rps

There are no fish in the Roaring River arm.

Forgot to add - had to pull a Whaler back to the ramp. It's the time of year when people bring the boat to the lake to see if it runs.

Start with the good: I lost count, but believe I caught more than 40 top water fish today. Some bad: 17.5 inches was the largest. Good: Did have five keeps. Bad: All five would have weighed 6 pounds. Good: Hundreds of ledge nests visible. Half had fish on them. Bad: Can't tell you where. Good: Caught the largest white bass for me in a long time while trolling for walleye. Bad: Didn't catch a walleye. Neutral observation: When I came in I noticed the marina dock was infested with largemouths holding under the walkway between slips. Hope the above helps someone get on fish.

I use Daiichi Death Traps and I tie the tail feathers with a little tinsel. That will improvr the hook up and action. The other step I took is merely vanity - just like the vanity plates for your truck or car. I had Tim Hughes paint 20 of them. Sample attached below.

The rubber nets, IMO, are easier on the fish. Since I CR all bass and small walleye, that is important to me. I do wish they were lighter and didn't "bounce." And yes that is a Top Dollar peeking out of the mouth. The fish really ate it and it was difficult to extract the lure without tearing gills

Haven't tried them, but everything needed seems to be there. A lighter alternative remains the Daiichi Death Traps. You can fish them three weeks and still stick yourself way too easy.

I am still in winter hibernation mode. I guess. I did not get up and out on the water until 9:00. I fished a topwater in one large cove near Holiday Islland until noon. 13 fish, including one smaller than my lure. Two were pinch tail keepers. One fish made the day. 20.75 inches, more than 5 less than 6. First good fish of the year, first good fish on my new top water rod. First solo net fish since last fall's surgery. Water temp 60 to 65 degrees. Lots of people out. Didn't see many catching fish.

When you are ready I can make one. I am not in the business and I don't do fancy, but the rods I make fish well.

Great fish!

Look at my avatar. That is a Tim Hughes painted Norman Top Dollar with Daiichi Death Trap Trebles and my own hand tied feathers with tinsel. I can fish it as a popper, I can walk it, and I can make it go sub surface and walk. It is a PITA to throw because it flies like a potato chip, but it catches fish. I have had sixty fish days on the bait. Last year I caught 5 fish over 6 pounds on the bait that included one over 8.

Precise, useful information. It will translate well to here. Thanks.

Have you tried the Alberto knot? It is the smallest strong braid to leader knot I have found.

Couldn't get out. Good job! Share technique?

I am fairly sure 18" is the minimum in Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Norfolk. At Stockton the minimum is 15".

I troll 10/2 PP through timber for large walleye. It does not fray or weaken as easily as some believe.

I like your work. You did more than the minimalist thread I use now days. Think on using Permagloss. You can do 5 or 6 coats in the space of a day and wind up with an old school finish where the wrap is slick but has bumps from the thread.

I ran a Terrova into a submerged tree and managed to break the "unbreakable" shaft. I also messed up the mount a bit. Marine Repair Center did a great job replacing/repairing.

Smalliebigs: I had no intent to challenge you. The tax, of which I had not heard, sounded bogus. The first article I found on it was an op ed piece that claimed the Obamacare bill would tax every home sale. When I found that was a gross exageration - the Big Lie - I assumed your banker was the victim of someone writing or telling that same lie. As for the tax you might have to pay because of your fortunate position - well, more taxes are never good news.

Your banker misinformed you. Not surprising in a time when everyone seems to be using the "Big Lie" system of politics. If you make more than 200,000 net taxable income per year, and if you and the wife sell tthe house and make a profit of more than 500,000, and if you do not put the profit back into the new home, then, and only then will 3.8% be assessed on the excess of the 500,000. Track this link: http://www.factcheck.org/2010/04/a-38-percent-sales-tax-on-your-home/

Bill Babler, a regular on this forum, runs a place, White River Lodge. He is finest kind. If he is booked he will tell you the best alternatives. You could also stay at Phil Lilleys on Lake Tanneycomo. It is convenient to anywhere you wish to fish as well.

I suggest the Minn Kota brand. I have owned multiple versions of Motor Guide and Minn Kota over the years and have been more satisfied with the latter. I also have had hand tiller, foot tiller, and watch fob tiller models. I found the hand tiller the best until the watch fob tiller became available. Low end: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Electric-Trolling-Motors/Bow-Mount|/pc/104794380/c/104716980/sc/104233680/Minn-Kota-55-Edge-Hand-Control-Bow-Mount-Trolling-Motor/1298566.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-electric-trolling-motors-bow-mount%2F_%2FN-1100545%2FNo-48%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104233680%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104794380%253Bcat104716980%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNP&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104794380%3Bcat104716980%3Bcat104233680 Foot Control: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Electric-Trolling-Motors/Bow-Mount|/pc/104794380/c/104716980/sc/104233680/Minn-Kota174-55-PowerDrive8482-V2-AutoPilot8482-Bow-Mount-Trolling-Motor/727553.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-electric-trolling-motors-bow-mount%2F_%2FN-1100545%2FNo-0%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104233680%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104794380%253Bcat104716980%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNP&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104794380%3Bcat104716980%3Bcat104233680 Hope that gets you started.

mattie: powerdive is a regular walleye type - well not regular, as he's way too weird to be called regular - but he has fished walleye tournaments on Stockton and knows whereof he speaks. I have not fished Stockton or I would tell more. Good luck.

I enjoyed it. Really. I also meant what I said about it being useful.

Dang! I opened this thread thinking we were going to see a repeat of the A-Rig thread or the poor fishies on the sand bar thread. Bikinis on skies - the true measure is a roofing hammer handle. Any body part wider than that disqualifies the possessor from wearing a bikini or a Speedo. Gardening - not worth the effort. By the time you pay for and acquire blasting permits to make the garden around here, it's cheaper to drive someplace with real dirt and a farmers market. Reels - stick with baitcasters; your friends won't borrow them. Big League Chew - I remember the name, but bless me, little else. Box cutters- nothing compared to the risk of explosive underpants. Why are all of you ignoring the real issue. When is MDC going to acknowledge that Missouri has a breeding population of mountain lions?

Someone is waxing poetic. Or has been taste testing medicinal libations. Actually, a great report and one that bears on more than one species in more than one lake. Thank you.