Crickets in Kimberling City?

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Ozark anglers does it again

[Ranger Z22]

Ozark Thunder Marine Bait Shop across the street from Ma's carries them.  small shop crickets sound like a chain saw running. 

 

z22

[top_dollar]

A chunk of night crawler about an  inch and half long threaded up a #4 or #6 bait hook will work just as well if you cannot find or do not wanna deal with crickets.

[top_dollar]

                         Gills will suspend on the bridge pilings around kimberling city usually around 15-25 feet deep, even though its about 190 feet deep.  Maybe too free with information here...but the second piling from the north side of the bridge is usually the most productive for me.  Its about 180-200 fow with the old bridge about 100 feet down.  Lots of bluegills there, and also lots of spotted and smallmouth bass to spoon up there as well.   The middle piling is also good for me, but for some reason i dont understand very well the southern most pilings are not that productive, at least in my experience.  Point 7, and the points at the mouth of schooner creek are also just chock full of bluegills, the trick is finding them, but when you do, you can load the boat.  Usually out off the point, on the bottom in 15-30 fow.  Thats where i can normally find them, but i would imagine any gravel you find at the right depth will have some. 

                     As i mentioned in another thread, if you have a finder, you will see squiggly lines right off the bottom...those are the big bluegill.  Crawlers and live bait work best, but small crappie jigs, and tiny jigging spoons will also catch em.   Fish vertical with a small jig or split shot rig, drop bait to the bottom, reel up 2 cranks, and just hold the bait there.  Hopefully you can get those grand kids on some fish.

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I always do this when I'm down there.  I stop The State Park Marina and ask the guy running the dive desk.  He can put you right on them.  He said the island across from Branson Bell has been holding them 15- 20 feet.  And he said right now 15-20 feet is a lake wide deal. 

I've been thinking about getting certified to dive just for the fishing aspect of it.  I asked the guy there how many fisherman he has sign up and he said  a few.  I've often wondered why more fisherman don't dive.