Osage Fork, Gasconade River, Laclede County, MO.: Nice river with some sporty spots

I had originally wanted to get on the Gasconade directly, but the put in spot that I stopped at (just south of I-44) had the boat ramp closed..looked like they were getting ready to pour a new concrete pad. So I got out my handy Missouri Delorme atlas out in search of another put in. I ended up putting in on the Osage Branch. This spot was fabulous! It is a gravel ramp, but I can imagine the largest boat you would want to put in here is either a kayak or canoe or a small Jon Boat.

Paddled up current (as I will always do....many reasons) and found a couple of spots too shallow for the kayak, so I had to portage. I feel like I got my arm workout in within about 15 min. I found a pool upstream just a little (I did not want to go too far...did not put in until 5:00 p.m.) and beached the kayak and wade fished. My "go to" bait for small streams is a rooster tail inline spinner- 2 favorite colors...brown and brown!

Second cast caught a nice Rock Bass (in photo)....the rest of the fish caught were Long Ear Sunfish....what a beautiful fish! They are really aggressive attackers for their size!

This river system really has sparked my interest and imagination.....I plan on visiting more put in spots (especially on the main river further south)....."Life is better on a kayak!"

Fish ON!

MLT

Spring River, Centennial Park, Quapaw, OK June 2nd 2010: Very, very fast section of river

This is a section north of the put in spot that I like to go to when I go to the Spring River in Oklahoma. It is technically a state park run, but it is not in that great of shape. I drove on the rock bank to get to the put in site. As I started to paddle upstream, the current got real intense w/ some undertows and sudden current changes. I was insistent, however, on getting to the other side of the bank so I made a couple of attempts before I got over. Portaged the kayak about 75' and got it back in the water (current was too strong to paddle up at that point). I had intended on fishing this point (the spot about 10 miles south was EXCELLENT for White Bass and Stripers), but with the current as strong as it was, this became a "paddle only" trip..probably was not the most safe out of all my floats....really challenged me as a paddler and kept me on my toes. The spot, however, is beautiful, big time! I do not know if the photos give it justice.

Fish ON!

MLT

James River, June 1st 2010: Good float, limited fish on nightcrawlers

Put in at the boat launch at Hwy 65 near the veterans cemetary. This is always such a good float. Took the kayak all the way under the James River Expressway. As you start to paddle that direction it starts to look more like a river and less like a lake (this is right where Lake Springfield starts). Caught a bunch of small bluegills and long Ear sunfish, but nothing significant. Did have a small water snake decided to attach itself to my small toe as it was dangling in the water waiting to get on the boat ramp....biggest fear realized! :)

Fish ON!

MLT

Lake Sherwood, Franklin County, May 30th, 2010: Fish moving into summer patterns

Got out on the pontoon boat with Rob and Tammy and Hunter. The weather could not have been better....seemed to get up to 90 degrees or so. We were catching them on bottom rigs with nightcrawlers. I caught the bass on a small spinner w/ jig and plastic minnow. Came out with quite a stringer of fish...took me a few hours to clean. This is an OUTSTANDING red ear and bluegill lake.

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

Cuiver River SP, Lake Lincoln, Lincoln County, MO: Several trips to this very deep little lake

We had several trips to Lake Lincoln in May....this is one deep little lake. If you go about 50' from the boat launch, it is 70 feet deep in the middle. Almost the entire lake has straight drop offs by the edges of the lake....I would imagine the swimming beach area is the only area that has a gradual depth. This would be a great lake to practice if you had a week at Table Rock coming up. The water is very clear (I would not say "gin clear"...but close).

Ray and Myself hit this about the beginning of the month....Ray had a fly rod and was catching quite a few small bluegill and bass on poppers. I was using slip bobbers and caught a few as well...nothing really all that large.

I came back for a second visit the next week...the weather was very warm and sunny. I caught a bass on a white spinner, but did not have a lot of success past that point. This is a very nice lake that is close to home. I think the extreme depth provides some real limitations....it would be great to figure this deep little lake out.

Fish ON!

MLT