Fishin Hodge

LOL, I saw that and assumed it was from today. Obviously not. Apologies for any confusion.

Branson Landing. Bass Pro is immediately to the left of the picture. Looks like it lacks several feet still from reaching it and likely wouldn't.

I agree with building in a flood plane completely, not smart, anytime anywhere. Just another year of 695 on Bull Shoals... Nothing new there.... I am an advocate for lowering the lakes more during the winter. I am not an engineer, but sure does seem like Table Rock and Bull Shoals are at full capacity a little too often for my liking.

Thanks man.

Where did you read that Alex. I have been looking for info online, finding some, but hadn't read that. Cheese, top of flood pool is at 931. It can go higher, but at that point the CoE cannot control the release, at least that is my understanding. It is simply flowing over the flood gates at that point. To go higher than the flood gates and stay or even go up is a truly unbelievable amount of water. The Corp has kept all our lakes on the high side of what I would consider normal for this time of year, With Bull staying above 660 for all but about 5 minutes over the last 9 months. Pathetic management. This one may have flooded BPS in Branson, and if that happened, then maybe Johnny will go to work for us.

I have fished at least one day of every event this group has had on Table Rock to the best of my recollection. I can tell you, that these guys put on one heck of a tournament. Everyone has to have a sustainable business model, and I get that completely. I wish the payouts were bigger in every event I fish; but they aren't and to make money fishing isn't a realistic goal for 99% of us. This is however one of an extremely few tournaments around that for under $200 I can fish for a small, but still existent shot at a $30K bass boat.

Judging purely off of previous years, the weights will be higher overall and Quill is likely correct, my guess would be at least a 7+ pounder to win. The bottom check weights probably won't be hugely different but marginally increased if my memory serves me correctly, but more fish over 5 lbs. to get the better checks is probably a safe bet. That being said my estimates for the Open were definitely not as accurate as some.

Been wondering about this one too, but have heard nothing about it.

Purely my opinion, but there are several baits that the fish are biting very well right now. I am pretty certain it was as much right place right time with a bait resembling the larger shad and it was game on, as it is precise bait selection.

I was wrong for sure.

LOL, We had a good day on Saturday. The fish seem to be scattered all over the place, catch one here doing this, and another here doing something completely opposite. We had a couple fish shallow on a spook early, some really nice brownies bit a jig, and there are some nice bass under docks. It was all over the place; it sure was a beautiful day.

I am very excited to find out. I am going with 40 pounds or so, which is basically the lower end of your range. 48 just seemed huge to me at first thought; someone will undoubtedly have a monster day, but even with a 20 lb. day they would need 2 consecutive 14 pound days. More than possible, but I am taking the under. I may just underestimating the level of competitors that are in this derby. I know these are some of the best. I can't get the weigh-in to load right now, but I am jacked up to watch this one unfold. Going to be very interesting.

If someone can go for 48 pounds on three consecutive days, my hats off to them.

"On another note, I have never seen the paddle fish jumping like they are now. I have almost hit at least 2 or 3 everytime out. They are jumping lake wide in droves. Looks like Grand lake up here." That would probably be more likely and explain the rounded bill. Makes sense I reckon. It was a good one for sure.

Guys, this is going to sound a little out there, but I saw a fish jump on Saturday. Call me crazy, but I would swear to you that it was an alligator gar. I was on plane and within sight of Kimberling City, but I would swear. The fish was huge and almost completely out of the water. I'd estimate it to be every bit of 55" long and I swear an alligator shaped mouth. Anyhow, thought I'd throw that out there.

I know in the past in the Oakley 1 angler can only have 3 fish in the livewell at once, they may hinder you in your Joe Bass chances. I always enjoyed the earlier in the year tournaments. Remember one year, it hailed right as the tournament was supposed to start. The fishing was amazing. The good ones can be in a bit of a funk around the middle of May for me.

I like.

Pretty interesting concept on this one.

Like the meme. We need to start a separate topic on jersey use by club tournaments and fun fishers to gather opinions on that topic, as I have some. I bet it would at least be good for a laugh.

Many of the guides posts and videos sometimes make it sound easier than it is. There is a very good bite in the James River of late, but if you miss it by even just a little you miss it almost completely. For me the good bite has been early and spotty to say the least, but if it all lines up just right you can catch some nice fish up there. Something I am figuring out more and more in life is that guides must make things as favorable as possible as fishing is their way of making a living. Not calling any out here, because I quite frankly just don't know. Lake Fork is an awesome example though. Oh my how the guide posts make things sound fantastic, but when you get there the fishing is most generally tough. Lake Fork is an amazing fishery and I have caught the biggest fish of my life there, but when I head down there no matter the optimism I see on the reports I know I am in for some tough fishing an a fairly decent shot at the fish of a lifetime. Anyhow, thanks for the honest fishing report. Hope you enjoyed your trip.

On our area lakes on the White River Chain yes the thermocline is huge in late summer. This year with the shallow thermocline the deep fish I am catching are right around 20 feet deep. When you get past 25 feet which is the current depth of the thermocline on the main lake of most of Table Rock, there are no fish to be seen on the graph. Are there a handful out past 25, yes, but nowhere near the number above it. Usually the thermocline is greater than 30 feet by this point as well as the fish. The water-flow apparently keeps the thermocline from setting up as deep as normal. I have spoke with mojorig fairly extensively about this event as well, another Biologist with the AGFC. I must say, I am convinced that this is due to low oxygen in water deeper than the thermocline, in fact it makes complete sense. Walleye love the deep water this time of year, and it is the deep water fish you see floating. Very, very, few largemouth bass floating. And I am a conspiracy theorist from way back. I will agree with you that the majority of tournaments are won in shallower than 20 foot of water, but I can guarantee you that on Table Rock, or any other clear water impoundment, maybe even your LOA in September, many of those wins are at very least supplemented with 2 or 3 fish caught in deeper than 20 foot of water. Some of them won entirely deeper that 20 FOW.

I will say I have seen it in high water events multiple times now, fish dying that is. I actually believe the biologist are onto something as well with the low O2 levels as it is effecting certain species of fish that seem to be more prone to low O2 levels. I mean I have eaten the dying fish before and I am a little off but I do not believe them to be toxic in any way. Again specific species are dying. I can tell you the thermocline is much shallower than it would normally be as well. September is probably the #1 month to pay attention to the thermocline in my opinion, but I'm no Pete Wenners.

12 lb test fluro of your choice. Right now you could use 20 with the color we have, but I'd say 12 lb test fluro is the most popular. The brands vary between angler, but if you like a specific brand it will work just fine IMO.