Finley Report

[RSBreth]

Fished two winter "holes" this saturday, and had a good day with suspending jerkbaits. No huge fish but a good mixed bag of 2 and 3 lb. smallies and largemouths.

The key was letting the bait just sit 30 seconds or so after I worked it up to cover. Every hit came after I twitched it slighly after one of these long pauses.

The jerkbait is one of the "bassmaster" baits marketed by bass pro, the smaller 4"size in green shiner.

I picked them up at the outlet store for about 2 dollars, I wouldn't want to spend the 7 bucks or so they were at full retail.

Strange thing about the upper Finley is that there is a good number of largemouths. I think the park in Ozark is where the largemouths can pull off a better spawn than if they are in a stretch of river without such a large slack water area.

[DougFunnie13]

Hi there, I live in Springfield and love to fish and was wanting to try the Finley. I don't have a boat so do you have any suggestions on where I can try some bank fishing for bass? Also you mentioned the outlet store....is it located around this area? By the way I am new to the forum. Thanks!

Doug

[Phil Lilley]

You live in Springfield and don't know where the outlet store is??? My my...

Hard time giving you.

The outlet is just to the south of the main store.

I'm watching the Finley forum closely cause I, too, want to fish there this year. Thanks for the report.

[DougFunnie13]

Oh, ok...I misunderstood. For some reason I was thinking of an outlet store that was independent of Bass Pro. I am aware of the one right by the main store. Thanks for the info.

[Wayne SW/MO]

You can fish at the Finley Creek Park in Ozark. Lots of Lily pads, but it can be done. There's also some bank access at Springfield lake. I don't know how good the fishing is, but they might help you at Bass Pro.