Jason Essary

My two cents. Ive done great on a trolling rig that can go to any depth. A local tackle store in Kimberling City (across from summerfresh) sells trolling weights that weigh ounce and 1/2 with swivels on both ends and wings on the side. The wings stablize the somewhat downrigger and help make it dig. U can troll it to any depth by letting line out and adjusting the speed of the troll. Ive done wonderful around point 5 this time of year. Mixed bags sometimes. Kent, smallies, largemouth maybe, Whites alot, even perch, channels and small flatheads very early, crappies, and heard of walleyes but never hooked one. I use 1/4 ounce white roostertails to troll with bass rods, and keep spoons tied on spinning outfits for when I see fish busting the surface.

Saw a picture today that said a lot to me, wanted to share it with yall. It said......U never see a bass boat in a Psychiatrics parking lot.

thanks sounds like i need to dedicate about 4 hours and use nothing but dropshot rigs. Maybe ill get the hang of it. Oh, by the way, just read a topic that was recently closed and wanted to say one thing. To all the guides on here....Thank U. for the ones that throw the rocks at them...Dont like it here, dont read it here.

My idea also. I dont want to abuse the water patrol but would they do anything?? Ive had to such happenings lately, one while i was deep in a cove checking a trotline. A pwc came flying down the narrow cove, came within 25 feet of me while I had my line in hand. And in my 16' flat bottom Tracker let me tell u it was all I could do just to let go of the line fast enough when I realized what was coming (I was stunned at first). I dont understand what people are thinking except that they can do whatever they want cause there are so few Water patrol around to see anything and do anything about it. I cant count the times on my fingers and toes Ive wanted to see a WP around to talk to them, and never have. I keep back in my little creek arm just because of it. I wish I could go out and fish the main lake points mid-day and catch some of the bass ive been hearing about but I dont want to fight the boats.

Thanks guys, great info. I need to learn how to fish a drop. Dont think Ive got it down yet. Can someone give me a rough idea on how its done? I know the rigging in general but how much weight are yall using and are u vertical?

I agree, night fishing is great. Id love to have a topic special for night guys. Cooler and NO SKIERS>>

Dang trav, ur a bucket full of info...thanks. hope they make it but guess well all c'

Just wondering and thought id ask all the smart peps on here... ...All these fooded trees around the lake, they going to die or are they fine. I know they can take a long duration underwater but this is going to take a long time to let there roots ever smell air again. And what about the brush, will it die back and leave just the large trees or what ya'll think?

Flatheads where im fishing are just outside the trees to bout 30'. Havent caught anything inside the trees, 15' and shallower, except dinkys. Normally, u can catch them up to 3' or so in the dark of the night, but I think most fish are cruising the outside of the tree line like bass on a weed line elsewhere. caught 14 this weekend, had 10 saturday. None over 10lb this time but great numbers.

Hard to limb line the channels on TR. I have caught lots of flats on LL but since the outside limbs of the trees are in 15' of water I havent tried them this year.

Baited lines last night, found one channel on the line. All the bait had been removed so caught him on a bare hook. Its happened before but always blows my mind when it does. Anyways caught 7 Flats by morning, one released and the others are going to a fish fry with me. Theyre still biting great, heard anouther guy at the ramp say hes caught two a night for 3 nights, fishing the same area im in. Great fun with the kids. pics dont want to load. Maybe later.

Now with the red fins ive heard a dozen ways to make the bait better than it is out of the package. Anyone want to give tips on anything that they do to the bait to make it work better??

Id rather have the 6 to 10" ones, for live bait. suckers or anything else would be nice. I can throw net them or seine them but have never found a good productive area.

Wow, people are proud of those Mickey baits.....pretty looking but pricey.

Would love to try some suckers as trotline bait, but where on earth do u get them??

Great, thinking of taking off work tomorrow and going after them. Constructions a little slow right now. gives me some time to go after them. Ill be on the points outside of Indian Point Marina if ya see a alum. Tracker out there its probably me. Got anouther ? while on here. Bill said the fry were probably LM. Ive been fishing the area around there hard this year, more than ive ever fished. Ive caught tons of bass this year, and havent caught ONE LM. All have been sjaws and kent. Has anyone been catching any LM in my area?

Sounds great, ill get back on them tomorrow afternoon. Love the topwater bite. Did u try any spooks, or just redfins

They also commented that they wanted anouther left-hand bat in the lineup. but his average in san was only like 175!!! I dont understand it either but I do know one thing, if ever givin the chance, he will win a big game against the cards for your team. Always happens when a big name switches, esp if they go to a rival team, and If i remember right st. L and cubs are sort of a rival....(haha).

Kansas boy, didnt mean to get u rialed up. Cubs are signing Jimmy though, that is if he passes a physical. He was released by the padres last week. "Felix Pie has been unreliable. Signing Edmonds could allow the Cubs to send Pie to Triple-A Iowa for steady work" quote from cubs organization. Guess they had some money they needed to use up, as he had an 8 million dollar deal for this year that someone has to pay. Cards gave 2 mill to the padres to take him, dont know what the padres will pay to get rid of him. anyways, good luck cattin...

Ive got 2 ?s. Did the point bite die, havent had it produce all week. Maybe im in the wrong area, working the indian point area. Did they finally move up to spawn? Now, for all u smart guys out there. I was next to a large oak tree trunk in 6 foot of water the other day and noticed about a ten thousand small fish fry huddled next to the surface in the shade of the tree. All still had a little of their egg sacks on them and were about an 1/8 of an inch long. What likely species were they??? Maybe White bass, shad, Ive never saw so many at once. thought they were to big to be shad but dont think the bass have spawned yet, at least they are maybe now but shouldnt have hatched yet.

LOL not much on the cubby fan either. Cant believe they re trying to get Jim Edmonds...guess its ok for them to have our seconds. lol. Anyways, been catching a lot of flatheads on tablerock, in the Lower end. I use trotlines, but might spend a night out this weekend. Ive tried all types of bait, but the best by far right now for me is sunfish (keep them under 5" to be legal ive found out). 15 to 25' in small cuts are the most productive.

LOVE UNCLE TED. WONDERFUL NEWS

Glad someone pointed it out, Id had never imagined they would worry bout it.

Little North Indian, Nw of indian point. If someone wanted to catch some on pole and line it d be a good time. most are coming on hooks in 15 to 25 feet, just outside the tree line. Just rebaited tonight and had a nice 18" kent that swallowed a perch today. Let him go, he was really tired but think he will be fine.

Flatheads must not mind the stormy nights. caught 5 last nice, largest 12 smallest 4. all caught on live green sunfish and a couple pumpkin seed perch (shorter than 5"...lol). anyways, where are the channel cats and blues??? Ive bout stopped using shad alltogether. havent caught one most all week. Windy conditons make running lines a huge headache. bout had two hooks get into the meat of my hand while i was trying to position boat with trolling motor and hang on to the line at the same time. Lucky i guess that i didnt join u guys that have had hooks buried in the wrong kind of meat.