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I have to learn to stay away from Prairie Creek until it is freezing, seems that is what gives me an attitude. It is a really nice launch and close to my house but the tournaments have just taken over with jack pots everyday and all the big clubs going 12 months out of the year now. I really think going North or South and using small parks like Horseshoe or Rocky Branch will help with the attitude, I just don't get as motivated when I have to drive. I know how much you like PC J-Doc just like me it is the easiest and safest to use but it is hard to get out on the lake without getting mad there then our whole day is spoiled. We just have to find those old men spots. lol I do like to watch the deer out of Horseshoe.

That is a timing question, in the middle of the day not so much. But at sunrise and sunset if you are setting on an area where they are feeding on top, look out.

It was a teen tournament but not sure who was hosting but wish I had known before pulling in there. Seemed they expected to have the entire parking lot themselves. I have no problem with that, just wish they would have told me at the gate house so I could have turned around.

I thought I would get out and run some brooders shallow on planner boards, so stopped at HL&S and picked some up. Got to PC and could not even get to the ramp. Seems a junior bass tournament was going on and they not only clogged the ramp with boats coming in but parked SUVs around the parking lot so no one could get in to use the ramp. They were using the entire parking lot from the pavilion past the restrooms.Has got to be the rudest group I have ever encountered. I tried to turn around and two people guiding me forward and two yelling at me to back up...all I wanted was to get away from them and the lake. I thought about running up to Rocky Branch but after seeing the number of wake boats running out of PC, I just dumped the bait and headed for the house. I won't try another weekend run until the highs are in the low 40s and lows well below freezing. I would much rather fish in the 20s than go through that mess again.

My eyes are old and going bad, but I can smell them when they get close to top.....but most of the time it is the glimmer off a shad coming out of the water about 3 feet that will give them away, the problem is you have to drop that trolling motor at least 100 yards out. Just as soon as you get close to the swirls someone will run full plane right through them and they will go down to 50 feet and stop feeding, and that is why you leave the guns at home....

20 MPH winds today with a steady 12 mph wind, doubt if top water paid off for very many people today. Hard to find a protected cove on Beaver, seems it just bounces off and comes right back at you. Tomorrow looks better.

Might be ok for smaller fish, but if you hit a 30lb plus fish I would think you just lost a $12 lure. Moving parts are just not as strong as a spook or Pencil popper. Then again if you use 10lb test and take your time it might be the ticket, I prefer 40lb braid and putting my back into the fight and getting them to boat without tiring them totally out. JMO I have not tried one, I go to the jerk baits when everyone else is getting a top water bite just my thing.

Are seeing any shad up top?

Nice fish, what was the best weight so far?

If I drive to Tenkiller, I am chasing stripers, no two ways about it. Did you catch any stripers? They have better numbers than Beaver just not as big.

Anyone tried these? Thinking about getting some cheep blanks and trying to cover them with jig skinz instead of paint. I am thinking of sealing the blanks with a clear coat then sealing the skinz with a clear coat. Barlow's is selling them now. Not sure how much I would save after buying all the materials but the lure blanks such as Sammys are so so cheap compared to the finished lure, looks like I could't go wrong. I seem to change split rings and hooks on any lure I buy now to get them to do what I want, why not start from scratch? Learning to paint would be better but who has that kind of time?

That took longer than I expected.

I bet the whites would really come to the lights right now, but I am stuck in NC. Will try when I get howme this weekend.

Only place near the lake I know to get them, years ago there was a gas station near Prairie Creek that carried them but he closed up. You can get a $120 fishing shirt at Cabela's but they don't have live bait. TV has convinced everyone they don't need it. LOL Hickory Creek Marina carry them sometimes, but most the time I stop there all they have are crappie minnows, but have not been there in a while. I have no idea what Ugly John's carry up in Rocky Branch no one ever talks about them and I have never been there. I have lived here 15 years and never stopped for anything but gas.

I don't know how cold it is going to get, but without a really good cold front you are planning way to far south IMO, I have seen them in HB area around Thanksgiving before, but first week of November I would plan PC and North. As far as bait, that is a daily hit or miss. Also depends on water clarity if we get a big rain they run back to the darn area quick. JMO

I don't think they will come down past Rocky Branch until the water gets closer to 50s. Not in any good numbers anyway, but there are some that will hang all year in the PC area along the deep channel. But if I was out looking right now it would be around point 5.

Look for 50 degree water and the sripers will be all over the lake. They will run fall/winter everywhere there are big shad. The real run up the river is a early spring thing though you will catch some all winter long just as you will mid lake.

Wow, I started this and never got around to buying that stock. Story of my life.

If you look back in the post, I put up some good videos on how to throw a cast net. Put out some shad and you never know what you will get but you will get something.

Water in the 70s sounds great, I will be stuck in Texas for a few weeks hope it is the lower 70s by the time I get back.

Looks like a cold front on the way and Highs in the 70s next week with cool nights in the 50s. Might just get the water temp into those magic 70s for the bass fishermen. I can't wait to see water hit 50 degrees for the big fish.

2 lbs between 57 and 1st that was a tight field, Good luck tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the day, how do you feel?

And he gets out of bed earlier than most.....than me anyway.

I feel you liking jigs and not being any good. My wife has caught the biggest bass I have seen on Beaver by just dragging jigs behind the boat in the strangest places, with 90% of her hook sets coming from a pole holder. Then I miss 50% of my hook sets trying to do everything right, go figure. The Ned has taken the place of my jigs since I can hookup with a Ned,