The spawn will peak at the end of May and the fish will move out onto the tapering points with the same pea-gravel bottom, often as deep as 25 to 30 feet.

"Anglers from the resort start catching bluegills in May," said Sue Deems of the Hide-Away Resort. "The fishing will be good all summer long and into September. The larger bluegills are caught with crickets, wax worms and night crawlers in from 5 to 10 feet of water in the small cutbacks along the bluffs. On the James River Arm, near the resort, the good spots are along the Morris, Stallion, Oswald and Virgin bluffs."

Bluegills can be 20 feet down during the summer months, and finding them is definitely a hit-and-miss proposition. The larger bluegills generally hold deeper than do their smaller counterparts along the edges of weedbeds to feed on the insects.

Several launch ramps serve anglers at this huge impoundment. For more information contact the MDC's Springfield office at (417) 895-6880 or the Hide-Away Resort at (417) 538-2992.

OTHER OPTIONS
"There are many other lakes producing very good bluegill fishing now," said fisheries management biologist Mason. "These include the Harrison County Reservoir, Bilby Ranch Lake, Happy Holler Lake, Indian Creek, Lone Jack, Bushwhacker and the Odessa City Lake, among others."