RSBreth

I would be fishing the co-angler side of the Table Rock FLW Tour event if both scheduling and budget concerns weren't getting in the way of it. I've fished the FLW BFL events before and really enjoyed them. Most of the guys are just really great and helpful.

I've been checking out under water cameras, and I like the price on these. Cool vids, too! It'll take a little playing with it to get the shot angles down, but for just starting to use it those looked pretty good!

If you hold the meeting on Saturday (wherever it is) I'll be there. I wonder how many we can get interested?

I've never noticed that about FluoroClear, and I've used it quite a bit. For my money, for leader material (whether tied to superline or as tippet on fly gear) nothing beats Orvis Mirage. That Frog Hair was made by Gamma I believe? Gamma is getting out of the line biz, so I wonder what folks relying on it will switch over to? From Bassfan.com: Gamma gets out 1/19/2010 Gamma Technologies is pulling out of the fishing-line business. The news was announced in a note to its pro staff, which stated that henceforth, Gamma would focus solely on its tennis division, where the company has been exceptionally strong for almost 3 decades. Gamma's rise to fame was notable as it forced many line manufacturers to rethink and retool their own fluorocarbons. Gamma's fishing-line endeavors began with Frog Hair leaders for fly-fishing. It then began to explore opportunities in bass fishing and attended the BassFan Top Gun Championship in 2005. There, many pros like Greg Hackney, Brent Chapman, Matt Herren and Jeff Kriet became familiar with the line and joined existing Gamma pro-staffers such as Dave Lefebre. Despite its high price point of about $28 per spool, Gamma made significant inroads in the bass market, but things began to unravel when Gamma product-line and pro-staff manager Tom Ference was let go. Most of the pro staff was cut or chose to depart soon after. "In light of this decision Gamma Technologies is not offering sponsorships for 2010 and effective immediately all existing agreements are canceled," the note read. Got any Gamma? There's a good chance it might be worth more than you paid for it when current retail stocks run out. If you need to stock up, the BassFan Store still has it in stock.

I've only seen the no-name knot used with a loop on one line, is that what you're doing or trimming all four tag ends?

I'd sure like to be there, but I work nights Mon-Fri. Maybe next year.

I fished over at the Ozark Park today just for a few hours, managed to squeeze in some "angling" between chores. Not much to report, a couple of chunky little fish on a suspending jerk near timber. Saw some gigged and left dead suckers, more of them cleaned and left in a pile by the boat ramp. Here's a tip, CLEAN UP YOUR MESS. Whether it's old line, trash, or cleaned fish, dispose of them properly. Seriously, an eyesore right where everyone parks to walk the trail at the park. I saw a little johnboat with two guys, a dog, two minnow buckets, and God know what else in it fishing over there. They didn't look like they'd caught anything but a buzz. Anyway, good to get out, despite some small issues.

Yeah, I'm sorry to pile on here too, but that was a silly statement about modern electronics on "fancy Bass boats". The idea of modern gigging have a parallel in modern Bass fishing isn't a good comparison. I think modern spotlighting of Deer is about the same thing - just the gigging is legal. I just came back from paddling around my little local pond, the Ozark Park section of the Finley River. Right at the boat ramp is a mess of cleaned suckers - about 13-14 total. Hard to tell as the filleted remains were thrown in a pile right there by the ramp in about 4-foot of water. Classy. Right where all the town folk park to walk around the park, or throw rocks in the water with their kids. I paddled upstream and was looking for Bass that had been gigged ( or maybe the three billed Herons got them?) and amazingly, unlike last time, I didn't see one dead Bass. But I did see in my short trip 6 dead suckers lying on the bottom in various spots upstream. I didn't fish long, just a couple of hours, so I didn't paddling the entire length of where a gig boat could have gone. maybe there were more fish gigged and lost, or not, I don't know. That's almost a 50% loss rate, pretty bad. I wonder if "missed" fish are in the equation MDC uses for the limits of the non-game fish. Or do they care?

Most of the time for Table Rock I'm using a 7' medium power/fast action spinning rod with a large spool (40 size) reel. Hi-Vis 4/10 Fireline with a 7- or 8-foot leader of 1X Orvis "Mirage" Fluoro leader. It's about the same diameter of 8-pound test mono, but is 14.5-pound test, and fluorocarbon to boot. Expensive, but worth it. I use a duo-lock snap instead of tying directly for quick lure changes, and take the split rings off my lures.

I'm not sure about the FMJ rule applying to fur bearers, but I do know that the standard military FMJ's tend to "tumble" and yaw after a bit of penetration, sometimes coming out sideways, which makes them pretty nasty, but not likely to ricochet. Doesn't help on misses, though. I'd still prefer a good fast expanding varmint bullet like Wayne said, either the Nosler Ballistic Tip, Sierra Blitzking, or Hornady V-Max. Even better, call the Coyotes very close, use good camo, and use 12-gauge 3" Magnum loads of either BB's or T size shot. That definitely works, trust me.

Good thing some of our local Fire/Rescue folks are practicing ice rescues skills...Practicing Ice Rescue at Lake Springfield because a bonehead like that will wind up busting through, and then they'll have to go fish him out.

Just remember the FMJ bullets in surplus ammo just doesn't put them down as quick as a good "varmint" bullet, but then again, you'll have several other rounds immediately "on tap" so that may not be a problem.

Not to hijack the thread here, but I'm curious about the S&W M&P 15 in the "Russian" .233 - 5.45x39. Was it less expensive than the regular .223 version? And are you shooting surplus 5.45x39 or commercial?

I have a serious rimfire addiction. It can be a problem, but luckily I'm broke these days and can't afford to feed it with more "toys". Those Heritage single-actions are great plinkers, and not expensive at all.

If it's just for hunting 'Yotes and not for plinking, I think going with 22/250 is a good idea. I usually stick with .243 for larger varmints, you can really put Coyotes (or anything up to that size) down quick with .243.

I saw these in a tackle-making catalog a while back. Look a little funny, but if you like them, I guess that's all that counts.

Not a Kayak, but still here you go - Massive Musky On The Fly... From Field&Stream.com.

I haven't heard anything yet. In the article about the bridge they talk about straightening the road leading up to the new bridge, that'll cut right across where Riverside Inn now sits if that winds up being the plan. Access would be nice up there, then you could easily skip the park in Summer. I don't know, but I'll be asking questions to find out. Maybe a gravel bar or even a ramp under the new bridge? I'm doubtful, but you never know.

I picked one up yesterday at the main Bass Pro. They aren't listed on-line, but they do have them at the store. I don't like the way they shaped the head, but I can live with it. Now if we finally get Spring, I'll be throwing it. I bought the smaller 5/16 size in FireTiger, Silver Blades. Already have a white Kalins grub trailer on it.

It seems the Riverside Inn may not be the only casualty over there beside the Finley - the old one-lane bridge may be replaced soon. Story Here:County to tear down Riverside Bridge... Will it effect access to the River, and block Floaters from going through that popular area? We will see.

I've caught some Tiger Muskies out of Fellows on large Clouser Minnows on my 9-weight, but none were very big. Early spring, South facing coves, right on the points leading into the coves.

You must not be the only one ordering from them, both "Norman Flake" and "Table Rock Shad" are sold out. They do have 'Clown" though...

Nope. The lead wire (either kind) is super easy to get right, too. Take a small piece about 2 or 3 inches long and put it through the front hook eye, twist once, and try it at boat side, snipping off little bits off (with small side-cutter pliers) until it suspends like you want, then twist it on like in the picture. If it wasn't enough weight to begin with, get a longer piece and repeat. I use a dab of super glue on the wire ends when it's "perfect", but rarely have had fish throw off the lead when fighting them. The stick-on weights are handy, but I'm cheap, what can I say.

You almost always have to "tune" suspending jerbaits a little - even the high-dollar ones. I like lead flytying wire (50/50 rolled solder from Lowes works too) better than the stick on weights because it's cheaper, and rarely comes off. This picture is getting a work out - I think it's about the 3rd time this week this topic has come up somewhere. After all the talk about the McStick's I'll have to pick up a couple, I haven't tried them yet, mostly using the XCaliber XS4 for the coldest water these days. XS4@BassPro

Aw, man. Beaver Creek? I haven't seen that there, but now, there it is. Idiots spread to every where.