fishinwrench

I'll maintain that the quickest way to figure out any kind of fish is to choose a lake arm (or even scale it down to a single decent sized cove) and fish nowhere else until you can catch fish in that cove at any given time. You learn less about the lake, but alot more about THE FISH by doing that. The most consistent Big Blue cat fisherman that I know has a boat that never travels out of Cartwright.

How do you get arrested AT HOME and charged with not wearing a seat belt?

Cool, I didn't figure they had enough water there.

PM coming

I have no info on the Osage below Bagnell but there was a pod of big ones found all the way down by Porter mill bend a couple days ago, and they were still there yesterday. Suspended at 12'-16' during mid-day. Sounds like bigger ones there than what's being caught around and above Proctor.

Where'd y'all launch at, Seth?

Have Smalliebigs check with his buddys at Bassin Bob I know, I know...That was uncalled for. Stop by if you're in my area, I'd be glad to help. (Easier to show than it is to tell).

I like that fat headed one, Dutch. Nice work.

The only "conspiracy theory" that I buy into is that they draw it down during Winter so the ground will freeze, thereby keeping the milfoil from taking hold. And of course to make room for Spring runoff without flooding areas below Bagnell. Personally I miss the weed beds of the 80's, and having water up in the bushes after a deluge. Good times!

In tight spots with a boat in tow I love the 4-Auto button on my 99 Z71, You can just do what you need to do and let the transfer case and differentials sort it all out. No binding and feeling like the truck is trying to rip itself apart.

How big of a boat? Jon boat=Yeah, 20' bass boat= maybe, Pontoon=prolly not.

People who don't like "fish" eat crappie because with crappie all you can taste is whatever you coated it in. You could save all that fish cleaning and just make hushpuppies out of your breading and PRETEND there's crappie meat in it. Nobody would ever know the difference. LOL

You got it. Plus you can control the thickness of the layer of each dip by altering the temp of your goo. Cooler temps give you thicker layers, ect. Oh....and you can not use salt with this method, it just won't work.

Not trying to split hairs here, but the creek channel runs right along the south bluff bank from the access all the way to Stokers point. At 655 though you are safe to run out of the flat if you run parallel and about 40 yards out from the South bank for the first 1/2 mile. If you run the middle between the ramp and the mouth of little Gravi at less than 657.0 there are 2 big pieces of wood that can get ya. They get shook about 4 times a week.

I have, using the dip method. I used pegboard pegs and would dip twice deep (4"), then 2 more times shallow (2") to give them tapered tails. If you want a 2 or 3 tone you just dip the sides using a modified pan. To cut the tails you just have to make a block with blades and spacers. Keep your cutting block well lubed with cooking oil and you'll get nice clean cuts. I had 8 pegs mounted to a piece of wood so I could dip 8 at a time and it worked out great. Here's 4 patterns that absolutely kill on LO I lost all my stuff in a tornado but have enough tubes made up to last me a little while longer. If by chance you start making them like this I'll gladly buy from you as I really have no desire to start dipping them again. One thing is for certain....you can't mass produce a tube that'll do what these babys will do. I'm kinda interested to see if anybody here (from back in the day) knows where I learned how to make them.

Who gives a rats asp ? What matters to ME is that this date last year we had a foot more water, and the year before that we had almost 3 foot more water ON THIS DATE. And when I am sitting here anticipating a run of Fat & Sassy & Horney White bass.....10 inches of water can make or break the deal. There's a hump of built up sediment in the flats that needs a lake level of at least 657 for the fish to get past. Otherwise they (for the most part) are "lake-locked". So for Dog sake please stop debating and name dropping white collars at Ameren ....and use that energy to start RAIN DANCING!

What's the hull width on the paddle jon? 32"?

Or he could decide that he's eaten enough rabbits already, come to the conclusion that rabbits really aren't that big of a threat to his cause, and stop spreading the word that all rabbits need to be eradicated immediately upon sight. Maybe....just MAYBE there are too many dogs and not enough rabbits. Besides, there are other things to eat besides rabbit all the time. I for one appreciated the dogs more when they ate mostly doughnuts, and would come (tail a'waggin) when they were called. Instead of running around in packs looking for $#!t to eat all the time.

Oh yeah, they'll lock you through in a canoe if you pull the rope I think. I've locked through in a 16' jon boat plenty of times. I think by law they have to.

The dog that stops to wonder "why" will never catch a rabbit.

Aw c'mon now. Stoned drivers don't "tear up the roads" They already know that whether the drive is 2 miles or 200 it is gonna take FOREVER to get there, so why hurry ?

I hit it right on the NFOW once during a white caddis hatch and had a blast. I whipped up an imitation back at the truck consisting of a lime green body w/ a white wing (#14) X-Caddis style, and the fish bought it in a big way. That's the only time that "whipping up a match" streamside has ever worked out for me anywhere. I went home and tied about 30 of those, and got back down there as quick as I could (4 days later)..... but it was over when I returned.

Of all the things a person throws his money at, a boat should be the last one he'd complain about.

I'm not a big fan of the "partnership " arrangement, somebody always gets screwed. If it's a fresh boat then there is going to be insurance, maintenance, storage, and grooming (upkeep). It's inevitable that one of you is going to get cranky at one point or another......and there's no room for that in your "fishing life". If it's a beater/fixer-upper then there is going to be parts and tech bills.....and we ain't exactly cheap. Just consider all things before jumping in. Fishing needs to stay enjoyable and be as stress free as possible.

Haven't ridden it since the thaw. I will get on it soon though. They had a big fire over there Monday, I'm not sure how much land got torched. The wind was insane so I was kinda concerned.