Never to late for old dogs

[marks3kids]

Hi, Im Mark and I live in Hollister on the Taney lake. I've spent my life working and now I am ready to spend the rest of my life fishing. Im 54 and don't know much about the sport.

I like the trout out my back door, but want to fish Crappie. I remember them from my childhood at my grandmother's farm in Kansas.

I'm looking for ideas on how to get started. I've signed up for magazines and websites and am reading everything I can. Now for the real experts; YOU! I would like to hear from you guys that know what it's really like here in SW MO.

I know, I've wasted my life with other stuff, but now Im ready to get going. I'd appreciate any ideas you have!

As for gear, I have light weight rods, up to medium and heavy weight. I have a pontoon boat and am not sure if I need a bass boat. Help! Thanks!

[olesilverside]

I think you will enjoy crappie fishing very much and welcome to this missouri.com, really about the only place you will ever need, have a question and you will get lots of answers.... Light tackle is the way to start and a pontoon works on large water, but I would much rather use my bass boat, but have fished out of both and both work...... Here is my boat ready for cold weather fishing........

[marks3kids]

Awesome boat! That didn't come from Bass Pro!!!

[mark lo]

Welcome Mark, from LOZ.

Not much help on the lakes down there, but if you are ever up this way, give me a holler.

Awesome site, you can learn a lot!

[bugman]

Welcome Mark.....not any help down there but there are several on here that will be glad to help you.

[kevin396]

That cab is the ticket!! Do you have any more pics of it ??
and how it fastens to you boat?

[olesilverside]

I have a few more pic of boat cab, it is held down by 4 3/8" stainless bolts, has a rubber seal around bottom between boat and cab, nice and toasty going across at 30 or 50 mph, no wind, no rain and warm, use two coleman new catalyc heaters and it only encloses where we sit...... added 110 pounds to boat which is nothing.......

[ship]

That's a great lookin winter ride, but I bet you will need a net for each end of the boat with a big one on.

[marks3kids]

here's a photo of my neighbors docks on Taneycomo. Mine is up stream, the first Gable End facing you. I chipped ice off for a couple hours to keep it afloat.

[FROSTY]

Welcome Mark, from Springfield. Lots of good folks here and some pretty good fishers. One thing is, you'll have fun!. Looks like the trees arn't in to bad of shape there from the ice.