Dewayne French

I haven't personally been out on the Fork in a few weeks but all reports are Topwater is working until sun up and during the day on cloudy overcast days. Last time I was out we caught several whites by the big island to the east of Holiday hills on small swimbaits and rat l traps. I was on Table Rock this weekend and did decent on topwater and lizards for bass. I plan to be out on Fork sat as well. Good luck

What you must first look at in names of fish is that most names we as fishermen use are actually specific to a general area of the country. Most of the time is not the "correct" common name for that species. Much like white and black crappie are called specks, white perch, and the list goes on in different parts of the country. The "Goggle eye" talked about here for us around the highland lakes of Ark/Mo here is a variant of 3-species... Ozark Bass-Shadow Bass-and Rock Bass 3 actual species (that look re-close to each other) . Down in south Arkansas and other areas the goggle eye is actually our specie called the Green Sunfish . The Green sunfish up here is a separate stand alone specie but it has many common names---Shad Perch, Big mouth perch, and Rice field slick. But you see where I'm going with this..

Very nice and the water has a good color also. I thought it was supposed to be colored up from KC to Mid long Crk area. Am I off on my areas

Bill I got one word UDAMAN!!! That's some very good info right there. I don't understand that or what trigger's these fish to do what they do and I try to hard to figure it out. Like we all over think it 99% of the time. Most generally it is not Rocket science. good info Bill thanks for your sharing of info..

I was fixing to ask the same question on the date, but to add to this. Man aren't these Spots fat little piggys Geez they are almost popping!! Good catches for sure my man

And here I thought I was the only one that had trips like that

My crappie fishing is worse than my Bass fishing & that has a lot to be desired most of them time. I love tring to catch crappie, I'm just not that good to stay on top of the colors and head sizes and all the technical stuff for them, they are worse than bass. This time of the year and in the fall I really like to catch White Bass. I know it is hard to believe a bass fishing guy likes to catch whites. But hey they are usually a no brainier & if you know me at all I'm in to the no brainier type of fishing. My Dad and his fishing Buddy could catchem on Norfork every spring pretty good on minnows, but I never had the knack. The points and short sections that had BIG rocks were the key it seemed like on Sat. It is almost like they (bass) are using them and the shallow shelf rocks to sun on "warm up the old bones as the old timers say". That's when I went to the fluke after it got warmer and I caught all my shorts on it with one good LMB to mix in.

Water Temp had dropped back to 51.5-52 Am but was 53-54 at 2p Clear main 10-12' visibility main to stained in the back of some pockets (not all) Best lures Crankbaits, Gizits, & some Fluke fish also 8 am-2 pm Had a decent day with 6 keepers and 10/12 shorts. I didn't get started until around 8 had to meet a buddy and his wife at Connie's for breakfast. Horrible way to start your day I know, breakfast before you go fishing. but I gave in to peer pressure and ate.. Water temp was way colder than 13th last time I was there. Started in some small cuts and points. Took a while to get them figured out, but points and Rocks seemed to be the deal (Go figure that on Bull nothing earth shattering in this report!!) . Wind wasn't as good as I would like to have had, but if you found the right spot those fish would still eat the crankbait. Man those Kentuckies are Fat as town Dogs Geez I had 2 that where 17" and looked to be almost that round, didn't get a good picture of them but this Spot in the picture was a good respectable one. the LMB picture was just a normal run of the mill keeper nothing special. Got off the water at 2 talked with Steve and the boys at the shop for a while. Between them, the Fish and Connie's Breakfast it was a great day to out even with all the pollen in the air.

As they say the wind is your friend... I guess I had a lot of FRIENDS SAT because it was a crankin

Had a decent day Sat. 9a-4p water temps 55-60 caught fish from bank to 6 feet. Ended up with 20 short bass and 6 good keepers and 1 big crappie. Went for whites and crappie but after 1 crappie on a shad Rap and no whites resorted to catching bass. Small A Rig by UnderBite custom tackle boys out of Yellville & a square bill was the ticket. Oh yeah it was windy if no one noticed..Just a little FYI

Adam is a cool dude and Thanks for the shout out. I don't know a lot of people on here (personally) just from the forum names. But I really enjoy meeting you guys and gals. I did have an awful practice day Friday, but in my defense I was running and looking not really fishing a lot. I suffered from a long fog delay which hurt my early clear water bite and my shallow fish had a ton of dead shad in there from a wind shift over night and they were not eating (my Baits) like they where sat when the were absolutely yanking the rod out of your hand. I can even catch those type of fish. But all in all not a win but satisfaction was gained on my part. I have fished Bull more this winter than an time in my life and I always am humbled by it. Adam was way more consistent than I was in his weight and that's what I need. In seems like to me & I can be corrected, if you can get the consistence down the biguns will come. Thanks Adam. Udaman

I'm with ya on the fishing right now .... I either go the wrong area of the lake or fish the wrong baits just totally can't get in the zone... That was why I was searching around that area. Thanks for the heads up

I seen a tournament going out of Theodosia marina sat morning, but I was just out looking does anybody know how much it took to win. Curious as to the weight I haven't been up there in while and just went fishing in a different part of the lake.

That's a cool note about the fish relating to those shad balls. I can usually catching them like that also, but when the main shad die off starts I can't catch a fish in a barrel then if you know what I mean. Most threadfin shad are not long lived anyway and are short lived (2 Yrs I think) around here in our highland lakes. Mainly due to the cold winter temps. With water temps dipping into the low 40's upper 30's for long periods of time that's when I/we generally start to see them "die off". My general thought was that was older one's that are generally more prone to stress of the cold water temps. I have always had bad luck fishing when the small shad are dying be the "billzillons" in every cove every where on the lake. I figure there isn't a bait made like a natural dying shad and to compete with them is usually futile in my boat anyway. But hey it beats office work right?? Those dang big gizzards are another good source when you find them shallow?

Mr Bills first 4 words and the smiley face are golden (as are his other million) words he speaks. Even in the prime time fishing so to speak fish don't feed all day. The bite really is dictated by a bazillion or so variables. Understanding the spp of fish you are after is a huge piece of the puzzle and I never was good at puzzles when I was a kid. This info really is priceless I for one am very gracious to rat hole it away... Thks

Going to go sat out of west sugarloaf (diamond city area) possibly. Last time I was over there I put in at the rodeo arena in lead hill wow it was as full as I have seen it it while ..

Went out yesterday afternoon to break the new boat in for a couple hours and WOW...(COLOR)... Put in at Henderson (mid-lake) to a heavy stain color and it was every where. I made the slow run all the way to the DAM and to Elizabeth Boat ramp and back, along with every little cove and Island in between and never saw clear water as we know it. Did see a few boats out but only the STB guys where fishing all the bass rigs were moving. Any good luck lately, I have been working to much.

I hope the File I uploaded comes through but if it doesn't I will try again. Phil I may need your computer savvy.. I'm a OAF member and Direct this event, we always have a great turn out every year. We try to hit around the Cystic Fibrous and the Basscat (OI). This year the event will be April 2nd on Norfork out of Henderson Marina. This is just a get the word out to you all as entry forms are being finalized. PM me if your club or business wants some flyers I can make it happen. Dewayne French www.frenchfishin.com Sponsorship flier childrens home20162222.pdf

Not much else needs to said right there. That can apply to all these lakes up here this time of year.. Well said Mr Bill

No fish are located in Shallow Dirty water on these lakes.... IT IS A MYTH I TELL YA Go Deep Go Deep

Haven't been on the old bowl for a while so I took off work and fished most of the day Wed from SL to about 2. Caught lots of bass and several good bass, it was a good mix of LMB, SMB, & Spots. Main lake points and bushes with a Spinner-bait was the most productive. Fishing must be getting good there were boats everywhere for a mid week day. Water temp was 72-75, depth in the 5-10' range, moderate visibility, lots of shad and shiners. Good luck and take a kid fishing soon they will thank you for it later.

Most of my Walleye fishing has been trolling shad raps to bigger crankbaits in a boat as opposed to a kayak. Not that it won't work, I know a lot of people have gotten into the harness rigging systems for them in the last several years. With good results. Today I mostly toss a jerkbait for them and bass in the fall and spring time of the year with good success. Depth--is not as deep this year as normal due to the high water. Most springs we would get them on #7 shad raps. Sometimes the old mud bug or the Deeper cranks would have to be employed. I guess that is why the crawler harness has came into view know. Most areas of my success has been in the cranfield area, Fouts, and even in the Woods Point area has been good at times.

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That could be Interesting

Very good to have in my back yard... This time of the year it is not weekend friendly river fishing if you know where I'm coming from. Very active especially from the Dam three Jim Hinkle Access area south. But I tried a mid week trip and it wasn't totally out, but still several others around.