Dewayne French

I usually keep it simple Megabass: Pro Blue, ITO Natural, Elegy Bone, & Wakin React have always been good up there for me Rogue: Clown, Ayu, & Threandfin Shad There are other brands and color schemes, but those a my goto's. One of, if not the best JB guy is in that neck of the woods. He is tough anytime, but with that bait for sure!

Man I'm learning so much my head is fixn to explode then Champ tosses in the "don't know a bite from a boomerang" and I about fell out of my chair . I never have guided, but have friends who do and I have heard some Hum Dingers. My hat is off to our guides around here on these clear water Highland reservoirs and to share knowledge like this they and the whole OA group are top notch. I'm fixn to order some of the Zinkerz and go with that as my starting point. Thanks again I didn't mean to high jack the original idea on this tread. It just is cool to bounce these ideas off knowledgeable heads

Thanks for this little "Bit" of info. I have been playing this around in my little P brain. I have not used this bait yet, but I will. My question is really two part. I have been wanting to use 6lb Nano-fill with a 4-6lb floro leader will this work with the above weights? Also is the new T.R.D. the new go to or would y'all advise me to use the Zinkerz and just cut it? Remember I'm a "Newbee" to this type of finesse game I can toss a Tube, Spoon, and Drop shot with most, but this IMHO takes the word Finesse to a whole different plant. I also believe with the Non Action of the technique and the elastech qualities of the lure are the "Trigger" that makes fish bite.

That will do it to a feller!!!

Lots of looking for the right stuff and never been that far up so I guess I was really looking more than fishing. Got the string stretched a few times.

Yeah probably what about a 35-40 mile round trip. By hey it was all good, except the HEATER on the boat wasn't working on the boat for some reason!!! The air conditioner was stuck on!! Wowzers!!!!

Fished Tucker Hollow to Beaver Creek Until the rain put us back on the trailer and headed Home Water Temp 44 4 hrs=1 Keeper Not much Fish Activity Lots of Eagles Fished Rigs And Spoons Swings in 35 -45 FOW Only saw 3 Loons and not many Shad balls today. But Started off the year fishing and with a great fishing Bud WIN WIN

I use 7' 11" Jadewood from Denali Rods (Locally Mt. Home Ark) 65lb braid (I like to get them back when I get hung up) Abu Gacia Big Spool Low Profile reel I mine are the STX's I use local Rigs by Under Bite custom tackle out of Yellville, Ark these are awesome rigs - They also have a Missouri version for the three hook legality issue Locally at Denali's outdoorzmen shop and online Not much else other than it is a tool that can be used to catch a certain group of fish it is not a catch all that swims type of bait. You can use some smaller versions, smaller jig heads, and smaller swimming baits, but if your going to sling the RIG all day you better prepare with the tackle accordingly. People use lighter braid and even Floro when the bite gets (weird) but for the most part you had better gear up.

My crappie action lately has been further south but I would tend to agree Docks + Brush= Crappie

SS = Sassy Shad Most tackle stories even Wally World carries them. Also the green fish up there do like a surface swimbait/buzz/frog type of bait before the water temp gets really cold.

With smaller size and external gills that is a true "Mud Puppy" cool pictures?

Yup there are 2 species of those in Ark and Missouri waters. Brook Silverside are the most dominate in our area lakes and both states and then the Inland Silverside the other, which is a rarity.

Thanks for the help I got me a few ideas to chew on now.

Yup I had a guy swear to me the single hook is the way to go. I'm up for it?? I don't really see a huge difference, but I'm going to try a single next time out. I do use a spinning rod and 10lb ultracast braid with small spoons w/trebles and have no problem with them, the hookup to land ratio is very high with them. I really figure the heavy weight of the spoon is the "enemy" to landing more.

Thanks for the help and input. I have tried 20 lb Floro, but don't like it for manageability on the spool and feel like I get more bites with 10lb Floro, but I am going to go to 15lb Floro and try it. And yes I too have had the break off under the dock Sat as matter of fact. I would say the majority are lost are by/durning the jump. I can only think of 2 that came off under the surface of the water. I try to keep them down by pointing the rod under the surface. Like I said I'm relativity new to this spooning, but have caught enough to what to learn more. RPS I like the Sweep & Hope thats pretty cool!! Seems like I have been Sweeping & A Praying!!!!

Yup when totally Vertical jigging (watching the Graph) I got a short 25 year old pistol grip "Lews Speed Stick", seems like it is easier to watch the spoon. I'm thinking due to the shorter Rod you will be closer to the puck and that translates to better viewing or watching the spoon on the graph. Hookups and lost fish I think are pretty evenly matched Pistol vs Rods I mentioned. I have heard that a shorter Rod is better for spooning docks, Shorter that the 7'ers I mentioned. I'm new to the dock spooning thing! So I can't comment on that I'm learning that aspect still. The more I learn the more I really don't understand!!!

Rod Denali 7' Worm/Jig Rod & 7'3" Veritas 2.0 Both Med/Hv Reel Revo STX 8.0 Line 10lb Floucarbon Hooks Eagle claw 3X size #4 and VMC Round Bend 1X Short Shank #4 I have used #2 hooks of the same Brands ,

Ok I need some help!! Last couple of tourys I have been near the bottom on the pack, due to losing keeper fish on a spoon!! I have tried a couple different brands, but nothing short shank or a single hook. What's everybody's general ideas?? I have been using a red treble to see if that would help them get it further back in the mouth, no help there. The weight is normally 1\2 to 3/4 oz spoons Docks to main lake same results?

Second to Champ words of Wisdom!! What area are you putting in would likely be the key to your options. One of my Favorite ponds!!

Mostly heavy Jigs and Gizits on the bottom crawled slowly!!

Fished the main lake Friday 9am to 3pm and not a bite Maybe the possibility of a bite, but I wasn't paying much attention after 5hrs of no fish Fished the back of creeks Sat-Sun Gizits, Jigs, Crankbaits, and Stickbaits. More fish 4 to 5 shorts each day and a couple of keepers just no pattern With so many dead shad on the area lakes it is a wonder anyone can catch a limit of bass. I have fished Norfork and Table Rock lately with poor results. The fish I have been catching all have one thing in common the bottom. Weather 5' or 35' they are bottom related my take on that is that all that they have do to do is open there mouth and eat not chase. Hope the next few weeks changes this. Good luck

With so many dead shad on the area lakes it is a wonder anyone can catch a limit of bass. Even the ALMIGHTY A-RIG cannot compete with mother nature. I have fished Norfork and Table Rock lately with poor results. The fish I have been catching all have one thing in common the bottom. Weather 5' or 35' they are bottom related my take on that is that all that they have do to do is open there mouth and eat not chase. Hope the next few weeks changes this.

I used to stay up late and watch him and Virgil Ward on saturday nights after the news. That was back in the day!!!

I have been hearing several reports of tough fishing and had to give it a try myself. And it didn't let me down it was a tough bite for sure. I finally got out Saturday for a couple of hours and Monday for about 5 hrs. There was a 20+ boat derby on Sat out of Panther Bay and it took just over 11lbs to win from what I hear. This clear bowl of water sure gets tough at times even with the (the Chicken/A Rig) tied to your rod. I didn't fish the derby but did hit the lower end for a couple of hours in the wind and found it tough with only 2 bites on a jig deep and missed both, no Jerk bait Crankbait,or Rig fish. Monday was a tad bit better with 6 in the boat for 5 hrs and 2 of those were keepers. They all came on the Rig and was around mid lake area, we did have a few jig bites but no takers. Water on the lower end was stained but could have been from all the wind. It was a bad day to be in a small boat for sure. The mid lake area on Monday looked to be better water for winter fishing.

You can't catchem if ya don't go thats my motto