rps

Spatchcocked chicken, seasoned with Penzy Northwoods seasoning and salt, sitting on baby yukon potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and fennel.

I have lived and fished in Oklahoma and Arkansas for my entire life. I have never caught a ten pound bass. Nor has anyone in the boat with me. My largest was a bit over 9 from a Tulsa area farm pond in the 70's. I have two over 8 from TR since I moved here in 2002. I recall believable pictures of TR ten pounders on this forum only two or three times since I joined. Seems to me that rare would be a good answer.

I have rice noodles soaking and the mis en place done for a Thai style pork and mushroom dish. I will edit later when the dish is done - provided it is worth a darn.

Swizzle stick and garnish all in one.

After the hot water bath and a day of settling.

Fished out of Holiday Island today from 9:30 to 1:30. Spent all my time shallow since reports indicated that. Caught 6 and had two others shake off. Only 1 keeper in the boat. Used the wart in 77 degree water. Fun short day.

The pickled egg inspired me. I just put up 8 and a half pints of dilly beans.

So disappointed. You did not buy their best lure. The Top Dollar.

Good report. Thank you. Not much different from what I found. I never thought I would write this, but I am ready for the water to get clear again.

And a tiger stripe to boot!

Well I surely demonstrated that point today.

Lovely day today and I was able to go out around 1030. Decided to Ned fish for fun. I rigged a bait on one of Dave's heads and used Gorilla brand gel super glue. Unexpectedly the glue melted the plastic rather than hold it. Finally had to switch to a Zman Shroomz head. Not nearly as hang free as Dave's heads. Caught green perch and small bass, but nothing worth a picture. Water temp 79 to 80.

A little gold and warm curry tonight. Living well in the Ozarks.

There is a post somewhere around here where I tell how I gave up and built my own. I have a spinning version under construction for Bill Babler. Maybe Dave can recommend a store bought.

Step one - stretch and snap the plastic repeatedly before rigging to remove all the salt you can. Step two - pre rig one or two in the morning but save the rest of the desalted baits for on the spot rigging. Step three - Try not to let it make you crazy.

In remembrance, and with respect:

Good stuff!

In the last couple of days there was a different thread about spooning. It held a good bit of information. I recall a lively thread last year as well. I bet a search would net you a ton of information. In the mean time, War Eagle spoons fished at bluff ends and in cove mouths have worked for me.

I am glad you did well. Enjoy the bounty.

Don't need much when you start with great ingredients and good technique. On the steaks Nancy and I do, I trim the fat. cut them in half (4-6 ounces) and beat them to 1/2 inch with the flat bottom of a heavy pot. Then I sear them. If they need a oven finish I do. The finished product is all about flavor.

Manicotti tubes are so blasted hard to stuff and large shells leak, so when we saw this roll up recipe we said heck yeah! Fortunately it has an authentic name, cannelloni.

Nancy and I use the American Beauty no boil noodles that only need a little soak in hot water to be ready to roll up. That way the pasta never gets gooey. I make the sauce from scratch and I use the sweet Johnsonville Italian sausage, the Cento Italian seasoning, a can of tomato sauce or puree and a can of good plum tomatoes that I break up. Onion, lots of garlic, heavy salt, good olive oil to saute the onion. For the cheese stuffing we follow the Cook's Illustrated recipe but add spinach and some nutmeg. Good food in the Ozarks nourishes the soul.

It has been a while since any of us have posted here. Late summer madness struck our house - getting ready to teach another year, a stove that died, visits from relatives, and physicals to save on the health insurance (if the wife and I have a wellness visit once a year, our share of the school health insurance costs something like $1200 less annually). In any event I used the holiday today not to fish, but to cook a large batch of meaty cannelloni. One tray is a birthday present for the school secretary and the other will go in the freezer to take to the cross country team dinner the night before the Holiday Island Cross Country Invitational. Fortunately, we had enough left to make two small single serving dishes for our dinner tonight.

You made my mouth water.

I would be willing to bet the lake contains a smallmouth over 7, a largemouth over 11, and a spot over 7. I would also bet a walleye over 20 is out here. Don't stop believin'.