jackman724

ZOU!!! A win is a win…lost enough close ones this year in spite of ourselves. Let’s enjoy this one for the next year or so!!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I'm in for another year...looking forward to throwing some darts each week!

We spend a ton of time in the Aunts Creek area and even fish their association tournament. That is really disappointing to hear. The folks at Edgewater are great and we have been staying with Ed and Ruth Rose at Four Seaons Resort in Little Aunts for years if you’re looking for another option. Feel free to reach out if you’d like more info.

Please PM me your PayPal for Fantasy Fhishing...thanks!

I used to stop by Fin and Feather in Springfield on my way down if I neglected to get in touch with Dave personally to get my Ned Heads prior to my trips to Table Rock. Wondering if there are any other local shops between Springfield and Kim City that might carry them since my joint is closed temporarily. I am heading down later today and didn't get my prework done...any help would be appreciated!

Aunts Creek Buddy Bass is only $50 but have to stay in one of their resorts. 2 days...Sat/Sun 30/31. I stay at Four Seasons with Ed and Ruth Rose. Super reasonable and really good folks!

Clearly I meant loons not lions...that would’ve been a little scary.

Posted on another topic that we stayed close to the lions all weekend and caught a 3rd in our derby out of Aunts Creek. Never left that area so saved some mo way on gas too! Similarly, they were eating the Ned, small swims, jerkers and they really liked the a-rig too especially when that sun showed itself. Funny what those little creatures will tell you if you listen...

Fished a 70 boat tournament this past weekend and never left Aunts Creek but once. Color is good with 3-4 ft of visibility. Water temps in the very low 50s Sat/Sun. Good amount of breeze and cold snap had them chomping a-rigs, Keitechs and jerkers. Really liked the a-rig with some high sun and even found a few on the bottom with that high sun. Definitely still relating to shad right now. I too chased the loons all weekend. If I was in shouting distance of one, seemed we were getting bit. Shockingly aggressive bites given the big weather change Friday night into Saturday. Seemed liked everything that worked Thursday/Friday during prefish held on the weekend too. Finished 3rd in our tourney to some “hammers” so I think we were on the right pattern. Just didn’t see the kicker on the weekend like the couple of 5+ pounders caught Thursday/Friday. Heading back down the 20th for 10 days. Timing should be perfect! FISH ON!!!

I feel terrible for the way that post was worded...had no idea he was going thru nor do I get how I missed that post. My need for jigs pales and feels ridiculous at this point...you all cannot imagine the joy that those little jig heads have brought to countless members of my family and close friends who journey to TR with me each year in the Spring including my Dad who was in the middle of a big health battle last year but insisted on making the trip anyway. Colorectal cancer was a bear (and a surprise for him) last February and as of December he was declared cancer-free! Those little guys put a smile on my Dad's face last Spring that I hadn't seen in months. Thanks to everyone who participates on this forum as it is truly one of the best sources of information, and is quite obviously filled with some of the kindest, most genuine individuals I have encountered in my lifetime. A sincere thanks to all of you on the forum and prayers out to Dave and his family in this trying time.

Looking for some of Dave's Ned Heads...anyone know if he's around? Probably out slaying them with the little turd somewhere...

Mike- We literally fish out of a rented tin can in the Aunt's Creek area...would love to join you guys on the 22nd but just don't have the resources to get ourselves or the boat up to Eagle Rock/Big M...would take us half of the day. Hope the weather is nice and everyone has a great day!!!

@EDYER - That was a beauty of a fish...shame you weren't entered in that 500 boat deal...would have taken it down with that fish!

Got down to TR and on the water last weekend and felt inclined to share in an effort to help anyone I can as I have gained a ton of insights from being a bit of a lurker on the forum. Fished Thursday and Friday from Viney down to the James/White junction. Water color really good up the James but didn't have a ton of success, Water much clearer but still good color down around Point 8. Water temps consistently b/t 53-54.5 everywhere we fished. Primarily had success just inside or outside the points leading into spawning pockets-plenty of success ON the points but fish seemed to be abundant but much smaller. Fished underspins, small Keitechs, jerk baits...jerk bait by far caught the most and the bigger fish. Usually had to have some wood around and kept the boat in 20-25 casting to 6ft or so and working the bait all the way to the boat. LOTS of fish came farther out than we expected based on what I had been hearing and reading about. Late on Friday with the sun out and wind slowing down, the JB bite seemed to slow dramatically. Picked up a Menace on a wobble head and got hammered! Hadn't felt a bite like that in two days. All of the bites had been pretty soft, fish was just there after a short pause on the JB and the underspin/swimbait fish just slowly loaded the rod. Wondering if that was a signal, I picked up the varmint and threw back out to the same location and promptly boated a 2 1/2 lb SM. Continued to work the Ned the remainder of the afternoon and caught 15 more with 4-5 being keeper size. My brother meanwhile kept the JB in his hand on the front of the boat and caught just a single fish the rest of the day. Had a Buddy Bass derby on Sat/Sun that started off slow for us Saturday morning. Both of us had the JB in hand and we had some trolling motor issues that were very discouraging. Managed to find 2 keepers in the morning before I started dragging around the little guy again. Immediately started boating fish and would up catching 7 more keeper prior to weigh helping to put us in 2nd place leading into Sunday. Fished about a 150 yard stretch of main lake "nothing" bank on the outside of a point in between 2 big spawning pockets. All but 2 of our 9 keepers Saturday came from that one stretch. Solidly believe we were on a bass highway that just kept replenishing itself. Kept the boat in 16-20 feet, floated the bank pretty briskly with the breeze and just kept dragging the little dude through about 16 feet almost directly behind the boat. Deeper than I usually like to fish the Ned but it was working so we rode it. Water was 54 at launch, 55.5 when we weighed in at 4pm. Went into Sunday with some confidence but had troller issues out of the gate and didn't throw our first cast until 35 minutes after launch. With a noon weigh-in, we were more than a little puckered. Pulled up on a new spot and promptly boated a 2.75lb SM. Moved back out to our "goto" spot and it was on again. Only difference was that there were a lot of small fish. Had to go through about 25 fish Sunday morning before weigh-in and wound up with 4 keeps for 9.5 lbs. Turns out, Sunday was pretty tough for most and that was enough to win the 70 boat, 2 day derby. Super excited and had a blast fishing with my brother and figuring things out as it was like 3 different day in about a day and a half. Typical Table Rock I guess...Cloudy and cold Saturday morning, bluebird and 73 degrees by 4pm, cloudy and nearly calm on Sunday morning. My brother fished as a Co-angler today in the BFL deal today and I just heard he finished 5th (his best ever finish) dragging the little guy around from the back of the boat. Told me that although the water has warmed up a couple of degrees since last weekend, the pattern was nearly identical to what we got on last weekend. Thanks to all who contribute to the success, sharing and positive vibe that is exuded on this forum. Aside from the insights and information I gain, I thoroughly enjoy following the genuine conversations that the folks on this site engage in. The banter is enjoyable and brings a smile to my face frequently. Can't wait to get down there the last week of April and spend 9 days. Fishing should be on fire by then and I will be bringing a friend who has never been to TR and my dad who is battling colon cancer down to show them that beautiful body of water that we are so fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy. FISH ON!!! Gary

What kind of stuff should I be looking for? Heading down this weekend and would like to do a little night fishing. Will be in a rented boat with limited electronics but can get around ok. Staying in the Lower James River area...am I looking for bluffs, bluff ends, flats, points, main lake, secondary? Not looking for specific spots just structure type, etc.. I see catching in 15ft, pretty flat - how deep are you sitting the boat? Any and all input is ALWAYS appreciated. I will post over the weekend if I am able to figure anything unique out. Thanks to all!