Best of fishing and kayaking- 2012

What an incredible year 2012 was!  We suffered a drought across the Ozarks, but the fishing was outstanding!  I fell a little short on the smallmouth fishing and trout fishing this year, however, I think we will be able to make up for that in 2013.

Here is to an incredible 2013 in angling and kayaking to you and your family!  Enjoy the video :)

Fish ON!

Mike

Clarksville Dam- check out the piled up ice on the Mississippi River!

I almost bet you could walk across the ice to the other side- but I wouldn't try it!

Think Spring!

Fish ON,

MLT

Ted Shanks CA, Horseshoe Lake,Pike County, MO. May 29th 2010: Very Interesting large lake

Ted Shanks is an incredible Conservation Area just north of Lousiana, MO. This area consists of Mississippi River-like sloughs and lakes. I got a chance to kayak this lake on a very warm and windy Saturday. It was about 17-20' deep in the middle. This lake is chock full of carp and other types of rough fish. I was fishing a slip bobber and bottom rig the whole time with nightcrawlers. You would think with that type of rig you would catch something- not on this day. I did get a small little bite on a roadrunner with a white grub, but that was it. I think when I come back, I am going to get a couple of cans of corn and chum some areas and mark them and fish...I bet there are some HUGE fish in this lake...I just was not able to get up on any on this day. I want to come back and kayak the 3 mile ditch section and see about getting into the Salt Flats area (near the confluence of the Salt River and the Mississippi River)....looking forward to a return trip!

Fish ON!

MLT

Dresser Island, Brickhouse Slough, Mississippi River, August 30th: Water real, real low- found pool and has some success!

This has been the most unusual August weather I think I have ever seen. Usually it is around 100 degrees and all the grass is dead. Was very cool most of the day. Towards the end I went ahead and put my sweater on (glad I had it in the boat bag!) Felt like I was living up in Wisconsin again! Got out around 11:30 and kayaked until about 4:00 pm. A couple of the places I had considered putting in were so low, I decided against due to the mud. They must have all the gates open at Melvin Price Lock and Dam.

Most of this slough is very shallow. My depth finder said it was around 1-3 ft. deep in most places. Was able to find a nice pool with another slough draining into it (due to the low water). This spot looked to be around 5-6 ft. deep. The minute I cast a black Rooster Tail (murky waters + overcast sky= black rooster tail) boom! instant hit on the white bass. Caught a smaller largemouth right after. Also caught several very, very small Channel Catfish on slip bobbers and nightcrawlers as well as a small drum.

Lots of white Egrets and Blue Herons as well.....great day to be out on the kayak!

Fish ON!

MLT

Mississippi River, East Alton, IL. Sept 1st: Interesting action on nightcrawlers

Had a lot of action at the river on this day. Charlie came out with me and we set some rods on Gizzard Shad and on Nightcrawlers. The bait store I like to frequent was out of the Herring (which is like candy to Blue Cats), so we had to go with the Gizzard.

Charlie and I both caught some small fish (Charlie caught a couple of small Channel Cats as well as Drum). I caught a nice Common Carp (in the photo) and the rest were small Drum. The Common Carp nailed it (easy set for me) Got a lot of bites, however. There were other people fishing in the area that did not have as much action as us. One guy caught a nice Blue up closer to the dam. Good day on the water

Fish ON!

MLT

Mississippi River, East Alton, IL- August 31st: Nice Blue Catfish on Cut Bait

Here is a few photos of a nice Blue Catfish I caught on the Mississippi just below the Melvin Price Lock and Dam (north of St. Louis and the confluence point of the Missouri River). Had a pretty slow start, but once it hit, caught several other (including the photo of the Drum- which surprised me).
My mother came out and I thought she was not going to see us catch a fish. She was packing up to go back when it hit. I am glad she had a chance to see it happen.
Man, he fought hard. I was fishing with 30# test. It reminded me of when we were catching Trigger Fish out in the Atlantic.
It seems whenever a barge goes through the lock, that is the time when the fish turn on. I bet it has something to do with the water that is being released and the small bait fish that get caught up in the flow.
I also caught a much smaller blue that I released. I tried to be a good steward and release it gentle-like in the water. When I did, I totally busted my ass on the rocks- almost went face forward into the drink! Next time, I am going to toss it in.
Side Note: Actually broke an Ugly Stik on a snag- never had that happen before! took it back to Wal Mart and they replaced it- note to self: no matter what the commercial says, you CAN break an Ugly Stik!

Fish ON!

MLT

Mississippi River, East Alton, IL, August 24th, 2008- Fishing the Lock and Dam

Here are some great photos of the Melvin Price Lock and Dam near Alton, IL. This is a great place to fish- I forgot how much fun it was just to set some lines out and see what you can do. I got a new Ugly Stick 9' catfish rod, along with a new Tidewater reel, loaded with 30# Shakespeare red cajun line. What a great outfit! I cannot wait to take it to the Outer Banks next year to surf fish. I think that is one of the things I love most about fishing the big rivers- it reminds me in some ways of fishing the ocean. The rigs are the same, and the bait fishing concepts are the same as well.

Caught a little Flathead Catfish at first (I caught a couple of other fish, but lost the rig in the rip-rap). It was a small one, but fun to set the hook on. Later, I caught a HUGE smallmouth Buffalo. It looked like a cross between a Drum and a Carp. It fought me hard. I approximate it was probably about 32-33" across and probably weighted in at around 8-10#. Fought really hard like a carp. I brought it over to another person who was fishing, and he took the photo. I should have attached it- you would laugh! He got everything below where I was holding the fish up.-- note to self: always take one photo of a big fish WITHOUT you, just in case we cannot get the camera figured out. Oh well, no sweat. I will catch other big fish. Used night crawlers all day. Next time I am out, I am going to use cut bait as well (guy next to me caught a really nice Blue Catfish on cut bait, using the same rig I was fishing)

Fish ON!

MLT