photo by Jason Lewis Largemouth bass are excellent at Sever and the area holds good numbers of fish between 18”-22.”  The summer bite can be tough & for this reason keeps traffic low.  Many excellent points exist for summer patterns as well as 45 degree banks with shaded cover.  Standing timber and lay downs make for good targets.

Henry Sever Lake Newark, Missouri Map of Lake

MISSOURI SPORTSMEN'S INFORMATION NETWORK HOME HUNTING FISHING BOATING CAMPING SHOOTING ATV'S LODGING OUTDOOR NEWS HUNTING LAND FOR SALE CANOEING SPORTSMEN JOKES ORGANIZATIONS LAND OWNERS COFFEE SHOP LOCAL WEATHER TAXIDERMISTS EMAIL MOSPORTSMEN.COM Jason Lewis Northeast Missouri is a great place to fish especially if you like smaller bodies of water with less traffic and of course big bass.  I fish most areas up here regularly and if you need information or have questions I will be more than happy to answer what I can via email.

For information on how to get your business listed on this page in the Missouri Sportsmen's Information Network check out our advertising page. Panfish are abundant especially if you have the right fishing buddy.

Back to Missouri Lake List

photo by Jason Lewis The consession At Henry Sever Lake has things to keep fisherman and campers happy.  They also handle the boat rental and have a limited supply of troling motors for rent.

photo by Jason Lewis The north camp ground provides easy access to the handicaped accessable fishing dock.  There is also good structure provided under this dock to hold fish.

Last Spring I heard Denny Brauer speak at  Bass Master University.  This event was held at St. Charles Community College in St. Peters Missouri.  He touched on something that really hit home with me and had in fact been puzzling me for quite some time.       Brauer was talking about jig fishing (as if we couldn't guess) and said "boys, fishing a jig will double maybe triple your big bass bites."  He continued to add, "I did say bites, because fishing jigs can be one of the most frustrating techniques a person can use on bass."  He asked for a show of hands to see how many of us had put what we had thought was an outstanding hook-set on a hawg, only to have our jig come sailing back at us when the fish surfaced.  Simply put he explained, "you never had that hook sunk in that beauty and when it opened its mouth out came your bait."  A bass has strong jaws and when it eats your bait it clamps down, as a result you must move that bait with your hook-set in order to sink the hook. Brauer said,  Most times you just don't get the jig moved far enough.      I totally understood where Mr. Brauer was coming from.  I also have a theory on the subject, which once again was proven this spring until I wised up, and went into strategy mode instead of frustration mode.  I believe not only is it moving the bait, it is what your hook is running into when you do move it.  A bass has strong jaws but we are talking about thin line with a 7'6 rod and a big dog on a short leash.  I find it hard to believe you can't move the bait.  The question that remains is what are you trying to sink that needlepoint into--bone or membrane?

A good day at Henry Sever Lake Jason managed to get a "needlepoint" imbeded in his ear on this trip in addition to these two beauties.

      Case in point, a neighbor catches a 22" bass on a fly rod with a tiny fly and equally tiny hook.  Everyone is amazed, yet it's simple if you take the time to think about it.  The tiny hook settled into the membrane.  It didn't penetrate and try to force its way through a brick wall. Iit just buried itself and said fight all you want you can't feel me here.
     It finally hit me hard, after a father's day to remember.  I put three fish in the boat 18" to 20" and lost three that were all over 22".  My father-in-law said the first one made you mad, the second one made you think and the third one broke your heart. The third one had it buried, we couldn't see the 3/8 oz jig when she jumped and then out it came.
     The next day I looked at my jig and the needlepoint was bent.  I did not hang up at all that day and I had managed to put some good fish in the boat although the hawgs were not cooperating.  I called and talked with my uncle who have been mentoring since I was three years old and he confirmed what I was thinking.  He said he has had it happen time and again especially when they are really eating it.  When you go to bury it you are hitting bone instead of membrane and there is not enough hook in the fish, just a fact of jig fishing.
      He said he liked to use a smaller hook and hoped to catch a fish in the membrane, he even said the hook, if it hits bone can still bounce around and the thin wire may grab some membrane on the way out of the mouth and you will still catch the fish.  It made sense so I went to the bait shop and traded my 3/8 oz Picasso for a 1/2 oz Woo Daves Stinger (I said my uncle mentored me but that doesn't mean I listen all the time.)  The Stinger has a particularly big hook and a unique rattle system that camouflages itself within the skirt.  The rattles slip and have to be adjusted quite often.  It is worth the trouble and since then I haven't had problems with hook ups.
      The reason I feel that the Stinger was more effective is because of the extra wide gap hook.  Yes, the rattle is cool but and unique but the added size (length) of the jig and the wider gap hook make the difference.  Many fishermen would probably downsize to a thinner wire hook.  I stick with a bigger bait as long as the fish are taking it.

by Jason Lewis      coachlewis@hotmail.com.   Good Luck!!

THE MISSOURI SPORTSMEN'S INFORMATION NETWORK MOSPORTSMEN.COM