m&m

rps, nice catch Mike

CrappieMaster, if you are based here at Table Rock Lake, Ulrich is an authorized evenrude repair shop. I get my basic maintenance done there each year. They did have an issue with a trim sensor part but I reached out to Fishinwrench and he was able to get it for me. Ulrich installed it. It is all about care and maintenance. I have a 1999 GMC 2500 Suburban with only 161,000 miles on it and it runs great. Care and maintenance helps. Then it is a matter of preference. Mike

J.M., I am still running a 1989 Johnson 150 GT. It runs great. Mike

Mixermarkb, first of all this is a great question because it gets everyone thinking. All the answers contain great information too. Thanks for posting. I think most of us approach it differently if we are fishing a derby or just fishing for fun. I use my knowledge of seasonal patterns of what stage the fish should be in, then I factor in the water temp, air temp and current weather conditions. Lastly I use that knowledge and go to spots where I have caught fish under those conditions in the past. That is where time on the water helps. Most of us see many fishermen pull up to a spot, make 10 casts, start the big engine and go on a milk run. The one thing that we have no control over is what the fish want to do. If I see fish suspended off an area where I have caught fish before, I will spend extra time there because at some time they will move shallower to eat. My plan this year is to fish different areas in an effort to learn more about TRL. Again, thanks for the question and everyone’s answers. Mike

Very nice healthy looking fish. Mike

rps, nice fish. God looking crankbaits too. Mike

Basfis , nice fish. Thanks for the report. Mike

Cheese, nice healthy fish. Must have helped to wear your lucky salmon colored hoodie and shorts. Mike

It was a great time fishing and getting together with everyone. Thanks to everyone who helped make the day enjoyable. Mike

176, I hope you are taking pictures or video of each step as you refurbish your boat. Mine is an ‘87 Cajun and I did just about everything except replace the carpet. Interesting though that I still can’t catch fish out of it but I look good casting from it. lol Mike

Quill, now that the forecast has improved i’ve Received 3 calls yesterday and today from non-OA members inquiring about the OAF tourney. As soon as I said it is not a money tournament they say thanks and end the call. Two of the calls were from 417 and the other was a 314 area code. Mike

Quill, thanks for the information. I had something come up so not able to get out Thursday or Friday. We’ll drop off supplies and table before we launch. See you at Eagle Rock Saturday morning. I’ll bring copies of the permits too. Mike

Ok I found out it is a federal government controlled burn is southern Barry County. Mike

anyone know what’s causing the haze over the lake by the dam? mike

anyone know what’s causing the haze over the lake by the dam? mike

I agree it depends on what you are using the reel for. I keep it real simple - IMHO All topwater: 50 lb braid All bottom baits - 20 lb flouro (jigs, C-rig, shaky head, plastic worm, creature baits) All crankbait, spinnerbait, jerk bait, 10 lb flouro I don't use a leader except on C-rig as it is just one more knot that might break. Mike

Fowlthing, thanks for the information. I will try to go tomorrow morning out of Big M. Mike

Griz, check the weather for Saturday at Eagle Rock. 100% chance of rain. Looks like your St. Patrick’s day gathering might be rained out. The OAF tourney will be the only thing happening that day. lol Mike

JF660R, from a retired one to an active one, thank you for what you do. Keep locking them up. Mike

Gary, may God keep you and your family in the palm of his hand. We will keep you in our prayers. Mike

Patlock and I put in at Big M a little after 8am Saturday. Water was stained to muddy. Visibility was <2feet. WT was 49 early and warmed to 51 when we took out at 1:30pm. Wound up with 25 fish but only 2 keepers. All were spotted bass and lacking a lot of color. Kind of like they just came up from deep winter habitat. 2 were caught on a double willow spinnerbait. And the rest were caught on crankbaits. Only 2 fish after 10:30am. All fish were in <10 fow. We tried deeper but no go. Tried jigs, c-rig and shakey head but no takers. Lots of boats running. We did see a guy catch a nice keeper in the back of a cove in shallow water on a white spinnerbait. If the water warms a couple of degrees this week, the bite should be pretty good soon. I will try to get back up there Thursday and Friday. I want to see if there is an early morning bite. Mike

rps, I did all that last week, but I know what you mean about the cold. As is said quite often on here, “I just ain’t that mad at ‘em.” See you at the OAF tourney. Mike

Quill, thanks for the report. Patlock and I are going tomorrow(Saturday ) and will put in at big M too. We thought we might as well get a look at the water up there before the tourney. We should be there around 8am. Mike

Quill, thanks for the report. Mike

Muddy, thanks for the uplifting weather report. Your chili will taste pretty good after that kind of day on the lake. Mike