What's your first fish of 2022?

[Johnsfolly]

6 minutes ago, Smalliebigs said:

Seth I absolutely love the Goatee and I had to go to my stand by until I go river bass or to LOZ

 

Nothing wrong with catching some thick hybrids. Congrats!

[Seth]

1 hour ago, Smalliebigs said:

Seth I absolutely love the Goatee and I had to go to my stand by until I go river bass or to LOZ

 

We mainly caught whites with a few hybrids up to 5# mixed in. I need to go try it further down river and see if I can find some bigger ones. If I could consistently catch hybrids, I'd be pressed to fish for anything else. My PB is only 7# but I've seen some boated that were in that 10-11# range. A couple buddies caught some up to 15#, but that's been many years ago.

[Smalliebigs]

3 hours ago, Seth said:

We mainly caught whites with a few hybrids up to 5# mixed in. I need to go try it further down river and see if I can find some bigger ones. If I could consistently catch hybrids, I'd be pressed to fish for anything else. My PB is only 7# but I've seen some boated that were in that 10-11# range. A couple buddies caught some up to 15#, but that's been many years ago.

Dude I am infatuated with them now but, they can be frustrating.

I think I need to move closer to the Osage as I think it’s the best in Missouri.

[Linhardt]

4 hours ago, Seth said:

We mainly caught whites with a few hybrids up to 5# mixed in. I need to go try it further down river and see if I can find some bigger ones. If I could consistently catch hybrids, I'd be pressed to fish for anything else. My PB is only 7# but I've seen some boated that were in that 10-11# range. A couple buddies caught some up to 15#, but that's been many years ago.

Hybrids are one of my favorite to fish for.  My biggest was 14 lbs one spring below Truman at Spillway up next to fence on west side, back in early 2000's.  Was fishing lead spoon and switched rods to fish a white topwater spook when they surface for feeding frenzy within casting range.  I have Caught several below Bagnall dam in the 5 - 8 lb range from back as well.  I know there are good spots on the lower Osage and upstream near the lock and dam where I live in Jeff City, but I do not have a boat to go after them.

[Smalliebigs]

4 hours ago, Linhardt said:

Hybrids are one of my favorite to fish for.  My biggest was 14 lbs one spring below Truman at Spillway up next to fence on west side, back in early 2000's.  Was fishing lead spoon and switched rods to fish a white topwater spook when they surface for feeding frenzy within casting range.  I have Caught several below Bagnall dam in the 5 - 8 lb range from back as well.  I know there are good spots on the lower Osage and upstream near the lock and dam where I live in Jeff City, but I do not have a boat to go after them.

They are my fairly new favorite….can’t quit thinking about them and planning and watching the water flow on my river based on the ambush points I’m fishing, they’re driving me NUTS z the biggest I have caught this far was a c hair under 12lbs about 30 inches long and big girth…. These fish are brain Fing me right or for the last 24 months or so.

[Linhardt]

On 1/12/2022 at 4:46 PM, Smalliebigs said:

They are my fairly new favorite….can’t quit thinking about them and planning and watching the water flow on my river based on the ambush points I’m fishing, they’re driving me NUTS z the biggest I have caught this far was a c hair under 12lbs about 30 inches long and big girth…. These fish are brain Fing me right or for the last 24 months or so.

Had one almost 20 years ago about that size fishing same spot I mention earlier on Truman Spillway.  But this one took the topwater spook and buried one of the treble hooks in my thumb when I grabbed him.  So I am standing there deep hooked fish and deep hooked thumb at the same time and rod in other hand.  I was having a hard time holding on to him because of his shaking so much.  Was trying decide how I am going to unhook the fish and then my thumb with only one free hand.  Went to grab some forceps to get it out of fish and that is when he solved it himself.  By shaking so hard that I lost grip and he ripped it back out my thumb.  I was bleeding everywhere.  So then I release him.  Luckily I had some first aid stuff in my tackle bag.  Just wiped it good with alcohol swab and taped it up tight.  Then I grabbed my rod because a new feeding frenzy was hitting again in front of me.  It is so much fun when they all hit the surface after shad and you are almost guaranteed a instant hit hoping for the a big one.  Really gets the adrenaline pumping.  After that I immediately bought the smaller boca grip for landing the big ones.

[Quillback]

Ouch!  I would've kept and eaten that fish just for revenge.

[FishnDave]

On 1/12/2022 at 4:46 PM, Smalliebigs said:

They are my fairly new favorite….can’t quit thinking about them and planning and watching the water flow on my river based on the ambush points I’m fishing, they’re driving me NUTS z the biggest I have caught this far was a c hair under 12lbs about 30 inches long and big girth…. These fish are brain Fing me right or for the last 24 months or so.

Judging by your success...you've got them figured out about as well as they can be. Seems like they eat when THEY want....not when WE want them to.  Fair statement?

[Gavin]

Caught a couple brown trout last weekend and the fishing was pretty darn good for those who went after them. Several over 22" caught & released. Best Ice show in awhile.

[Linhardt]

5 hours ago, Quillback said:

Ouch!  I would've kept and eaten that fish just for revenge.

It was my own darn fault for being in a hurry to be able to cast back out before the frenzy stopped.