BearFisher10

Where are they taking a test that it only takes them a couple hours to complete it? Myself and a lot of my friends have taken it and it requires if I remember right 6 hours of on the computer video and testing. It's not exactly a lets rush through this so we can get on the water deal, in my opinion. If you didn't pass each individual section of the test in I think two tries you had to start that particular section over, video included. I don't know if my group of friends and I got screwed by taking something more than what was needed but I am honestly glad that I took it. We're all early to late 20s so things may have changed in the last handful of years. I learned quite a bit, I may not be perfect, but I feel like I can safely navigate based on actual laws...only problem is many, many others (mainly lake lice) think it's a free for all with no rules.

You guys never fail to get it done. Good job!! I haven't been out in awhile and will finally get to this week. Hopefully I can follow up with a day like you guys.

Thanks, sounds like you had a good day. I haven't been out in a few weeks but based off of recent reports and what friends have told me, it sounds like if you aren't getting bit in the clear water, fire up and find the closest stained water you can and go to work with a crankbait. It sounds like there's quite a few fish up shallower in that dirty stuff right now.

The price of shipping is what has stopped me from ordering any. I'm content with the Warts I have but I just like to try others out to see what they have to offer. You'd think Storm could. They'd sell ten times over if they'd get with the program. With the resources they have it shouldn't be that hard but apparently to them it is...or they don't want to invest the money and time in it.

I've called two different places that are big time Megabass (one in AZ and I think the other is in TN or AL) and both told me they couldn't get them here for whatever reason. When I find old warts at a price I'm willing to pay plus get them painted and fresh hardware I'm out $25-30 I figured it'd take a shot at trying them but haven't been able to yet. I picked up a Griffon DD a few weeks ago. Haven't used it yet but it sounds like they put about a whole shotgun shell worth of BB's inside of it. I'm interested to see how the Drunker holds up though. Almost bought some when they got released but held off. It amazes me how all these companies spend all this money trying to imitate a wart.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought something was funky with those cranks. I tried one about two weeks ago with 10 lb. Sunline FC for about 5 minutes. I had about the same depth as you and action as well. It spins out too easily in my opinion. I was giving it about a medium retrieve. I don't like to give bad reviews but these seem like a waste of money. If anyone has had success with them already, I'd love to hear about it.

Champ is correct. Nothing to do with the tournament at all. I'm buddies with a couple kids from that town that I've met fishing that are friends with Dylan. I saw a bunch of stuff on Facebook Sunday morning about it and came across the story of what happened this evening. Just some punks out causing trouble for no good reason. I feel bad for his family and especially little brother, having to watch him go through that. I fish alone quite often and have been lucky to not run into any nut jobs. Makes me think about getting a CCW.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and throw a little math into that statement...If you look up any tournament results data, it will tell you how many dead fish were weighed in. If you take that number and divide it by the total amount of anglers, 9 times out of 10 it's going to average out much lower than .5 fish per person. If you take those numbers for a whole trails season, it MIGHT end up coming out to 1 dead fish per person. Say a tournament has 6 events and draws roughly 50 boats. If you had your dead fish per tournament average at 5, at the end of the season that would only come out to 30 dead fish for the season if they averaged 50 boats. Now let's say 50 boats with two guys go out and catch their limit 6 different times over the year and take them home to eat, that's 3600 fish. Math doesn't lie and I'm going to say that people keeping fish takes more out of the lake than tournament anglers do.

I've read, like Eric stated, that some actually do make it back to where they were caught somehow. I know there aren't as many tournaments in July and August, but from what I've seen that kills quite a few fish as well. Either guys will bring in dead fish or the fish can't get back in their groove and die overnight/the next day. It bugs the tar out of me when I see that. Just a little preventive practice like carrying ice for the fish and using livewell treatment does wonders on those blazing hot summer days. I'm of the younger generation, in my 20's, and want to continue catching these fish for as long as I can. I know we can't stop people from bringing bass home but all of the recreational anglers who don't take them home and the tournament anglers taking precautions should help somewhat. The only good thing is that I've noticed the majority of the kids I've met/know are full C&R.

I don't think pure Florida strains would survive the winters this far north. I've done some reading on them and they pretty much stop it somewhere along a line in Arkansas from what I understand, but I could be wrong. The only exception would be that little Swepco lake since it's warm year round. I think it's called the F1 hybrid or something similar that they're stocking in Kentucky and Tennessee and it seems that those fish are doing quite well. There's a lot of info out there on that type from the conservation departments in those states. They say it's got the growing qualities of Florida strains mixed with the aggressive nature and the ability to bear cold weather of a northern strain. Interesting stuff in my opinion. It's still somewhat new so we'll see how it plays out in the future for them.

I've got a buddy who will read anything and everything, he's a marketers dream always buying stuff because he thinks it'll help him. I always try to explain to him that most of the stuff he reads and buys won't work like magic and doesn't work the same way as compared to other lakes because they're not highland reserviors. I just let his "information" go in one ear and out the other now and try not to argue about things. There's a lot of people like that I believe and it takes more than reading articles on bassmaster.com and wired2fish to be productive on the water.

Another option that's in the mix in the Kimberling City area is the Kimberling Oaks Resort. I've stayed there before and enjoyed it. The new owners, they've had it for a year or so now, told me they want to cater to fisherman and want that to get out there because apparently the old owners weren't so keen on it. Really nice family that owns it and has a ramp for your use as well.

State Park. It's still perfectly able to handle launching a boat, just moved a couple logs out of the way and it was good to go. You'll have to beach your boat on the ramp though unless they move the courtesy docks anytime soon or you can climb 3 or so feet up onto them. They pulled them up really high.

Well I ended up getting out. Fished the dam area from 12:30-4. Water temp was 54 the whole time. Caught a handful with two keepers. Flipped shallow and also caught some schooling and busting the surface. Got a bit cold but it was nice to get out. Debris was nonexistent in the main lake and minimal in the creek arms around the dam area. I'm sure some will come down eventually but it was clear today. Clarity hasn't really been effected yet either besides the backs of the creeks. Not muddy but a nice green tint. Here's a pic of the best one. It went 3.5 on the dot and was loaded with shad.

Thought this might make for a fun topic since high water isn't normally associated with the winter. How would you approach the lake right now with the high water this time of year? I think for me, I would start out on pea gravel run off banks and start working from the old brush line on out dragging a jig. The other option would be to fish the bluff ends with your typical wintertime baits. And I love flipping a jig so I'd end up doing that too lol. Probably wouldn't be able to resist with all the brush in the water.

I just bought two a week ago in a 5.1:1 gear ratio. I can chime in after I get some use on them. I've talked to the guys at Sportsmans about them a bit and they claim the regular BB1 is still their farthest casting reel in their lineup and one of their top sellers, even with all the new and different technology they've got in their other reels.

I caught this one in January along with another one that looked like its twin about 10 minutes afterwards from the same spot. Looks can be deceiving on these fish with estimating weights. This one ended up going 3.42 but I thought it'd hit 4 at first glance. They are just so round and full during the wintertime they look bigger than they are. By the way, the only reason it was in the livewell is my buddy was trying to show me how to fizz...

Thanks guys I appreciate it.

Just wondering if anybody made it up there today and if so how bad was it debris wise and water color. I drove over the James in Nixa and then the Finley and they were both real high and muddy.

I could be wrong but those may be from HP Swimbaits. They're made by a guy in Georgia. Last I saw they he was backed up over a year if you wanted one.

Some people are just ruthless and this isn't the first time I've heard this about that ramp specifically and at Table Rock itself. I try to launch at places with higher activity especially from now until the spring so I don't have to worry as much about someone messing with my truck/trailer. The other thing I do is use a locking hitch pin all the time and a locking trailer pin when I feel it's necessary. I'm OCD about my things and try to take care of them so I figure it's better to take precaution than assume the best in people.

No sir, it was not just you. I couldn't decide between going to the dam area or up there and I sorta wish I went with the other now. I've had some great smallmouth days with weather the way that was but oh well that's fishing.

Started the day a little late and got on the water at about 9:15 or so. Water temp was 65. I thought like Champ that the shallow bite would be on but I could not get anything going. Tried a handful of different creeks and didn't have much luck besides a couple on a rock crawler. Gave up on the shallow stuff and went to my deep spots. Those fish would just swipe at my crankbait so I started throwing a jig. Ended with 14 and only 3 keepers by 2:30. I haven't fished these deep spots for two weeks and before they were about 90% largemouth and good keepers. Now there are a lot of shorts and some KY's mixed in for whatever reason. Could have just been the weather but I'm thinking it has more to do with season movement and where the shad are but I have no idea.

Sounds like a couple solid days. That's about the depth I've been catching them in the James. Judging by your pictures the bottom composition is similar but mine are coming from different types of areas than that.

I'm with you on them getting getting tucked back in the bushes when the water was as high as it was, they were just a challenge to catch so I resorted to other options. After this summer learning and trying new things, I believe there's a larger percentage of LM that hardly ever get shallow unless it's spring time and they're doing their thing. Still after this weekend the majority of my keeper fish came in the 20-25 ft range with only 3 coming off the bank and two fell victim to the whopper plopper. I just don't think enough people target these deeper fish to realize how many quality LM are still swimming in this great body of water.