Smithville Help

[Don Rogers]

As stated in title, starting to fish Smithville due to closeness to home. Wanting to know what the general pattern for this time of year. Which arm would you fish? Have the fish started to move back into creeks, or should I start looking on the main lake stuff? When will they start to move? Not a rigger or minnow dipper, but do LOVE to dip the trees and feel the "thump!" Do these fish relate more to flats or channels? Any help appreciated to get me in the right direction!!

Don Rogers

[keeferfish]

Dipped trees about two weeks ago and caught a few nice ones but hearing main lake piles and bridges are best now.

[Clownfish]

Got out a couple times this past week or so and the few that I caught were on the brush piles, haven't had much luck dippin.

[vic n]

I took a friend's granddaughter a week ago, and we did fairly well fishing brushpiles around the main lake with minnows. I've been back a few times since then using jigs and haven't had much luck.

[KCcrappie]

This time of year the main lake brush piles hold lots of fish but you can still catch them dipping trees near the channels in 15 to 25 ft of water. About the time the dipping trees heats up in the creeks they close the wildlife refuge on the main lake just north of W bridge Oct 15. Have to put in at Plattsburg ramp or one of the roads up north (be aware of the duck hunters up north). You can catch them up Camp Branch side but you will catch bigger fish on the Little Platte side is my experience.
I like both trees near drop-offs and trees on the edge of flats.

[Slab Pirate 1]

I agree with the bruspiles. Jigs tipped with minnows in brushpiles around the w bridge on the camp branch side And even then it has been pretty slow.

[ShortStorie]

Fishing Report from Burtons Bait and Tackle

[Don Rogers]

Thanks for those who chimed in!! Gives me some starting options.

Don Rogers