tmoney

Thanks! Just went out again and got skunked. Weather won't stay consistent. Wind blows 20+ then the sun comes out and calms down and then goes again. Changes every 10 minutes. Tried everything from shallow action baits to deep slow stuff... Frustrating

Looking to go out later today and trying to figure out what to do after all the water changes in depth and color. I see that the swim bait, Carolina rig, Ned rig and jig are all in play. Are they still? Is anyone throwing a big worm yet? What about deep cranking? I haven't seen the top water bite come on yet to much either which is surprising with the time of year and water temp Will be in the kimberling city area. Thanks for sharing .

Been fishing about 5 years now and keep getting into it deeper. More gear, bigger boat...u know the drill. Love to compete and am thinking I might like to fish a few tournaments. Are there any good ones around?

I would look shallow, meaning farther up the river. Mutton would be best then u could go south

What are nibbles?

Been catching quite a few on a 10 inch power worm in black blue flake. Main lake points where the channel swings hit. 30 fow. Lots of fun! Flipping had produced very little. I think the water is just too high. Also surprised as how infrequent the top water bite is early and late.

Just wondering what the water temp is running and if the top water bite is on

Yes, Rick sells them. I hear good things but u haven't bought one because I haven't needed one

Yes, Rick sells them. I hear good things but u haven't bought one because I haven't needed one

Just registered! Looking forward to it

Top speed is 40 to 45 depending on prop. Total length is 21.5 ft

If you’re looking for a nice tournament capable Bass Boat with all the extras, besides a huge price tag then this is it! This is very nice and clean 2001 Ranger R73 with a 2001 Mercury 125. However, this is not just a plain old boat. Listen to all the extras: Upgraded 2001 Rangertrail heavy duty trailer with fiberglass fenders, aluminum wheels, Michelin tires and spare tire. Tires have great tread. Factory deck extension($300) Makes the deck seem much larger than a 17 ft boat. Custom Ranger Nylon cover – waterproof! This is not a cheap dust cover!($400) MinnKota 24v Maxxum long shaft trolling motor ($800) 70 lb thrust with infinite variable speed. 6" Stainless Steel manual jack plate ($300) 3 Blade 13 inch 24 degree stainless prop tuned by John’s Hot Props Water pres. Gauge Hummingbird 798c GPS with Side Imagining and Down Imaging!($1,049 plus tax and installation) This thing is AWESOME! Livewell Pump out Garmin 179c Color display with GPS mounted on front deck attached to Trolling motor – ($550) Garmin 250 ($300) New Main Engine Battery this spring Dual Bank Batter Charger I’m the second owner and just bough the boat this spring. Since then, I’ve spent over $1,300 on the engine getting it tuned up and running awesome! Carbs have just been rebuilt last month and it runs great! Compression is good. All work has been done by Josh at Fair Grove Marine Repair. Feel free to call him and discuss. So why am I selling it? Don’t want to, but I fell and broke my heel and neck a week ago so fishing is out of the equation for the rest of the summer for me so I’m going to let someone else enjoy it. The base boat and engine avg retail is $8,130. http://www.nadaguides.com/Boats/2001/Ranger-Boats-Wood-Mfg/R73+/10145769/Standard-Equipment The avg retail on the trailer is $1,005 http://www.nadaguides.com/Boats/2001/Trailers/17-Feet-Single/32001171/Boat-Trailers The extras are over $3,800! When you combine this boat, trailer and extras this boat should list for $12,935. However, I’m only asking $9,500 OBO because I want the boat to go fishing, not sit in my barn. Feel free to call and discuss. No low ball offers please. 417-766-1one45

I had similar luck. 2 fish all evening. Talked to a friend who fished the morning and he only had 1 keeper. Tough

Just tried the link and its saying the page is gone?

I always seem to struggle with the summer patern on the rock. Sunday I started fishing a little deeper on points, channels swings and humps and did better. Caught a few north of 2 lbs but no giants. I tried the technique that the BASS boys used with the deep diving cranks with my jig. I would cast to one side of a hump, open my reel and troll to the other side then stop and slow retrieve it over the hump. This takes a lot of time but it works and allows me to cover a great deal of area.

Two weeks ago I had a blast down here caught good numbers and nice size. I knew it had changed from everything I had read and heard...but boy did it change! I tried everything I knew to do, threw the kitchen sink at them today and I had very little to show for over 9 hrs of fishing. Threw the spook in the early hours, had 4 hits but no hook ups. Then moved to jig &pig of channel swings, D22 on windy points, big worms over brush piles, carlina rig off long pea gravel points...and still struggling. On the bright side I feel like I got some good sun(not really looking for it), got a pretty good calf work out(maning that trolling motor) leared how to jump a wake in the bass boat(didn't really mean too) and am a pro at riding a boat on a gallop(not sure that's a profession). I know summers here, but man! That was more boats than I've seen on the rock since the Bush adminstration. I could have thrown a dead cat in any direction and hit someone...looked like a parking lot. Back to fishing..got one more day and not sure what I should do...except try to dodge traffic and not hook some on back back cast.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! Very helpful

I tried it a little this morning of main lake points but didn't get along to well. I'm gonna try bluff ends tomorrow and see if that works

Here's my advice: 1. Read this thing daily 2. Buy good gear. I regret every cheap rod or reel I ever bought. 3. Change techniques and lures often if your not getting bit. Biggest mistake I made when I started 3 yrs ago was staying with one thin because it worked last time. Lol! 4. Hire a guide that supports you! Bill babler supports this forum and gives countless advice to thousands of people for free. When I hire a guide, he will be the man. 5. Good electronics make a difference. Cheap ones are nothing more than depth finders. U don't have to spend thousands but a good hummingbird down imaging front mount is key. Especially in the summer when drop shot is on.

I was at BP yesterday and all I could find was 1/8th. So that's what I had to go with

Grew up hunting and the bass bug has got me. Been fishing a few years now and I cant tell how big of a deal scent is. Scent is huge in deer hunting, but those burgers have good noses. As I stroll thru the isle of bass pro I see plenty of scent spray but I have to wonder If it really works? I've tried soft plastics with and without and haven't seen a huge difference. Does time of year matter or the type of plastics?

Yes your depth finder should be hooked up to the main battery. But I want to mention a few other things: 1st make sure u set a battery voltage alarm on your depth finder or you could fid yourself stranded. 2nd. If you have a higher end depth finder it can cause blips in the screen if u have it hooked up to the trolling motor battery. I

I always read Bills reports, just wanders if there was any direction up or down the lake I should head.

As always thanks for the post Bill! I took your recommendation and ordered several of the jigs you recommend and I'm excited to get them and try them next week on the rock! I always fished spooks or poppers but I see u like fins so I bought one and I can't get it to wake for nothing. I'm going to try the bigger treble and feather in the back along with a few weight dots like u mentioned and see I that helps.

Cedar ridge is a great ramp and I like the little sac arm better. I fish the rock and stock and stock is good but the wind can get crazy! I do well on carolina rig, BBH in watermelon candy, biffle bugs, jigs, and shad or blue flk power worms. Tons of walleye and crappie fishers so u won't have to much competition for spots.