Ham

I reached out on the Bass Cat Owners Forum looking for someone to trade a trip on Bull Shoals for a trip down to Venice, La. I was lucky enough to find someone willing to take a chance on me. I don’t post nearly as much over there as I do on Ozark Anglers. My new friend Jim Cazes is another LSU alum. Retired after 40 years in sales. Has a Bass Cat Puma which he was able to leave at home for this trip. He hadn’t caught many smallmouth bass and wanted to visit Bull Shoals and the BassCat factory. 5/8 We launched out of Lead Hill. We ran down lake a ways and found some bushes in 5-9 foot of water with some wind on them and quickly caught a few bass. We relocated to a finger off a creek and caught more bass in bushes on blades. I found a flatter bank and introduced him to Ned rigs . He picked it up pretty quickly, but we were catching LMB and Spots. I had to move us to a smaller Hollow off the main lake to put him on some smallies. Honestly, I think he enjoyed the Mega Bluegill he caught as much as the smallies, but he hadn’t caught a decent smallie yet. 5/9 We launched into Jimmy Creek. Rainy and windy. We caught fish, but the quality smallies continued to evade us. It bluebirded off on us and we Made a run to the Oakland area. Got a bass in bushes and the a few more on the Ned. I lost a BIG smallie on the Ned. We took a break for lunch and a factory tour. After lunch and the factory tour, we headed back to Leadhill. More clouds had moved in and it turned out to be a Good move. We caught some quality fish on points in a secondary cove on Ned rigs. I think he was really surprised how hard a 3 lb smallie could pull. He set and reset his PB smallie several times. We finished up the day by both catching a nice smallie on a main lake point late in the day. 5/10 We were on the way to the lake when he got a phone call about complications from home and he decided to cut for home. I went fishing anyway. More spinnerbait fish. More Sluggo fish. More Ned rig fish. More swim bait fish. I quit early. I was a little tired. water is 69 to 74 degrees. Water color varies from area to area, but it pretty good. Lake level is still slowly going up. I think we were over 671 today. I’m really hoping for it to creast REALLY soon. CLOUDS AND WIND ARE YOUR FRIENDS. Looking forward to my trip to Venice. This post has been promoted to an article

I took many a nap riding in a boat headed back to the ramp as a kid growing up. Those are Great memories for me from my childhood and I hope for your child as well.

Diamond City/Lead Hill. I’m told Tucker Hollow is ok. The launch near the mouth of Jimmy Creek is doable to 674, but you might have a crap ton of parking issues.

Fantastic!

I really like 17 lb fluro for spinnerbaits. I’m pretty fearless where I’ll throw a SB st this point. I’m loving 15 lb fluro for sluggos. Theline helps thebaig stay down in the water column AND I can feel those sub surface bites better.

Lol, Oh, I’ve always got plenty of lures. Not Dave level, but more than plenty.

Good Job

Spring has finally arrived and with it the lake I love has come back to life. But lots of other ppl were desperate to fish too and the lake level is at an awkward level as far as launching solo is concerned. I slept in a little bit and had some getting ready to do before I could roll out. It didn’t take too long once I got going. 60 degree water, some wind, and water in the bushes says spinner bait to me. I caught bass on 4 different SB’s. I played with blade size, blade color, and skirt color. Some seem to work a little better. Lots of Good Keepers. 18 1/2 inch ended up being my best bass. I had 2 nice smallies. A bunch of keeper spots. I got couple of crappie too. I got a big Bluegill. it was a Great Day. I never wanted it to end. I finished up with 40 caught. I lost a 1/2 dozen good fish and had lots of missed strikes. Good Action everywhere I tried . Water temps started at 60.3 degrees, but Insaw 64 degrees before the day was done. Main lake clear some stain and a hard mud line in some areas. Lots of debris in the water. All fish released. I filled my livewell with garbage. Rising water puts lots of trash in the water. This post has been promoted to an article

I got feeders out this week. I saw humming birds feeding today. I had a 20 bird or so flock of Gold Finches feeding in the yard this afternoon

I shared that on my Facebook page a couple weeks ago. I love it.

I’m taking notes. I’m not buying anything until I actually get there, but I’m paying attention.

I think it would much more reasonable to stock 100 12 inch long Musky. 🤪

Fishing on an S day is still better than not fishing. Just pick your spots.

It’s about to get stoopid on BSL. About freaking time. I have a few things to attend too, but I’ll get my licks in over the next 30 days

I prefer my trailer hook to have some freedom of movement. I got the feeling that they hang less that way.

Gotta get you on the 1/1 to 12/31 time line

Another victim of the Hangies

We saw some of that and worked thru them without reward. Bummer.

I’m more impressed they got them to bite with blue bird skys. We struggled when it cleared off. Shallow, deep, and inbetween.

The lake HAS to warm up eventually. I’m so ready for TopWater bites and just more willing fish in general.