Ham

I used to favor the Dorbers OMT 84 UL and I still like it, but I've transitioned to the Browning Air Stream. It's a Bass Pro exclusive. It's light. It's sensitive. Loads and throws the Jigs really well. And best of all they are cheap. They raised the price 10 bucks this year AND I bet they will raise the price again next year. I have only used the 7 footer. It is a non buggy whip UL. I've heard some of the others are nice. Cajunangler gets all the credit for finding this little rod. It took me about 5 casts with it to know I was buying one. Nanofil out throws mono. I use 6 lb Nanofil.

I've never been up there when they turned the water OFF. I thought that was the "normal" look when the water was off. Some of the riffles we floated through were 4 inches deep maybe. the colors of that Brown were unusual. I didn't know to look or get a decent pic of adipose fin. I didn't consider the triploid possibility until I after I released it.

I would have caught 100 if they had just run the 35 like projected. I was Happy with my numbers, but anyone can do this. Buy some Zig Jigs or PJ's and get after it. I fish hard and put my time in, but it's not magic.

It wasn't land locked when we left, but pretty close.

Is this a triploid Brown?

4 lb P Line CX Premium leader tied on 6 lb Nano Olive/Ginger , Double Olive. I never tried anything else

Ehh YEAH. I thought the projection said a minimum of 35 all day.

One of cajunanglers better ones

First cast fish

Launched in the rain at 0830, put in back on the trailer at 1730 in the rain. The rain waxed and waned troughout the day, but never quit. The weather projection was inaccurate. The water generation projection was inaccurate as well. Cajunangler was along for the festivities. We motored up the cable immediately below the dam and it was on. I got a nice trout on the first cast. Big Rainbow on a 1/16 oz Zig Jig. I got an average size fish on the third cast. I lost an absolute toad on about the 5 th cast. Pretty steady bites. We did a long slow drift to below the ramp. We were catching good numbers and quality. We ran back up to the cable and the water was OFF and the water was falling out. Man. SMH. we dropped down to 1/32 oz Zig Jigs and got bites, but I like to fish with flow and this was more like a pond. Numbers kept climbing up with some big ones mixed in. Eased on down to Fall Creek sliding through the super skinny water we finished up with 115 fish brought to hand. Johnny had a smallie and a Striped Shiner. I had one Nice Brown and a pile of rainbows. In deference to the fickleness of Taneycomo trout, I did use 4 lb leader. It cost me one jig as I was trying to release a fatty rainbow it slipped out of my hand and snapped the leader. Only jig I lost all day. I think Johnny lost one trying to banjo a jig free. Johnny also caught fish on a crankbait and a jerkbait. I threw a jerkbait a little bit, but jig kept whispering my name. another real nice outing. Weather really sucked though.

Tough to know what's happening when you haven't been able to go in a long, long time. Glad you got out. You caught more than I did today.

The diatoms are in lots and lots of places, but the mechanism for overgrowth doesn't seem to be clearly understood. Occasionally, it gets a little bad on the White below BSL, but nothing like in some places. I have NO experience wading in Taneycomo, but my wading experience other places has been that felt is better.

reading comprehension is a lost art. There is a huge difference between avoiding a high spot while running and saying a spot is forever fish less. But guess what, there are 10's of thousands of smallies on other spots in Bull Shoals too.

Thanks Phil. No felt wading boots also. At some point, science needs to outweight unnecessary caution. Felt is a better sole material and didymo is everywhere already.

What are the restrictions from the dam down to Fall Creek or whatever the restricted area is? I'm always artificial only and I usually fish barbless but I am curious what is legally required

That's why at 654 you idle around it and put down 6 waypoints so you know that is a no fly zone or you go old school and look at a map and treat that area like Chernobyl. occassionally some idiot stacks rocks on that high spot making it unsafe at 654 or higher.

David Walker and those other guys said they were too impatient though. You had to know to keep soaking it and every so often one moves up and eats it. The fish they showed were usually good ones. Im not sure how it translates to other highland lakes like Bull Shoals or TR. you have to have Shad. Those fish were only 30 foot deep. I'm used to seeing fish MUCH deeper at BSL in those water temps in that lower third of the lake. I'm not sure if that lake has spots. Looked like the Top 4 or 5 guys were all smallies

They may well lose the lake. I feared that when it first started. They should have gotten real desperate from the get go rather than the lets wait and see thing.

I've heard several ppl talking as if the Lake wee historically low. It's 4 foot down from previous pool level. watch where you run. Don't take chances and don't cut corners.

I have not and will not in the foreseeable future. I'm a cut zinker guy. I think the elaztech plastic is special. I think it makes the deal. If the water was cold and I wanted less action, I would use a non elaztech stick bait. I appreciate the various soft plastics designs Gambler brings to the table and the color variations. I'm just not into their Ned worm.

The Cutts were on fire. I caught st least 6 of them which is a lot for a 4 hour trip.

Outstanding average size. Very few small fish.

Dang guys y'all are killing it! That does it! I'm upgrading my electronics and giving crappie more time. I'm a thump junkie. I love a crappie jig bite.

Man, that's awesome. Ha ash is a bucket list deal for me.