ozark outdoor journal

Berkley "Sick Fish" swimbait video.

2013-04-29T06:17:00.001-05:00

Finally someone posted a video to give you an idea of the subtle action of the new "Sick Fish" swimbait:

Awesome Smoked Turkey Dude...

2013-04-20T06:56:00.003-05:00

Despite what other people may be doing today, I always think of Turkey hunting when it's this time in April. It doesn't matter if it's the stoner holiday or Earth Day, I always think of what I call "the big woods" and Turkey hunting. Unfortunately I'm busy with work this weekend so I can't hunt until next week, but I'll be out there in the National Forest trying to get a big Tom for the smoker.I

Get Down With The Sickness... Or Sick Fish.

2013-03-27T14:31:00.000-05:00

Since my son came down with Strep Throat and I'm home feeding him various antibiotics and fruit juices until he can go back to school I thought I'd take a minute and write about the Berkley Sick Fish swimbait I've been using a lot this late Winter/Early Spring. I've been using soft swimbaits for a long time in lots of sizes from the tiny Stanley Wedgetail on a 1/16 jighead for Crappies up to the

Walleyes and Whites - hit and miss...

2013-03-24T08:16:00.000-05:00

I hit the upper Bull Shoals area several times over the past two weeks - the smaller male 'Eye's are there but I haven't connected with the bigger specimens. I've been throwing "big fish" lures mostly - swinging for the fences with swimbaits and larger suspending jerkbaits. I've caught most of the Walleyes on the 10-size XRap in clown when it's dark or low light and silver blue when it brighter.

I missed "Troutapalooza" - I guess.

2013-03-04T06:36:00.000-06:00

I don't do the Missouri Trout Park Opener on March 1st for a number of good reasons, but I didn't even see that this is "The year of the Trout" I don't think I'll be participating in "Troutapalooza" but the trout parks are a good place to teach kids and newbies.

Funny Ozark Turkey....

2013-02-27T06:11:00.001-06:00

http://pvp.trb.com/782847669001/2013/02/782847669001_2191385847001_schurz-ky3-vid8765-in18552-out21638-02e722ca-512d1c20.mp4?pubId=782847669001&videoId=2191368549001 It's just the type of thing that happens in Ozark.

2013 Bassmaster Classic

2013-02-20T06:55:00.000-06:00

Grand Lake right next door in Oklahoma is hosting this years Bassmaster Classic - 2013 Bassmaster Classic Whatever you may think about fishing competitions " The Classic" will bring tons of revenue and attention to the host area - that's a good thing any time but during this horrible economy it can really help the Tulsa/Grand Lake area. I'll be watching to see if the Suspending jerkbait bait will

I'm Baaaaack.

2013-01-29T21:18:00.003-06:00

So back to our regularly scheduled disasters - Look what I saw fishing upper Lake Springfield the other day in the rain: Yes, it's a stand-up paddle board. What. The. Hell. As if it wasn't bad enough to have to wait at the ramp for an asshat who's too weak to get his Yak up on his 4Runner - and then when he finally does (after taking way too long) doesn't clear the bloody ramp but leaves

Happy Beaver Lake Christmas.

2012-12-30T17:50:00.001-06:00

I had some time off at Christmas so the family got to visit the relatives that have the house right on the lake - nice digs for sure. Well, if Beaver Lake is right there then I'm sure to try and get out and fish it, right? Right. I took the solo canoe because the big boat would have been a hassle (and the registration is expired, too, O.K.?). So paddling around the mid-lake area their house is at

Missouri's "Alternative Methods"

2012-12-22T07:53:00.000-06:00

From the 15th of December until Christmas (the 25th) we can use "Alternative Methods" to hunt Deer here in Missouri. From the MDC's website page HERE: http://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/deer-regulations/2012-firearms-deer-hunting The part that really matters to this season is this: Alternative Methods portion To offer hunters more options during what was formerly the muzzleloader

What I need to buy Hudson...

2012-12-08T06:41:00.003-06:00

http://www.wimp.com/throwingmachine/

Happy Turkey Day.

2012-11-23T12:02:00.000-06:00

Missouri Firearms Deer Season.

2012-11-09T06:14:00.003-06:00

Yes - it's here. The Firearms Deer Season for Missouri starts Saturday, so be safe and be a good hunter. I think I'll be fishing Taneycomo instead of hunting - depends on if I get my waders patched or not. I'll post about it either way

Taneycomo in the rain.

2012-10-24T06:39:00.000-05:00

I have to take my time off when I can get it - so the torrential downpour the Ozarks experienced two Fridays ago didn't stop me one bit. It's gas and go and damn the rain if it's warm out at all so that's what I did - headed out to Taneycomo through the storm. There was plenty of lightning and heavy rain as I was making the half-hour trip down 65, I thought about the days when 65 was two lanes

It's Official.

2012-10-09T20:59:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's Fall now - I heard the first Snow Geese flying South tonight while walking the dog.

Geat Outdoor Days recap.

2012-09-24T06:31:00.001-05:00

Saturday was "Great Outdoor Days" at Bois D'arc Conservation area - I'm sorry I didn't post about it last week (my host site was having some serious issues the past couple of weeks). Anyway, it was pretty good - lots of people attended - many first time shooters were there trying out new stuff. My highlight was shooting Skeet with an original 1860 blackpowder Side-by-Side 12 gauge shotgun. Pretty

A wet opening day?

2012-08-31T06:29:00.002-05:00

September 1st is the opening day of Dove season - it looks like for us in SW Missouri it will be a wet morning. The rain is a little late to help the conditions at the two most popular public hunting areas (Bois D'arc and Robert E. Talbot) as the food plots that were planted earlier this year suffered through the drought like my garden did. This doesn't mean that there won't be Doves at either

More Finley fun...

2012-08-28T05:55:00.002-05:00

I'm still way to busy at work to get away much, but my son and I managed to escape Sunday afternoon. He didn't catch anything on the little spinnerbaits and buzzbaits he likes to use, but I was armed with small Powerbait goodies under a float so I was picking up a nice mixed bag of Sunfish and little Bass. One highlight was the biggest Bluegill I've caught in a couple of years. He was nice and

Finley is low, fishing is slow.

2012-08-13T06:36:00.000-05:00

Slow fishing for sure, but good to get out. My son and I poked around at the park for Sunday afternoon - I caught a couple of decent Bass, and a few bluegill on the dropper of a popper-dropper rig on my favorite 6-weight fly rod. My son kept trying the "buzz buzz" as he calls the Terminator Tiny T buzzbait, but got no action. The gear ratio on his spincast combo makes it pretty hard to get that

Are We There Yet?

2012-08-03T04:28:00.001-05:00

I've been working 6 and sometimes 7 days a week for more than a month now - but that will soon end and I can get back to some serious fishing - and can you believe Dove season is now less than a month away? The opening day, September 1, is on a Saturday. Could be a zoo at the good public areas, we'll wait and see how that turns out. Stay tuned - I'll be back to blogging soon.

2012-07-20T06:05:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while - I've been really busy, just crazy busy at work.I did find out I'll be trying out the new Spiderwire "Zilla Braid" courtesy of the Outdoor Blogger Network - more on that later.For now just pray for rain.

Hot fishing and slim pickings

2012-07-08T14:17:00.000-05:00

By "hot fishing" I mean broiling hot temperatures, not catching fish hand over fist.We did get some much-needed rain here around Ozark, but it needs to rain much more and often to make up for the drought we've been suffering from.I did manage to get out a couple of times every week to fish just for an hour or so each time - not much but a much needed break.The lower water level at the Finley

Falcon is Full of Big Bass, and Danger...

2012-06-28T06:30:00.001-05:00

I was listening to the radio while working yesterday and heard this story about Falcon Lake in Texas - Lake Lures Fishermen...And Drug Traffickers. It was actually a decent story, but if you look at the comments (I don't recommend it) they show most of the people either didn't really listen or are just plain ignorant - one comment asks "I wonder what they do with all those fish" (that the

Planning on drinking and boating this weekend?

2012-06-22T06:09:00.005-05:00

That's always a bad idea, but even more so this weekend - "Operation Dry Water" is an effort to crack down on drinking and boating and Missouri Water Patrol will be out in force this weekend both on lakes and popular float streams. You've been warned, so be smart out there.

A Day At The Range

2012-06-14T06:18:00.000-05:00

This Saturday is the Southwest Missouri "Day At The Range" at the Andy Dalton Range on the Bois D'arc Conservation Area. This event is an opportunity for people with disabilities to participate in many different outdoor activities. There will fishing, crafts, target shooting with everything from pellet guns to bows to shotguns at the Trap/Skeet range - all accessible to those with limited