What Are The Cats And Musky Biting On?

[Fotter]

I've had a few really big muskies' just follow me around in the boat and I've done everything try and get them to bite my line but they just sit there and watch me.

Also, what are the cats biting on? No one I've talked with at the lakes has caught one or even knows someone who's caught one. Are there any cats left? I took all three of my big tackle boxes out and spent all day and most of the night fishing for one. I had 3 lines out, all with different baits and lures and I switched them every hour or two. I even had a live frog but still no bites from anything really. I've been going from Fellows to Daniels and back, fished from the shores, bridges and by boat. The only thing I got for my effort was one bass just barely big enough to keep.

I'm really at a loss. Is fellows really fished out? Daniels' isn't doing well either.

I caught more snakes, frogs and lizards in one day then in a whole week of fishing.

[TrAB418]

Haha sounds about like my luck when I started fishing SPF Lake. I hear alot of people use shrimp with the shell on to catch little ones and then if you want big budda, fish with little perch about 3 inch long. Have you tried SPF Lake yet? I've heard nothing but bad things about fellows, and having to pay to get a boat on it, I'm probably never gonna go out there.

[Fotter]

@TrAB418 yeah but I have a boat. XD But from what I've been reading it sounds like the lakes fished out. haven't been to SPF yet but I might as well.

I want the big ones cause I wanna eat 'em.

[Muskie Bob]

Hope you aren't using a bullfrog or green frog. Missouri has regulations on them. http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing/regulations/non-game-species/frogs

As to catfish bait, have you tried cut shad? I use to fish with liver some (even with a bobber). Cut shad probably is best during spring.

As to eating fish, I've found I'd rather eat some of the smaller fish. For example, I'd rather eat a 15" bass than a 20" bass. They seem to taste better to me. I've found that true in other fishes too.

As to muskies, have you ever wondered why there is a minimum length limit of 36" and 1 per day? I like to think muskies are a catch and release fish with the option of keeping a trophy. As for taste, I have only eaten one, the first one I caught. It wasn't all that good. However, I would think they would taste a lot like northern pike, which I like to eat when I go to Canada. Here again, I've found I like the smaller northerns rather than the ones over 35.5" (only one over that size is allowed). Of course, I've eaten the larger ones, but the smaller are much better to eat in my opinion.

Keep in mind muskies are stocked and very few, if any, reproduce in Missouri. Missouri's muskie program is highly recognized for its efforts and results. Fellows Lake is suppose to be one of the best. Although I have only fished Fellows Lake only a couple of times for a few hours, I'm anxious to try the lake again, hopefully next Monday.

As to eating fish, one of the better fish to eat are walleye. From what I have heard Fellows has a fair population. You might try fishing gravel/rocky points until summer. In the summer, you might try back of flat areas and toward back of coves. Of course, I'm no expert on fishing....just what I've read and been told. That's what I will try some, as I do enjoy eating a walleye some times.

[BATCAB27]

I'm out on eating anything out of Springfield lake

[Flysmallie]

I'm out on eating anything out of Springfield lake

I've always heard this and I have always wondered why. Is there a reason?

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't know, but I'm glad that what ever it is, it doesn't seem to make it down to Table Rock, Taney of Bull Shoals.

[MSUFisherBear]

I've always heard this and I have always wondered why. Is there a reason?

Same here... I'm just throwing this out there. Out of the catfish, bluegill, and red-ear that I have cleaned out of the various bodies of water in SWMO, Springfield fish are just as clean as any other. I think people are scared from the power plant. The lake stays dingy most of the year, but a LOT of that has to do with a) bottom composition, the constant churning of water from the pumps at the power plant, and c) the warmer temperatures holding sedimate on the lower end of the lake nearly year round.

What I will say is that, of the fish that I have caught from this lake, I have yet to find a parasite or hints of a disease. Fact of the matter is that these fish tend to look a lot more healthy than some of the ones I have caught out of similar sized lakes elsewhere.

Oh well... Leave more of those out there to catch

[Fotter]

@Muskie Bob

Nah just a peeper, one of like a thousand in my yard. Lil' guy was half dead anyways, fell and hit the driveway hard.

As for the muskies, really just want to catch it. It seems to be the same one always following me around, just, darn that's a big fish. He just tags along and watches me. I don't think he wants anything I catch. I'll try the liver and shad.

I'm more for eating cat anyways, and bass I always throw back no matter the size. Ya'know so they can get bigger. (I'm not a trophy hunter, I just eat 'em)

[Hunter91]

People tend to think LK Springfield has bad water quality due to it being on the average murkier than Fellows, TR etc.