Ray

A Quick Rod Tip Fix!

Most of you know about Fin & Feather but for those that don't, here's the place in Springfield to get quick work done on rods and reels. If your rod needs a guide replaced, or your reel needs repaired, that work will be sent out to their local expert repair guy. If your tip top guide needs replaced, or you broke the end off your favorite rod and need a tip popped on, the guys at Fin & Feather do that work right there on the spot.

last week I knocked the ceramic out of the end of my tip top guide poking it underwater trying to free my snagged Road Runner. I saved the lure but messed up one of my crappie rods. Blake Haseltine wasted no time lighting a candle and heated up the glue holding the guide in place. Within a few minutes he had the old guide off and dug through his box of replacements to find a similar one of the same size.

So if you, or one of the kids, breaks the end off their fishing pole, don't worry about buying a new one, take it over to Fin & Feather guys. They'll get that tip replaced and have you back out the door in minutes. While you're there, check out their assortment of baits and tackle. I'm sure you'll find exactly what you need. If you're not sure, ask one of the guys. They all fish the local lakes and know exactly what the bass or crappie are biting on.

While Blake finished up my rod, another patron and I discussed with him our frustration with the sudden, and untimely, rise in the area lake levels. All this rain arrived just when the water temps were finally warming and the crappie headed to the banks. Now that the lake have stabilized, and hopefully the water clarity improving, I'll be hitting the water to see what's up. Of course, I'll be letting you know right here! Good luck, and happy fishing!

by Ray

Crappie Spawn Update

This spring has been another cold, and now wet, one once again. By now the crappie spawn in our region would be over. Not this year. And yes, the conditions on Table Rock are different than up on Truman Lake, so it's hard to lump all of lakes into one report, but there's no question that water temperatures are running cooling than normal and that's keeping most of the fish off the banks.

I did manage to scratch out few last weekend but the wind and cool weather made the fishing spotty. I'd find one or two and then go for some time before picking up another. The ones I caught were mostly males and the water temps were running in the lower-to-mid 60's. Not ideal to move the fish up in significant numbers. I was fishing on an upper-tributary on Truman Lake because that's where you find spawning fish first. As the water and weather warms, the spawn will move down towards the lower part of the lake. That rule holds true regardless of the body of water. That's because the water towards the dam is deeper, and usually clearer, and takes longer to warm.

Next weeks forecast looks to change all this.

That's what's predicted for the Springfield area. Most of the local lakes were running at, or near, normal lake levels. Had we not gotten this flooding rain, everything was setting up for a massive move to the bank. However, a quick rise in water levels can throw fisherman a curve-ball.

Rising water can help move fish up, but too much of a good thing can make fishing much more challenging than it should be this time of year. Fish tend to spawn deeper, usually out near the old shoreline. Newly flooded brush can make casting and fishing around more challenging as well. Plus, a quick change in water color can make it tougher. Muddy water means you literally have to stick a jig right in front of the fish to draw a strike.

We'll see how it shakes out. I'll be posting an update next week. Good luck! Enjoy the warmer weather and your time on the water.

by Ray

Midwest Family Broadcasting Day At Busch Stadium!

I tell people all the time that "I've got one of the best jobs a guy can have!" Being the afternoon personality and Program Director of 105.1 The Bull certainly has it's benefits! We get to attend concerts in the region, host fun events, and work with local charities, but not many of those happenings could top this Sunday's trip to Busch Stadium!

105.1 The Bull is owned by Midwest Family Broadcasting and is southwest Missouri's home of Saint Louis Cardinals baseball!  Midwest Family prides itself in being "local" in everything it does. A lot of media companies make the claim their "local" but few deliver on the promise.

Sunday, May 1st a bus full of local Springfield area business owners and clients of Midwest Family were treated to an all-expense paid trip to Saint Louis! A bright red motor coach rolled up to the broadcast center just after 7 o'clock Sunday morning and loaded everyone up for the ride to Busch Stadium.

The package included suite "party passes" with a full bar and our own bartender, ballpark food including hot dogs, barbecue brisket sandwiches, salads, and dessert.

The trips highlight was a surprise suite visit from "The Mad Hungarian" himself, Al Hrabosky!  Al made his MLB debut at the age of 20 for the Cardinals in June of 1970. Know for his fiery antics behind the mound before storming to the rubber and firing the baseball, played 12 years in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, and Atlanta Braves. His gig these days is color commentator for Cardinals regular season broadcasts aired on the Bally Sports Midwest Network.

What a fun trip! It's a pleasure to be part of the Midwest Family Broadcasting crew. One that prides itself in not just delivering quality radio and digital products, but it's involvement in the community. You would be hard-pressed to find another media company that would make the time and investment just to show appreciation for their business partners. There's no question, no media company is more committed to serving Springfield, and The Ozarks community, than Midwest Family Broadcasting.

by Ray

It's Mushroom Hunt'n Time!

It's another reason we love The Ozarks! Conditions are finally right to get out in the woods and gather some of Mother Natures very best treats...morel mushrooms! I'm a member of the Missouri Morel Mushroom Hunting group on Facebook and over the last few days there have been several members showing off their finds.

There's a lot written about where to find them. If you ask those that hit the woods every spring and ask "which trees are best to look around?", you're likely to get several different answers. One of the best places to start is around dead trees, specifically elms, ashes, cottonwoods, and domesticated apple trees. Other traditional hot sports are areas impacted by recent floods, fires and logging activity.

There is some guess work however, morel mushrooms are most likely to appear when daytime temperatures are in the low 70's and lows overnight in the 50's. Soil temperatures are critical as well. Ideally, mushrooms prefer soil temperatures between 45-50 degrees. Another tip to remember is "morels peak when lilacs bloom!”

Enough about tips, it takes effort to get out and walk, at times for hours, to find the suckers. But when you do and fry up a batch, you'll know for sure it was well worth the effort!

by Ray

Spring Has Sprung!

I'm calling it! It may be late, but it's here! "Spring Has Sprung!" Red Bud trees are in full bloom, may-apples are up on the forest floor, and swollen rivers are filled with spring rainwater. Those three things tell me its time for the annual white bass migration. Over the weekend, I took my aluminum fishing boat up as far up-river as I could get and caught white bass all along the way.

This year, the action hasn't been as good as it usual. Of course, this spring hasn't been "normal" either. The recent cooler weather has spread out an event that usually lasts a couple weeks into something more like a month. If you've not made it out yet, there's still time. However, after another week or so, it will be time to turn your attention towards the crappie.

Another sure sign that "Spring Has Spring" are morel mushrooms! The area around small feeder creeks are prime mushroom hunting territory. Check around Elm and Sycamore trees. River bottoms and south facing hillsides are great places to search for the tasty fungus too. There were numerous spots that fit those descriptions along the river. The recent rain and warm nights get the mushrooms going too.

Jackpot, baby!

It's official, "Spring Has Sprung!" Get out and enjoy the things that make The Ozarks special! Fishing, turkey hunting, looking for mushrooms, a bike ride, or a hike, whatever you're in to, it's a wonderful time to be outdoors!

by Ray

Bass Pro Shops Motorsports Museum Is Fun and Free!

It's inside Bass Pro Shops, the Motorsports Museum! It features a variety of cool racing memorabilia, including fire suits, helmets, collectibles, and of course...cars! Visitors can get an up close look of the actual cars drivers ran, including the famous Dale Earnhardt #3 he drove in 1998, the year he won the Daytona 500.

Most of us have heard of the Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium at Bass Pro Shops World Headquarters here in Springfield. It's amazing! There's nothing quite like it perhaps anywhere in the world, however there is an admission fee. The Bass Fishing and Motorsports Museum's are both free and should be included during your next visit to the store.

With summer right around the corner, be sure and take your visiting friends and family to Bass Pro Shops and take in the free attractions. The fishing and racing exhibits are located upstairs inside the main entrance of the store. Just head in the front door and keep walking up the stairs or ride the elevator to the next floor. Both free attractions, as well as the entrance to the "Wonders of Wildlife Museum" are at the top. It's a great way kill a day when the weather's not cooperating and you can't get outdoors. A visit to the Bass Pro Shops museums are the next best thing!

by Ray

It's White Bass Time In The Ozarks!

It signals the start of another fishing season in the Ozarks! I know many of you fish year around. I wish I had that kind of resolve. For me, those early spring days up a river is where and when my fishing season starts. It's a great time to get outdoors and a perfect chance to take the kids. When conditions are right, you can catch a bunch in a short amount of time, and in some places, a boat isn't required to have success.

Most springs, the white bass start moving into the tributaries to spawn in late March. It appears to be a bit behind schedule this season. The recent cooler weather has moved things back a couple of weeks so if you've not made it out yet, there's still time. That red bud tree in the background of this picture is the best sign that "it's time." Another key is current. A few days after a "gully washer" is better. The warmer rain water and runoff helps pull the whites upstream. The added color in an Ozarks stream helps too. Below dams, under bridges, or any place where the river is constricted helps congregate spawning white bass. They're hard fighters too! Add in some current, and you're in for a good time!

Not much tackle is required either. A lite action spinning rod and reel or spin-casting outfit will do the trick. A handful of Roadrunners, Rooster Tails, or crappie jigs, is all you need. White or shad colored baits usually work best. So gather up the kids, an ole fishing buddy, or whomever, and head up stream! Spring is back and there's no better way to celebrate it's return than white bass fishing.

by Ray