Fishin Hodge

I am in the Pete Wenners Fan Club.

Will agree with the dam area being really, really touch this weekend. Fished hard on Saturday and only managed 5 keeper bites, and every one of them was well earned. Over the past few weeks, this area has just gotten tougher and tougher for me. All the folks I was fishing with had brutal days as well. 1 fish doing this, another doing that, but rarely 2 doing the same thing.

Basically all of the real Ozarks are in AR, but we will allow S. MO to call themselves part of the Ozarks. But to allow Oklahoma to use the name Ozarks is just offensive.

Probably need to rethink that. I know of but one of two guides that still kill fish. That went out years ago. Even the few that do will only let a person take 1 or two. Most of the very top guides do not and have not killed a bass intentionally in years. My apologies Bill, was under the impression that clients could request keeping the fish.

And again I'll restate I do not have one ounce of ill will toward guides. I'd love to learn a thing or two from Mr. Bill sometime, and may do that someday. Just using guiding as an example of fishing leaving the water for money.

Well it was a fun day. The event was very well ran, and the staff was extremely courteous and helpful. Weighin was very well ran, just everything was done well. Staff even pulled my truck out for me at launch. I believe that 14 lbs won the shindig and last paying spot was to be 10th was 11 something to drawing the last check. Much tougher than many anticipated with the wind and all. It was the polar opposite of my kind of day, give me bluebird, but I did scrape together a small limit, 9.93. I have been getting a good bite shallow early, but I just flat didn't get that done today. If immature is the worst thing I'm called today, and so far it has been, then I think we can all chalk this one up in the win column. When I was a kid I use to love looking at the fish in the Bass Pro aquarium. Who am I kidding I still like to look at them. Everyone of those fish had to come from somewhere, and no matter where that was, someone wouldn't have liked at. Moral of the story, You might as well get them wherever you want. I've stated in the past, of the dozen guides on the Rock on any given day, 40 fish go home with their clients.... Every freaking day. One could say this is a much bigger problem, and I would say the exact definition of exploiting a fishery for money. And you know what, I don't have a problem with it, although it takes a visible toll on the fishery. Heck if I could catch more than 10 pounds I might even be a guide myself. It seems to me some like to jump on one fella and turn there back to some others that more or less do the same thing. i.e. exploit the fishery for money.

Pleasant suprise, I am boat 62, it is gonna push 70. How about that CPA. Seems many of my anglers aren't that concerned with the 40 quarantined fish.

I think the fellas are looking at tournaments with 200 to 350 entry fees. Tomorrow is 175, I will be 300 deep I figure unless I take a wild hair.

I will say there seems to be some ill will toward the CPA here, founded or not couldn't tell ya. I will not disagree that it is difficult to make money fishing these, but I enjoy them and am going to try like heak. Discouraging would definately describe my day on the lake, but so goes October fishin in the ozarks. Lets all play nice and I'll see you or I won't in the mornin.

Yeah that is a little hard for me to understand what it takes to draw big numbers. On the same note, Big bass tournaments seem to be doing really well too. I have fished half a dozen in the past 4 or 5 years, and I must say that are rather enjoyable. I just wish there was better participation like in some of the days of old, but for the most part 30+ boats is an honestly good turnout now for most stuff. On this theme, I was thinking it may be a decent idea to mention some of the better tournament organizations you guys have fished that you enjoy. Some organizaitions/trails I consider to be some of the better ones now: Ozark Mountain Team Trail Central Pro-Am Joe Bass Anglers in Action Oakley Big Bass Winter Bass-O-thon Winter Bass Series BFL Anybody have any additional trails/orgs they recomend for those looking to fish some tournaments?

I can't argue with you there champ. I am in a unique situation to live about 45 minutes from the ramp, and won't be out of a lot of extra money, but still, unless a fella can pull a top 5, it is a loser, but anymore, what tournament isn't. On a better note, I do enjoy the fall tournaments on Table Rock, if I have a strength, which is debateable, that would be it. It looks like an attempt to involve some of the more local guys in the area that will throw down $170 to fish, but shy away from a two day $300+ entry fee that travels to several lakes that we/they lack experience on. September next year championship, 4 tournaments. Bacially just hopeful between the two fall tournaments I might squek away and break even. Anytime I can fish and do that, I call it a victory. I am hopeful several will show up, I'll be sure to report back my feelings on the experience.

The Central Pro Circuit starts this Saturday. It is a little restrictive on who can fish it, (no guides/noone making > $10K fishing in the past 5 years). Wish they would open it up a little more to get more participants, but I can say I easily qualify to fish. Kinda excited to do this little series. http://webboutdoors.com/2015-info/central-pro-circuit/2015-pro-circuit-schedule/

I have to agree with Bo. Man things have changed over the past 10 years. Bull Shoals was not immuned to the issue either. The larger specimens in the deep water are getting tougher to catch every year as far as I can tell. More and more of the largest stringers are coming from the shallows. Years ago a guy could deep fish this time of year exclusively and be in contention, but anymore it seems you have to either mix it up with a handful of good shallow fish. I've only seen one, four pound black caught this year in 30 + foot of water on the bottom in my boat. Still catch some nice blacks on the main lake, but it is not from the deep water with regularity, at least for me. I have always held onto that the good largemouths and those magnum spots would come around, but it just doesn't seem like it is happening. The days of numbers of 2 1/2 to 3 lb KY's is long gone. I attribute that at least in part to the amount of guide pressure the lake sees. There is absolutley no telling how many KY's are caught a week in a guide boat. I believe the size has decreased and the big ones that are left are sharp as tacks from dodging drop shots every day. I do not believe the deep bite will come back to what it was, but man do I wish it would.

Thanks for posting Quill.

Being the good guy that Mike seems to be, I am fairly sure he has done all he can to ensure these fish are returned safely to the water. I agree with Jerry for once, we are talking about a negligible amount of fish in a worst case scenerio if zero fish are returned to Table Rock. Guides that allow clients to keep a mess of fish to eat, which I have absolutley no problem with, are a much larger detriment to the bass population than is the Central Pro Am. I plan on fishing with them next year. Would like to give that Table Rock, 1 man in the boat series a shot. Mike, I hope you do what you need to to take Central Pro Am back into the glory years. BASS hauls fish all over the place for weigh-ins. A day in the well on the Rock, is much rougher on fish than the actual ride to BPS Springfield in my opinion.

I wanted to let everyone know we will be having the 2nd Annual HBOR fishing touranment in memory of Chicken Hodge this September at Diamond City. Last year we took out of Moonshine Beach on Table Rock, but the decision to move this one back to Bull Shoals this year has been made. We had a great tournament last year and expect this one to grow quickly. We'll have some great prizes for the fishermen and food for all involved. Last year we gave away a bunch of great stuff from Rods and Reels, grocery gift cards, Visa Cards, you name it we gave it away to show our appreciation. There will be a chance to take a Special Olympian Fishing after the tournament for all that wish to volunteer for that. I can tell you my experience in doing that last year was so much more enjoyable than I had imagined. We caught some perch and my smile was bigger than the Olympians I had the pleasure of meeting. Please make plans to attend this year. I'll be posting more information on the specifics as it becomes available. Thanks, Aaron Hodge

I am a real amature compared to the 150+ guys on here, but for me elms have been the best for me this year. I am usually a sycamore finder, but you take em where you find em.

Glad to see an AGFC guy reach out to the area fishermen on an open forum. Refreshing. Hope to hear from you often.

Water temps on Tuesday were from the upper 50's to the lower 60's. There are bass in the bushes around the shoreline and some of them are making beds. You can catch of few on just about anything in the right areas. There are still some fish out in the 10-20 foot range too, and those were a little better fish on average for me. I have not caught a walleye in a couple months now, but haven't tried. I am sure they are there for the taking. My guess would be the flatter water coming out of the creeks, possibly even out in the main lake, in the 20 foot range, purely speculation there though.

If they close it off, they can probably plan to replace the copper lines yearly, because thiefs hate places that are restricted to keep an honest man out. I kinda hope it gets stolen if they close the park in the winter.

You can say that again. I'll be in contact with you sir. Going to be fishing some this weekend and through the week next week/turkey hunting.

Flyer VFW.pdf

Guys, Great tournament out of Diamond City April 26th 7 - 3 to benifit local veterans and military in their times of need. 60% pay back and a cook out after the weigh-in. Attaching a flyer for it, so spread the info. Great cause!

54 pounds seems to be a real repeatable number for a four day winning weight. A local can catch 18 or 20 on a weekend, but that is one very fortunate local, for 1 day. 61 pounds last year was just unbelievable for Beaver to me and what little I know about it.