Greatest Fishing Day Of My Life!(Lake Springfield)

[river angler man]

I should start out by saying I just picked up fishing last year, it was a child hood hobby of mine, and last year in I believe about 53 outings of fishing for Channel Catfish I caught a total of 6 throughout the year, so that's where I'm starting from. I was planning on going today since yesterday but unfortunately I woke up at 2am. I don't like to night fish so I just sat around until around 4:30a. By the time the time came around I really didn't feel like fishing anymore, but I went anyway. I got there around 5am, it was pretty much completely dark still, and there was only one person there and he was fishing at the covered dock. I notice as I leave the parking lot to walk down to my favorite spot at the end of the walkway that he is leaving his spot. I didn't think much of it probably he was just night fishing and made an internal fisherman's pack with himself that he would leave once the morning anglers start to arrive. when I'm halfway down the walkway I turn around and this dude is following me, and I've got nowhere to go to if he does have bad intentions, I'm trapped. I get to my spot and quickly take out my knife(didn't show it to him of course) but I was ready for anything. Fortunately he just walked by, and said good morning, and went to the very end to fish, okay a little creepy he chose to leave his spot only when I got there and am alone, and he followed me all the way to the end, but all's all good. At this point I just figured it was going to be a very bad day fishing, too much is going haywire. I fish with chicken liver which I'd been having some success with, also night crawlers and dough bait. The fish were so passively hitting the bait they kept just stealing it and I couldn't get them. Then I decide to go ahead and use this very expired shrimp I had that had been frozen and unfrozen many times and was very soggy, just wanting to finally get rid of it. Withing a few minutes a catfish very aggressively takes the bait and the hook gets set firmly. I didn't think it was very big because it didn't fight very hard,but when I saw it I quickly realized it was definitely the largest catfish I'd ever caught. I caught another one a few minutes later on shrimp that was about 10 inches long, I put it back. Then after about 30 minutes later another large catfish took the bait, and this one wasn't going to go easily. This guy fought like hell, it was the first time I've ever had to adjust the drag on my reel, I always could handily get them in without the need. He fought for several minutes but eventually I got him in. He was about the same size as the other one, and again they are definitely the largest catfish, or any fish, I've ever caught-and on the same day I caught 2!(about 20 inches long each).

[OzarkFishman]

It is always nice to catch a personal best. Sounds like a great morning.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Good job! Sounds like fun. Sorry to hear about the morning, but hey it turned out to be great.

[Ham]

Hmmmm, now you've got me thinking about what would be my best day ever. I've got 46 years of trips to think about soooo this may take a while.

I'm glad you had a good trip.

[Wayne SW/MO]

It's always good to get your spirits lifted.

cats are notorious for playing with the bait and circle hooks will help in eliminating some of that. When using them you can wait until the fish literally swallows the bait. The hooking is done with a low rod tip and simply stop the line. Once you feel the fish you pull enough to turn his head in embed the hook in the corner of the mouth.

[jaskea8]

Im new to Springfield Im a student here for college. I was under the impression that the Lake closed at sundown and opened at sunrise? I never night fish there because of that reason. Please tell me i am wrong b/c i would love to go there to night fish.

[Phil Lilley]

5 am here - Branson - it's barely getting light at 5 but by 5:15 you can see pretty good.

Not sure what constitutes "night fishing". If it's like hunting, 30 minutes before sunrise?

What are the rules?

[river angler man]

you can night fish at the public access points (Clay Henshaw and Southwood are the 2 on lake), in the park areas it's daylight hours only. I wouldn't mind night fishing if I wasn't alone, but since I go alone I choose not to. Also remember that even though it is allowed at the access points, the SPD may not feel the same way. They may ask you to leave, maybe even go through your stuff so don't bring anything with you you wouldn't want them to see.

[jaskea8]

Has anyone had luck catfishing at like 6 am? I'd like to set a couple poles out for catfish in the morning and then bass fish while im waiting for hits on the cat.

[OzarkFishman]

river angler man is correct. The access point above the dam (warm water outlet) and below the dam can be fished at night, as well as Southwood (the boat ramp under 65 bridge).

The parking lot just across the bridge is closed at dark (heading from the power plant over the bridge, the parking lot is on your right). I have been stopped at that parking lot right before dark. The cop pulled in and turned on his lights. He asked for my license and went back to the car and ran my information. He "informed" me that the parking lot closed at dark and let me go. Before leaving, he told me the area is known for drugs and that is why they keep such a close eye.

jaskea8 - use circle hooks and do exactly as you said. I believe you are only allowed 3 poles, so it would make sense to set 2 catfish poles and bass fish with one (don't venture too far away if the poles are not secured to something).