Fishing Report For Lake Springfield, MO

Current Report: Fair To Good

With all the cover in Lake Springfield, locals report using a wide variety of lures to catch bass here. Jigs and stick worms are very popular, especially in shades of drab greens. Spinnerbaits also catch a good number of bass as it draws them out of thick cover to strike. Wary bass, especially the bigger bass are cautious about biting lures, but a jerkbait often fools even the wisest of these big bass. Jerkbaits are catching fish year round, although you may have to work them slow during the coldest months, and pause them for 10 or 15 seconds.

FALL. Now that late Fall is taking over, bass are moving out of shallow coves and bays, following schools of baitfish back into 12 to 18 feet of water. Currently jerkbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, artificial worms, spoons and jigs are catching most of the bass. Long points on the northern and eastern arms, around the Henshaw Memorial Access, as well as shallow weed lines and standing timber in coves, are producing good catches. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 12 to 20 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 15 to 25 feet deep, around main-lake channel edges,deep pockets, rock piles, stump fields and brush piles. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move shallower to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 6 to 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 1 to 6 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 6 to 10 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms, jigs, worms, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 2 to 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 16 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around shaded rip-rap, weedlines, docks and vegetation.

Current Report: Fair To Good

Lake Springfield reports for catfish are just fair, but are expected to improve over the next couple of years.

FALL. Fall is one of the better times of year for catching channel catfish. Early in Fall they cruise the 8 to 20 feet deep shallows, in search of food. Later, in the season they migrate away from the shallows and current, to moderately deep flats and channel edges on the main body of the lake, and along channel swings of the James River. They can typically be found from 10 to 25 feet deep. Fishing for channel catfish is often productive around any kind of structure. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin. Drift fishing or slow-trolling baits along mid-depth structure is popular and generally productive. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig setup. Use cut bait, nightcrawlers, shrimp or prepared baits. They remain in these areas and feed aggressively in preparation for Winter.

WINTER. In Winter, the channel cats gather in deep holes and go virtually dormant, especially if water cools into the 40's. They hole up in pockets, deeper channels, ledges, and the basin areas from 12 to 24 feet deep and await warmer water. Slow presentations, especially cut bait, can still entice strikes. Often during mid day, through the afternoon, anglers are catching them a bit shallower on the same structure.

SPRING. In Spring, when water temperatures rise into the high 40's, channel catfish start their migration into coves and up river. Early in the season, look for them in 4 to 14 feet of water. They hold here, and feed aggressively, around relatively shallow cover. The spawn begins in rip rap areas, 3 to 6 feet deep, when the water temperatures reach the mid sixties. Anglers are using slip sinkers, 3-way rigs, or Carolina rigs to get, and keep, the bait close to the bottom. Later in Spring, focus on shallower flats into late evening.

SUMMER. In Summer, slow-moving water, at the river end of the lake may draw catfish to feed. Otherwise they are scattering, locating cover in slightly cooler water. Reports indicate the most successful anglers are using nightcrawlers, cut bait, minnows or shrimp. Most channel cats hold in 12 to 20 feet during the day, and 4 to 10 feet during the night. Fishing from late in the day until midnight produces some of the best results, as this is their prime feeding time.

Current Report: Fair To Good

Crappie fishing reports from locals have been decent lately, at Lake Springfield.

FALL. Baitfish, which are moving out of shallow flats, coves and bays in late Fall, are drawing crappie into deeper water. They are feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 6 to 18 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 20 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around points, creek channels, brush piles, and fish attractors in the northern arm.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 12 to 24 feet of water. Most are caught around deep brush piles, creek channel bends, submerged timber, and main-lake structure. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 10 to 14 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 8 to 12 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 6 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 6 to 12 feet of water. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 4 to 8 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 10 to 16 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, shallow brush, deep docks, shallow lily pads and weedline edges. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.