Smithvillesteve

Bill: Great report. Question: At 8-12 fow is your RK deflecting off structure? I'm not sure I get mine down that deep when i throw one. I got 12 lb mono on my cranking rod. Would going to 10 lb or 12 lb floro help that? Happy New Year to all you TR boys!

Merry Christmas to all you Pomme boys!!

I'm in Quill. And thanks for doing the work.

Bill and Bo: I think we have had this discussion on here before but i just want to ask you two guys anyway and i appreciate yours and any other response. You are catching deep fish at 70 ft. Do you fizz those fish upon releasing them? I thought you had said if you release them immediately there is no need to do that. I only ask because i may go down soon and try my luck at some deep fish. If i am lucky enough to enjoy some success i would want to do the right thing. And Bo i know you posted here awhile back that you had caught some deep fish too. Thanks gentlemen.

I havent noticed the 110's being fragile. I broke one up here in Smithville last year. Of coursed i blasted it into the rocks on the dam fishing for walleyes. I'm thinking that probably could break any jerkbait.

Boys as you can see here from Vernon and Dutch you just dont know how it is going to affect you. And who knows what is coming years after if you contract it. There are just so many unknowns. Bottom line is to do all you can to stay safe. It doesnt mean you cant still live your life! Its sad to me that this has become a political issue. Glad you're doing ok Vernon and everybody else on here that has tested positive. I'm hoping for an OA tourny in March!!!!

I'm with you Vernon. Going fast either on land or water just isnt for me. And on water is just seems faster. Hopped in my buddy's son bass boat earlier this year up here in Smithville. We were going like 70 across the lake. i was white knuckled the whole time. I lost my sunglasses and my coffee cup. Bottom line is we got 2 dead. Many times on here people have posted fishing trips with their kids. We have hit the like button or I usually respond with "priceless". A father took his son out on a fishing trip and both ended up dead. Such a trajedy. Heartbreaking.

Yea he had carpeted bunks but he also had some plates installed on the bunks to make the boat slide off and on easier. Knowing that he should have kept that boat pinned up. It didnt enter my mind because i know my aluminum boat would have been fine. Live and learn i guess. 3,000 dollar repair!! Ouch!! We stayed at a place called Fisher's. Up in the northwest quadrant. Really nice. But expensive.

I heard there was a bad boating accident this morning up around the Big m area this morning. Two boats collided leaving 2 people dead. You boys heard anything? Sad deal.

Got back from Mille Lacs sat night. It was good bad and ugly. The good was we caught a handful of really nice fat fighting 3 and 4 lb smallies. We found some good fishing spots in 3 of the 4 quadrants based on what the wind was doing. Mostly ned and drop shots. If somebody on here wants to step me through the process of putting pics on here i will do that. Old phone, 5s, and limited tech abilities due to age. The bad. When we got there sunday it was 80 degrees and windy. Only 15 mph winds but that is enough to get that big water rocking pretty good. So we didnt want to go out 2-3 miles offshore and target those reefs and big boulders like we wanted to. There were some guys in cabin next to us that were leaving and they had some good days. 25-30 smallies with some 5's and one 6. But they fought the wind all week. They also fished the full moon if you believe in that. Well, by monday it was 50 degrees and 35 at night. Yep, the dreaded cold front! It was dang cold on that water!! The ugly: Monday we fished an area on the lake and wasnt doing very good so we moved to another area. As i was backing my buddy down the ramp i watched in horror as his boat slid off the trailer. Ramp wasnt that long and not that steep. Motor and lower unit were in the water and his bow was up in the air. No motor or lower unit damage but put some cracks in the bottom back of his fiberglass boat. Tow truck got boat back on trailer. I figured our trip was over but the next day my buddy went to a hardware store and bought some FlexSeal spray and tape. We were able to continue to fish but we had to run the bilge every 15-30 minutes. That kept us close to the ramps and we never made it out to middle where we wanted to fish. That is a beautiful place up there. Pristine. Nice homes. Clean. I really enjoyed the area and wouldnt hesitate to go back. There are some big smallies in there.

I watched a video last night on Youtube of Freider fishing a drop shot on Mille Lacs. Really good video. Uses his depth sounder with sidescan to go across points and locate rocks he wants to fish. Usually the more isolated rocks hold fish. Then he watches his Hummingbird and when the bottom goes from yellow to red he drops his bait vertically! Works it very patiently. Claims these big smallies are fat and lazy!! Wont chase. I'm not a big pro fisherman follower like most of you guys but i really liked this guy!!

Yea i went on TackleWarehouse a couple of weeks ago to buy some Powerbait MaxScent Flat Worms. No chance on there. So I went to Berkley's website and they didnt even have them listed. I did buy a couple of bags of the flatminnows and i have seen where some pro's are catching fish with those. I was down at Table Rock a couple of weeks ago and couldnt get much working with the dropshot however. Now, I am just learning that technique. I am using braid to floro and have learned a nice knot for that. Let me ask you boys: Do you cast your dropshot out and work it back or do you verticle fish it? I make short casts with it but get hung up quite a bit. Pain in the butt to retie that technique! Once again, I sincerely appreciate all the input you boys are willing to share.

Congrats BFScott. Its good to see Pomme make a comeback with the bass fishing. Priceless to fish with your son!

Thanks boys. Yea, wasnt thinking about bug spray. Good advice. I been watching some videos Quillback. Looks like off shore structure with drop shots is the best bet. Tubes, jigs, cranks, jerkbaits. Supposedly the guy I'm going with bought the map card that gives us offshore structure. I been going to Canada every year for the last 40 years but obviously not this year. So at the very least i am getting my "northern fix"!! Appreciate the info boys!!

I'm headed up to Mille Lacs next week to target smallmouth bass. Never been. Any advice from you boys? Thanks.

Let those Largemouth go Sam!!!

Interesting take MoCarp. And i respect it. I wouldnt mind taking the walleye back to 18 inches. However, when that was the case before they went to 15 inches there were few anglers catching 18 inchers to harvest. But i think the walleye took a hit this year. Not sure the crappie guys would like a 11 inch min length. 10 maybe as many lakes do. PLEASE practice catch and release with the smallmouths!! It takes several years for a smallmouth to reach 15 inches. In my opinion a lot of fish in Stockton see the fillet knife. I watched two good Ol boys at Mutton Creek Marina one day come in with a 5 gal bucket that had 6-7 nice 3 lb bass in it gasping for air before they met their doom. It was sad. BUT.. these guys were doing nothing illegal. Its a slippery slope. I do believe Stockton went to 12 inch length limit with the spots. Which I thought was good. These are just my opinions boys. Not trying to force them on anyone.

Crawlers in your Yeti????? You win the Powerball? Walleye boys have been pretty quiet on here lately. It was hot for awhile.

My buddy and I spent all of last week down around the Shell Knob area. I fish out of a 16.5 ft deep V Lund. Boat traffic was bad but didnt run us off the lake. The wake boats will however make me brace myself or sit down and ride the waves out. My problem with them is the extremely loud music they play. And is it just me or is it an extremely easy sport? I never see anybody with their knees bent and battling to stay on like a real surf board. One dude was drinking a beer!! We could see the water turning dirty up shallow so they are definitely causing an erosion issue. I certainly understand the dock owners complaint. Somebody on here pointed out that their entertainment impairs my entertainment and i agree. I would assume they arent going anywhere $$$$$$$. Not sure what the answer is. I hate giving up fishing that lake during the summer months.

I dont think you need a reservation. Or at least you didnt years ago. Just go pick out your spot and then go tell the hosts and fill out your card to post. I'm pretty sure there are several places that would be ok to beach your boat. Sandy and pebble rock places. I assume you have an aluminum boat? Or a hull guard? Hope you get a break from the hot weather.

Truman is a great crappie lake. Can be some good bass fishing also. And you are correct sir, you better know where you're going or you can damage a prop real quick!! Stay in the channels and idle into coves. If it was me i would put in at Bucksaw. There are some good crappie areas not far from the marina. The best thing about Truman this time of the year is you dont have to deal with a lot of wake boats, skiers, jet skis etc. There are some but nothing like Table Rock or LOZ. Find out how deep the crappie are. Maybe stop at Everhards on 7 hwy as you enter Clinton and check on their board or ask somebody. Stick and move!! Good luck. Looks like you may get a break from the heat!!

I am also looking to upgrade my boat. I have a Lund Rebel that i bought new in 2002. That boat has taken a beating and still performs. 40 hp Yamaha still purrs like a kitten. I prefer aluminum because i go to Canada every year. I'm retired now, fish quite a bit, have a little money to use and feel like i deserve to fish in a little better boat while i still can launch by myself etc. I'm not married to Lund but thats kinda the way i would prefer to go. I'm thinking with all these people buying boats right now that a lot of them will decide maybe its not really what we thought it might be. And i could possibly get a good deal this fall or winter. The main problem with my boat is there is not much platform room in the back for a co angler if I am bass fishing. My buddies claim its like fishing on a balance beam!! A few years ago Lund came out with 2 seats in the back that fold over and become a pretty nice platform. I've never been a big internet guy that goes on sites that sell stuff. Any advice boys? And good luck T. C.

Priceless!! You got a fishing buddy for life!!

I have NOT caught any spots this year. Now, I havent bass fished very much but I have caught mostly smallies. Most of my fishing has been around the main lake area. I caught a personal best 4 lb smallie last week on a shakeyhead. Fought like a freight train. Love the smallies!!!!! And we need to protect them down there!!!

Wish i was down there BFScott i would have taken you up on your offer. Appreiciate the invite. I might try and contact you next time i go down. Gotta wait for this nasty heat wave to get the heck out!! i can deal with upper 80's into low 90's. Mid 90's to upper 90's gets pretty tough for my old butt!!