would be better.

yeah I don't have much luck at the Finley park myself, but some on here have. Should have small mouths though. Randy or smallmouthjoe are the guys for Finley questions

hope the action gets better after this warm weekend rain.

I messed behind the Jeep dealership a few weekends ago, only a few rock bass caught there. probably some blue gill too, but i doubt any SM.

[slider]

Fly-Guy I have been grabbing suckers around swan and bullcreek this past week have saw a few bass at both places. These are both clear streams and seem to have some fish, if your going to Taney that afternoon you'll allready be about there. Just a thought. Slider

[RSBreth]

Check your P.M.'S FlyGuy...

[Fly_Guy]

Appreciate all the advice all!