rps

Everyone who has posted is correct. So why am I adding in again? Because a couple of comments might help others. One, remember you walk with the tip of the rod and feel. I suspect those who enjoy and use the shorter rods do so because they can feel the pull and release better, even if they are sitting or kneeling. Two, the walk doesn't need to be perfect to provoke strikes. Indeed, I have become enamored of a bait that never walks perfectly. My transition to my favorite began with experiments walking the Berkley Frenzy, a popper topwater. Three, KISS. Keep it simple sir. If you have to have a connector, a snap is better than a swivel. If you don't need a snap, lose it and tie direct to the lure. I tie a polymer line to the bottom of the loop eye on my Top Dollars and call it better than good. Anyone up for some topwater fishing?

8 or 10# YoZuri Hybrid line. Six foot or 6'8" medium power Falcon Cara rods. Which combo depends on which walker.

Oh yes. Soon the bite will begin. When it does I'll post.

Crossed it Thursday on 62 where Osage Creek joins in - high, brown, and moving. By next week it should be much better, if the rain holds off all week. BTW, how are you?

The Arkansas record for striper was caught by Jeff Fletcher from the Beaver tail waters. 60+ pounds. It survived the ride down and fattened up on the trout.

Look for a Garcia Revo SX or an Okuma Serrano on ebay. Both are high quality for the dollar and should be available lightly used under 100.

The War Eagle twin spins are the bomb! Can't go wrong there.

Well done! I'm over the line in Arkansas, but agree with you about the Mo. fishing.

Thank you for the excellent report, sir.

I have caught many top water bass within sight of carp wallowing. I consider it a good sign.

Mike Worley, a Bull Shoals guide, posts regularly on this forum. Search for his posts in the archives and learn a bunch in a hurry.

Doc has me off the lake til next week. In May of 2008 we had a swimming and scrubbing grub bite on the gravel flat points from the brush line in front of the visible tree line (10 - 14 feet of water) on out to 20 feet.

What I say is a guess, but I live on the lake and have since 2002. I would expect the lake to still be above 930 and that there would still be some debris. However, most of the debris will be at back ends of cuts and creeks or lodged on shore after the first foot or two drop. I would expect the water color to be clearer than now (creamed coffee) but not your typical TR green/clear. The three weeks after the water rose in 2008, I would have called the water greenish but dingy (maybe 3- 6 feet visibility?) Submerged trees and brush will define the shoreline and mowed yards and parking lots will be the only clear bank. As long as you adjust and take care, you should be able to fish as you did in 2008. Of course weather has funny ways of making me look like I know nothing.

What I say is a guess, but I live on the lake and have since 2002. I would expect the lake to still be above 930 and that there would still be some debris. However, most of the debris will be at back ends of cuts and creeks or lodged on shore after the first foot or two drop. I would expect the water color to be clearer than now (creamed coffee) but not your typical TR green/clear. The three weeks after the water rose in 2008, I would have called the water greenish but dingy (maybe 3- 6 feet visibility?) Submerged trees and brush will define the shoreline and mowed yards and parking lots will be the only clear bank. As long as you adjust and take care, you should be able to fish as you did in 2008. Of course weather has funny ways of making me look like I know nothing.

Very Nice!

Amen.

Techo - You are an evil, evil man. I like that about you.

A gracious and excellent report. Thankyou.

Bill Babler answered a similar question yesterday. I believe what he said will help you greatly. Don House also made a recent post on a similar level. Between the two you should find every thing you need. Have a great time.

I went out alone this morning after the lightning stopped. I put myself on a few fish. I caught 15 before I was tired of being blown around. 3 early top water fish, four wart fish, 8 c-rig fish. You will note there are no pictures as the largest of the day was 14 inches. When I returned to the ramp, I did not tip my guide and told him to cancel tomorrow's booking. Early April and not one stinking keeper. It was nice to be out, though.

I don't know why I even opened this thread. I guess it's like having a chance to see a train wreck.

I've had a Mustang three years. It has inflated twice. Once when I left it in the bed of the pickup and drove home in a cloudburst. The other time when I had it in a boat compartment when I had the boat in my drive for the annual cleanup and work over and it rained for two days before I remembered to pull the plug. It never has inflated while I was wearing it while fishing in rain.

Fished Saturday up near Housman looking for whites/walleye. Zero bites in 4 hours. Came back down river and wart fished chunk rock. Six fish in 2 hours - only 1 was near keeper size.

Really awesome fish!

Welcome. Hope to meet you some time.