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Heading out to Rathbun this weekend,have the crappies turned on yet? Does anybody know the water temp.? Is the lake dirty? I went there last year and the water looked like mud instead of water! Any help that you can offer would be a big help.
Thanks
MAtt
Unless your coming over for other reasons, I'd save your gas. You're about three weeks two early. The lake is up and muddy and we're getting some sevre weather that will have things screwed up for awhile.Water is still cool and the fish are really scattered and unpredictable. Id say wait if you can. PJ
I would have to agree with prchjerker. Water clarity is quite muddy, and temperatures are still in the 40's. If you are coming anyway, go to the spillway and pull a jig under a float, buddy caught about a 100 crappie today doing that, with a bonus walleye. He said most were small, under 10" but he did keep his limit and had a couple 14".
The weather will most likely hurt the bite that has been fairly tough anyway. I will be there Sunday none the less, I live but 10 miles away so I am going even if I know it is not going to be good.
here is a site to keep up on temp and water level at Rathbun.
Rathbun Lake
I think I will wait a few eeks and see how the water temp. goes. Hopefully the water will clear up as well. THANKS to everyone who replied!
Matt
Anybody go to the lake this weekend? Wondering if things were starting to clear up?
I was there Sunday. I fished from 7 to 3. I started in 8-14 feet of water, I fished 6-8 feet down. No action. I tried that for 2 1/2 hours. Switched to shallow, no action, but I was on the windy side. I moved to the calm side, north shore, caught 4 instantly in 2 feet of water. 2 were 13 1/2" long about 1lb and 1/4 each.
One under a float, the other 3 trolling minnows. They were all off the willows a few feet. Water temp 57 degrees. I was around Bridgeview. Water clarity about 6 inches.
I then ran over to Southfork, clear up in the timber by the rock quarry. Caught one more, samething, in 2-4 feet of water jig and minnow about two feet down. This one was about 14". Nice slabs. Water temp at southfork was 56-60 degrees with the clarity being the best in the lake at about 2 feet (that I have seen).
The water temp in the main lake was 48-50. I think if the temps keep up, you are going to be able to catch them shallow by next weekend. I think the majority are still suspended deeper, but I couldn't get them to bite.
One catfish, always fun.
Thanks for the report. Kind of gives me the fever. If this weather holds things might get going pretty good before long as you mention. I was planning to come over for a couple of weeks starting on 5/19 but this year that may be late.
By chance do you know if Judy Mueller still owns the Bridgeview Bait Shop? I had heard it was for sale last year and wasn't sure if it got sold or not?
I normally stop at Bridgeview, the same lady was there, not sure if her name is Judy. I never asked. Talked to a local guide, he was knocking the walleyes, gave him the rest of my bait and told him the crappies are biting shallow.
He said the walleyes were hiting about five feet from shore.
Judy still owns the Bridgeview Bait and tackle.
Thanks- PJ
Anybody make it on the water this weekend?
Saturday-
Fished from 7-4:30 Water temp. 58-62 Bridgeview Caught 4 all shallow (2-3 feet) slow trolling jigs w/minnows and one pole minnow and float. Abou 5 feet from the shore, close to willows. Water clarity slightly better but still no better than 6 inches. The calm shore seemed to be more productive. Missed a nice one (maybe 1 1/2lb.). Two of the four were 13 1/2 and 14 1/2 inches.
The water at southfork was quite clearer, water temps next to the shore at 1 pm were between 62-67! Caught a few more and missed one that I had almost in the boat that might have been the biggest Crappie I have ever caught out of Rathbun. Can't be sure, but I would guess well over a two pounds. Just never got the hook set, made me sick. Was trolling next to the shore in about 2-3 feet of water. caught a nice slab right after I missed the big one.
Waypoint #39 (I just created) is way up in the sticks of southfork and is the location of my Blackberry Tour. I bobbled it, bounced off my foot and in the water.
Sunday--
I only went for three hours, thought I would try the spot were I lost the big one from Saturday. I was on the water at 6, fished for a hour and caught two small ones. Decided to try the bridge at southfork, caught a nice slab right underneath the bridge in 8 feet of water, 3 sheephead, 2 bass, and one walleye. I missed a bass that had my 7 foot med heavy bass rod doubled over. Nice fish. Water temp is really coming up, it shouldn't be long until you can catch them in numbers.
Good report buddy!
Sorry to hear about the Blackberry
so when I called you sat I should have dialed ext 39.
actually I think it would be deep 69 extension. Ive done the same thing at least twice and acouple other times where it wasnt my fault. Thank god I have insurance on my cell. However Im not smart enough to run a BBerry I hope you had it backed up Brian.I'm headed for lake tommorow. Will give an update later.PJ
I just hope none of those crappie are using all of my minutes!!
Good luck Cory...
I am going to Lake of the Ozarks this weekend, but I will be back at Rathbun in in two weeks. Should be good timing. Might go out after work this week too. I sure hope the water clears more around Bridgeview, they seem to be pretty scattered right now.
I have insurance on the phone, but of course the phone is backordered.
Great post...you guys are giving me the fever. Hope you have a safe trip to the Ozarks.
Actually had a great day for size but not numbers.I fish a little deeper water and ended up with 10 good fish 1/ 12" and the other 9 were 13 1/2 to 14 1/2 inch females. Their eggs have a long ways to go yet. Now we're getting alot of rain which will mess with my style of fishing but benefit the guys that like the shallow stuff up stream. We'll have to see how high and muddy it gets.PJ
Quote:
Originally Posted by bec32173
PJ- Sounds like you had a great day. Hopefullly the rain will stay away awhile and let things clear up. Is the water temperature in the upper 50's?
Lake has came up over 4 foot in 2 days and isnt supossed to crest till tomorrow.Im guessing it will hit at least 912 before it stops.The lake was getting prime now its cold muddy high water again. When the water comes up that fast you can write off the lake for at least a week before the fish can adjust. Was going to head down tomorrow but think I'll hit Roberts Creek instead.
Anybody make it out this weekend? Looks like the Lake must have missed most of the rain Friday. Hopefully things are clearing up a little?
I'm planning to head over on Friday for the first time this year.
Wife and I are heading up the 6th for the weekend. Camping at Bridgeview, Dodge pickup (Mo. plates), Lund Rebel boat w/Johnson outboard. Stop by if in the neighborhood.
Hey, I will be on Red Rock Sunday. HEard anything there. I got a pass for Saturday and Sunday this week from my better half, so Rathbun on saturday, Red Rock on Sunday.Quote:
Originally Posted by prchjerker
Havent heard anything on Red Rock. Three mile and 12 mile are spawning big
time right now.A few nice fish on 3 mile but most are running on the small size. 12 mile is putting out some nicier fish. Plan on hitting Roberts creeek on Monday and Rathbun this coming Tuesday.I wish this rain would give it a break for a change.
I hear you on the rain. I was over at the Lake dropping off the camper yesterday and things look pretty muddy. It was hard to drive away from the place, I wish I could have fished. Sounds like even with the less than ideal conditions people are catching a few good fish. Unfortunately it looks like a fair amount of rain this week.
Camped on Rathbun for the last 3 nights and the wind and rain were bad...Weather changed this morning...as we were leaving. Only thing I saw were a few catfish being cleaned.
This rain just won't quit. Hopefully the bulk of tonights will miss the lake.
Anybody know how much rain they got over by the lake today?
Just FYI:
I heard 12 mile was on fire. A good source said they caught 100, kept 40. I Fished Roberts Creek last Sunday most all day and caught 2, both deeper. But one was 15"! That was fun.
Anybody been on the Lake the last couple of days?
Sounds like we may be getting some more rain?
Can't seem to get a break.
Was out there Saturday, it is as muddy as I have seen it in a while. A lot of bedris in the water also. Water temp is 57-58 range. Current level is almost 915. I know I am not popular in my stance here, but anytime the level is over 912, I love it. It just needs to clear up a bit. We are forecast to have 80 degree temps most of the week. Barring anymore rain, next weekend should be decent. The water will clear up slightly, they bite just fine in muddy water (my experience) you just have to hit them on the head. This is why I prefer high water I think, I tend to fish a lot of heavey cover, veritical jigging. The higher the water the more cover available to spawning crappie.
As for saturday, action was slow. Going back out today, starting out later, had some rain this morning.
I agree on the higher water. Better spawning conditions lead to more fish for tomorrow. With that said fishing has been slow for good fish. We could have done without last nights rain. Seems to be plenty of small fish on the banks. The warmer weather should get things going.