Fishing Waters That Are Low

[cwc87]

The rivers have stabilzed after a wet spring. The August dog days are here. My options where to fish lead me to watch the real time river guage's that determine my next outing. I love the ease of fishing from a jet boat with the foot operated trolling motor, but it gets hot. (so jumping in gets a little old after a while). Now, the creek fishing from my old town canoe and going were others don't go is were I have been going this summer so far. It's more shaded on creeks and the fish are more apt to eat my lures, but the work it takes to paddle and fish is a little more work. With this being the case just kinda wondering how everyone beat's the heat? And it's not fair for those of you that are out of state in a better climate right now!

My list of rivers(creeks) are Big Piney, Current, St Francios, Osage below bagnel Dam, and Meramec.

I do have a question for anyone who knows anything about the river below Wappello dam ( what's it like since the flood this spring?)

And yes I am strictly a smallmouth guy that releases everything I catch.

[jdmidwest]

Any of the rivers that you mentioned are floatable this time of year and fishing is good. I have never fished the Osage, so can't help you there. Canoe or Kayak, expect to drag riffles but fish them before you go thru.

Wappapello below the dam is essentially a ditch that was only affected by the overflow spillway and the washout below the dam. Once you get past that mess the river should be the same as before.

[ozark trout fisher]

I have been just fishing in the late evenings...No earlier than 7:30 PM until well after dark. That's when the fish are the most active now anyway I think.

[Al Agnew]

Gee, I guess I'm the one you were talking about being in a different state with different climate...79 degrees here and practically zero humidity (but the Yellowstone is still so high I can't wade anywhere around the house and it's driving me crazy).

August is usually one of my most consistent months (which is why I'm coming back for a week at the end of August to get in a couple smallie trips). The only streams I really avoid are the ones that are still big enough for easy jetboat use and any small creek that comes off the top of a lake--I have one like that near where I live in MO and the water temps can get up into the 90s, completely stressing the fish out. I especially like to fish some of the streams that were high enough earlier to get jetboat use but are now too low to run. And of course, marginally floatable creeks--where I know I won't see much competition because if they were marginal before, they are really marginal now. Most of the good Ozark streams have enough springs feeding them that they seldom get too hot. Dealing with the heat is a human concern more than a fish's concern on most streams.

[Gavin]

Thinking of a couple spring fed float & drag day trips....but a buddy needs a third in his Clacka on the 11pt next weekend....will have to flip a coin.

[gotmuddy]

Around here, when people say a river/creek is to low to float they usually mean without getting out. Southfork resort hasnt rented canoes upstream from their location for a month but two weeks ago I only had to get out two times. I fish whatever is nearest to me.

[Flysmallie]

Thinking of a couple spring fed float & drag day trips....but a buddy needs a third in his Clacka on the 11pt next weekend....will have to flip a coin.

Well I hope your using a coin that says Clacka on both sides.

[TroutRinger]

Most of the good Ozark streams have enough springs feeding them that they seldom get too hot. Dealing with the heat is a human concern more than a fish's concern on most streams.

Nothing like cool spring water on a hot day! I have 3 float trips in the next 4 weeks and will spend a lot of time just drifting with my legs hanging in the water.

[cwc87]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yesterday, on a canoe fishing trip I put in at Noon and floated til 6 and it didn't get really hot til about 3:30 but boy did the fish bite. Between dipping a doo rag in and putting it on my head the bass were on fire.

Only time it slowed was when I caught up to a kayaker that was fishing the same lure I was. I did get ahead of him and caught a 17incher and told him there was a 20incher with it and he proceded to fish for it. Then, he hooked it and him being only 20foot away he wrestled it around his sit on top and in a split second he grabbed the smallies back, dropped his spin cast, and turned his sit top kayak over and the line broke. Only thing I could say was so sorry that I was there to witness the whole episode and not able to help. He did find his rod and said that 6lb test is what he uses and I said I use 8lb to 12lb because big fish live in spots where the best cover is and I don't like breaking big fish off. He fished in front of me the last 2miles of the trip. Nice day to be out and the fish cooperated a person can't ask for a more better way to spend a 100 degree day.

[Smalliebigs]

"Then, he hooked it and him being only 20foot away he wrestled it around his sit on top and in a split second he grabbed the smallies back, dropped his spin cast, and turned his sit top kayak over and the line broke."

All I can say is { gaper Kayak guy} : 0 { alleged 20 inch Smallie} : 1 thank god!!!! go smallie go!!!