Dewayne French

IMHO which is very humble.... We have to many preconceived ideas when we go fishing. There are basically 2 types of guys/gals on here who fish (tournament or fun fishing) and they have a different answer. Now with that said we also have to have a starting point or at least an idea of where, what, and which lure to start with. The small pea brain of the bass, crappie, walleye, or what ever fish we are after beat us every time. We use to much of our brain and we OVER think them if that makes sense. They live by instinct, but we live by reasoning and those 2 don't jive very often. Weekend or week day fishing on the same lake every weekend is very different than traveling around fishing a different tournament on a different body of water, a few times a month. In tournament fishing your looking for active (biting) fishing you don't have time "to make them bite" also I and most of us can't make them bite. Those guys who can make them bite are those guys you see at the top of the leader board every time at your local tournaments or on the big trails. That is a very good question you asked and the one we ask ourselves every time we are on the water. My dad is passed on to a better fishing area several years ago and he always said they never bite the same way 2 days in a row. I'm finding there is some truth to that. One of the best pieces of info I have taken away from fishing is we all know how to catch them we OVER think it. So just keep it simple....Just think of the times you have caught them really good or your weighed in a big bag at a tournament. If I was a betting man (which I'm not... I spend to much on tackle) I would say it wasn't a earth shattering technique or some thing totally secret.

We actually launched down the lake at Red Bank and caught fish on several spots just south of the state line. Before we headed way up to chase the whites. I'm not going to say I haven't ever hit anything motoring up there, but as long as your up on pad or idling around its not to bad. Yes it was very cold and my Girlfriend wanted that "HAT" when she saw it. I thought it would have been a good day to take her out, but it got cold quick and even with my Gore tex on she got cold. But she is a trooper and we stayed until almost dark, but our best action was around 3pm that day + or minus 30 minutes. We could have just got onto a little group up feeding also. We had a double off the spot and lots of singles here and there. Yes the smaller large mouth and spotted bass were chomping fairly good that day on cranks with the wind and clouds, but that was a no brainier so I could even figure that one out. The whites and walleyes didn't want to play with our offerings, but as they say we will be back.

I was going to write up my report for Norfork Sunday late afternoon, but it is pretty Identical to yours. I was in the older blue basscat I saw you around Bridges crk. Me and my girl friend was out for a fun afternoon of catching whites and walleyes, that didn't occur. It end up cold, windy, and that adjusted our plans for us. Only fish we caught ended up on crankbaits, we had 3 kpr bass all (released) and 12 shorts. Not the first white bass which is what we went for. I did have several of those jarring hits on a jerkbait (French pearl), but no connections. So we opted to go back down lake and catch bass on crankbaits that we had found earlier. Water temp and day length is getting right for some good action. Glad to hear you made it over this way. That river part up there sure has changed since all the big water we had.

I took the tracker out yesterday and my teacher bud that is off for the christmas break before he has to head back and enlightening our kiddos . We had a decent day at Norfork with all the good keeper fish coming on Jerkbaits water temp was 47-48 depending on location, but you had to have wind blowing into that right mix of shelf/chunk rock. We fished from 11-3 and had a good mix of fish after we figured out the Jerk bait bite was on----in the wind!! Main lake but not bluffs but not flat banks either, at our best spot the boat was in 14 fow and we more or less paralleled the chunk rock,/shelf stuff. The water had a good crank bait looking color to it and we tired various baits. but ended the day with the jerk bait for only 4 hours it was a great day for me . Get out and enjoy, but stay safe and take a extra set of dry clothes just in case the unthinkable happens. Keepers were 1-4 lb Lmb, a 15" spot, 2- Lmb at 15-1/2", 2 thumping Black crappie 17 1/2", and a 20 " walleye. Those crappie didn't come from that dock either but they did hit the big jerk bait We had a good variety of non keepers to make the day go even better with 6-8 other short Lmb, 2 other short spots, and 1 other non keeper walleye 14", and a couple really short smb. Threw Meagabass 110's, A rigs, small cranks, and used Favorite rod/reel combos. Braid on the rigs and 8 lb floro on the jerk baits. Can't tell you much more other than you need to be going! Stay safe my friends This post has been promoted to an article

WOW pretty looking fish you can tell when the water starts that downward cooling trend all the fish look good in pictures.... good report can't ask for much more spot on literally

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That's what is our future about it hinges on us taking them. You did a fine job and we must all do that...

We got a decent amount over here most are saying 1" plus or minus a tad Keep in touch with the white bass when those getting to going they are absolutely my favorites to catch. It isn't Rocket science and are good eating when prepared right.

I don't get to practice for these bigger Derby's/Tournaments as long as most do, I have a day job and pay my own way. This pond has been hammered since about the 15th of Feb or even days before. So I didn't report until after the fact, because we all know that the travel on this site jumped up by massive amounts leading up to these events. I was very fortunate to have done as well as I did in the Open I had a fall back plan and a couple lures poked back and a plan. Because in the Solo Elite I was 37 out 64ish so not to good no gas and room bills got paid there. Thanks for all the pats on the back and pep talks this is a fine group of people. What we all got to remember is we are not competing against each other out there in these deals (that's is what it comes down to for some) we are competing against that little green fish that has the brain the size of a sweet pea?? And they win more times than we care to admit. Thanks again and get out there because fishing is getting really good ladies and gents I hope what I contributed has helped someone.... I will be on Norfork hopefully this weekend for a little school deal and I will post after I get my brains beat out again.....I am the TD for a Childrens Home bass tournament on Norfork April 1st this year. This is or 6th year and we have a blast raising money for a worthy cause. Give me a shout and I will get you some info. I'm not hard to find Thanks again

Thanks BB I did give it a go and I like most people resorted to what I'm confidant in. I had a good tip from Matt who won the Elite solo and another Solo competitor that it was real specific to what they were doing (this grub deal) and with the right conditions it was good for a limit and good ones, but if the stars didn't all line up is was work. I was told as you said to stay way out off the channel swings with timber (under the surface) and the transitions from bluff to big chunk rock. And the better swings where not the bluff end ones that are easy to see on a GPS map but rather the mid bluff ones and the actual old river channel ones way out in the middle. Well as luck would have it on the first one I stopped at on practice Tuesday morning I had a 3.75lb LMB... I say to self Wow this is easy. Then the next 4 hours go by without as much as a sniff and seeing boat after boat and some even pulling up to same location that I had just left. After this good start then the lack of bites with all the boat pressure in this clear water I opted for a long run. Both like I said to avoid boats and to get into a confidence area. With modern electronics, GPS mapping, the internet, and a welling mind with a little patience a guy can pick up a lot with out every splashing his/her boat in the water. That's is what I do when I go off to these places I have never been. Mitch-I was using an old colored Brown gizit up the river in 5-15 fow (on the bottom) I even had to employ a 3/8 oz head to keep it there, they didn't hit it if it came off the bottom. I could catch these fish in practice on 2 or 3 Rock Crawlers I had painted up by a couple of my custom sponsors. But when the Open tournament came around they would only bite the RC in certain little windows. I knew the fish where there and I used the old Ozark winter time trick of when you can't get bit from fish toss a gizit. I'm not a guy that has a lot of raw talent like some have out here, it is a struggle for me to get the bite going from keepers and I have found over the years that simple is way better than a rocket science pattern. In the clear water I was tossing a 4-5" grub and 4" swimbait that a local company makes for me on 1/4 and 3/8oz heads I pour myself Hope this helps a little just remember (K.I.S.S)

First off let me say I will try and not make this to long and a big thanks to all the guys and ladies on this site for their unbiased going on's with this great lake we have. I have been a OA member for several years and even post from time to time, normally I fish Nofork/Bull. These highland lakes with their beauty and humbling fishing characteristics make it a challenge. Everyone always denotes fishing to putting those dang jig saw puzzles together as kid, Well I wasn't good at that and I like CATCHING better than fishing any day. I have been on Table Rock for about 9 days stright since the 23rd of Feb fishing Webb's Elite Solo Feb 25/26 and then the Open and I will be quite honest I struggled to put the winning pattern together in either one. I'm not a grub fishing dude I have never gotten that down (BUT I KNOW THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO) to catch them this time of year if the A-Rig isn't in play and love to fish a crankbait this time of year. As I had a sammich with Champ & Donna before my elite solo (She can make A great Sammich BTW) after I had been on the water a few hours & yes we where not around the lower end. After my solo tournament and finishing mid pack with the crankbait and Jerkbait I realized I needed to go to the clear water and try the Grub thing. After a couple of days of riding around all the boats from KC to Long Creek bridge and catching some quality I wasn't satisfied with my practice and ran back to my Crankbait & Jerkbait fish and started catching numbers and Quality mixed in with out the boat pressure I was seeing down the lake. I made the decision to make a long run to above Eagle rock for the Open and knew I wouldn't have the pressure as I would down the lake and If I could get lucky I could end up with a good kicker up there on the crank/JB. Day 1 after arriving to my first spot and then second spot with out a keeper and very few shorts. I rotated back through and began catching quality on a Gizit, I was always told by my Dad to never leave fish to find fish. These fish where not going to be moving a along way (they can not go that far up there) so I had to adjust my bait and presentation and Boom a limit, but without a kicker I left early to make the run back and try some clear water spots (just shorts), ended up in 50th place after day 1. Day 2 dawned still cold and bundled up for that long run again, but this day was my long day and I could stay until 3:15 before I had to make the run back. I never finished out my limit even with the Ned I could only manage shorts, but I had the kicker a 4.5-5 lbr that helped boost me up to 36th and a nice check to help pay for my trip. I found water temps during these 9 days from 48 to even 60 on one of those shorts and flip flop afternoons. I never caught anything from the green algea/snot in the clear water and never caught anything from the 60 degree stained water either. I caught fish where shad was to places I didn't even graph a bait ball much less see any. Lures ranged from a Crankbait (WW/RC), Jerkbait, Gizit, Shaky head, Swing head, and yes the NED. Practice was more running and gunning, but on one of my best days of catching before the Solo I did have 27 fish with 7 of those keepers mostly the swing head and 2 custom Rock crawlers did the damage. The shorts also where not those little dinks most where just shy of the 15 inch mark. A good number of just sub legal fish where caught. During the rest of practice I didn't do a lot of catching just looking. The clear water fish I did catch were of good quality I just couldn't duplicate those in areas I thought I should have. I'm never a fishing in a crowd type of guy so I opted to go to the river and I avoided the crowds and actual had fishing areas to my self up there and I learned more about those fish and what they do and where they go up there. Thanks again to all you guys and gals I enjoy these highland lakes and trying to figure them out. We are blest with very good people on this site and if you see me out there on the water please come by and say hey. I run a Basscat and it always has Purple in it.

Than's why is the MAN--very true and yes insightful-- we just need to take heed to it

This will probably start a feud, but there are a lot of times when we feel (THE BITE) it is actually the fish spitting the hook/lure back out and we set when we feel the lure hitting a rock or other hard structure as the lure comes out of the fishes mouth. It is amazing to watch under water video (not slowed down) of how fast they can inhale a lure with all that water and spit the lure back out and we never know we had a bite. I'm amazed at how much water a large bass inhales with the lure each time. Oh and yes I have caught my fair share of limbs, sticks, tress, chairs, docks cables, and rocks. When those dang keeper limb-bass start swimming sideways with my lure man I can go on point.. HA HA

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