brian c

Jay Riz is the real MVP!

I ended up launching at state park, had no problem at all. All but one lane of the ramp was useable with access to the courtesy docks. Looking towards the ramp the far right lane would not fit a trailer to the outside of that courtesy dock. I launched by myself with no issue although it was a weekday. Seemed to be plenty of parking spaces.

Thanks for the help!

Since the other thread about launching turned into wether it's safe to be on the water or not, would love some suggestions on best access in the kimberling area. Maybe mill creek? Thinking about running up tomorrow got about a 2hr drive don't want to spend a bunch of time running around looking for launch that's open! THANKS!

Thanks, I know when I came in Friday half way through the first flight and they said I was the first 5 fish limit, I knew it was gonna be tuff!

The fish picture I caught Wednesday during practice. Weighed 4.11 on my scales. Had 2 others in the 4lb range. Thursday was VERY active with bites although I didn't swing on any. The front shut them down although I did catch a 4.20 smallie Saturday during the tournament. The graph picture was where the 4.20 came from Saturday.

Arkansas b.a.s.s. federation state tournament out of bullshoals boat dock Friday and Saturday. I finished 4th, actually tied for 3rd. Tie breaker was biggest single day stringer missed that by. 06lbs My partner that I fish a team club with was 2nd. We were catching our fish in or close to deep water. Some bites came as deep as 45+ ft. Smallmouth and ketucky. 2016 Arkansas B.A.S.S. State Championship - Individual Final Results.pdf

30ft last Sunday about noon.

Magdraft?

Matt herren is leading with 17, pretty sure last couple times they were here on bull he ran up the river, kdock area. If I remember correctly he had good bags from up there. He could be good shape with the strong start on norfork. Hackney,Menendez,tharp, all in good shape going into tomorrow.

This is gonna be a interesting derby to watch with both lakes coming into play. I fished My club tournament today on norfork and the elites were running around for practice. From my last couple trips on both lakes there are distinct difference in how both lakes are fishing. I'd bet norfork is gonna fish pretty small on that first day with all 100+ boats out.

Pretty sure some of the big sacks in some of the winter series came from the pontiac theodosia area. We had a good trip in the first wbot fishing all day in Oakland finished 5th and not too far out of first. This was before the arig bite got going good. Couple years back when they were running the get5 winter series we won the first one and never got more than a 5 minutes boat ride from bullshoals dock. Keep in mind alot of winter series rotate out of Buck creek, peel, or diamond city.

The reasons for making the long run are numerous, the winners are from the harrison area so they primarily fish that part of the lake. Im sure they practiced up there and likely had a strong pattern in that area. Confidence in fishing especially a tournament can be a major factor. Fishing a area you've had success in can be huge. Another major factor this time of year with a lake the size of bullshoals is different parts of the lake can be further along or further behind in the spawning process. If you.looked at the fished weighed by those further up the river I'd say a larger number of those fish are post spawn. I fished this tournament and practiced from music to pontiac. I was on a decent pattern of quality fish but they were all prespawn fish. They moved and I wasn't able to make that adjustment. My opinion is that Mid lake and the lower end fish are just now replay starting to get on beds. There were lots of good fish on beds around lakeview marina even new beds from Thursday night thru Saturday. Water clarity can be a major factor why you run as well. No doubt fish in stained water are easier to catch than gin clear water on the lower end. Stained water also can warm up more on sunny days compared to clear water . Keep in mind in a tournament you don't get to go when you want to or when the bite is "on". You don't have the luxury of waiting on fish to "turn on". You have to get it done in a certain time window so if you have an area that is holding active fish with ideal conditions to increase your odds of getting bit you better go. I contemplated making the run , thought about practice up there but decide to try and figure something out closer. Didn't work out for me. I know of one boat that ran all the way to Forsyth the caught a pretty good sack day 2 . Again mainly a confidence thing ....they knew there were fish there that they felt they could get in the boat within the time window they had to work with. Several other considerations in making long runs but those, I feel are the major factors for this derby.