*T*

? Based upon my couple of weeks on the lake this year, Table Rock bass population is thriving, spots, LM & SM. We also caught some vgood walleye, crappie & giant whites.

Well comments about the fish eaters by calling them "catch and kill" group, or "sawing the sides off of bass", or "too many fillet knives hurting the population", or "knifers" is also inflammatory and "in your face". Not any more or less appropriate for this site than "fish taco" comments. Haven't seen the C&R group called obsessive/compulsive extremists (yet). Hmmm......this is from MO. Dept. of Conservation "Keep or release? The tournament pros would tell you to release any largemouth you catch. But keeping largemouth, in accordance with regulations, also aids in keeping the fishery in that body of water healthy. A water body with a good balance of sport fishes (such as largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish) and baitfish will consistently produce good numbers and sizes of each. Be sure to check the regulations each time you take a fishing trip, and feel free to bring home your limit of largemouth. Some people (maybe the same ones who release all they catch) believe largemouth are not tasty. This view, in my experience, is not the case. Largemouth bass fillets are a flaky, white meat similar to walleye, and their flavor is richer than other sunfish like crappie and bluegill. If you enjoy eating these types of fish, you will find largemouth bass appealing. Largemouth bass can be prepared in the same ways as most other lean, white-fleshed fish. My preferred method is to roll the fillets in a mixture of cornmeal, flour, and spices to taste, then deep fry in oil or shortening at 350 to 400 F. This is a great way to enjoy largemouth bass. Keeping the oil closer to 400 F is best, due to the thickness of most fillets. If the temperature drops much below 350 F, the meat will absorb more of the oil and become soggy. Next time you get a craving for fish, catch some largemouth bass and try them for dinner. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how great it is!"

You are a better man than I regarding the "front-ending" you experienced. I will try to learn from your response. Hope others hear your concern and reconsider cutting off other fishermen.............but they probably won't. Lacking courtesy/common sense much?

Agree.....somewhat. And subject worthy of a thread of its own. 1. Action (or lack of action) 2. High similarity/profile to currently available or preferred prey 3. Color (as it relates to #2^) 4. Your confidence factor base upon prior experience 5. Flash, as it relates to blades or metallic surfaces, especially in water with low visibility 6. Vibration/sound, ditto...low visibility situations

Yeah, but the word is out that you are a pro crappie guy and can catch 'em in a rain mud puddle.

Rest in Peace, Sac River Jim.

Good report. I miss fishing Norfork. Been maybe 6 or 7 years since. Enjoyed many trips in Feb. - April catching shallow stripers on artificials, with a mix of bass, walleye, big catfish & whites/hybrids. How does the striper bite/population compare now vs. 5 to 10 years ago. Numbers? Big fish? Considering a few extended trips to get after some. Thanks & good fishing.

Doubt anything can stop Mother Nature's fish spawn. Maybe a dramatic lake draw down could hurt it. It's survival of fry that is the big question mark.

Fish have eggs year round.

Obsession n. noun 1. Compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety. 2. A compulsive, often unreasonable idea or emotion.

Amazing picture.

Amazing picture!!

I would never, ever, complain about catching small fish. Heck, some of them think they are 4-pounders the way they pull. There are trips when that kind of bite saves the day. And we release all of them anyway...................right? Oops!

As with most things in life, it is not attractive to be a hard-butt extremist on either side of an issue. But if that is where your heart and values place you, what else can you do? I must confess my sin. I eat an occasional bass and they are tasty. I also have released thousands of 15"ers and giants over 50+ years fishing Table Rock. No guilty conscience here. Got to say though that there appears to be a more than healthy population of bass right now in TR (maybe not size wise), and, yes, would like for the lake to continue to thrive and improve. Thanks to all who show concern for the lakes well-being, which ever side of this discussion they are on. Good fishing!

[with a small wave of his hand] This is not the creek you're looking for. You can go about your business. Move along.

Was fishing Pt 9 to Pt 12 all of last week. Rather than being scattered, bass & whites were stacked up on some secondary points. Could catch a dozen or so without moving much. Bite every cast when first arriving. Come back to same point 48 hours later and same deal. Some were busting but many were in the 15 to 35" range and very aggresive. Also big schools of kentuckys were concentrated off of the end of some of the deep boat docks. If you're not getting bit keep'a moving. 7 - 9:30 was best bite. As is always the case, some winds makes the difference, especially mid-day. Good luck out there.

Only 25 more posts and this thread (of mostly worthless wasted words) will achieve the status of the most responded to post ever. I know we can do it.

I am thankful that you C & Released that nice buck so that he could reproduce more bucks for my children and their children. Why would people not keep some other game for food? Why deer? Sorry, had to go there.

Swim a grub or swim bait off of secondary points or slightly around the sides of points, 15' - 35'. If you don't find fish on the first one try others. They are really stacked up on some points with a mix of whites, SM, LM & spots. Often they are chasing bait fish. If he can cast a little bit, the grub bite is not too difficult for a young'un to handle....cast and wind it back. Most any color will work and first 3 - 4 hours of the day will be best. A bit of wind would be a major plus for this bite. Or, as others have suggested, a crawler on a weighted rig is hard to beat. Hope you have a good outing.

So you are thinking that, secretly, they are one in the same person? Hmmm...yes, I see the similarities.

Salute!

Well, they still can't resist a fish dr. on a mojo that they've seen a million of, so guess I've answered my own question.

Most of you know how baits can see a resurgence after not being seen by fish for a season or two. Looking forward to that for the next couple of years with my old tackle, as every boat on the lake has spinning rods with 6# and Varmits tied on. That's all they see now-a-days. Think they'll ever wise up?

Yes, much of the deep hook issue has to do with lack of recognition of a fish eating your bait. Soft plastic, tasty, salty baits will get totally devoured if you let them eat and eat and eat. Identifying a bite as soon as possible, knowing what it feels like when a fish is holding your jig, worm, creature bait, then hooking them quickly, in the mouth, is the goal. I've seen it many times where those unfamiliar with what a fish on the bait feels like, (not a strong bite), wait so long that the fish is deeply hooked. Yes it's going to happen, but when fishing with soft plastics, just like fishing with bait, quick recogniton will minimize occurrences.