Champ188

Quit shakin' yer dern minner right out there in the middle of the lake for everyone to see. And get rid of the A-rig while you're at it. That end of the lake is either feast or famine for me. And as you well know, if you don't find the shad, you don't find the bass. That seems to go double in the winter. Glad to hear you got out, ol' friend. Spring will be here before we know it.

Back atcha, ol' buddy. I'm the same way about getting over to Bull ... but I need to make the time. I'm half-retired now anyway, so maybe we can make that happen this coming year.

Dewayne, everything from the 86 bridge on up to Houseman requires the angler to possess a special-use permit. Said permits are available only thru myself, Babler or Jeff Fletcher. 😂

Good lesson for us all. I fight the tendency to leave fish biting to go find others. My feeble mind tells me, "Hey, listen ... if the 2-pounders are biting here, I bet you could catch 15 or 20 pounds off so-and-so-spot." I think that's rooted in the fact that my satisfaction comes more from finding fish and figuring them out than actually catching them. Oh, I still love to stick a hook in every one that I can, but that's not the true source of my enjoyment.

I would have big-eyed that fish at close to 6. Of course, it helps to be "petite" in fish pix. Two things to say here ... When you've been called an all-caps HAMMER by one of the all-time Table Rock HAMMERS himself, you are grazing on elite ground. The second thing is, I've only fished against Eric a few times at BFL and maybe some Central Pro-Ams, but every word I've heard about the guy has been positive. Every guide client I've heard talk about him says they'll never hire anyone else in this area. High praise and just the type of reputation that is so very needed in today's bass fishing climate.

Ya think? He's worn ruts in the launch ramp! 😂 Instead of the mailman, all the old people along his route stand at the window and wait on QB.

Edwin! Good to see you. Been a long time!

Alright, you talked me into it. I'm going to Indian Creek today. Rain should be out of here for a while anyway.

Sounds like he got his info from Timmy Sainato or the late Buster Loving --- couple of grub fishermen if there ever was one. I can assure you he did not get that info from me ... stained water after heavy rains would have me up in flooded backyards. Literally. LOL

Nice one. May need that meat if you don't get your SNAP check soon. 🤣 Seen the same thing a couple times around Hickory Hollow. Our park ranger friend Jeremy can tell you about the 9-pounder I lost there on a buzz bait in Central Pro-Am spring tournament one year. And I weighed in a 6+ that day. Flooded bushes.

Great info and thank you much. As opposite as we are in fishing styles, we very much share one thing in common: We take our craft to another level when compared with the average angler. Anyone can spoon or swimbait up the occasional decent fish from the depths, but you consistently catch sacks that would walk away with many of the bigger derbies on TR. (Ain't it nice not to give a toot about that anymore? That crap ended a marriage, which in turn about ended me. God just wasn't ready for me yet.) But I digress. My point is that you catch these fish by paying close attention to detail. Water depth, fish depth, shad depth ... then there's fall rate, retrieve speed, retrieve cadence ... Truthfully, that style of fishing isn't my favorite, to say the least. But I like catching fish more than fishing, so I've become reluctantly adequate at it. 🫤 Likewise, shallow fishing takes a lot more knoggin work than it first appears. Like your deep fish, details are critical. Boat position is everything. Wind direction (never fish WITH the wind unless it's howling 20-30 and you just cannot cast into it.). Slope of bank, rock formation (gravel? chunk? bluff?), wood present? Hardwood or cedar? Sky conditions ... sun position. And on and on. Livescope totally aside, and I think you'll agree, there are times you need to be looking at your graph(s). But you also gotta make time to look around you and start noting/soaking in some of the details all around you.

Your ability to find and catch those quality deep fish is darn impressive. Appreciate you sharing as much info as you do. And if I'm not mistaken, you do this primarily with 2D sonar? No livescope?

You are most welcome ... and deserving.

Toby, I use Barlow for some things myself but there's another place online for hooks where I've had great service and awesome prices. Usually much cheaper than Barlow. https://www.captainhookswarehouse.com/

I'm sure you could call Jewel Lures and they'd tell you anything you wanted to know. Great people over there. 870.481.5588