BassPastor

Can you expand on this? You think that those who have jumped on the COVID lake craze will get busy with other things again?

Wish I could get down to fish this event, sounds like a lot of fun. What are your guesses on the winning big fish?

Praying for your father as well as you and your family. 2 Corinthians 1 reminds us that he is the "God of all comfort".

Great report!

There were folk ice fishing on Smithville yesterday. 60 degrees and 5" of ice.

Something to keep in mind regarding the number of boats out this weekend is that up here in Kansas City (and anywhere north), we're still dealing with 5" of solid ice from edge to edge on any body of water. Wouldn't be surprised if many couldn't resist heading south. I would have done the same if it weren't for my wife being due with kid #2 any day.

Hello! My new (to me) boat has a pair of Lowrance HDS9 touches (not LIVE). Was looking for recommendations on what mapping card is best. The guy I boat it from was running Navionics Hotmaps, should I stick with that one or try something else? Any tips/experience would be appreciated! I pretty much fish exclusively in the lower Midwest.

That’s a good point. What have you found to be about the right amount for you? This boat holds 50 gallons which would probably last me quite some time.

Wow no Ring Free? Now that’s a hot take right there. Thanks for the tips.

Yamaha 225 VMAX HDPI series 2

Thank you! This is an upgrade from a 1973 16' Crestliner aluminum that I made into a "poor mans bass boat" several years ago. That boat has a 1978 Johnson 35hp so was pretty limited as to how far I could go. You know what though, I still caught a ton of fish. We're just excited to have so much more lake to fish now. My in-laws have a nice Regal bow rider so there have been many many spots that I've wanted to fish but knew I could never make it there in the old rig.

Update: Had to drive a few hours but found a really nice 2009 Skeeter ZX225.

Thanks for the tip, I sent a message.

Thanks for posting. I wish I could get into a rig like that! Im on a pastor’s budget so something made between 2000-2010 is probably more what I’m looking for. It’s proven to be a tough “in between” price range.

Thanks for all the tips. I’ve been looking high and low, just feeling patient and picky so figured it wouldn’t hurt to put out some feelers on here. I’m on the list in about every dealer in MO, many of them don’t even have a single pre-owned boat in stock.

Here's my ideal boat, but if you have anything outside of these parameters, I'd still love to see it. Fiberglass bass boat 19' or better 200 hp or better dual console preferred If it's a private sale, I'd need to test it out on the lake. Been looking high and low so figured it wouldn't hurt to post it on here too. Thanks!

@Will S. I’m from the land of crimson and cream as well. Go Big Red!

@Will S. 45 degree banks with some flooded bushes. Tried to keep the boat in 20’ of water. Never more than 1/2 way back a creek arm. Secondary points seemed to produce a few more fish!

@Bill Babler the most impressive report I’ve read is of some feller that caught a state record brown! 😉

@Bill Babler important clarification... 3 of us caught limits this morning. 15 total fish from 3 fisherman over 7 hours of fishing. Nothing over 3 lbs.

Some good fishing up there we caught 3 limits this morning up Long Creek arm on football jigs.

I tend to agree with you. I caught a 15.5" while bass fishing yesterday. Biggest I've ever caught!

@mixermarkb good thoughts. Keitechs are undoubtedly a confidence thing for me right now. I have way more patience with a bait when I have a productive history with it. That being said, running low provides good opportunity to challenge myself and try some new things. I do need to add a bottle of superglue to the boat. It was on my list this time but it slipped my mind. Without it, they are lucky to last past one fish. In fact, I was frustrated at the bite of a little dink smallie today because she messed up my last sexy shad Keitech.

Thanks guys. Tackle is tough to come by in the Branson area right now. If anyone will be out on the lower end tomorrow and wants to double their money on a few packs of 3.3 Sexy Shad or Electric Shads, let me know. 😬

Some of you may have read the post I made last weekend outlining the struggle that we endured in trying to catch some suspended fish. Well, appropriately so, this Good Friday offered some undeserved redemption. It seems that in our work-week absence, the fish have moved back up into the shallows to stage. We tried a few mainlake points before we made a bee line to the warmer water. The further back we ventured into the creek arm, the warmer the water was, and the more the fish bit. We ended up with 15 fish, about half being keepers. Nothing to most of you, but a darn good day for us. All spots except for a short smallmouth, a 15" crappie, and a nice white. All bites were on 3.3 Keitech Sexy Shads on 1/4 oz or 3/8 oz heads. Happy Good Friday to each of you! Looking forward to celebrating the resurrection of Christ this weekend!