Warm-Water Reservoirs In Winter?

[Wayne SW/MO]

If you're going to venture out in the winter remember if it goes south and you aren't prepared you have less that a minute on many waters before your muscles react. I often kayaked on the rivers when the water was cold and did som NW rivers that were very cold. The key is staying warm enough to get to shore and building a fire.

I used a pair of snug neoprenes and a dry top with neoprene booties. I carried some fire in the waders pocket.

I never had to use it and I'm glad I didn't, but I know a couple of families who wished their kin had.

Be safe.

[PAT92B]

Take a look at Coffeen Lake it's 30 minutes north of Greenville, IL. About 1.5 hours from Ofallon, Mo it is the best winter fishing lake I've ever been to. The lake has a 25hp limit the lake is plenty big for larger boats. The fishing can be amazing at times I've gone out there and caught 100's of bass and some nice ones too.The lake is fairly scenic for a power plant lake a ton of structure grass in parts of the lake and I've never seen the lake muddy even though its surrounded by agriculture fields. The lake gets alot of pressure but there is plenty of lake. You dont need to go all the way to the warm water end to fish the coves around the boat ramp catch fish on the coldest days there is picnic areas near the southwest end of the dam that look like you could launch a kayak.

[Haris122]

I was out at Baldwin lake today. Fished mainly from the levy on the north end that you guys mentioned, and had a lot of bites on various flavors of stinkbait, and worms. They were pretty adept at stealing stink bait I'll say that. All of them were very small channel cats, with the biggest only about a foot long, but at least it was fun not waiting long between bites. Now if I could only get into some of those bigger blue catfish that are around.

[Kayser]

Use 8/0 circle hooks with matching sized baits. The small ones can't get the hook in their mouth, so only focus on the big load ups instead of the small taps. Fish all day for a bite or two.

[ciRe]

Thomas Hill is pretty fun but only go during the week. Weekends it gets kinda crowded. We've pulled out several nice hybrids.

[Haris122]

Went out to Baldwin again today in the afternoon. As I was walking on the levee to a spot the only other people there were leaving, so I wound up essentially having the entire lake to myself. When I asked the guys how they did I got mixed reviews, so I wasn't sure who was kidding and who was serious, but fishing with shrimp, I got my biggest catfish to date, literally on my first cast. I cast out, and as I finished reeling in the slack and started placing the rod in the holder I got a couple bumps. I didn't even put a bell on it before it hit. Anyways, after a few good bumps the fish took off, and the rod started dipping down. I still just had a regular hook on, so I set it and started reeling in. This blue cat gave me a good fight, and in the process of reeling it in I set the hook a few times more just to feel better about it being in there good. Anyways, after what felt like 5 minutes, I got that bad boy in the net, took a few pics, and worked on getting the hook out. By the time I landed it, the hook was almost swallowed. But I eventually worked it loose. The fish didn't seem permanently worse for the wear, though with the wind coming towards the shoreline, it was a bit tricky to release it without having the waves smash it against the rocks but luckily I had rubber boots, and was able to wade in deep enough to give it a bit of a buffer from the rocks to swim away against the waves. I caught a couple more catfish, mainly small channels, along with one channel around 12", and another Blue cat that was 17", but that first fish easily was the highlight of the day.

[jpb2187]

Nice Fish Harris.

How were the wind/ waves when you were there saturday?

[Haris122]

Both were pretty noticeable and coming directly at the north levee where I fished from. Every so often it would quiet down for a few minutes wind wise, but then it would pick back up. When I was releasing the fish I would have to make sure I walked into the water a few feet in so the oncoming waves wouldn't just smack them against the rocks as I let them go. Good thing I had rubber boots on at the time. Later on I just put them halfway on the edge of the net and that gave me enough distance from the rocks to let them go safely so I didn't even have to wade in. But it was definitely a day for rubber boots.

[jpb2187]

Thanks for the info Harris.

Anyone else on here have a recommendation as to safe wind speeds to launch a boat on Baldwin Lake. I was contemplating making a trip out there for my first time on Sat/Sun, but it looks like the wind is going to be around 10-15 mph. Too much to be safe, or just a little bumpy?

Thanks for any help people can provide.

[ciRe]

Depends on the boat? I think I'm heading up to Thomas Hill Saturday morning to catch some hybrids. But will probably be a busy weekend.