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Had a few hours to kill this morning. Seen some big gills at one of our ponds so I headed out in the drizzle. I'm glad I did as they started hammering a wooly bugger on the strip. Fought like crazy and prolly caught over a dozen with almost none smaller than my hand. Finally broke tippet off on a big one and I was pretty soaked. Called it and headed in to work... Wooly bugger in red with a gold head, although with the way they were hitting could of probably thrown any color. Had 2 bass to hand as well, but they were little guys.

Hey Guys, Just got back from a trip to Christmas Island. Thought I'd share a couple fish I caught. Enjoy!

Mrs. BilletHead and I decided to make a trip to Truman and see what we could find. Launched and ran up the Pomme arm a little ways. Just dinking around keeping our eyes peeled hoping to find something. Soon in some timber a mix of vertical and horizontal wood we seen some shad being busted. Strung up the long rod and tied on a BilletHead Fry. Landed five bass, three others came unbuttoned and flat arse missed four others and just like that it was done. Largest was a tad over sixteen inches. No monsters just fun. Critters of all sorts out and about. Watched and eagle catch a fish and take it to a nest. Canada geese and their goslings along the bank. No wind early and could hear gobblers sounding off and later seen two big toms walking the shoreline. As we toured around I could see Mrs. BilletHeads eyes scanning a bluff bank that tapered below slowly towards the water. I knew from all our years together just what she was thinking and asked her if she wanted to do some beach combing. A quick yes and we headed to the bank. Got out of the boat to stretch the legs and as I looked down I seen this, Feral hog tracks where a couple had dropped down to get a drink. This arm of the lake is fed by some pretty clear water but just like the invasive feral hog from just inches of water out to the channel drop off carp were rooting in the shallows making the clear water muddy. And just like the hog they don't belong here. I returned to the boat and fished more shoreline as the Mrs. walked. Soon I got a text she was ready to be picked up. When I got there she opened her hand, You can pick up all the trash and fishing lures you want but on Corp property you cannot keep points. Just thought I would pass this info on let you conscience be your guide when beachcombing. Started getting pretty dark to the East and could see rain so we decided to call it a morning and head back to the ramp. Another great day in the outdoors and a good way to spend Mrs. BilletHead's week day off, BilletHead

Lots of reports of trout chasing shad in the trophy area. I fished from 1-3:30 today, bright sun, white 3/32nd oz jigs and caught a dozen with these nice rainbows and one brown. There are only 3 trout total in 7 images.

Spent three mornings fishing around Indian Creek and the dam basin this week. 2 of those days I had someone with me, and one day I was solo. I have been targeting smallmouth, the fishing has been good for them, usually we're putting between 25-35 smallies in the boat every morning. Mostly 12-16 inch fish with a couple of 17 and 18 inch fish thrown in. Swimming Keitechs and dragging a Ned have been working, seems the Keitechs work better when there is some wind, Ned when it is calm. Still getting fish shallow, but some are moving out into 10-15 FOW. Not seeing much striper activity, I did get lucky and was able to get a top water on one that came up near the boat chasing shad. I'm guessing it weighed about 12 pounds. It popped that bait 4 times before finally getting it. It pays to have a top water tied on and ready to cast for when those striper opportunities appear. I was working the keitech today, got a hook up, heavy fish. I worked it towards the boat and felt it let go, saw that I had about a 5 inch spotted bass on the hook, which surprised me, no way that fish was pulling that hard, all of a sudden a big walleye appeared and grabbed that little bass, then let go of it. What I think happened is that I hooked that little bass, and right away that walleye grabbed it and held on as I got it to the boat, then it let go and came back after it. It left some gouges in that poor little bass. Water temp was 74 today, water is stained green, but clear. In some places I could see bottom in 15 FOW. This post has been promoted to an article

Two men were using urinals next to each other. One of the men was very fat, the other was normal size. The normal man says to the fat one "You diet"? The fat one says "No, what color is it"?

A little late getting this posted but I'm old and lazy and equally undependable these days so it's to be expected I guess. Anyways, little brother and I ventured down for what we think was our 34th consecutive spring fishing trip. Man, that's hard to believe....... We only got in about an hour and a half of fishing Saturday evening but caught a couple dozen 12" -14" smallies fishing Ned in pockets around the Kimberling bridge that was a great warm up for the week. Sunday we ran up to the area around Big Creek and had a blast catching smallies and K's again on the ridiculous Ned - Dirt and Watermelon/Red were pretty effective but, for the week, PBJ was clearly superior). We spent most of our time in the buck brush in pockets and coves and it was downright silly how many fish we caught. We fished from 100 to around 600 before we headed back to the Kimberling area to finish the evening. It's just a guess but I'd say we caught at least 70 - 80 fish that day with about 12 - 15 keepers. Not the kind of performance that would win many tournaments I guess but it's what we live for. Monday was a golf day and we drove up to Rivercut in Springfield and had a great time ruining each others lives with what barely passed as golf. We really like that little muni and the price is right for a couple old guys on "fixed incomes". Tuesday and Wednesday we decided to try to put Bill's posted pattern of fishing swim baits out from spawning coves (extremely generous of him to provide so much intel but I guess we're used to it here) to use but had limited success. We must have idled around the front and sides of at least 25 of what we thought were pretty good spawning coves and only saw a few fish scattered here and there on the Lowrance. We did catch several smallmouth (all keepers) just blindly flinging swimmers in open water that we thought fit his description but just never could really find any bunches of fish. No big surprise there though as my proficiency with electronics parallels Stevie Wonder's talents in heavy traffic on a bicycle! I swear SOMEDAY I'm actually going to follow through on my promise to myself to hire Bill and quit trying to pretend that I can figure any of this out on my own. Note to self: get it out of the thinking stage stupid. While not quite as many as Sunday, we did continue to catch impressive numbers of fish on the Ned, Keitechs and grubs mostly in ten feet of water and less. Nothing over three pounds but at least a dozen obvious keepers. I guess we're just destined to be Kansas bank beaters even when we're deep sea fishing....... I should probably add that although we didn't throw it quite as much as we usually do we did pickup a couple dozen fish on our beloved spinnerbaits (double willows in white and white/chartreuse) during the week although the places that we caught them on the blade a swimbait probably would have been equally if not more effective. But, man, when they hit that spinnerbait like a freight train hitting a bum! Awesome. No offense to over sensitive bums intended and none were harmed in the composition of this metaphor....... Thursday we played golf again and headed over to Buffalo Ridge although us poor people had to wait until 400 for the twilight rate to kick in. We've kind of expected it for a couple of years now and Johnny has finally just about priced us out of his golf market. This spring it's $135 plus tax to play before 400 and $90 plus afterwards. The guy in the shop said that we were the twelfth group of the day so we're obviously not the only golfing paupers in the area. He also said the the new Ozarks National course that's opening 1 September is going to be $175 (which is an "opening special" price so obviously increasing soon) so I can only imagine what Tiger's new track will cost. That's OK though, it ain't like Johnny's gonna miss us and we're fine with driving up to Rivercut or playing over at the old Payne Stewart course which is every bit as good anyways and is $79 after noon. Worst case scenario is we just don't play golf at all on these trips anymore and spend all of our time fishing instead. I love First World problems! Nonetheless, it is incredible and visually stunning what he's doing over that way. If you haven't been over there it's well worth the time and effort to just check out the new clubhouse and the amazing views from that hill. You can't see the lake like at Top of the Rock but it's still extremely cool. Friday wasn't quite as good as earlier in the week and we attributed that at least somewhat to the falling water level and the wind. Lots of fish still very shallow though but the wind was pretty crazy. If it wasn't for the modern marvel called "Ultrex" it would have been near impossible in the areas we were wanting to fish. Probably caught 30 - 35 total and we did catch the biggest fish of the week which was a four pound on the nose largemouth and a gorgeous 19" walleye both on PBJ Ned. By the end of the day we were worn slick from fighting the wind and practically blinded by the dust and pollen in the air. Nasty stuff. All in all it was another great week for us although I saw no reason to tone down my incessant anti-tournament and overcrowding rhetoric. It felt like we were in the middle of of the runway at LaGuardia the day before Thanksgiving out there sometimes. I mentioned in an earlier post that I had specifically targeted this week as it had the least amount of tournament activity during the late April/May time period. "Least" translated is 950 boats worth of events from Saturday to Saturday. Oh well. Lots of happy people I guess. And, with the exception of the Oklahoma dust bowl conditions on Friday the weather for the week was embarrassingly good. Kathy and I are headed back down this Saturday for another go around and if it's half as good as last week we'll be plenty happy. I was hoping to post a few more photos but seein's how it's taken me over an hour to get these two loaded I guess they'll have serve as representative of the rest! Good luck out there! This post has been promoted to an article

Just returned from a trip to Old Bahama Bay on Grand Bahama. Weather wasn't idea for kayak fly fishing but we still had a great trip. https://looknfishy.blogspot.com/2018/05/maybe-bonefish.html

Hey Snagged, An 11wt will do the trick. There is no need for a 12. You also aren't blind casting to them its all sight fishing. The key is having the correct fly line (I recommend the SA Bigwater Taper as it has a 100lb core) Tarpon lines don't work well as they only have a 35lb core, and about 350+ yards of backing (Hatch 68lb because its the diameter of 20lb dacron) A good SW reel is also a must (Hatch 11+ or in this case an Abel SDS 11/12)

Like the dream the governor's mistress had ?

Sounds like a great time for you two. May be days like today that keep the two of you together. Congrats on a great trip buddy!

5/13 Plan was to go after green bass but decided to go hit the smallies one more time while they are still up failry shallow. Visibility was 15-18'. WT 70. Wanted to start a little before daylight but there's so much floating debris where we launched had to wait until it got light enough to see. Once it was safe enough to nav. we made a run into Arkansas. Threw some topwater for about an hour. Had 3 blow ups but no eaters. Once the sun got higher went to dragging finesse worms and swiBmmingite was pretty slow until around 9:30 then it really picked up. Fished until 11:30. Caught a bunch! No biggins, but the numbers were better than the last 2 times. Mostly brown bass with a couple mossbacks in the mix. Shad spawning all over the lake right now in the debris mats. Saw a plane doing loop de loops it made me queasy just watching it! here's a few from the day.. sat in this tree for at least 20 minutes calling for his girlfriend

Started out at Moon Valley, fished from the Slab. Didn't catch anything. Went to Lead Mine fished at the Concrete Ramp. Nothing there. Went to Barclay fished at the riffle. caught 4 Rainbows on White power Bait. Using 6# test line but the river was at Normal Pool and clear. Met I believe he said Cooper down there from the Forum. He was floating, said they did well fishing. oneshot

I couldn't decide if I wanted to fish today and do housework tomorrow or do housework today and fish tomorrow. I'm glad I procrastinated and went fishing today!

I actually sold a 14 weight that never saw any action. Sold it to shark fisherman in southern California.

We don't want you boating under the influence either. Maybe you should stay on shore with your rod propped up in a forked stick. Call MoCarp and go carp fishing. Be sure to wear your camo too. I heard that carp fishermen are stealthy, BilletHead

Nice DJ, I like the way they use that flat body to pull back. I got to get out and get me some of that fun, BilletHead

Very nice Bluegill.

I like chug bugs! And yes they will work in a little current. Right below Kerr, along the bluff, pretty good popper water.

OH NO! You think? That's bad. oneshot

And I wouldn't be shy about throwing a fluke or floating worm.

Lots of good recommendations that I would be doing as well. Get something in those slack water areas and something heavy down near the bottom. In this faster water I like a bright square bill. The fish sometimes like it too.

Fished Wednesday during the day. Started off fishing in 10 - 15 ft and casting toward the bank. Picked up fish on the graph but no luck with catching anything. Was ready to give up and head home but while trolling back to the launch, started seeing fish in the middle of the cove in about 25 ft, suspended at 15 - 20. Caught a bunch on 1/32 oz. jig & minnow, mostly short fish but enough keepers to provide me with supper.

that was my first thought, but with some other the other products that have been on the market like the Max Scent series they have a horrible issue with drying out and becoming trash. just didn't want to spend $5.99 a pack on something wasn't that great of a product when the original Powerbait series of baits is just fine and like you said stood the test of time.

Nice meeting you to Scooper. Always nice meeting new people still trying to figure out how you knew me as oneshot LOL me just being old man in an old Pickup. oneshot

I believe its depending on where you are at. I fished last week in water from 3 ft all the way out to 14 ft. Depending on the time of day. this same pattern was used a couple days ago with the same results. 2 limits each time we went out. Boat was in 12-14 ft casting to banks. earlier it was the shallower they were. Both days we had our limits and were off the water by 10 am. Im am sure that trolling is working also for sure. Of the 30 we cleaned the first day only 1 of them still had eggs. At least half of the remaining ones werre SPAWNED OUT females and the other half good sized males. We caught at least that many shorts also (9.5-9.75) Had a Ball for sure.

Rut row. I'm guilty maybe, If they flooded great Grandpa's place... or declared it a National Forest near the Mulberry River with a mountain named after him can I keep anything? Come and get it. PFFT!

Thanks Gavin! I landed 9 total. the biggest was 60 lbs.

Just took out at Cox before dark. The river is up about a foot and not stained at all. Clear water in the shoals and the holes are that good opaque green color.

Would try the slack water eddy's if it is up. 1/2oz Swim jig with a paddle tail swim bait or a big tailed grub trailer. 1/2 oz spinnerbait same trailers, or a loud wide wobble deep crank, or a heavy jig & craw if up and murky.

I might be stuck in the 70's-80's, as I almost always have a Texas rigged lizard in the boat and often 2 rigs usually the second is a Chomper or worm. It's my confidence bait. Cotton Candy in clear water or mossy pumpkin in darker water.

Good stuff as always.

Wrench's Prison Dating Service?

This is from Ike last year. Hes still a fan of this bait. Ive been tempted to pick some up once i use the 300 bags of soft plastics i have now.

Go to Grand if you are looking for crappie! They are still on fire there and everyone is catching them in less than 5' of water.

I'll pass on prison.

I have pretty much decided that if it ever looks like I might have to go to an old folks home I'd rather go to prison. I'd much rather die among a bunch of rowdy outlaws than a bunch of bible thumping droolers talking repeatedly about all the gardens they've had.

Now that is a slab!

I forgot this is a Catch, Weigh, Release tournament. Cool format!

I can say I have fished one bass tournament in my entire life, and have only left he house with the intent of bass fishing on a lake maybe 5 times. BUT, I can see why those that are into it really enjoy it. More power to them, maybe one day soon I will find myself at Stockton and target some smallies, that would make the hurt a little less.😊 besides at least it ain't golf, I don't feel sorry for bass fishermen like I do golfers.

Great report! Look forward to seeing you on the water again (last yr by Indian Point). If so, I'll make sure to stop and say hi.

My 70th birthday with my wife today was great with a few presents. 8 of them

These weather people are such sensationalists 🙄 My neighbor is one of those guys that every snake he sees is a copper headed rattle moccasin, every spider is a tarantula, and every buck deer is a non-typical Pope and Young. He should be a weather man, he'd fit right in. I'm sure he would have seen rotation today.

I really really like my topwater 2160. It's very stable with that 60"width and runs very shallow. Easy and fun to fish out of. Highly recommend.

Crappie still biting,Still spawning .

Hey all just want to take a second to invite everyone out to the 3rd Annual Angling for Athletes Benefit Bass Tournament to support Special Olympics Missouri. June 9th at Theodosia Marina on Bull Shoals. One lucky angler will walk away with our Grand Prize DRAWING of a brand new Graveley ZT-X Zero turn! Of course we have dozens of other draw prizes. Free donuts and coffee in the morning for Angler’s and free Pizza and Soda at weigh in. Oh and did I mention contengency programs? We’re happy to announce we are a sanctioned Basscat Quest and Skeeter Real Money event! Register online at Http://somo.org/angling grab a flyer at any of the lake area Tackle shops, or register the morning of starting at 5am. Find us on Facebook for more great details at http://www.facebook.com/Angling4athletes

Now how would you know what athletic feels like

You mean like this Mr. Bigs? After Mrs. BilletHead and I made some rather long day hikes fly fishing and wet wading in Utah with standard wader shoes and neoprene wader socks our feet were beat at the end of the day. I remembered Al's post on these and last Fall we purchased a pair each on sale. When it gets warm this Spring through Summer they will be Jet boat shoes too as we wade in different places. I wear them now around the house getting used to them, BilletHead