vernon

I couldn’t agree more! I learned the proper way to fillet them watching some fishing show that was taped on Truman about twenty years ago and haven’t thrown one back since. Except for the fact that there’s usually more meat per fillet I’ve yet to find anyone that can tell them from crappie. Another reason I’m disappointed that I haven’t caught any on Table Rock in recent memory. Used to catch the heck out of them there but not lately.

The only good thing about winter...........

Exactly.

You are one lucky man. Good thing too. You have been banned from Takiedom for eternity. That’s a long time by the way.

I, as creator and keeper of the takie am solely responsible for determining appropriate and applicable wait times and shall not be questioned nor challenged. Ever. However, and for the record, most of my takies are declared within seconds. Another beauty of the little devil. Lower scores and speeds up play! Nonetheless, I suspect that you are (again) simply trying to be antagonistic. Keep it up and you will be declared takie ineligible!

Ahh. Fake news!

No limits unless I say so. It’s good to be the king! Odds are you’re safe. Takie away until further notice and watch your scores plummet. You’re welcome.......

I “invented” a solution for just such occasions! It’s called a “takie” and it can be declared at any time a “gimme” is not forthcoming within a reasonable amount of time. Lucky for you, they can also be applied retroactively (a useful amendment to the original legislation) at any time within 24 hours after completion of your round. (Exceptions for the 24 hour time restriction are considered on a case by case basis. Just let me know when you need an extension and I’ll get back to you ASAP with a ruling). Congratulations on the 79!

Fished Sunday, Monday and yesterday. Thirteen fish and three (barely) keeper smallmouth. A couple of fourteen inch Kentucky’s. All caught on Ned. Zip on my beloved spinnerbait or anything else for that matter. When it gets like this, I lose interest way faster than when I was young! As an aside, whatever happened to the white bass? When fishing got tuff we used to be able to default to chasing whites to keep us entertained and provide for a couple of fish frys. Used to be able to do that April, May, September and October on a pretty regular basis. However, we ain’t seen a school of whites in at least four years and probably haven’t accidentally caught more than half a dozen during that same span. Just curious. Oh well. Back to the golf course I guess!

Yeah, well, most of us don’t know how to catch walleye either so it could be worse!

Spinnerbait has been my favorite bait for as long as I've been fishing - 55 years I think? It all started when I was bluegill fishing in a farm pond with my grandpa when I was about nine or ten and I found an old twin spin hanging in a bush. He told me to leave it be but I couldn't resist the temptation so I grabbed it and hid it in my pocket. Next time out, I wandered down the bank a ways and when he wasn't looking, I tied it on my Zebco 33 (best reel ever?) and tossed it in the back of a little pocket with some brush and coon tails. I reeled about three cranks and about a 2 lb. bass smashed the daylights out it and scared me half to death! Well I was shaking like a leaf when I literally dragged that fish onto to the bank. My granddad comes over and said, "Lemme see that danged thing." and wouldn't give it back! On the way home we stopped at the old Gateway sporting goods store and he bought one for each of us (Bass Busters) and I've been "hooked" ever since. I've been told more times than I can count that you can't catch fish on Bull Shoals or Table Rock with a spinnerbait except for those very "rare" occasions when the winds howling and, even then, there's "better" ways. I say bull hockey - there's ALWAYS at least one rod rigged with a spinnerbait on my boat deck and I start every single trip throwing one with a tandem willow blade (usually white skirt) paralleling the bank. I mean, if it turns out that they're on that thing why would you throw anything else the rest of the day?!?! And believe me - they WILL hit a spinnerbait on Bull and Table Rock. And while it usually helps, it don't necessarily have to be windy either! Spend an hour paralleling "fishy" looking banks and docks retrieving a spinnerbait a foot or so under the surface and "kill it" every six or eight feet allowing it to flutter down for just a second or two and then start winding again and I'll bet you change your mind. For forever. Sorry about the trip down memory lane................

While I know this doesn't fit the narrative of "Johnny bashing" I still happen to think that the facts matter. I don't think Johnny was "more" worried about trout than people. He just didn't realize the magnitude of the event at the time of the conversation. This is the full quote from the article - judge for yourself. “As much as I sound like I’m complaining, I’m thankful that everyone was out of here because Johnny (Morris) called and was asking if we were going to lose our trout – we always talk about this when floods come – I said ‘John, this is different from anything we’ve seen. I’ve been here since you opened ... I’m trying to make sure we don’t lose people ... It’s that bad.’” The article was published in the Branson Tri-Lakes News on 29 September if anyone cares to read it in its entirety.

Mike, you didn't really just say that did you? I don't think you did.... Gotta be somebody messing around with the "edit" button........

In the words of the millennial world, “I know, right?”

Did I mention that I hate bass tournaments? Last time I checked there's literally way more "events" on Table Rock each year than there are actual days in the year. And yet so many people wonder why the fishing can be "tough" so much of the time? I've never understood how so many tournaments and their sponsors/affiliates claim to be so closely aligned with conservation efforts when they all brutalize the fish population on a regular basis just so they can play "pro fisherman" every weekend. Picking up trash or adding fish attractors once or twice a year hardly makes up for the damage being done. And I personally don't care what the "statistics" say since most of them were compiled by associates of the perpetrators. Man, I'm in a bad mood!

Sounds like this one could be a pretty big deal but don't see it listed on the regatta permits page. Any idea how many boats are expected? We might have to play golf the first two days of our trip!

Well, yeah, kinda sorta but not when I'm expressing my most inner self. That's when I'm at my most vulnerable. You should know and respect that.....

Dude, seriously? I'm baring my very soul here and all you can do is kick me when I'm down? I don't even know you anymore..........

WATERMELON RED?!?!? But Dave said watermelon red never caught ANYTHING!

What's a knucklehead? Kind of a self-identity crisis issue for me actually. In fact, I've wondered what a knucklehead is for my entire life and still feel no closer to an answer. When I would ask my dad why he kept calling me that all he would tell me is, "You'll figure it out some day." Still lost over here and wondering who I am?

Figures. We'll be back on the 14th for our last week long visit of the year. I shouldn't be surprised though - seems like it's been that way for quite some time now. Two day high school tournament though? Not sure which I hate more these days - kids or bass tournaments! Old age has made me so totally mellow and accepting of "other" things in life though. Just not kids or bass tournaments! I'll be the guy in the silver Ranger sitting in the middle of the lake chanting like Rick Clunn. Inner peace shall be mine, inner peace shall be mine, inner peace shall...........

Yep, that photo might eventually become the highlight of the day. Earlier on a different thread I alluded to what a great time of year this is for us wanna be photographers. Every now and then I sit and sort through all of the photos that I've taken over the past forty plus years of our many visits to Table Rock and I never cease get all warm and fuzzy when I do. I cherish them all - especially the ones of me and my late dad - but the sunrise and sunset shots never get old and always stand out. They're kind of like snowflakes - all similar but each one is equally unique and different. Nice going Quill!

I've become so cynical in my old age that my first thought was, "C'mon, gotta be Fake News"! Amazing (and a little depressing) that such a simple act of courtesy can cause skepticism much less be news worthy...... You probably should have headed in and immediately bought a Lotto ticket while you were still hot!

That area is really pretty this time of year. Whenever we're back in the rivers in October, we run barely on plane or at an idle but it ain't necessarily for safety reasons - we just love to soak up the beauty of the surroundings. While we're there to fish, we've always found that it's worth slowing down and taking it all in. You can capture some awesome pictures that keep those memories fresh and vivid for a lifetime! I think you'll have a great time and absolutely love it. The sights, sounds and smells are still amazing to me and I've been doing this since 1974. Table Rock is one of those places that's way more than just a fishing trip!

I know for a fact that can be tuff. But I also believe that you gotta get back on that horse as soon as you can though or you're actually cheating both of you........