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Ok i know that this will open up alot of discussion.I am originally from St.Louis area and after being able to fish Tennessee's Kentucky lake i am addicted tom crappie fishing.My family and i are planning to move back in the St.Louis area but have not decided where at this time.(it depends on job location) Is Mark Twain a good place? How about Lake of the Ozarks or is there too many skiers?I would appreciate any help.
Thanks :cool:
Hello and welcome back to the Show Me. Never fished MT, LOZ is great for Crappie in the late fall, Winter and early Spring before the big boats get started. Truman maybe the best crappie lake in Missouri. I like the southern Lakes myself Bull Shoals and Norfolk.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Stalker
Truman in a good lake infact at one time was rated one of the top five lakes in the nation for crappie but fishing pressure has slowed it down some. Still one of the best in the summer for bigger crappie. If you dont care about catching alot of big fish Mark Twain is an excellent lake. Boat traffic is much less there as well, plus you will be alot closer to MT. If you go to Ozark there is usually less water traffic in the cooler months, some nice size fish there too.
In my book truman is the best for spring and summer crappie. In the fall and through the spring LOZ. Like you and Duane said to many big boats out there from May to September. Mark Twain is also ok, but last year had to many small crappie to be found during the summer. It would take 6 or 7 small ones to get one keeper size.
lake of ozark is getting a bad name from those boats they swamp smaller boats including bassboats
Yes this lake is very bad for sinking large boats. It is safe starting mid/late September on the weekends, through the end april/first of May. Dont even try to go out during the middle of week in the summer still very rough. And the weekends is a sucide mission.
All the above mentioned lakes are good but at different times. Sometimes each can be almost unfishable. Pick and chose because they are usually hot and peak at different times of the year. LOZ was where to be the last three weeks, but only certain portions of the lake were quality fishing, the rest was almost a waste of time. Pay attention to the signs, do your homework and it will quickly become apparent which lake is the most active for crappie fishing each week of the season. Few things are free, most require work, scouting, windshield time , and a lot of trying to figure what is better and where is the best on a particular week. Have an inkling for this week, but will fish a couple of options to determine the better location. Wait a minute, I think I have a bite.
thanks for your replies guys. After living in TN for 16 years with some GREAT crappie fishing, we're just hoping to find some good water back in the home state.
wappapello is one of the best in my opinion, and is within a 2 hour drive depending on where you live in the st louis area. wappapello offers some of the best winter/spring fishingQuote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Stalker
What is your definition of "BEST"? size,numbers,fish per hour,accesability,solitude,scenery,etc....
I live 5 min. from smithville lake,am off mon. and tues.,have the lake to my self,can catch them year round from the bank(most of the time)can catch white bass,carp and large catfish while crappie fishing,and have 2 18 inchers out of there.So my vote is smithville.
huh when i fish for crappie i dont care to catch carp, and large catfish because if you are catching those on crappie lures you 're obviously not doing something right. wappapello in my opinion is a great lake to fish for crappie this time of year. you need a boat with a spider rig type set up and key on the flats. this is an opinion you fish where you want but for fishing the way i like to fish its the lake for me and im only a little over and hour away.
Well I cant say if you catch a trash fish you are doing something wrong. I have caught a 6 lb flathead cat the same spot I was catching crappie on a crappie jig. I dont go out to fish for other those species, I cant help that what I am throwing looks tasty to them. I will cuss them as they come to the top and unhook them, or if its a cat and its worth cleaning I will keep them. And for sure if a carp fisherman is close and I catch a legal one, its in the box for dinner just to piss them off.Quote:
Originally Posted by MOFUNFISHIN
To say what everyones "best lake" is will get mixed reviews. Everyone will say that one perticular lake is good, and other will say it sucks. Any lake that I can go out and have a good time and catch a few fish is a good lake in my book. I play favorites to LOZ, Truman, and Mark Twain only becuase they are close. And I can usually come away with something. Either a good mess of fish, or a memory of times that I did come away with a mess of fish.
????Quote:
Originally Posted by MOFUNFISHIN
Seems to me if you can catch a "large"catfish using crappie gear,then your are obviously doing something right!!
State record for flathead in Kansas was caught by a crappie fisherman,over 70 pounds.Whats the problem with that?
Being from St. Louis and a crappie enthusiast myself, I feel it necessary to mention that there is a lot of quality fishing opportunity east of the Mississippi. Within a reasonable drive there is Rend Lake, Carlyle, Shelbyville, the Kaskaskia river, Kincaid Lake, Cedar Lake, Lake Egypt and Coffeen to pull some off the top of my head. I have not fished all of these personally but have friends (YES, I have friends!) that have and do regularly. From St. Louis LOZ, Truman, Bull Shoals and Table Rock are not what I consider "day trips" but are worth spending the night for. Kentucky Lake is the same drive time as LOZ and don't overlook Reelfoot Lake in TN which is just over three hours and some of the most beautiful scenery along with great crappie, bluegill, bass and catfish fishing and the nicest people at the Eaglenest Resort.
So there is my spin on fishin' holes. Welcome to back to StL and good luck.
I ran across this thread while searching for new crappie holes on Google. I shot a response on the"Reply" button. Then I wondered when the original question was posted. Wow, ten years ago!
So, ten years later, Stalker, where is YOUR favorite local water?
Don't forget about Stockton and Pomme. Stuck here in Spring Patch and those are my go to lakes. Very productive year around.
2005Quote:
Originally Posted by 12Packaday
You COULD be stuck someplace bad.Quote:
Originally Posted by phishin
Stockton is nothing but a big gar hole. Its to clear to be good for crappie. Don't waste your time fishing that lake. :biggrin
Truman is just full of carp and drum. Way way to muddy to be even be decent for crappie. Not worth your time either. Surely there is a lake somewhere worth fishing in MO :donoQuote:
Originally Posted by Dongotto
He ain't lying!!!Attachment 192046Quote:
Originally Posted by Jigging15
Monty will be along with some drum pics from his partner Ron. Maybe Wappapello will top the MO lake list this year. May have to get down there and see SlabberDave.
Heck I found one of my own.
Attachment 192047
Don't waste your time in Wapp. Nothing but grennels and turtles.
Would be worth a trip to see Dave's place and grab something to eat. Nothing wrong with a turtle every now and then to keep you on your toes. Not sure what all we have left to fish now. LOZ and Pomme are moving up the list. Bugman you better give us some reasons not to hoard in our your lake. And don't say goggle eye because we like to catch them little scrappers to.
nope not even one
Not Table Rock. Good ones in there, but Truman, MTL & LOZ have it on numbers hands down.
I'm a big Truman fan.
hey, don't be making folks want to come to Twain! it stays iced up until about june, then the lake rises 20 feet and gets muddier than the Missouri river, then the pleasure boaters take over until it ices back up around October! the only thing twain is good for is doing circles when your stuck on a submerged stick-up:Rofl
This may be the most accurate prediction for Twain I've ever seen..........circles on a stick and white water rafting in the Middle Fork after a spring "sprinkle".Quote:
Originally Posted by south point
Stay away folks, stay away.
U
ON STOCKTON LAKE. Be look'in for ya.
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...pska8l6tnr.jpg
N 39.122121 W -94.576651
You're welcome
I bet they grow big in there Joe!
Here is another option, its aerated so it won't freeze up during those cold winter months! very nice of the people running the place:
39° 7'6.95"N 94°29'49.69"W
Some good lookin trees! How high?Quote:
Originally Posted by Joedog
High enough to catch your lower unit....
I'm about ready to put some tube jigs in my pocket and tell Liz I'm going fishing, take the boat and park across the street from Fatboys. Closest I'm going to get to fishing for a while it looks like. Are ya in Joe? Always catch something when I go there!
lots of lilly padQuote:
Originally Posted by FROSTY