jay bird

You are right it is all about the color and paint job on the fish. Mine is close, but I would have still liked the brilliant white like you see in your picture.

About 8-10 years ago we had a really cold winter and I was getting cabin fever really bad. Took my little bass boat down to Big M (Table Rock) just to get out. My boat usally ran about 46-47 MPH on the speedo (before I had a GPS) on that day I was pushing close to 54mph going down the lake (Cold water no humidity) and came around the corner to a frozen part of the lake that almost reached across the whole lake. I really do not think it was that thick, but I sure did not want to hit it going 50.

I got to talk to you about bait some time. We are trying to figure out how we can keep bait alive for a period of time in the spring. I am only about an hour from Grand lake and a buddy of mine is over there at least once a week in the spring. I have heard that Grand is one of the best places to get bait.

I was so close to going out on Friday. I wonder which way the topwater action is going is it just getting started or near the end?

Russ Pendergraft at Vison's of wildlife in Cassville did the mount first striper he has ever done I did not think it was to bad at all. Lure was a Redfin in smokey joe in May.

Thanks looking forward to spring every time I look at it.

See what everyone thinks, This was the Striper I caught on Beaver Lake on top water it was 43.5 inches long and was about 35 pounds about 4-5 hrs after I caught it when we got to a scale later that night.

Have two no problems, the fish in my Avatar was caught with one 7ft heavy bait caster. Not a bad rod for the money some guys at work have some and also no problems.

Great report short and to the point. Do you get out on Beaver much?

Here it the spots we picked up the SM sorry for the confusion it was to the left not the right.

Wind, Wind and more Wind It was not really that bad on the arms, but the main lake was a different story. Thanks Hunter for the info, but I think the wind kept the whites down most of the day. We did find a really good spinner bait bite on wind blown point and probably boated 30 bass with 3-4 of thoes being SM with 3-4 keepers LM with the biggest about 17 inches. Had some whites and some big blue gill. Not a bad day on the lake at all, it was way better than work.

Thanks Hunter91 have heard that same report twice so I guess I know where we will be right about dark. Also we are going to get there about 1:30 or so and was going to troll for some eyes, what type of crankbiats should we use?

I actually get an Afternoon off from work and am going to take some guys up to Stockton fishing. We really do not care what we catch just will be gald that we are not at work. Was wondering if anyone has done any good on white bass? We will be putting in at twin bridges and fishing until dark. Thanks in advance Jason.

Amp it was your post that made me go over that way, so thank you.

Took that family out in the boat today to do some fishing. I have a 4 and 6 year old boys so it really does not take alot to get them excited, but what a day they had. Put in at Cape Fair and started with just some blue gill under the bobber. We proabably had thirty or more with a bunch of these just being hand size hog blue gilles, they where having a blast. We then went for a boat ride and pulled into a cove where the spot where just hammering the shad. The boys had a blast pulling them in after I would hook up with two or three that would have made nice keepers. Then went for another short boat ride and ended up in the middle of a bunch of Whites just hammering the shad. Me and my wife would hook up and let the boys pull them in. There was some really nice whites up to about 1 1/2 pounds. There was a time when there was a 100-150 yard circle of whites just killing the shad it was unreal. Great day on the water, I think that I need to take the boys more often to dedicated fishing trips because of the four or five trips we have taken this year just to fish, we have loaded the boat.

I usally take some guys fishing in the Early Fall up on Stockton just for a fun fishing trip. Have only been on Stockton twice in my life and the first time we stumbled into some great White bass fishing. Would like to refine my tecnique to be able to do this with a little more consistency. Not looking for specific spots just on some techniques, what to look for and maybe general parts of the lake to start fishing. Also last year we went in Mid-october and caught alot of bass, but did not get into the whites so what time of year or water temp is the best to catch the fall bite. Sorry for all the ? just looking to improve my fishing at waters I usally do not fish but once a year.

The pole buzzing thing is a really really scary feeling. First time it happened I could not tell what the noise was, but when it dawned on me and I told my fishing partener and at the same time lightening hit somewhere really really close. We both looked like ghost and headed for shore.

I will the second that a Big Striper will eat bass. I think the bass the I catch in Beaver always look really really nervous. Did see a Striper hit a 12inch spot on top about three times, did not eat him, but sure killed him though.

My boat runs great at 30MPH, but I would rather have a guy run a little fasted on plane then try to run at 30 with his nose up in the air. As for the lights we fish with lights off until we hear a boat then light are on until the boat is clear. I see about 90% of other people doing the same thing on the lake. IF you are running in the 30's I really do not think you are going to get pulled over or are a real hazard. From what I can tell from Whackem's post over the years he seems like a really level headed guy that is free with his fishing information and loves to fish, I would not worry about him and look or bigger fish to fry. Ski boat that play music you can hear from two miles away going down the lake at 60 at midnight would be a place to start.

Took the Family out on the boat on Sunday water temperatue was 87. I had to look twice very warm for just June.

I was running one night from the Bridge back to Big M and was doing the 30 MPH when something barely caught my eye in the water ahead of me. It was two kids in a dark green canoe . Scared me to death and I yelled at them like I have never yelled at anyone. No light, no nothing if I was going faster I am not sure if I could have stopped in time.

I have caught them at night on top water during a full moon, but only twice. What I would like to try to using lights and then either lures or flies when they come in, but have never tried this and every one that I know that does this does it with live bait.

Tried it the last couple of mornings with very limited success. Had a couple yesterday with the biggest maybe being 8#s, the other days only boated one other fish. The fish I did see where on top for a very short period of time and you had to be right on them for a chance. The wind did not help either, but I think the top water bite is slowly coming to an end.

Have not been out if I hear of any reports I will send them you way, usally only fish up towards the dam so could not help if you went farther South.

Went last night from the Shore and the Kids had some nice Blue Gills bigger than my hand. They had a blast.