DavidB

Keep that up, Bobby, and you can become an honorary Cajun!

You're the man! I hate to even think about pushing that barb through. I backed one out years ago on Toledo Bend, and it was not easy. Had it happen again a few years later, and the Emergency Room seemed like a much better option.

Wow! I can only dream of having the set-ups mentioned by your buddy! I would start with a unit that would be mounted at the console, but that I could later move to the bow when I make the jump to Active Target. I doubt that I will go larger than a 9" unit, although that plan could change. I'll continue to use a Gen 2 unit at the other location. I really appreciate your input, as well as input from other Ozark Anglers.

Happy New Year to all of you hearty souls who will be out with a jerkbait this winter on my favorite fishing hole! I think I'll stay in Louisiana for now, although you sent some of your weather South for a 28 degree morning today in Southwest Louisiana. Brrr! Bill, I read your piece on Lowrance Electronics with interest. I have two Gen 2 HDS units that are OK, but at least one needs to be replaced since I sprang for a Lowrance Ghost last January. It's a great motor, by the way, easy to deploy and stow, and the spot lock (the reason for the purchase) makes it worth the money. It's extremely quiet, and easy on the batteries. Getting around to my question, have you had a chance to compare the new HDS units with the new Elite FS units? There's a considerable difference in cost, and I'm leaning toward an Elite FS 9" model. What are your thoughts?

I have several Duckett rods, and really like their light weight. The actions are a little softer than their rating, but as long as you're aware of that, they're good rods with this exception: Champ's observation about the micro guides hit home with me. I've had to replace several with a rod builder on Toledo Bend. He told me that he replaces twice as many Duckett guides as for all other road brands combined.

Georgia waited too late to bring pressure, and fell too far behind. They're not designed to play catch-up. They gave up more yardage in the first half than LSU or Auburn gave up the entire game. Bringing the house against Bama is high risk, with single coverage on their racehorse receivers, but it's the only way to play them.

I've had a Ghost on my Skeeter 200TZX (19+ ft.) since January. It got a good work-out during our week on Table Rock in April this year, and on Toledo Bend since. It's set on 24 volts, and has more power than I need. I rarely run it at over 4 speed. It uses very little juice, and. is easy to deploy and stow. I replaced a Motorguide X-5 because of the Ghost's spot lock, which maintains the boat dead-on. Several buddies have mentioned how quiet the motor is. I have no complaints so far.

I have no experience with the Garmin, but replaced my Motorguide X-5 (a fine motor) with a Ghost in January. I haven't used the remote, so I can't comment on that, but I love the motor. The foot pedal is very easy to use--very responsive. It requires much less effort than the Motorguide. My boat is a Skeeter 200TZX, and the Ghost is pulling 24 volts. The power is impressive, it's very quiet, and it's rarely necessary for me to go beyond 4th speed. One advantage of the Ghost, however, is that it's compatible with 24v or 36v if you require more power. Your choice, without having to change motors. My electronics are older generation Lowrance, so I'm unable to take advantage of many of the features. I hope to change that soon!

What a great trip! Makes me even more eager for our next trip to beautiful Table Rock.

Thanks to all for your replies. Part of our group from Southwest Louisiana will be there this week, so we’ll get reports from them before our group arrives on the 24th. This is such a fine forum. I’ve followed it for years, and all of you provide such useful information. Table Rock is a treasure, and we’ve seen the fishery evolve in a positive way since we first came in 1982. Love the smallmouth!!!

Our annual group trip to Table Rock begins on April 24th. We make the trek every year around this time, and it's been something we look forward to since our first trip in 1982. We fish the Long Creek area, from the Arkansas line to around Point 1. I've read and heard about widespread issues with slime this year. Are the reports correct? If so, can you recommend areas where it's not so prevalent? Thanks in advance for any input. Table Rock is special!

My buddies and I have been coming to Table Rock for over 35 years, to spend a week in late April. Toledo Bend is our home lake. I agree with Bill that Table Rock fishes large. The main lake areas are relatively narrow, and it has a incredible amount of shoreline to cover. We've never felt crowded on your beautiful lake, unlike Toledo Bend where you often feel like you need entry passes to fish your favorite areas. Having said that, if you want to take a chance on a double-digit bass, come on down!

Thought y'all might be interested in this photo from the approach to Pendleton Bridge, on Toledo Bend. Brrr! We're not used to weather like this. Y'all didn't have to send it our way!

I've been a lurker on this forum for years, and have always found it informative. The discussion about K's is of interest to me. We spend a week on Table Rock every year, normally in April, and we've been coming since 1982. I've always enjoyed catching the K's, and have marveled at how healthy they are--footballs! In our experience, we catch far fewer K's than in the early years, and far more smallmouth. We've commented about it to one another, and have wondered why we catch fewer K's. We fish Long Creek, primarily, but go from the Arkansas line to Point 5, at times. It may be that we've learned to target smallmouth better, but there are no complaints from our crew when a fat K tugs on our line.

I've had a Skeeter 200TZX, with a Yamaha 200 HPDI, for 15 years. I've never regretted the purchase. The wide front deck is great, making for a good fishing platform, and the deep "V" hull performs very well in rough water on Table Rock, and the rougher water on Toledo Bend.

A group of us fished Lake Michigan, just out of Sturgeon Bay, around Labor Day in 2016. Our guide was Dale Stroschein, who owns Sand Bay Beach Resort and Suites, at Sturgeon Bay. It's a beautiful place overlooking Green Bay. We fished the same point on Lake Michigan, two days in a row--never left it. The smallmouth were incredible, heavy bodied with "shoulders." Attached are photos of just a few. We fished heavy boulders and rocks in shallow water, with square bill crankbaits, small BPS swimbaits and wacky-rigged BPS stickbaits. It's a great trip, if you can make it. We're going back this September, virus permitting, then back to our favorite, Table Rock, in October. Save some for us!

Thank you for your prompt response, Bill. I may wait a bit to see how the great trolling motor debate shakes out, before I lay out the $$$$. In the meantime, best of luck to all of you who contribute to the best fishing forum I've found. You're so fortunate to be able to enjoy such a beautiful and productive fishery!

Bill, I was looking at reviews on the new trolling motors, and turned to Ozark Anglers to see if there had been a discussion about them. I stumbled across your comparison of the MinnKota and Motorguide versions, posted in this thread. Have you had an opportunity to further evaluate them? And, have you had an opportunity to review any of the newer models, and/or to talk with any of your friends about them, speaking candidly? My buddies and I missed our Table Rock trip, the third week in April. While self-quarantining on Toledo Bend, it's just not the same as making our annual trip to beautiful Table Rock to chase smallmouth and those football Kentuckies! My first trip to Table Rock was in 1982, and I have not missed a year since, until this year. We're hoping to come the third week in October, and again next April. I'll be following along closely as we get closer to our October trip, since none of us have ever fished Table Rock in the fall. Another Cajun Basket may be in the works!

Thanks to everyone. A good conversation!

All great recommendations! Thank you all. I've tried fluoro and fireline on my Pfleuger 2500's, and really didn't like the way the line flowed through the guides. No comparison with mono, in my limited experience. I haven't tried braid on my spinning reels, but have on casting reels, and just couldn't get used to it. The only time I've used the braid/fluoro combo was at Sturgeon Bay, with Dale Stroschein (a great guide). I found it a little awkward, for me, and didn't like the way the knot hit the rod tip, if you weren't paying close attention. But oh, those Lake Michigan smallmouth! Shoulders!!!

Thank you for the recommendation. I'll be sure to check it out. I've stayed with mono on the spinning reels, but have to admit that I struggle with loops when I'm not paying attention, because I refuse to use the anti-reverse so that I can back-reel, when needed. Mine are Pfleuger Supremes, and they've been reliable, so far.

We finished our 37th annual trip to Table Rock, on April 29th. 16 of us made the trip from Louisiana, this year, and we thoroughly enjoyed it, as always. A shout out to Tommy and Melissa, at Happy Hollow, for being such gracious hosts! Everyone caught a lot of fish, which made the trip even more special. Some of us targeted smallmouth, which are a real treat for us "lowlanders", but others had luck chasing those "football-sized" spots and largemouth. It's just a beautiful lake, and we look forward to coming each year just as much as we did in 1982, our first year. The Ned was our top producer, but a lot of fish were caught on Texas and Carolina-rigged Speed Craws, on Z-Man jigs, wacky worms, jerkbaits, and a few on crankbaits. Catching smallmouth on the Ned is such a kick, since so many hit it on the initial fall. Using spinning rods with 6 and 8 lb. test is a big change for those of us who fish Toledo Bend throughout the rest of the year. Many of you recommend medium-light spinning rods, and I can see that they would be a lot of fun fishing the Ned. Do they have sufficient backbone for shaky head worms and other baits, that require more of a hookset? I may be interested in buying a couple before next year, and am interested in a 6 1/2-7 ft. rod that won't break the bank. Any suggestions? Thanks for any input on the rod. Best of luck to all of you more fortunate guys and gals that are able to fish beautiful Table Rock, the rest of the year!

Thanks to each of you. We had trouble fishing the Ned and a Carolina Rig with Speedcraw last year, in areas where we had caught smallmouth in the past. Still had a great trip. We just fished other areas, and caught mostly spots and largemouth.

Thank you for your reply. Can you comment on the area between the Branson Belle dock and Indian Point?

We're making our annual trip to beautiful Table Rock next week, and will be fishing from the 23rd to the 28th, primarily from the state line in Long Creek to Point 5. Last year, the spots we normally fish in the dam area were covered with snot grass. How is it so far this year?