713lefty

Thanks Ham! Do you texas rig, or use jig heads with a medium action rod? I guess it's tough to texas rig a 3" tube, not enough room. Anybody else have a favorite rig.

I've seen many references to tubes, brown, dk green, 1/8 & 1/4oz. I use a medium heavy spinning rod for jig n craws with 10# invis-x. I think a mh is too stiff for a tube. What type of spinning rod for tubes? I'm thinking 8# or 10# invis-x fluorocarbon on a 6' or 6'6"medium action rod. How does that sound?

I've been fishing less, asking permission more at ponds within a half hour or so. Maybe a LOZ trip in Sept., 3 days and camp, make the to/from gas get 3 fishing days.

Jigs or 10" blk. Power Worms in brush or rock piles. Try deep & shallow to see what they are up to. Usually I can find some on chunk rock in 5'-10' depth. They tend to be deeper if in brush. I've caught them 25' deep in brush off the ends of docks at 10pm & at 11pm 5' deep 1/4 mile away on rock using a fat free shad deep diver & bouncing it off the rocks. I also like a zoom swimming chunk trailer. If it's a slow nite, use a chompers twin tail trailer. I've had many rod crushing bites at night. Locate the brush before dark. Good Luck. Try a spook early, before sunup. Just look & listen for surface splashes to start. Rocky main lake points are good. All the rain & water flow thru the dam will alter or eliminate the thermocline. I've heard of a rather shallow bite this year. Heavy boat traffic may push them down, if it's comfortable for them they may stay there.

I recently heard of the new carrot fiber rods. They use the carrot fiber instead of resin to hold the graphite together. Stronger, lighter, and comparable in sensitivity to a Loomis IMX. At $149 its cheaper than an IMX. Heck, I just got my first (and only) IMX last Christmas after saving up 7 gift cards from Gateway Outfitters in St. Charles, Mo. Should I be thinking orange? Anybody out there have an orange rod? Any comparisons?Hope to hear. Oh yea, Boyd Duckett is sponsored by carot-stix. There could be something here!

You'll have to get Gary's permission for pics! His fishin buddy picks up the boat next week.

See lefty's entry! 6-25-08.

I have a 14' River Jon Boat for Sale. It has a 25Hp Force Motor & trailer with 16" diameter tires. It is extra wide boat, 5.5' max at top, 4.2' at bottom, 19" high sides. It's a heavy duty Polar Kraft boat. It has a 1 & 7/8" tongue size. $950 for the package. I have Title for boat, motor, and trailer. I have some Bass Pro Rods & baitcast reels to go also.

jd, Do you mean the under cut section protected from the rain? It was about 10 feet above the water level. ham, Do you mean better fishing from Hwy 7 down?

Don't forget to report back.

I fished last weekend before the rain. Chompers on a 5/16 or 3/8 jig. Cast on the bank, drag quietly into the water, bites 10 feet from bank in 2-3 ft of 45* F water. Use a jerkbait in cooler water. We saw 1-2ft. visibility. The jig bite was one light tap after a 3-4 second pause during retrieve. Move jig slowly 1 foot max, pause, then drag along some more. We had boat in 10-15ft depth. Because of the rain, check many coves for clarity and temperature. Find a deep protected cove with not much runoff, no creek, for clearest water. I heard of some 50* F water but could not pry out of him where! The jerk bait needs to be cast as close to the bank as you can crank it down & barely twitch. The areas with the diving gulls and struggling shad resulted in no bites. My guess was fat, stuffed full bass. The jig n chompers worked best for us, on a Loomis rod (my first-a Christmas present from the Mrs) , so the light bite may be felt. Brown or green jig with orange, dark melon pepper 4" twin tail grub. We fished 3-11MM and 3 miles up the Gravois. Prefishing needs to be more scouting for suitable water, or at least the best you can find, than time fishing. When you get bit slow down and be thorough. Also we noticed 2"-6" rock/gravel size where we got bit, about 2/3 to 3/4 the way back in the cove. We tried spinnerbaits & C-rig lizards but no taps. They may produce next week. Good Luck.

I've met Mr. LaPoint. I'd go with him any where any time. He offers a map marking service if you can't get a guide. Not quite as good, but a lot of good advice and some good spots to apply the advice. Checkout www.strikebass.com for more info.

I've seen or spoke to water patrol 2 out of every 3 LOZ trips, over the last 5 years, many trips. I spoke with an MDC agent at PB-2 during a tournament weigh-in. Yes he was disguised, and I eventually figured it out and then he introduced himself. A very tough job, I wouldn't like it. That close to water and not fishing much would kill me. I've seen MDC agents about 1 in every 4 trips to the Meramec or Gasconade. I have seen many suspicious vehicles parked along the rivers. I applaud them for the job they do, there's just not enough of them! And the one time I forgot my License, it was in my other tackle box in my vehicle way over there. He gave me a warning. It is now back in my wallet where it belongs.

My family has historically been able to help others physically and occasionally financially. We're in a bad spot now. We've gotten christian financial and budgeting counseling. We have a 5 year repayment plan ahead of us. The pressure and stress is significant. We need to remain spiritually strong. My wonderful wife and I have been on edge lately. My 13 & 17 year old daughters are struggling with the issues also. College in one more year for the oldest and High School in one year for the other. Much peer pressure & stress. My wife has foot surgery on Thursday and will miss 2 weeks of work. Please pray for all 4 of us, that we can remain the cheerful family we've been for so long! Thank You. Easter 2008 Update. Finances are tough but stable. We are hanging in there well. God is great. Thank You all for your continued prayers.

Thanks! It took a while to respond due to ongoing computer problems.

Don't forget to walk the spook! Slowly, twitch, twitch, pause, repeat. Vary pause from a 2 up to a 10 count. Don't set till you feel the fish. Sometimes I've done better on the spook jr. than the full size model. It should not take too long to see what they want.

I've got to see a fish doctor! I keep hearing about them and should get some. Anybody got a photo?

Heck, Gills taste good also and are fun on ultralight tackle.

AMEN Bill! Let's get some more goggleye tips a going! I've eatin some out of the Gasconade, they're good!

I lock everything! At least make them have to fight there way in! It may discourage them, and send them to find an easier target. The longer it takes, somebody may show up and scare them off.

Why not go back to that spot & catch the rest of the "word", the "s" may not be the first letter.

I hooked up with "Jim" and his son on Wednesday, but it was too windy (30mph+) to go out. It was nice to meet you Jim!

check out is 10am.

I'll be at Big Cedar on 4-9-07 pm thru Friday am. If anybody has a boat and would be stuck by themselves, I'll join you. I fish a lot, just not at T Rock (yet). I chip in generously for gas and will pick up lunch at a marina. I have a hard time putting down a pole for a sandwich, but it's been done before! If interested, email Ted at reitzway@sbcglobal.net

Most of the resorts will let you launch for a fee. Find an area you want to fish and launch close by, save some money on gas to buy a few more baits! When they are busy and full of guests, you may not get to launch. Make friends now, may help out later.