RSBreth

I'm absolutely postive and no one can really argue with the fact that they weren't caught in the past 5 days. Other than that I'm not sure about the first one, the rest are just Smallies.

I feel so blessed that I don't need glasses - yet. I loose them or break them so I just get the cheap 15 dollar or so Strike Kings. I don't see how polarized "readers" would work as well as bi-focals, but I don't have your eyes.

I'd love to go and just see the "pitch" but I'm busy that night. Be careful driving up and back everyone - looks like some weather is gonna hit that night, too.

I've used Vanish as a leader for a few years - it's O.K. but you really have to be carefull pulling knots tight and keep it lubed when doing so or you'll burn it and weaken it a lot. What pound test Vanish?

There were a few O.K. years for Quail here in SWMO since I've been here - but not many. I do miss the days back in Kansas when I could get off work early around 3 P.M. and go get a limit of Pheasants before dark just a few miles outside of Wichita.

You always have to try the jig (I've had awesome winter days when the Smallies couldn't leave it alone) but sometimes they just don't want it, and when it's windy it's hard to feel a bite on that or a grub anyway. At least you didn't get skunked - I fished for Trout Saturday and almost blanked. Tough day.

Another vote for getting a new Lee pot - it's just so much better than the cheap pot that the money isn't even the issue - it's more about quality of your pour and ease of use. I'll scrimp on something if there's no downside but you don't want hot lead spills - which you will get with one of those cheap melters.

Now - that is a great story! I've had too many to list - the HUGE pike that kept following my streamer around me in waders at Spinney Mountain Reservoir as I did figure 8's and then tried to get it to hit it around and around me in chest-deep water, only to hit it and NOT get hooked. Then the Striper at Beaver that was an easy 40-pounds that wouldn't stop following in the 1/8-ounce grub in to the boat as I was pre-fishing a tournament - but wouldn't hit it. AAAAArrrrrggghhhh!

Nice one Al - I keep trying the "Multi-species" thing on upper Bull Shoals, you just never know what you'll get. But I'm wanting the big 'Eye like you got. Did you release it or keep it? I keep the 19" or 22" or so Walleyes - but I'm not sure how big they'll be before I just let them go.

I went back to upper Bull today - nothing as dramatic as yesterday. I did get a bunch of Spots on suspending jerks - today was the day of turned on 12" - 14" Spots on upper Bull. Not much else going on but I did catch some fish despite the gloomy rain and wind of the morning. The late afternoon up around Powersite was warm and sunny and very nice for a late November, and paddling around in the solo canoe catching fish is infinitely better than the very best day at work. Best lure was the old XCaliber XS4 in Clown (which looks just like the new EEratic Shad but suspends perfectly horizontal like a Rogue or Husky Jerk - the new EEratic Shad suspends nose down like a Mega 110.)

I did catch several short Largies and one Spot on a swimming jig, one short 'Eye on a Bomber 4A, and a nice Smallie on a #12 Husky Jerk in Tennessee Shad. I missed a really nice Brown on the Husky Jerk - bumped it and then followed it right to the canoe before turning away so close I could have slapped his kyped lower jaw. Then I hook a really good fish on the Rapala that pulls drag on a constant run - the type of fish that can only be a 5-lb + Smallie or a big Brown or a really big Largie - but I can't be sure because it fights deep and head shakes for a minute or so, then when I get it almost to the canoe it shakes off. I think I saw the green/gold of big 'Eye, but I can't be sure. Of course I was pretty mad and automatically yelled "you gotta be bleep bleep kidding me!" But then I laughed - the fish won, you do the best you can to get it to hand - it's always a gamble, and this time the fish won it's freedom. Of course I'd probably let it go anyway - but the fish doesn't know that. Missed fishes or not, it was a nice day to be out on the water, a little windy and hard to control the boat, but not too cold and only a couple of other boats out.

If you want good hard cured paint you have to do it like Danger Close said - it's also easier to tie your jigs with the guard out, too. One tip is if you use superglue make sure you have a small fan to blow air over the jigs as the glue dries to prevent the vapor leaving the paint milky looking around the guard too. Lot's of little tricks to pouring and making your own - you might start reading up over at Tackleunderground.com

I saw this on craigslist - guy wanted 150 dollars (cash ONLY) or trade for good compound bow - now it's over at Armslist as this:http://www.armslist.com/posts/2241208/springfield-missouri-fishing-for-sale-trade--complete-fly-fishing-setup I wonder if anyone is dumb enough to pay that or trade even a junk Hi-Point gun for a 24.99$ blister-pack Walmart flyfishing combo?

Nah - I've been down there a bunch - every couple of weeks - just not a lot going on with the high water. It will get better as it gets colder.

I thought that was you taking pictures Phil - I'm the guy in Orange way out there in picture #3. I wandered down to under Point Lookout - just a few bigger fish chasing there, and lower water then I've seen in long time. I didn't catch anything big but it was great to get a whole morning of knowing for sure that you weren't going to hear the siren. I only saw the other guy in that picture, and one more heading down about the time I left after noon. Not as crowded as the outlets. I used a Thomas Bouyant spoon, a couple of different tiny jerkbaits, and a scud under a float - all caught fish.

It's not really time for the suspending jerks to shine - yet. I like shallow suspenders, and everyone pretty much covered selection but just because someone didn't mention it doesn't mean it's not a good bait. I still love the 10 size (two hooks) Husky Jerk and dress the rear treble like an XRap. I like both the XRap Shad shallow for shallow use and the deep for around bridge supports or any steep vertical cover. Colors? Anything but the hot pink advice given above - maybe one day in my lifetime I'll get on a bite where it's the hot color - but it hasn't happened yet. Any natural baitfish color is good, and throw in a few Clown or bright colored ones, too. I really like the Orange belly/silver sides/ Blue back in the Husky Jerks for bright days. I hate to thumb a spool with gloves on so I use spinning gear in the coldest weather - 7' Med/light, fast action, with a good reel (not expensive- mostly Pflueger President or older BPS Pro Qualifier) spooled with bright braid - Sufix in Orange or Spiderwire Stealth in Yellow, I also use Red PowerPro when I get it on sale. All of these in 4/15 with a 1X Orvis Mirage leader about 7' or 8' long. I work suspenders pretty fast but I'm not afraid to let them sit and drift, either. Someone my biggest fish of the year will happen when everyone else is sitting on their behinds inside watching football, I love the cold weather jerkbait bite.

I thought they might let some out of Bull Shoals with dumping the extra from Taney - wishful thinking I suppose.

I know they are drawing Taney down to do work on the dam early this next week - anyone seen how the flow is looking and anyone fishing? I may head down there tomorrow morning.

Weird - a had a day last fall with almost indentical conditions (except they never generated) and slayed them. But I did put up the fly gear in the heavy rain and slung spoons and jerkbaits on spinning gear.

I think the triple surgeon's is just a little weak (sorry Gavin) but the Alberto is also a pain - I just do the Uni-to Uni most of the time. Although to muddy the water even more I often double the end of the superline with a simple 5 turn spider hitch - so it's much stronger than the regular fluoro or mono leader connection. So much so that I have broken the knot at the lure on 1x Mirage tippet (listed at 14.5-pound test) and not the superline/leader knot on the 12-pound NanoFil/1x Mirage leader. So the line/leader knot is stronger than the line/lure knot, at least when I tie it right.

I was fishing on the south shore from Powersite down to the bridge early yesterday - not much action unless they are running water. I did get a couple of small Bass on a suspending jerk, and had something bigger on just long enough for it to headshake like a Walleye - but I'm not sure becuase it came off 5 seconds after it was hooked. I'd like you chances better if the water was lower, but I'd rather go and only catch a couple versus wishing I had gone and done something else. Gotta have your line in the water to catch something.

I have a Beestinger XL 30" and Doinker Quadraflex 30" stabilzers - both retail for more than I want for the pair - 150.00$ These would be great for you 3D shooters. http://images.craigslist.org/01010_hQNoIm1l9N7_600x450.jpg

Years ago I tried that with a deer-hair popper (all I had tied up at the time) and caught a few but no real monsters. I'll have to try it again in the next few weeks. Good to know I'm not the only crazy guy trying a big surface skater down there.

I like the BPS Crankin' Stick but HATE the handle so I sand the hump off. Otherwise they're a great buy.

I've seen that minivan before. Now I will be looking out for it.