Hey RB

[Limbshot]

Well we floated the Piney this past weekend. The river was still about a foot high, so it was an easy float. There was still a lot of moving water. The misses and I weren't able to fish it like I had hoped, because we were the only ones that went that were really into fishing. They did want us to keep fish for dinner though . Anyway, with that in mind, we decided to mostly target goggle-eye and we just threw some little Bill Norman Crappie Crankbaits. We tore up the goggle eye on those things. We brought back 11 of them and threw back 6 others that weren't big enough. We also caught quite a few smallies 3 largemouths, and a few green sunfish. With all the running water, the bass still pretty scattered. If we could have taken our time and thrown some soft plastics, I am certain we could have caught a bunch more, but we were constantly moving. Didn't get out early enough to try topwater baits, so it was pretty much the little cranks all day, I did catch 2 smallies on a 1/4 ounce double willow spinnerbait, and had quite a few other strikes on it, but i think they were all small fish. Our biggest smallie was 14 inches with probably 5 others in the 12-14 inch range and a few smaller ones. Hope this helps, good luck this weekend.

[RB]

Thanks LS. I'll pick up some of those cranks for sure. I have plenty of soft plastic stuff. Where did you float from/to? We aren't going for two more weeks so hopefully it will be at normal levels for that time of year.

[Limbshot]

We floated from Slabtown access/campground down stream to a take out point called the old something horse stable access (not actually "something" but I can't remember the name). About a 7 hour float with lots of stopping to swim due to the extreme heat.

If the river drops, your bass fishing should be a lot better than ours was I would imagine. The bass will be a lot more predictable if that water drops another foot or so. The goggle eye were really hanging around timber, especially if it had running, deeper water nearby. I'd say unless we get a lot more rain between now and then, you should really have a good time!

I am heading out on the Gasconade for the first time this year this coming Friday. Just me and Pops, should be a great day, and more than likely, the fish are in trouble!!! I'll give a report on that Monday as well.

[Warmouth]

Limbshot- Next time you're out try a shrunk up version of a carolina rig with a 3-4" plastic crawfish teamed with brass weight and glass beads. Craw should only be 3-4 inches above the brass and glass. Work it with pretty fast hops/twitches, and then pause and let it settle for a couple seconds. The way it works in water is almost like a crankbait, but it is 'weedless', and will work on a pause or fall like a soft plastic. The craw rides just above the bottom, and the brass kicks up rocks and a dust cloud and gives off noise. It's about the best craw presentation I've come up with. You can fish it pretty fast if you put enough weight on to get it down, the strikes usually come real quick when you're on fish in cover.

I should have PM'ed this because it killls, but who is really gonna see it anyway?

[RB]

[Limbshot]

That sounds very interesting WM. Funny you post that, I was just talking about doing pretty much that same thing with my Dad about a week ago. We catch tons of fish doing that on the lakes, should work really well on the rivers. I may very well try that Friday. Thanks buddy! I'll let you know how it turns out.

[Warmouth]

That is my go-to set up when bass fishing trees or rock cover.

It is basacally a drop shot rig with only 3-4" to the brass weight and beads.

I've been doing a lot of fishing with the brass and glass/dropshot lately. Hooked up with minnows it gets a crappie's attention too.

If you're in a weedy lake, set the drop shot hook so the lure rides just over the weeds and have the weight dredging down in the gunk. I flat embarrassed a bass fishing buddy of mine with a set up like that 4-5yrs ago. He was ready to leave the lake in less than an hour after I had found a hot spot that he couldn't work with a texas rig.

[Limbshot]

Sounds good. I typically have plenty of ideas for river fishing. I can typically embarrass a guy that isn't quite used to fishing the Gasconade. Just ask Rafe . I'll say this, he is a heck of a camera man though. He started off the day making fun of my bait, by the time we took out, he was a little less humerous about it.

[RB]

LS, looking forward to your Gasconade report on Monday.

[Limbshot]

Well I hope like heck I have a good one to give. I cannot believe July 3rd will be my first time on it this year. Typically, I'd have been on it about 6-7 times by now!!! The quest for the 20 incher is officially underway!

[Tigerhaze]

Didn't get out early enough to try topwater baits, so it was pretty much the little cranks all day, I did catch 2 smallies on a 1/4 ounce double willow spinnerbait, and had quite a few other strikes on it, but i think they were all small fish.

I actually do really well on topwater on the rivers during the middle of the day in summer, especially near shady areas.

[RB]

LS, how did you do on the Gasconade? We are headed to the Piney next monday for a fish n float on tuesday. Hope the river isn't too fast to take the younguns. Stocked up on the small cranks and plastics for the trip so looking for a mess for a fish fry when we get off the water. TH, might even try a top water or two or some poppers with the fly rod.

[Limbshot]

Sorry for the delay, was not near a computer yesterday. We had a pretty good day on the Gasconade Friday. Caught a couple on topwater early. We tried a lot of soft plastics at first but were having a really slow bite. We were getting a lot of bites when reeling them in so we switched over to the crankbaits again and start smashing them. Most of the fish we were catching were in very fast moving water with rocky bottoms, but we did catch some scattered fish in slower moving water around big rocks. All in all we boated about 35 smallies with our biggest going right at 15 inches. Didn't lay into anything big on this trip, other than 3 drum, which were fun to catch because of the fight. Also landed 3 big goggle eye. The Gasconade was still about 8 inches high and was still pretty stained. You should have a good time on the Piney, I'd say it has dropped down to a very good fishing level by now!

[RB]

LS, thanks for the report. We'll be fishing Monday and Tuesday on the Piney. Supposed to come home on Wednesday but when we break camp we'll probably head to Montauk for the day and maybe stay until Thursday. Were you in a boat or wading?

[Limbshot]

IN a canoe on both trips. Good luck buddy! It was really nice finally getting out on the river again. Another awesome float, we saw a grand total of 4 other people. 2 in some kind of inflatable canoe and 2 in a jet boat but that was in on a 6.5 hour float. Letus know how things went when you get back around a computer! Be safe and have a great time. LS