merc1997 Bo

most of the time, they are not only a bit deeper, but also suspended further out. this is where the umbrella throwers are catching some of these bigger females. the problem we have on the upper end is no trees out in deeper water. they are getting fewer all the time on the lower end. with that said, here on the upper end, just where do you throw your lure when they are suspended out in the channel with no trees or other cover for them to suspend by????? guess we could buy a case of beer and go trolling. jokes aside, trolling would be a great choice to pursue to catch these suspended big bass. you can certainly cover more water trolling. one other thing is that on the upper end of table rock, big bass and numbers of bass keep dwindling every year. why?? because, and especially above the eagle rock bridge, there is too much cold water coming down out of beaver to keep trout alive to ever have very successful spawns. i have watched the water temps go from low 60's to 50 degrees in less than a days time, and with even volume to cool the creeks off more than halfway back in them. what do you suppose that would do to eggs that had just been laid?? pretty much why the fish population on the upper end keeps getting less and less every year. from big m down there is getting to be a few more bass now. but still nothing like it was before the fish kill. bo

i ventured out for a little night fishing in the eagle rock area last night. caught somewhere around a dozen bass, but no keepers among them. even the little ones where out about 12 feet deep. caught all on them on a 3/16 NuJig tied with hair and used an 800 spring lizard pup for a trailer. the big one must still be out fairly deep, but they will figure out the water is warming fairly soon. bo

i am with bud on this one. how is that ramps such as the ones at emerald beach have to be open to the public, but viney, long creek and others can be blocked or charge to use now. me personally think we as group need to take the corp to task on this one. i think we just need to keep using those ramps, not pay, and see where the chips fall. we, the people still OWN the government and this country. just my opinion, but at some point there has to be a line drawn in the sand and stand up for ourselves. we also need to fire a whole bunch of people. bo

here is the thing about a rod suitable for crank baiting, at least for me. there are may rods that seem to have the right action, but when actually fishing a crankbait, you can never feel the wobble of the crankbait unless really burning it. i have had many bassers fish with me that were thinking they just were not getting any bites on their crankbait. after making a couple of cast with their rig, i knew why, you could not feel the wobble of the crankbait with their rod. i would then give them one of my rods, and they immediately went to catching bass. here is the reason. many bass when taking a crankbait will not change the pressure on your rod one bit. the only thing that will change is a slight change in the feel of the wobble of the crankbait. wobble is harder to keep up with on very tight wobbling crankbaits. wide wobblers like warts will fish on lesser rods to some extent because of the easier to detect wide wobble. a decent crank bait rod is a medium action extreme. i actually have an unbranded rod that i won at a tournament, that is even better. it has no name on it, or i would give it to you. hopefully you might be able to try a rod before buying one, and then be sorry. bo

Well, that speed limit is more for those that do not have enough experience or know where they are going, and the rest of us have to suffer. There are many out there at night that are not even safe going at an idle. In fact, there are many operating a boat during the day that are not safe and have no business on the water. bo

that is ok. bo

way to whack them! bo

just do not be making you twin guards on two separate points. take a look at trademark 3443116. bo

you certainly caught a good number. just needed some kicker size. i looked on the joe bass website, but there is not any results posted. bo

way to catch them. bo

SWEET!! bo

good luck at the tournament. bo

really nice!!! good job. bo

SWEET!! bo

i see almost everyone that has commented is throwing a snake tail worm. i use them some also. however, over the years, i have caught way more big bass on big worms that have either a twiddle type tail, or a straight tail such as the jelly worm or the old fliptail. just as with any type of soft plastic, you need to let the bass tell you which they prefer and keep and use several styles. i have many bassers sit in my boat, and the only type of worms they have are all snaky tail worms, and i am catching them right and left on a twiddle tail, they can not understand why they are not getting any bites. don't get caught up in using only one style of worm. bo

it still all boils down to the fact of if either one will catch bass. i have caught lots of bass on the new ones, and can not tell that is wiggles any less than the old ones i still have. the wiggle or wobble that bass want from one day to the next varies. that is why one day the wiggle wart will kill them, and the very next day, a model a bomber is better. they both have different wiggles. anyway, it still boils down to trying different types of cranks to home in one the best one for the particular day. very nice comparisons though. bo

you are right about this being a good topic. each of us has to learn when and where to use any of our lures. there are just times, especially in the colder water temps, that the really subtle movement on the long bill rebel will really catch them. just as when, there are times with medium bills, there are times you hardly even touch your line to move your bait, and there are other times, when a more forceful jerk is the ticket. as i have stated many other times about jerk baiting, you need your lures to sink, sit still, and slowly rise. on different days, the bass want the bait doing something different. it is just a reminder that, we all have many forgotten lures in our box, or stuffed away on a shelf that will still catch bass just as well now as they did way back when. i remember most vividly a day, when my fishing buddy kicked my tail on the old metal billed wood brown bomber. i caught more numbers, but everyone he caught was a big one. i would doubt that there is anyone that throws or uses a "holy rouge", or might not even know what that is. but, i still use it every year, when the water temps get right, and it still catches them just the same as it did way back in the 70's when i was first introduced to it by bud guthrie and bill willis. anyway, back to umbrella rigs, has anyone given thought to loading one up with jerk baits?? bo

sounds like the better bite is most definitely the umbrella rig. for those doing some jerk bait fishing, i have not heard one sole mention throwing a long bill rebel or rouge. over the years, and especially with the lower water temps we have now, a long bill rebel, and a long bill rouge have produced much better than medium bills in anything. it seems the long bill versions, especially the rebels and rouges and been forgotten. you need some of each because there is a difference in the wobble, and on certain days they will prefer one over the other. one other off the wall thought. how about throwing an umbrella rig loaded with jerk baits???? nothing like losing $75.00 worth of baits at once . bo

that is a good one for sure, and a whole lot of truth to it. and that folks is how you get to be a "PRO" basser . of course, those are the ones that i always liked to show up for the tournaments!!! thanks for sharing. it was a good laugh to brighten a cold dreary day. bo

There in a nut shell is the entire problem. The corps has forgotten who actually pays their wages. Our entire government has forgotten that fact. They boss us around, and it should be the other way. I guess we all need to keep our congressmen's phone ringing off the wall. Of course, we can do just as we did over at H highway, and that is to just keep using the ramps. As far as I know private money paved H highway. Emerald Beach residents, unless you want an unwanted brigade of boats rolling down to your ramp, you better get to squawking. There are only so many parking spots on your ramp, and the rest will start parking in yards. Bo

eons ago in a draw tournament held out of big m, my partner caught a 3lb. 8 oz. on a spinner bait in roaring river. he weighed it in as a joke since he did not have anything else to weight in. that is the biggest crappie that i have seen first hand out of table rock. bo

those are some really great weights brought in!! i have not been in so long i would not have a clue where to begin looking for them. i am sitting here looking out at all the snow, and i do not see going in my future any time soon, brrrrrr!!!. i will be looking forward to 50 degree water temps, and warmer weather. bo

the h highway ramp was closed for a bit. they blocked the entrance with rocks. but, gave up after they were drug off with some chains and a 4 wheel drive. sometimes, we have to take a stand and remind the corp, who pays their salaries, and actually still owns the country. bo

the best thing to do is to just keep using the ramps. if they lock gates, i am sure they will get tired of replacing rocks. they tried to block off the H highway ramp, but we just hooked onto their rocks a few times with 4 wheel drives and drug them off. they finally quit trying. bo

if you chase the yard sales in this area, you can often find off colored ones for next to nothing. buy them anyway and paint them. bo