Pepe

Thanks for the help guys. We got into them with the Ned today once we found them down near Baxter. I got some good advice to pick something and stick with it. Everyone had a blast. Thanks again.

We had our first really bad day in months. We just could not get bit. Each of us ended the day with 2 fish. Several folks from here were very kind and provided some detailed tips about what was happening now, since we have been away for several weeks. I am sure the problem was me, because we watched a guy catch a half dozen short fish near docks in 10-15 ft of water on a little green worm. We threw the Ned, Flukes, worms , grubs, hula grubs, Split shot rigs & tubes. I caught both of mine on a 1/2 FB Jig in (you called it) about 12 ft of water. I admit to being steadily distracted by work calls but really hoped to get on something, since I need to get (what I hope will be) my future daughter-in law bit tomorrow. Thanks again for the intel, guys. I hope to make better use of it tomorrow. On the blessing side it was absolutely gorgeous between rain showers and we even got a rainbow. I am astoundingly grateful every day I am able to to be on this beautiful lake.

There are now over 100 mushroom heads in 3/32 oz at Sport Boats in Shell Knob. Some have light wire guards, some have heavier wire guards and some have no guard. All have #1 hooks. All proceeds go toward breast cancer research. I saw some pink T shirts this year that said "Save 2nd base";)

It looks like I will get a few hours to fish out of SK in the next couple days. I figure to work when it storms and play when it doesn't. My son, who loves to fish, is bringing his girlfriend after work on Friday, who has never caught a fish, so is not very confident or enthusiastic. My son REALLY wants to get her bit. Frankly, I think he wants to marry her and hopes they can enjoy this as much as his mother & I do. What do you think? Ned Rig? Fluke? Spinnerbaits in the wind? Ill need to get home for a Sunday commitment so time will be short They are both fairly recently discharged veterans who saw more than any of us should. War brought them together and I hope fishing can help them get that out of their system. If she can fly, she should be able to handle a bait caster,I'm thinking. Feel free to pm me if you have some thoughts

I am sure they would if there was enough supply. I have everything needed to produce more, except time.

A gentleman was recently kind enough to contact me with a concern related to federal taxes on baits. It is a subject I have become very familiar with but have not previously discussed on this forum. Every tackle supplier must pay 10% Federal Excise Tax. This includes any product related to fishing. Of course, that cost is passed on to you, the consumer. It may be hard to believe, but the federal government can also apply this tax to baits that are given away. In an oversimplified nutshell, if the IRS decides it is applicable, they require 10% of the value of the bait - supposedly. even if 100% of the money goes to a registered charity. Two (2) separate CPA's I spoke with agree that the intent related to taxing free baits seems to be directed toward for-profit firms whose products are sometimes given away as promotional items. But the rule is not well defined (hard to believe that so many written words can shed so little light) and some believe it applies to all baits - period. Based on expert advice, there are several ways to address this issue. Either the retailer or the wholesaler/manufacturer must pay the tax, but not both. I will be utilizing a tackle shop that already files quarterly. I have also incorporated the work into an existing charitable trust that we often use for our tithe. I am assured this keeps us on the pond and not in a cell. I firmly believe "give unto Caesar what is Caesar's" also serves as solid tax advice.

I wonder how much the cold water shad kill affects the patterns. We have fished mostly upriver from Campbell Point this year and we have had a larger percentage of LM & SM than usual. The White's have been conspicuously absent, however. That's what has me wondering if it's related to the shad.

I really appreciate the offers for the plastic and am sure that someone more talented than I am could make them work. However, I have not been able to make remelts work well for the colors I am making. Getting the exact tints, highlights, glitter color, quantity & size mixed with the right amount of salt, softener & stabilizer is hard enough for me with virgin plastisol. The items that will be available include Football jigs with Gami hooks, custom paints colors and very full skirts. There are 5 or 6 "regular" natural colors that have been best received by the folks who have been using them. Most are 1/2 oz size. There are also some prototype colors. 3/32 oz Mushroom (Ned) Head in 3 varieties. Twisted wire guard, light wire guard and open hook Half-length soft stickbaits in dark GP with Orange, Purple & Copper glitter. These are very salty but nowhere near as durable as the elaztech. There are also a few sets of pre-rigged baits. More colors to come. Leggy Centipedes in very light "Watermelon Red and a darker color I call "Spiced Melon" Spoons with built-in swivels in 3 sizes. Most are white but there are some pink and pearl orange. All have premium treble hooks. Some have feathered trebles Wobble-head jigs and paddle-tail swimbaits are on the to-do list as are some slim stickbaits and creature baits. Please stop by Sport Boats if your near Shell Knob. Baits should be in place by next weekend. We hope folks will like the baits and we can raise some money for an excellent cause.

This is a useful method for removing the hook for a "gut-hooked" fish. http://www.in-fisherman.com/2014/04/17/through-the-gill-hook-removal/

I wish I could do this in at least one more area shop, because these are designed and tested specifically for Table Rock. Unfortunately, I have limited time with only 8 fingers and 2 thumbs.

Sport Boats in Shell Knob has opened a tackle store and will be displaying our baits for the benefit of breast cancer research. I will have some stock in the store before next weekend including Ned jigs with spiral cable guards, with thin wire guards and some with no guards. There will also be prepared plastic baits to go with the heads. I will have about a half-dozen football jig variations available also. I will make and donate the baits and Ken will display and assist you with them. Thanks for your support. I hope to increase the selection soon but now have projects in Nebraska & North Dakota. Thanks to all who provided feedback.

We did not get out until very late morning but found plenty of nice SM eager for the swimbait between Big Creek and Baxter. Most were about this size give or take 1/2 inch. We were really blessed with a beautiful and fun day.

We started up the White this morning but weren't having much luck, so we headed down lake where the water was a bit warmer and just a little more stained. It was a great day on soft plastic swim baits with the Ned mixed in. We did not count them but we sure enjoyed the day. I fear the all day peaceful water will be over for the summer by next weekend

That is a big trout. Oddly enough I saw some swirling top water action last weekend fishing off San Souci point in the White River and it turned out to be a good sized trout. It wasn't 3 pounds and I did not land it. It chased my swimbait and bit the tail off but we got a real good look at it.

I fish it like a jig & pig, letting it vibrate on the fall and then pumping it off the bottom. It has worked for me along shady bluffs in summer and cover in fall.

Nice fish. Congratulations. Thanks for the report

I agree Nanofil is a PIA in a breeze. I try to cast sidearmed and then still have to "fix" the line after it hits the water.

I like the 3/32 oz head and am experimenting with different hooks to see which is easiest to remove from the fish without injury. So far the odd angled Matzuo seems to work best for that. Nanofil with a long FC leader is what I have been using for long casts. The Nanofil is slow to sink so it offsets the slightly heavier jig. I also learned not to put the baits on the hook and store them in the boat. The heavy salt and moisture corrode the hook. I lost 2 nice fish to broken hooks recently.

On Table Rock or LOZ?

Are all these bass boats for the Shriners? There sure were a lot of them. We were fishing inside of a point at the mouth of a creek and the boats were coming out of the back like a train. That was about 3 PM

We have some non-fishing guests so have not been able to fish as much as I would like. Yesterday morning we hit it at 6 hoping for a topwater bite that did not materialize. In the afternoon we drug wobble heads and had great luck, though I spent a lot of time helping our guests. We went out from 1 to 4:30 today and did very well on white flukes.

Sounds like a great day. Thanks for the report. I sure wish I was there.

Thanks, Champ. The radar looked threatening so we headed home, but were tempted

We had our 33rd annual family & friends fishing derby on TR this past weekend and while the fishing was very good, I am glad it is over. Fishing and competition just doesn't work well for me. I decided during the event that this would be my last one. We were catching 14.5 inch Spots, having a great time and realized we needed to leave and find bigger fish. That just bothered me. We did end up with the winners plaque by virtue of a couple 5 lb bass that put over the top. We fished between the SK Bridge and Baxter and mostly drug centipedes. The biggest, a 5.5lb LM was caught on a Wiggle-Wart, but we had a blast working wobble-head jigs and GP with purple & copper plastic. Almost all fish were in 6 to 10 ft of water. I also tried a product called bait-buttons and it really works as advertised. http://www.baitbuttons.com/

Nice bag of fish. Congratulations on the win and thanks for the report