rngr188

Saturday and Sunday were horrible for me down in Long Creek. Had a guy on Sunday pull up right in front of me and pulled a 5#er on an A-rig. He was in the Joe Bass Tournament. I dont throw it maybe I should lol.

Plus hunting season is among us, I don't hunt but it will take a lot of guys off the water also.

It did feel more empty, I think the weather kept the play boaters off the lake. Ned has been pretty much all we've thrown for the past few weeks and in the tournament as well. Had a blast even though we couldn't bring anything to the scales, I hope they have it here again next year, this was my first and would love to do it again but I heard a lot of complaints about having it here.

Only 11.6 won the Toyota tournament, lots of just 1, 2, and 3 fush brought to the scales. All I caught were shorts, it was brutal but I had a blast! Very well run and tons of quality free stuff the best being a very nice Carhartt hoodie and a nice heavy duty duffle bag. The free dinner Saturday at the Big Cedar Outdoor Center was top notch and all the free beer you could drink!!

Yes out of Long and BPS is involved. I called and the woman said last year they let them put in at different spots and ran to Long that morning for check in. If that's the case I'm in Harrison so I'll put in at Cricket.

KVD, Swindle, Scroggens, Ike, and more Toyota pros will be there but can't fish it.

I don't fish tournaments except for one small one where I went to college back in 2012 with my wife (she won at that). My wife and I are fishing the Toyota Tournament only because I bought a new Tundra in March, it's free, they feed you, you get to meet all the Toyota pros, so I though "Why not what do I have to loose." Other than that I don't see myself fishing any more weather it be on TR or BS, I just don't see the point in paying to win $250 assuming you do actually win plus those guys act like they're going after $250,000 and it seems like their morals (if they even have any) go out the window when that $250 is on the line.

I have absolutely no confidence in a spinnerbait ever since I was a kid so I never threw them. Not that I live up here and that is one of the most productive lures I am going to have to learn it.

What's funny about Hammer rods is the blanks are made here in Harrison at Ark-Rod Inc. where I live, I'm told Falcon blanks are made here also, and the rods are assembled by Hammer owner Shane Cox in Guntown MS where my dad lives. It's funny because they have a bait store next to the rod factory and if you ask they wont tell you who they make rods for but the owner of Hammer specifically said on BBC that his blanks are made by "the rod craftsmen at Ark-Rod in Harrison AR". When you go in the tackle shop there are rods that they have built with no name or line/lure rating that are identical to Falcon Caras.

That is the rod I have and with the BBC 10% off at Tackle Trap I got it for 162.

I've got the Bucoo in the 7' MH and it's a great rod. Of all my Caras the Bucoo is right there with it at half the cost. Look into Hammer rods 100% USA made, I just bought my first after reading all the rave reviews on BBC so decided to give one a shot. Although I haven't made but a few casts with it I think it's going to be a very nice rod and I really like the Winn (golf club) style grips vs EVA foam. If you are a member of BBC the Tackle Trap offers a 10% discount code for members. If interested in trying one of these you can call the Tackle Trap and tell them what you want out of a rod and what you will be using it for and they will guide you to the rod that you need based off of what you tell them. Great folks to deal with and supper fast shipping, I think mine came in two days later.

I've been catching my small SM keepers on the Ned lately but have tried jigs (one of my confidence baits) and nothing will touch them. Down in Cricket I was throwing my #1 confidence bait, a C-rig with Zoom Blueberry lizard, and doing well but I cant get those bites anymore. I'm from South AR around Camden and Magnolia so BS and TR are a huge change in my techniques; no 50-65lb braid on XH 7'6" rods now its 7' MH-H with 10-12lb line and mostly spinning gear with 6-8lb line. It's been a huge learning curve. I don't fish tournaments but I will be fishing the Toyota tournament with my wife it's our first tournament besides one small one at home, please don't throw mud pies at me lol, only because I just bought a new Tundra and the tournament is free so I thought "Why not". I have been out every weekend since the water came down enough to safely run and camped at Indian Point Friday through Sunday this past weekend and fished all days. I'll be off Friday and will spend all day on the water up around Indian Point as that's or confidence spot for now, I think we can get 5 keeper SM but they definitely won't win as they are bumping 15" maybe 15.25". Saturday before the meet and greet and rules meeting at the Big Cedar Outdoor Center we will put in early in the morning at Cricket and check it out as we haven't been there in a few weeks so it may be hopping down there we'll see. Thanks guys! I've been viewing this site for about a year but decided to join out of frustration I have been getting from the lake. I think after this tournament we are going to take a weekend fishing break and then get on BS as we've only been on it about 4-5 times. My wife has been stressing over this tournament for months now and it's getting worse as it approaches, if we can just show up with 5 keepers no matter what place we finish it will feel like a win to me as like I said I am not a tournament fisherman and this is a BIG one! Hey before you know it will be crappie time yum yum.

I live in Harrison so I put in at Cricket and fish it and some of Long creek. In June I was catching a substantial amount of 3-5lb LM but come to find out that was a community hole and as the water began to drop the fish left. Then I had a particular point where I could count on them schooling heavily if it were early morning or a cloudy day and catch plenty of small keepers. I've tried the back of Long, coves and pockets in Cricket, flats in Long, nothing but dinks all through July and August. So me and my wife decided to venture up lake and found Indian Point and found some pockets and points with small keeper SM (no LM at all) but that's it. I'm trying all the typical stuff but coming up with small fish, then I read of tournaments being won with 15lbs and I'm thinking "Where" and "How". We tent camped at Indian Point this weekend and got some good fishing time in but no quality. I feel stumped and left scratching my head!! I just started fishing here last fall and that was mostly crappie then the rains came and I didn't get on the water until late May so I've got a lot to learn. Before too long I need to check out the KC area.

The tournament is not open to any BASS Elite or FLW Pro. They will be there for Saturday's meet and greet but will not be fishing the tournament.