Super User senile1 Posted April 30, 2011 Super User Posted April 30, 2011 I went fishing today at a lake up near Maryville, MO two hours from my home. Within an hour my trolling motor encountered some discarded fishing line that got inside the prop. When I pulled the prop to remove the line I noticed my shear pin was bent badly and the plastic slots where it engages the prop were damaged so my trolling motor prop could not spin without much slippage. Normally, I carry an extra trolling motor prop and shear pin but, unfortunately for me, this was one of those times when I failed to be prepared and did not have them with me. I tried to straighten the pin with two pair of vise grips but it broke in two. I was in a spawning cove with stumps and laydowns so I had to push myself into a clear area with a paddle and then use my outboard motor to get back to the launch ramp. This shouldn't have been a big problem except that the wind was blowing 30 to 40 miles per hour today so it took some work to get myself situated. By the time I had reached the launch ramp and pulled my boat out of the water I had lost an hour of fishing. The lake I was on is a 110 acre lake and to fish it one has to have a trolling motor, especially with the wind the way it was. Since I had already driven two hours to get there, I decided I was going to fish from the bank. To get to the spawning coves I had to walk through some hills and brush for about a half mile. I had a rod carrier with a few rods and filled one tackle bag with what I thought I would need and then I proceeded to make a path through the brush. I reached the upper end of one of the arms of the lake and started fishing. The wind was horrendous so I chose my baits accordingly. After about 45 minutes I lost one that looked pretty good on a Strike King KVD 2.5 though I would be guessing at its weight. I've read some reports on here that the hooks on these baits need to be replaced. I think so too, as I was not horsing this fish at all. I eventually caught six fish and some of them were pretty chunky. I thought the first fish I caught was four to five lbs but then I discovered that my scale would not turn on. Geez, I was starting to think I was cursed. I didn't have anything to measure the fish with either. So you'll have to take my word for it, except for this girl. I thought she was worth a picture and I'm guessing she is close to 5.5 or 6 lbs. Quote
Big-O Posted April 30, 2011 Posted April 30, 2011 Yep, that's a good one and I agree with your weight guess too... Way to keep on rolling till you get in some fish Big O www.ragetail.com Quote
Super User KU_Bassmaster. Posted April 30, 2011 Super User Posted April 30, 2011 Nice!!! They are just making you work for it . Mozingo? I have been up there 4 times. First time was great with many quality fat fish. Not as big as the one you caught, but same shape. The other 3 times the wind BLEW all day long. I am convinced I am cursed to go up there, but its very tempting. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted April 30, 2011 Global Moderator Posted April 30, 2011 I've been to Mozingo a few times, even won a club tournament up there. It's a fun lake to fish but everytime I've been up there the wind was howling! There's some big ones in there though. We found one that was almost dead on the surface while we were fishing a tournament. She was 9lbs 3oz on a digital scale, wish we would have caught her instead of found her! That's a really healthy fish you've got though! Quote
Super User senile1 Posted April 30, 2011 Author Super User Posted April 30, 2011 This wasn't Mozingo. Mozingo is over 1000 acres and I do love that lake. This is Bilby Ranch Lake west of Maryville. The quality of the fish in this lake is very good. I never get a lot of numbers there but the fish are always solid. Maryville really has some good fishing with these two lakes in close proximity. Quote
Daniel My Brother Posted May 1, 2011 Posted May 1, 2011 Your determination paid off. I think most folks would have left when the boat quit working. That is a fat, healthy fish. Quote
Super User bilgerat Posted May 1, 2011 Super User Posted May 1, 2011 Now that's a real fisherman - will clear a path through brush to save a day. Nice payoff for your troubles AND a cool beer story to boot. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted May 1, 2011 Super User Posted May 1, 2011 Now there's a nice chunk! Your effort was well rewarded. Roger Quote
Super User senile1 Posted May 1, 2011 Author Super User Posted May 1, 2011 Now that's a real fisherman - will clear a path through brush to save a day. Nice payoff for your troubles AND a cool beer story to boot. Maybe I could have made a better choice of words. I wasn't necessarily chopping and clearing a path like Daniel Boone. The weeds and briars were waist high in a number of places and I had to pick and choose my way carefully using my legs and feet to push briars down so I could step over them. Quote
Super User Hooligan Posted May 2, 2011 Super User Posted May 2, 2011 I love Bilby. She coughed a 8-9 fish for me last year. Looks like you had a good end to the day. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted May 3, 2011 Posted May 3, 2011 dang, thats a dandy fish Senile1. Nice catch Quote
Super User senile1 Posted May 3, 2011 Author Super User Posted May 3, 2011 I love Bilby. She coughed a 8-9 fish for me last year. Looks like you had a good end to the day. Hooligan, that's one heck of a fish for Northwest Missouri. I haven't caught one that big but I hope to eventually. Bilby has some pigs. dang, thats a dandy fish Senile1. Nice catch Thanks, Mike. Quote
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