Input for Baxter

[Stricker9]

My family and I will be heading down to the Baxter area for a week long vacation starting on Saturday (can't wait to be there).  I have a couple of questions and would greatly appreciate the input of this forum:

1.  Is the ramp at Baxter open?  If not, where is the next best place where I can put in close to Baxter?

2.  Any fishing tips anywhere for the Baxter area or within a moderate boat ride (Aunt's Creek, Campbell, KC, etc.) would be greatly appreciated.  At times, I will have as many as 4 fishing out of my boat and some will them will be my young kids.  So any tips that would accomodate that situation would be very appreciated as well... thinking we could successfully pull off fishing the ned rig or even going as basic as dropping nightcrawlers down (will definitely be the case when my 6 year old join us).

As always, any input would be greatly appreciated.

[bobby b.]

Went to Baxter to check out the ramp - not good.  

Bobby

 

[Bgctrading]

Didn't have a whole lot of luck on nightcrawlers this weekend. Ned rig and swimbait got the fish for us.

[GNSfishing]

45 minutes ago, Stricker9 said:

My family and I will be heading down to the Baxter area for a week long vacation starting on Saturday (can't wait to be there).  I have a couple of questions and would greatly appreciate the input of this forum:

1.  Is the ramp at Baxter open?  If not, where is the next best place where I can put in close to Baxter?

2.  Any fishing tips anywhere for the Baxter area or within a moderate boat ride (Aunt's Creek, Campbell, KC, etc.) would be greatly appreciated.  At times, I will have as many as 4 fishing out of my boat and some will them will be my young kids.  So any tips that would accomodate that situation would be very appreciated as well... thinking we could successfully pull off fishing the ned rig or even going as basic as dropping nightcrawlers down (will definitely be the case when my 6 year old join us).

As always, any input would be greatly appreciated.

We’ve got water everywhere many ramps are useable. State Park ramp will be useable

[WWM]

These are from last Friday evening. Lake is up at least 3 ft since then I think. First pic from the truck is where you can take a right to get into the upper lot. Most likely blocked by now I’d guess... they are always on the single swimbait for me. Had a few topwater fish as well. Good luck. 

[Bill Babler]

Baxter ramp is currently blocked.  To tell you the truth, your going to have a tough time getting in the pond right now in that area.  Kimberling City is probably going to be your closest ramp. 

There are a few fish getting out and I mean a few starting to think about a drop shot with live bait but I would not want to count on it.  Really not the time due to water conditions to have a boat full of young ones. 

If it were me I wold do a couple of things.  I would try and catch some gills and I would try and set some either limb lines or trotlines or play with some jug lines.  Depending on your lodging if its on the lake once you get your boat in you might be able to keep it at their dock if they have one.  Otherwise it will be long drives and lots of in and out.

Fishing has been really good early and I mean early 5 to about 8 on top water.  After that we have been swimming a small swimbait in the locations they were rising chasing shad.  There are other bites also but not for children.and these are target fishing bites in the flooded bushes, yards and shoreline timber.

Look for chasing fish early and try and stay with them as long s possible.  You can also at times in the right location find some on a ned in front of the bushes on the gravel flats, these are mostly smallmouth and again you need to be a bit of a fisherman, this is really hard for kids as it is not a bite a minute, it is just a few bites.

Hope they will start getting out on the flooded points in a few days in and staying schooled.  You can start the search in 15' and move out to 20' plus on a drop shot or just have the kids hang a drop shot over the side as you fish for top water schooling fish if you can find them.

Good Luck

[skeeter]

Late yesterday, the water was just mere inches from getting onto the Road leading down to Baxter Marina and it has come up slightly since then which means the water is on the road this morning but very shallow.  Adding to the lake level, the Corps just opened the gates up at Beaver but not yet at TR dam so it's still coming up. 

None of the parking spaces on the Marina lot were still above water but you might approach the Marina management ( 417-779-4301 ) to ask if they will allow you to launch, with trolling motor only, (due to submerged cables and wires ) off what remains of the parking lot.  Requesting to rent a slip from them during your visit might help get a positive answer and those folks are usually very helpful. 

[bobby b.]

3 hours ago, skeeter said:

None of the parking spaces on the Marina lot were still above water but you might approach the Marina management ( 417-779-4301 ) to ask if they will allow you to launch, with trolling motor only, (due to submerged cables and wires ) off what remains of the parking lot.

There was one boat that launched there yesterday - I would think that you would need to back along ways out there to launch.

Port of Kimberling ramp was closed.

[Stricker9]

3 hours ago, skeeter said:

Late yesterday, the water was just mere inches from getting onto the Road leading down to Baxter Marina and it has come up slightly since then which means the water is on the road this morning but very shallow.  Adding to the lake level, the Corps just opened the gates up at Beaver but not yet at TR dam so it's still coming up. 

None of the parking spaces on the Marina lot were still above water but you might approach the Marina management ( 417-779-4301 ) to ask if they will allow you to launch, with trolling motor only, (due to submerged cables and wires ) off what remains of the parking lot.  Requesting to rent a slip from them during your visit might help get a positive answer and those folks are usually very helpful. 

All,

Thank you for your input!

 

Skeeter,

Great to hear from... you helped my brother and I out a couple of years ago when we had boat issues and gave us a ride all the way back to Aunt's Creek area.

We actually have rented a house right across from the marina and have rented a slip from the marina for the week.  So, I will definitely consider giving them a call.

[bobby b.]

6 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Baxter ramp is currently blocked. 

How about that ramp at Big Indian  across from Baxter?  Never used it because it's a long drive on 86 to get there but I recall that the launch area was pretty big with a good slope in the parking lot - likely I am remembering wrong though.