Floating From Linden To Ozark

[MSUFisherBear]

Hello all,

This is my first post in this particular section of the forum, so to those of you whom I have not had the pleasure of conversing with, hello.

I just wanted to give a quick report on my recent float trip from below the 125 bridge down to Ozark park. The girlfriend and I wanted a quick get-a-way day, and we decided it would be a nice trip for just a few hours.

The smallmouth bite was great. Caught a total of 6 all together, although I did not fish for them nearly as hard as I probably should have. The best looked to be about 1.5 pounds. Nothing major, but all where over 12" and caught on a Wacky Worm fished weightless. Before anyone does spaz out, all 6 where measured and released unharmed (I wanted to see what type of fish the river produced since it was my true first trip). Also (and on a very different tangent), I want to send a big thank you to RSBreth. I was under the impression from the individuals that I had fished with when I was younger that black bass where completely illegal to target out of season (whether they where catch-and-release or not). Now that I know, I don't have to put up the rod and reel during that time period. Not that I like keeping them in season, I just didn't want to be doing something wrong. Again, THANKS RSBRETH!!!

Lastly, I will say that we both targeted goggle-eye the entire trip. I could see the fish and they did appear to be on bed. We casted both artificial and live baits, but to no avail. I have still been stumped by the SW MO goggle-eye. Won't keep me from trying though.

Until later, tight lines!

[RSBreth]

When they aren't bedding a small grub or worm worked right on the bottom usually does the trick.

I like that stretch of the Finley - it's an easy float, and has some nice views for being so close to urban areas. I fished further downstream this weekend but didn't do any better, really.

[Wayne SW/MO]

completely illegal to target

I think technically they probably are, but when released there is nothing to take to a judge.

If you want to target g-eyes you might hit the slack water harder. They seem to have a preference for slow, deep eddy's.

[Daveinozark]

try a small white spinnerbait. I used a booyah pond magic over by the old Riverside Inn bridge and caught some. I wish they would figure out what they're doing with that bridge

They should be going after anything they can fit in their mouths at this point.

[et84]

I too have noticed the slow goggle-eye bite this year, but I haven't targeted them specifically yet. If you can got over to Pro Bass, pick up some green/ orange Uncle Buck's craws, I usually do well with them. A buddy of mine swears by the tiny brush hogs on a 1/8 oz jighead (not to be confused with baby brush hogs- the tinys are only about 2" long).

[MSUFisherBear]

Hey guys, thanks for the tips and advice. It was strange to see them laying on bed the way that they where. Like you all have said, I usually find them in the slower portions of the river stacked against brush and rocks. However, the ones that I seen where laying on the backwater flats (just like any other sunfish/panfish in the spawn) and wouldn't offer at anything. I will certainly be back to float the creek again with my full arsenal of panfish plugs. It was just odd to drop a bait like a YUM craw on a jig head, put it in the middle of the bed, and not so much as get a motion. Oh well, I wasn't in the mood to keep and eat them that day. I had stuff to BBQ. Just wondering why the little boogers wouldn't touch one.

Again, thanks guys!

[Wayne SW/MO]

It's easy to get hung up on visible fish that are on beds or getting ready, but not all spawn at the same time and I think we tend to concentrate on those fish when we should be fishin the areas they usually all. I've come off of water more than once and thought I got hung up on visible fish and lost valuable time because I should have been fishing other areas..

[MSUFisherBear]

Very true Wayne. I know that I have heard that preached by so many different professionals it almost makes my head spin. I think it's just the fact of seeing a bass (or any fish for that matter) nearly as plain as day that makes me want to cast at them. It's one of those things that I really need to work on. That along with crankbait fishing.

[hog_wild]

I am planing on taking the wife on this float tomorrow. How long did it take you? I plan on taking a few small shad colored cranks, some craw plastics, maybe a spiner bait, and of course some tiny brush hogs...dunno if ill do any good but at least we'll be on the river.

[MSUFisherBear]

Hog,

It took us probably about 4.5 hours, but alot of the time I was paddling to little stobs and stick ups and letting her dunk a worm for fish. It's not a long float at all, but it's definetly a good afternoon float. Also, there are a lot of good places to really slow down and fish.