Fishing Spots? Please Share

Urban exploration in Springfield, Missouri
jammer_smith
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Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by jammer_smith »

So I used to go up to Lake Stockton and fish for Crappie and Smallmouth off of the Mutton Creek fishing dock. It was a great spot, a slow day still guarenteed you are fish every 20 min or so, and on good days you could hardly keep 3 poles baited you'd be pulling them out of the water so fast.

Well, they took the fishing dock out, and now I am without a favotire fishing spot. I've fished the Warm Water and below the dam on lake Springfield, and out of many many hours, I caught one small mouth one time. I've tried McDaniel off the bridge twice, maybe a total of about 4 hours, nothing. Fellow lake for God, I dunno how many hours....a lot, from all kinds of different spots, and I've never pulled a single fish out of there.

So, UO friends, please come to my aid. Where is a good fishing spot where, on a typical day, you can be expected to catch at least a couple of fish. I don't mind driving back up to Stockton if I know a good spot to head towards.

Oh and also, in all of my years of fishing in this area, I have never found a good catfish hole. I have left all manner of stinky baits sitting on the bottom of all kinds of bodies of local water, and only ever caught one catfish. Any advice?
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lolabelle
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RE: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by lolabelle »

For catfish, rely on local ponds you can get permission to. The dam up at Stockton. Limb-lining over by Taylor Bridge on the Sac River.

Try the Gasconade for some fun bass fishing. Seems like we used to pull goggle eye out of there. Check out various parts of the Niangua. Hell even sections of the James have decent bass.

Have you done sucker gigging? Do that in the winter down around Galena.
paul06660
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RE: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by paul06660 »

McDaniel, while often overlooked, is an awesome place to catch all kinds of fish.
We are all just sloguns waiting to have our triggers pulled.
jammer_smith
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RE: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by jammer_smith »

You know, I've only fished McDaniel once. So maybe I just had a bad day. I was at the bridge, and I used a crappie rig over the side, a catfish rig cast way out, and a third bass rig casting and retrieving a variety of lures. I was out there for about 3 hours targeting 3 species, and I didn't get so much as a nibble.

However, I did see one guy walk past with a stringer loaded with big fish. So maybe I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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ropingk
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Re: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by ropingk »

a boat is such a help in catching big fish
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BROUSER
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Re: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by BROUSER »

Smallmouth on the James, fish at the head of riffles in the evening, small spinner. Flat Creek is good, too. Can float it with a little work and it doesn't get much fishing pressure.
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paul06660
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Re: RE: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by paul06660 »

jammer_smith wrote:You know, I've only fished McDaniel once. So maybe I just had a bad day. I was at the bridge, and I used a crappie rig over the side, a catfish rig cast way out, and a third bass rig casting and retrieving a variety of lures. I was out there for about 3 hours targeting 3 species, and I didn't get so much as a nibble.

However, I did see one guy walk past with a stringer loaded with big fish. So maybe I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You need to get away from that bridge and go much farther down the bank a ways. Just follow the trails and you will find much better fishing. I have caught many good fish in those waters.
We are all just sloguns waiting to have our triggers pulled.
jammer_smith
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Re: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by jammer_smith »

Man, I have gone fishing 4 times since I made this post, and I've caught only 3 fish, and they were teeny tiny little fish. I am getting a bit frusterated at my apparent inability to get onto some fish.

Hey brouser....when you say "fish the ripples" what does that mean?
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Re: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by BROUSER »

James is a pool and drop river. Long still pools separated by short stretches of faster water. In the evenings the smallmouth feed at the head of the swifter stretches. May not catch any big ones there, but it can be fun. I've had some luck with the bigger ones on tube jigs in the pools where there is a little current, usually around bigger rocks. And I've heard, but not tried, that the really nice bigs will hit a black buzz bait at night pulled across the pools just fast enough to turn the blade. Read an article on it once. I love fishing top water, but part of the thrill is watching the fish hit the bait.
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RE: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by paul06660 »

I like using topwater lures myself. In fact, top poppers tend to work extremely well in shallower areas of still waters, as long as you develop a good technique. Also try the Heddon Torpedo and never underestimate a white/red spoon.
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ropingk
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Re: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by ropingk »

mark Twain lake we caught 17 keepers and 30 crappie
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lolabelle
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Re: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by lolabelle »

We fished last weekend while camping with some friends and a bunch of toddlers. stayed at a campground near Bennett (on the Niangua), took some canoes, paddled around, saw no one but ourselves, husband caught enough largemouth to feed the 6 adults and 3 kids for dinner that night. then the crazy lightning storm hit so we left. went back to williams ford the next day and didnt catch shit. :(
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Re: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by BROUSER »

Always fish before a front moves in. After front moves in, fish shut down, but before that they feed. So I've heard, so I've experienced.
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ropingk
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Re: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by ropingk »

and if the snakes are swimming i never have any luck with fishing
we cauget 17 niec crapi last weeekend --well saturday morning wasnt sure of the limit or the size rules took maybe 3 hours to find them some were easily 2 inches thich made some good fillets I need a bigger motor the 60hp prop just dont get r done
but going to a jet would be even worse
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Nicotti
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Re: Fishing Spots? Please Share

Post by Nicotti »

jammer_smith wrote:Hey brouser....when you say "fish the ripples" what does that mean?
He said Riffle not Ripple.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riffle
More online investigation than onsite exploration these days.

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