Catching up on my posts.

Spring brought a good crop of crappie. We stick to the limits, but on most days hit that. Brush piles in 5-7 feet of water or trees that have been established for more than a year were the hot spots. Most were caught on live minnows, but jigs worked at the peak times. Morning and early afternoon seemed to be most fruitful.

Tons of midsize bass would take a minnow just to remind us they were there.

The heat of summer made the Crappie a bit harder to find. This years big bass catches have been on crank baits and a few on spinner baits. For some reason, the soft plastics just did not click for me this year. To be honest, my focus was on Crappie.

I will keep you posted now that the weather is cooling.

Going for Crappie and Getting Bass

Folks are catching crappie...I am just not one of them. The water was super low for a long time and has just returned to normal. I have to assume this weekend with more rain, more warm weather and more time to figure things out will bring the crappie in.

The bass, however have not slowed down a bit. I got a super nice one with just a minnow on a hook while trying to get my first crappie of 2009. I will break the ice this weekend if it kills me.

Send me any hints. These little guys frustrate me. I wonder if it is just me.

Suprised by the Fish - Don't Let the Look of the Lake Fool You

Everyone always says..."Don't judge a book by its cover." Well now I believe. I went down to the water at about 3PM today and really didn't expect to catch anything. The air was cool and it was misting and it was more of a check to see if anything was going on. First cast with a rattling shad (no lip) and boom, 3.5 pounder nailed it.

So I hand the rod to my son with the hopes that I didn't spook the rest of them and he gets one on his first cast too. They are in about 2 feet of water but I don't see any bait around. It is like they are waiting for the water to come up.

Where the Crappie are...I have no idea! I will however keep trying.

In Respons to Donkey Kong

My good friend Charlie Fellows - Who can help you with your insurance...Fine Upstanding AAA Agent that he is, responded with the following hints...

as far as crappie are concerend focus your efforts on pea gravel banks in the middle of the month and after....drift fish in anywhere frmo 2-10 ft of water with a jig tipped with a minnow. Grab plenty of beer, oil, and fish batter then send me pictures and bags full of meat to eat.

WINTER IS OVER - IT IS ON LIKE DONKEY KONG

Okay...the ice is broken and it is time to grab a small cooler and pack a few cold ones and go hit your spots. The first Bass of 2009 Spring was a nice one!!! Not a massive fish but a really healthy pound and a half. He was in about 2 feet of water and he took a 1/8 oz Bitsy Minnow in what I call fire colors (Black, Green, Orange, Chartreuse). I was fishing for Crappie but I am guessing they are deeper. I will keep trying and keep reporting.

Hey Folks: It is guy's weekend. 5 or so of my church folk are headed for the Ozarks. We hear the fishing is good. I will report after the beers wear off.

Crappie Reports

Calling all Crappie Fishermen:

Shoot me a note at Rob@FishTheOzarks.com if you hit some hotspots or want to report a lure or color that is working well. I have to admit that the Crappie confuse me and the more good information I can get in, the more I will share with everyone.

I do know my neighbor Bob, who is the king of fishing in our cove has been catching them off and on all winter.

This just baffles me. I use the same lure in the same spots and get nothing. I need to learn from his wisdom and will continue to take advice. Here is what he says:

Use a blue and white tube jig with the split tail and bounce it at a level just before it goes out of sight. Obviously he works them around brush that he has suspended around his dock. He also mentioned that on sunny days they are closer to shore than you would think...even though the water is still really cold.

I am fishing a bit towards the end of next week so I will let everyone know.

Also, be sure to check in with Bill at Osage Bait and Tackle (On 54 right next to Town and Country Motel in Osage Beach) to stock up for spring and get some good advice.

Kicking the Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Blog for 2009

Welcome to the new Blog for Lake of the Ozarks Fishing - Supported by FishTheOzarks.com

Many of you may have visited our old message board and a few of our visitors commented that it was not as easy to use as some others. We have decided to replace it with a blog that will be updated a couple of times per month to ensure that good, up to date information on what is happening around the docks and in the coves is available as you plan your next fishing trip. We hope to have guest authors and would love to have your comments along the way. Nobody knows everything and lord knows I am on the lower end of the scale, but sharing information should get more fish in the boat.

Visit often and share a few spots if you don't mind.

P.S. - Nice fish Angie! Did you ever get a replacement pole after this guy broke your rod?