champ198

It's such a blessing to have such a beautiful lake to get out and escape the troubles in our lives. Again, I am grateful that they had such a great guide. Can't wait for my doorbell to ring and getting to listen to all the stories about their great day on the water. Thanks.

Bill, I'm pretty good friends with those youngsters that Beck had out yesterday. They live just around the corner from me up here in KC. The older of the two boys, around 15, is just flat ate up with fishing. He knocks on my door a couple times a week to see if I can come out and play (translate: talk fishing). My garage is basically a giant tackle store and he usually heads home with a few goodies each time he visits. I take him out to our local lakes whenever I can. I've sung the praises of Table Rock Lake to him many times, and I'm just tickled that he and his brother were lucky enough to have a great outing with. Mr. Beck. I received several frantic and excited texts yesterday regarding his fantastic morning on Table Rock Lake, and I couldn't have been more thrilled. When he told me the guides name was Bill Beck, I let him know that he fished with one of the best. These two young men really needed a beautiful day on your beautiful lake as they tragically lost their father to a sudden and unexpected illness in February of this year. In fact, they found their father at home after he had passed. They are strong young men that are holding their heads up high and demonstrating enormous courage during and incredibly difficult time. If you get the chance, please tell Mr. Beck that he put smiles on their faces that will last a long time. What a special day.

I stayed at a resort last year that didn't have boat parking by the room and I reluctantly left our boat in a "secure" slip. I was paranoid so I took everything out of it at night....tackle, rods/reels, graphs, etc. came down the first morning to find my 36 volt motor guide tour hanging off the bow of the boat by the steering cables. Thieves must have gotten interrupted....thank goodness. Never again. I also "strongly advise" take it out.

Well, we picked up the new pup yesterday. Still haven't decided on a name. We're liking Fisher and Fin. Also considering Loomis. Haven't ever been much of a G Loomis guy, but thought it would be a good fishing related name. Thanks for all the input. I'll let you know what we decide. Il post a picture if I can figure out how. Thanks again.

My family is looking at getting a new dog soon. It will most likely be a male large breed....standard poodle (probably around 60 pounds) We've always had standard poodles, and they are not "foo foo" poodles by any stretch of the imagination. Just good, smart dogs. Anyway. We just love Table Rock lake. I grew up fishing it with my dad. We are wanting to come up with a name for the dog that has something to do with the lake, or even just the area. A creek name, small town name in the area, Table Rock fishing technique, resort name...you get the idea. So far we like "Fisher" for Fisher creek. Also considering Schooner. I kinda like "dropshot" but not sure I could talk my wife into it. Got any good ideas guys?

Keeping with the breast cancer topic...... I'm working with a breast surgeon in the operating room today and she said her favorite t shirt says "yes these are fake.....my real ones tried to kill me!" Very generous of you to donate proceeds to breast cancer research. Many thanks.

A Walmart in Kansas City had all their Bucoo rods on clearance for 50-75 dollars. Not many left unfortunately.

Looking to throw the Keitech 3.8 and 4.8 fat swimbaits on a ball jighead or even a scrounger head. I've never done much swimbait fishing other than swimming a little 4inch single tail grub on spinning tackle. I've never even seen the particular rod McClelland was using, but sounds like a fairly robust, slower action rod. I'm curious why he may have chosen the crankbait rod for this technique. My guess is that it may be kind of of "mushy" feeling bite where they might just spit it if they felt the pressure of the rod. I may be way off base on that..... From what it sounds like, he was slinging it a country mile. Perhaps that is the reason for the slower action rod. Always looking for an excuse to get a new toy to play with.

I was reading that Mike McClelland was throwing the small swimbait on a 7'3" MH crankbait rod. Curious what everyone else likes to throw the grub or small Keitech swimbait a on. I usually throw the grub on spinning tackle (ML) 6'10". What do you look for in a rod for this technique? Did he choose the slower action of the crankbait rod so the fish can load up on the rod without feeling the pressure of the rod? Yesterday I picked up a Falcon 7'0" BuCoo medium casting rod on clearance for $50.00. It has a pretty moderate action and I thought I'd give it a try.

Balsabee.....that is a beautiful champion. Sure do miss that style hull/layout. Friend of mine has a 202 that is the most fun I've had driving a bassboat.

Sears PM-1 for me. (225 optimax + two humminbird 998s).

www.universalmania.com has the humminbird unit you are looking at for 439.99. I've purchased two units from them in the recent past and received very good service. Check the humminbird forum on bassboatcentral.com ( universal mania often posts coupon codes there for special pricing). Good luck.

Bry.... I'm halfway joking about getting 3 baits.....and certainly only on sale. Seems like I spend the most on tackle during the winter when I can't go out and play too much. I agree with using the older baits as well. Did real well in a tournament a few years ago on a 20 year old black jitterbug when everyone else was throwing a buzzbait. I may need to dust off some of my old rogues.

Looks like I may need to get a 110+1 (or 2 or 3). Just what I need....more 25$ jerkbaits.

I hear a lot about maxima here on OA.....what about this line sets it apart? Thinking I may just have to try it.