kjackson

Kings River was muddy yesterday when I crossed it in Berryville...

I've been boat shopping for well over a year now, and Jason is pretty much right on the money about motors-- the standard brands are all pretty good. What is more important than brand is service. You need to have a good service shop that can take care of things when and if they go wrong. This is especially true with new motors--you don't want to drive four hours to get a motor worked on under warranty; at least, I don't. As for new versus slightly used: I'm on the fence here. I'd like to buy new, but I get stopped by that first-year depreciation business (similar to a car, I'm thinking). I've seen enough low-hour boats of recent vintage on offer that I feel confident I can pick one that will be in very good condition for a lot less than new. It takes patience, but saving several thousand dollars means that I can spend the difference for upgraded electronics, a different trolling motor, and so on--while still coming in under "new" price for a basic package boat. As mentioned earlier, it's important to have a list of things you need/want in a boat and keep that in mind. It's easy to be distracted and make a choice that doesn't take into consideration what you really need. I've done that a couple of times and don't want to do it again.

I would like to attend as part of the ground crew. I can't fish, but I can do some tote-and-carry stuff, get in the way, etc.

I fish the dam end more than upstream but haven't spent much time there in the spring. Having said that, my game plan would be to start with a jerkbait, following that with a slow-rolled fluke. I would also spend some time going back into creek arms and cranking flats. Since this end of the lake seems to have a lot of smallmouth, I would think that finding flats between winter sanctuaries and spawning areas would provide you with some pre-spawn fish. An Iowa guy turned me onto the approach: small crankbaits, 6-pound test and a spinning rod--cast a long way on the flats and cover water. Smallies will jerk the rod out of your hand when they hit! I've caught fish elsewhere in 34-degree water doing this. Failing all that, I would put the boat back on the trailer and head to the Houseman or Holiday Island launches on the river portion of Table Rock (they're relatively close to the dam) and fish the river for walleyes or trout (you'd need a trout stamp for the latter).

Sorry, Ham. All I have are 9s. But thanks to you, I'm going to move them up into the serious box...may have to give them a workout this year.

Trout? You just want fatter stripers! I agree, though, that stocking would be a great idea for Beaver--either trout or kokanee should survive well in the deep end during the summer. I do like kokanee (naturally landlocked sockeye salmon that usually grow to trout size), as they are lake spawners and could establish a spawning population.

I may have one or two kicking around. I'll check when I can get back in my shop. It's iced in at the moment.

Talked to a friend who does Shimano's PR, and he said the Gantarel sold out at the Classic--to the tune of 300 of them, so you're not the only one who bit. I did some surfing and came across glide baits--like a swimbait in appearance and size but fished differently. Supposedly, if worked properly, they will cause a bass to commit because they're not fished in a straight line. I'd like to see some open water (or above freezing temps) to test that out.

Let's see--Yakima Bait's FatFish (not the Flatfish), but it's out of production. Same shape with a deeper dive and awful colors is one. Another West Coast bait is Brad's Wigglers--supposedly made from original molds (but I would not hold much credence in that) in a bunch of colors. Luck-E-Strike has its version also. The FatFish and SK 3XD are what I use besides the new "original" Warts. The Strike King Series 4 is supposed to hit the right depth and have the right wobble, but I've not fished it.

PFDs are a must to wear whenever you fish alone. A point I have to remember. Having said that, if you do fall overboard, then you can get back in the boat--or get better situated--by straddling your big motor and hitting the trim switch. In most cases, it will lift you out of the water, and that should make it easier to get on board. While I haven't tried it, a walleye tournament pro mentioned that he had done the same thing when he went over. I'm not sure if the trim would work in Ardister's case as he is a big dude--340 pounds might be more than a trim pump can handle. However, getting some of your body out of the water would make it easier to get a foot on the swim ladder or on the back deck, especially if you're wearing heavy clothes.

Thanks; I know where the next batch of whites are going. When I smoked the two I did just before Christmas, I left the skin on and used the same dry rub I would for salmon: brown sugar, salt, a little pepper, a little garlic and then air dried. The results were pretty good for flavor, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. I'll try skin off and then play with the rub next time.

On the Stormr gear-- I have the Stryker coat, and it is the best I've used if you're sitting in a boat fishing. Wear it while doing something active, and you'll be too warm. A friend does a lot of photography and video work for various companies in the fishing biz. He has the complete Stormr set and said that the trouble with Stormr is that you have to learn to dress appropriately. I fished with him last year just after ice-out on Lake Ontario and Erie where we had ice packs floating by the boats all day long and a killer cold wind. I was wearing a full complement of Guidewear and layers of warm clothes--read that fleece. My friend could only wear shorts and a t-shirt and wool socks under the Stormr gear, and he was warm all day. Fit is interesting, and may be a problem for some folks--meaning you'll have to try it on to get the size right. I normally wear an XL Tall, but my coat is an XXL and it fits, but I'm pretty sure an XL would be snug.

I think have some lighter pound tests if you want to try them as well. I believe I have two and four-pound test and perhaps even one-pound if I can find it. If you want, I'll strip off a few feet for your test, and you can try them. Just PM me your address.

Quick question--do you smoke the whites with the skin on or off? I smoked a couple with the skin on before Christmas and was pleased with the results, but the fish were a bit on the smallish side.

My wife said that if Mercer called the trophy a "bad boy" again, she was going to shoot the TV. There was way too much dead air filled in by the emcees asking people to scream. And what did that movie montage, played small, have to do with bass fishing? Did I miss the intro?

Watched the weigh-in last night, and one of the fishermen, Walker maybe?, said he changed up to the Shadow Rap and caught the four fish he weighed. I think that was the only mention of a jerkbait bite--except that there wasn't one-- in both weigh ins.

No-- I got this when Iovino was in full form. Haven't used it much, but I'm thinking RPS's rod might make a good complement. Randy--If you're thinking of testing threads, perhaps you should try some low-test Crystal Fireline...that might disappear as well and could be easier to to wrap.

I love the job you did on that...very nice!

No upgrade...straight from Japan when Abu/Pure Fishing was doing their "global marketplace" marketing thing. The idea was that you could order any Pure Fishing product that was sold anywhere in the world through your local dealer. That gave fishermen access to gear that was made for the Japanese and European markets.

I'll be interested as well to see how this goes. I've got a sweet Abu 2500 that needs something to do...

I was a guest, so I can't speak to rates. However, you can reach him by calling his number on his website: peacekeeper charters.com The guy is a blast to fish with...

Fished with Peace last October, and I'll second what SK said. Marvel's the man. We didn't hit yellowfin but loaded up on blackfin and snapper. Even caught four blackfin on a Rat-L-Trap.

I've been a big fan of G.Loomis rods for years and did a lot of light-gear fishing with them back in the day. If I were to gear up again specifically for the little rig, I'd use one of Gary's Spin Jig Rods, preferably the SJR 721. I had one of those I built on an IM-6 blank that was perfect for fishing 1/16-1/4 ounce leadheads with a ringworm, grub, 4-inch ribbon tail worm or walleye tube. However, the newer Loomis fibers aren't quite the same as the IM-6 (haven't tried the E-6 rods yet or the revised IMX), and I like a bit softer rod than the IMX blanks in that 721 version. Having said that, Loomis is designing blanks for his new company, North Fork Composites, and if you can get one of those blanks in the Mag Bass or Spin Jig series (or whatever he's calling NFC's versions, I'd jump on that.

For a small fee, I'll let you try the one I have next time we go out, and you can judge for yourself.

An inch in Eureka, but it's over a bit of ice.