RSBreth

I don't use the Rebel craw because I see so many people have it tied on - so I guess I'm trying to be a rebel, by not using the Rebel. I just don't have confidence in them.

Topwaters - any walk the dog type - Sammy, Spit "N" Image, Gunfish (actually a hybrid, it walks and spits) the new 09 size XRap Walk. Also the Lucky Craft RC Wake bait in the smaller size. Believe it or not, I don't use buzzbaits all that much - instead I'll wake or "bulge" a spinnerbait. And on to spinnerbaits - I use compact spinnerbaits from about mid-March through October. Try them in Winter, but usually other things work better. I'm actually trying to get a custom hidden weight spinnerbait design going, but I've been working on other things. I like white, white/chartreuse, and firetiger. Tandem Colorado/Willow mostly. Crankbaits: Name one that dives 1-foot to 8-foot, and I probably use it. Well except those craw cranks everyone else likes. Love the Bandit 200 and Bomber 4A. The Strike King series 3 is a sleeper, like the Norman Crappie Crank. Jerkbaits. Suspending models like the #10 Husky Jerk or XCalibur XS3 are what I'll use in cold water - but I'm surprised more people don't throw floaters in warm weather. I LOVE the new Rapala Flat Rap - I dress the rear treble like the XRap. Work it fast and erratic and in warm weather the fish crush it. I like having a rod with plain 1/8 ounce weedguard jighead on it to use for grubs or what ever, and one with an EWG hook to rig Senko's or JerkShad on. Jigs: Used to be Booyah Baby Boo's or Terminator Finesse, but this year it'll be my finesse jig I'm pouring myself. PB&J - Watermelon and Orange, and Pumpkin - matching or contrasting trailers.

It's early and the picture's a little out of focus, but with only one cup of coffee in me, so am I. Anyway - it's next to a bare 5/16 Baby Boo Jig head for scale - it is 1/4. This one has a Zoom Tab-Tail grub on it - but the one still tied on the rod has a 5" Kalins on it. That rod is a 7' BPS "Extreme" Spinning - Medium power. Using yellow 4/15 Stren Superbraid with a 12-pound Vanish leader. Can't remember the reel on that rod -either an old Pro Qualifier (not the new "big spool" model) or Pflueger President.

Yes they do, but Clouser's tied commercially are hard to find tied with them. Like I said. If you tie your own, yeah, they're easily found.

I use a little different tactic as far as streamers go - I want them lightly weighted so on a tight line they suspend and don't sink to the bottom. I work them over submerged timber in slower current areas. Basically mimicking a suspending jerkbait. If they wont hit that, then maybe I'll resort to dredging the bottom. Cluoser's tied with bath chain eyes are good for this - but hard to find commercially.

When I get the time to make some more I could send a couple your way. I've been mainly trying to get my little finesse jig right. Still slightly modifying the molds right now.

I've been messing around with one I've been making from a mold. It's a 1/4-ounce jighead, a very sparse skirt, Kalins 5" Grub on it. Just kind of gray/white/baitfish colored. It's still mostly a prototype, but really doesn't look too different than most other "swimming jigs" out there. I just very slowly swim it over and around submerged timber like you would a plain grub.

I got out a little in the rain yesterday - the water is still pretty cold. I caught a couple of little Bass on a suspending jerkbait, and one on a swimming jig. And I got wet.

Grubs and Jerkbaits - pretty much what I would be using if I were out this past weekend.

Like Ham said - I wouldn't have liked to be near it when it let go - I was on the lower part of the Buffalo River back in 96' (I think) when a chunk came off a bluff - a chunk the size of a small car. It was enough to make a pretty big wave and bounce me all over until the pool settled back down - it was like the wake from a big boat. I was lucky the chunk landed near the middle of a long pool and I was up near the riffle leading into about 100-yards away. Scary.

I've always used Med/light or Medium Spinning gear to throw light cranks. It's just easier - especially on windy days.

It looks now like KVD will take it, again. I think it was Jay Kumar (Bassfan.com's CEO) who said "Everyone says KVD is Bass Fishing's Tiger Woods- - but I think it's more fair to say Tiger Woods is Golf's KVD. He simply dominates."

There is a great article by Ned Kehde about Brent Ehrler's win at the 2010 FLW Table Rock event last Winter/Early Spring in the annual In-Fisherman Bass Guide. It's really in-depth, covering his pre-fishing tactics, the conditions, and summing up how he won. Pick it up if you have a chance - it's on newstands now or get it through Amazon or wherever. It even reference's Ozarkanglers.com. Mr. Kehde is a member here, but he doesn't post much.

The BFL tounament guys should do good today.

Hey, at least you got out. They should be on the suspending jerkbaits, too.

If I'm by myself I just leave. I rarely fish down there during the day anymore just because of that. Now If my buddy Richard is with me - he will usually start singing the Roland Martin fishing show theme song. Well, yell it, actually. "He's the great American fisherman, he'll fish anywhere, anywhere there's water, you know he'll be there..." The combination of him doing that and me falling down in the water laughing makes people want to get away from the "lunatics down near the rebar hole" as one guy commented. Good times.

I don't know - but everything marked "RC" and "Lucky Craft" I saw at the main store today was marked down on clearance.

Nah - just had more "antifreeze" in him than you did.

I have on my boat an 8' Float rig rod year-round. I use 4/10 Fireline as the main line with the slip bobber on it, then a small swivel, and then fluoro tippet as leader. Yes, a small circle hook is on the business end - but I use Gulp or Powerbait leeches, minnows, heck I even use finesse worms wacky rigged. I'll use small hair jigs in cold weather (float 'n' fly) and the scented plastics more in warm weather. I like some wave action to give motion to the lure, but that's just me.

I will post this on my calendar of events - thanks for the heads-up!

I know a guy out there - but he's out of town or I'd ask. I wonder about calling the Stone county road district or MODOT. That's what I'd do. Maybe call the Crane Chronicle (the local newspaper).

Don't forget sloooowly swam grubs on 1/8 - 1/4-ounce jig heads. I like the 5" Kalins in the Pearl or Smoke colors (for mid-depth presntations) or one of the Pumkin or Watermelon colors for swimming right on the bottom. This works really well near deep docks where you see schools of baitfish on your electronics, and is super for big Smallmouths in the Dam area.

You think?

Maybe when (if?) it gets warm out I'll have to take you to a few good wading spots not far from home. You'll have to upgrade the tippet to 8- or 10-pound test though.

I would go late March - Early April. Big Smallmouth time, every thing is prespawn so everyhting from cranks to spinnerbaits to finesse jigs can work. Just not on the same week as one of the bigger tournaments - so probably not the 26th-27th. As for not having a forum for Truman/LOZ - Ozarkanglers Truman Lake Forum. Ozarkanglers LOZ Forum. They're right there. EDIT. After posting I realized you mean how many poeple are active on the Table Rock forum versus the others. I don't know what to say, but maybe spread the word among the guys up there. It's a great place to share ideas.