Adventure Sports Outdoors January 2018

Page 38

38

ADVENTURE SPORTS OUTDOORS “The Voice of the American Sportsman”

DRAW DOWN ON LAKE OF THE OZARKS WINTER CRAPPIES by John Neporadny Jr.

The annual winter draw down of water levels at Lake of the Ozarks can be rather unsettling for both crappies and crappie anglers. Every year AmerenMO draws down the reservoir’s water level either the winter in preparation for the flood season. The lowering of the lake level provides room for the impoundment to hold runoff produced by winter or spring storms. The draw down process becomes a hassle for crappies when the dropping water level pushes the fish out of shallow feeding zones to deeper structure. Good cover for crappies becomes scarce as the lower lake level makes many of the fish attractors too shallow and unsuitable for winter sanctuaries. The crappie migration early in the draw down process and the scarcity of cover late in the draw down creates problems for crappie anglers trying to locate the fish. Then the fishing really gets tough at the end of the draw down when the impoundment is at its lowest level and the water is at its coldest point. Bluffs provide the depth crappie seek whenever the dam authority drops the lake down to winter pool. “Whenever they pull the water down it kind of scares the fish to be in shallow water so during draw-down time steep banks or bluff areas tend to be where the fish migrate to,” says Lake of the Ozarks guide Terry Blankenship. “Not only that but if it is on a channel with current it will bring the fish some bait to the rocks or brush or whatever holds the crappie.” Blankenship targets bluffs both on the main lake and in the larger coves. “The creeks are good too if you have a pretty large creek cove,” he says. “Most of those will have a bluff line somewhere which will be good because it creates that quick deep structure that will hold crappies all winter long.” Certain spots on bluffs produce better for Blankenship when Lake of the Ozarks is at winter pool. “If it is real deep water I look for a rock slide or a cut or indentation into the bluff line,” he says. The local

guide claims rock slides make the bluff a less vertical structure that provides better shelter for crappies than a sheer bluff wall. Once he finds crappies along the bluffs with his Humminbird 360 imaging system, Blankenship either casts jigs or presents the lures vertically along the structure. “In the winter as the water gets colder the vertical fishing gets better and better because you just have to present that bait really slow,” Blankenship says. “It has to be a slow presentation because they are not going to chase it.” By the end of January, Lake of the Ozarks is at its lowest and coldest point. Blankenship notices the crappie fishing really gets tough then because the fish tend to suspend along the bluffs. “You have to do some serious vertical fishing and sometimes deadsticking it is by far the best technique because they just don’t seem to be very active at that time,” he says. “They are still adjusting to all of the conditions.” Relying on his Humminbird 360 unit allows Blankenship to stay on top of the suspended fish and keep his lure in

January 2018

the strike zone longer. Blankenship’s favorite lures for bluff crappies are Bobby Garland Baby Shads and 2- or 3-inch Slab Slay’Rs attached to 1/16-ounce jigheads. He prefers the 3-inch Slab Slay’R in the dead of winter because the shad are larger then. His favored lure colors are blue ice for clear water, bayou booger for clear and dirty water and tadpole, which resembles a minnow hue. For information on lodging and other facilities at the Lake of the Ozarks or to receive a free vacation guide, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE or visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau web site at funlake.com. For copies of John Neporadny’s THE Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Guide call 573/365-4296 or visit www.jnoutdoors.com.

Corrie Merritt, in from Massachusetts and his 11 point buck taken 1st season hunting with Bob and Deb Park. Thanks to Bob and Deb Park for the great photo.

Trading Post Area Sportsman Bar • PIZZA • ICE • CARRY OUT • OPEN 7 DAYS •

On West Center St. Oakford, IL 62673 Owner: Tim Wallace

217-635-5392

Every Tuesday $1.50/Can Welcome Bikers, Poker Runs SEE OUR BIG TROPHIES!

“Peoria Area’s Elite Truck & Auto Accessory Center” SPRAY ON TRUCK BEDLINER

tion alla Inst lable! i Ava

Custom Colors

Lifetime Warranty

AUTO • TRUCK • JEEP • VAN RESTYLING SPECIALIST

• Sun Roofs • Window Tinting • Running Boards • Spray On Bedliners • Tube Steps • Fiberglass Hard Lids & Caps

• Remote Starts • Tonneau Covers • Keyless Entry • 4x4 Accessories • Trailer Hitches • Tool Boxes • & MUCH MORE!

2000 E. War Memorial Dr. (1 mile West of McCluggage Bridge) • Peoria, IL

309-688-8752


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

MDC REPORTS MORE THAN 7,700 DEER HARVESTED DURING ANTLERLESS PORTION

5min
pages 32-33

Dan Galusha, Shoot N Plink, Going Low with a Buck Mark

3min
page 111

Bob Robb, Top 10 Late Season Whitetail Tactics

6min
pages 108-109

Realtor.com, Depleted Housing Market to See Inventory Growth in 2018

11min
pages 102-106

IDNR, Let’s Go Turkey Hunting! IRAP Taking Applications Now for Spring

4min
page 114

IDNR, News Bits December 17

3min
page 115

Annie Otto, Annie’s Conklin Corner

3min
page 107

Grant Dimmick, Grant’s 2017 Season

3min
page 110

Natural Gear

1min
page 116

Gerald Sampen, Outdoor Connection Featuring 2 of 23 “With Wings” We Represent

13min
pages 96-98

Thomas P. Reynolds, January Begins the New Year for Outdoor Activity in Arkansas

6min
pages 94-95

A.K. Thompson, Dirt Church, The Cold is Keeping Me

7min
pages 92-93

Mark Kayser, 3 Different Locations You’ll Find Coyotes

4min
page 90

Marlene Odahlen-Hinz, Rx for the January Blahs

7min
pages 84-85

Matt England, England Expeditions Fishing Resolution 2018

6min
pages 86-87

Mark Kayser, 3 Tips for Hunting Coyotes the Simplest Way Possible

3min
page 79

Jason Baldwin, Henry Decoy Show Sunday, Feb 18th

2min
page 78

Bedford Sales Open House- February 17th and 18th

0
page 69

John Simeon, The 22 Winchester Magnum in Action

6min
pages 66-67

Pet Bird Winter Care Tips

2min
page 68

Darrell Sterling, Pigs and Predators in West Texas

15min
pages 62-64

Bobber “Anne”, Those Fascinating Fish of Alaska

5min
pages 60-61

CPO Reports: October 1 – 19, 2017

20min
pages 51-54

Kirby Schupp, Owning Problems Others Caused

6min
pages 56-57

Colt Vinovich, More Than a Hunt

7min
pages 42-43

Outdoor Hub Reporters, Oklahoma Hunter Bags Potential New State Record 28-Point Buck

3min
page 41

Woo’s Corner, A Little Fishing and a Little Maintenance

4min
page 40

John Neporadny Jr., Draw Down on Lake of the Ozarks Winter Crappie

4min
page 38

Wayne Herndon, Rituals and Memories- Memories of Waterfowling are Built Upon the Traditions and Rituals of the Hunt

5min
pages 36-37

Robert Hemmelgarn, MDC Hosts Discover Nature Schools Workshop for Preschool Teachers in Mexico

3min
page 31

Lucas Bond, MDC Reports More Than 7,700 Deer Harvested During Antlerless Portion

2min
page 32

PJ. Reilly, Snow Goose Hunting: Tips for Staying Hidden

7min
pages 26-27

Canterbury Tales continues

4min
page 8

Norm Kelly, The Designated Gangsters

9min
pages 14-15

Ted Nugent, The Scripted Buck

8min
pages 22-23

Lucas Bond, MDC Encourages People to Help Prevent Wildfires

3min
page 33

Dave Shadow, Beetles for Skulls

4min
page 24
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.