Champ188

Come by my house. I'll sell you some.

Ben, this is some serious real-time data. Wow. Just wow! Guys, think about how much this could save you in truck gas and/or boat gas/oil, not to mention time spent traveling to different areas of the lake only to find conditions weren't what you hoped. Dang, I love technology. And I love that we have young folks out there like Ben who are determined to put it to amazing uses like this.

Great day, QB. Gotta start carrying you some extra split rings and trebles. Pretty sure TW sells them.

Bull is the "holding pond" for the White River chain of lakes, which are intended primarily for flood control. Its level varies by 30-40 feet at times, which is certainly a factor in providing access points.

I'd say boyfriend must be a pretty OK dude. I mean, a guy doesn't let just anyone set foot in his Ranger boat.

Dang right, Nitro. Now I just gotta get me some "sticks" on there, i.e. Power Poles. And a wrap. Gotta have a wrap.

Quillback, so far I've lived to be 55 years old. Given my lifestyle prior to divine intervention, some would say that's more than a little surprising. Soooooo, you don't really think I'm gonna answer that, do ya?

Don't get the cart ahead of the horse, boys. We have yet to determine if they make one of those things capable of floating my big butt. LOL

Great one, 176champion!!!!

Great report, Bill. Nothing like a good multi-species trip on upper Bull this time of year. This is also the tiime on those buckbrush flats to throw a Spook. As Bill was doing with the rat, you want to find open paths where you can sling it all the way to the bank. Very early in the day and on cloudy days, black is your color. You can also get your arm broke with a big Chug Bug. I'm talking about the really big one they sell at Walmart in the striper stuff. You'll have to send one off to your favorite lure painter to make it black or do it yourself, but Tenn shad will also work. There's plenty of main-lake stuff like this in the Tucker Hollow area, but farther east, the back halves of both Sugarloaf Creeks are excellent this time of year.o Elbow Creek is another good one, and just about any of the creeks from there down to the 125 Ferry will produce throughout the spawning cycle. Not giving specific areas, of course. Just some decent places to try.

$5,000 to first place? Is there a payout table available on this somewhere? I may want to buy a yak. That's a heckuva lot more than any big-boat bass tournament with a $125 entry fee has paid in a long time.

I totally get what you're saying about location, Mitch. And I fully agree. My posts on the Table Rock forum where I spend most of my time are quite vague when it comes to where I caught my fish. But the way I read Bill's post, that's the one thing he didn't ask for. I thought he was suggesting that Big Rich share more pattern information than location. As far as lurkers, you better believe there are a ton of folks who come onto this forum, never sign up and take all the info they can find. More during peak tournament season (now) than at other times. And you're also right that the last thing I want to see is for the meat mongers to happen upon any info to help them kill more bass. Old Plug, this forum is not an advertising vehicle for any guide. Bill's professionalism is his own advertisement and he farms out more trips than you can imagine. There is really still good in some people but you can't see it if your eyes are clouded by cynicism.

Other than common courtesy? That shouldn't be optional. That's one of the biggest problems in society today.

This is just incredible stuff, Ben. There's nothing like it anywhere that I know of. Gonna be a HUGE help in the cold months and since it's available, we may begin to see some corrolation (beyond the thermocline) between water temp and fish activity in the warmer months, as well.

In my experience, whites are more selective about the lure size matching the baitfish they are chasing than LM, SM or spots.

Hunter53, once again it was a pleasure and a privilege to meet up with you and Michele. Of course, Danna's never disappoints when it comes to good vittles. Already looking forward to seeing you guys next year. We'll guard your favorite fishin' hole for ya and won't beat 'em up too bad. Promise. Mean it.

Unlike Tiger, KVD knows how to keep his Power Worm in his tackle box. He can't afford to lose his lucky cookies.

Lots of you will recall the old plastic "belly boards" that were made from molded plastic in a concave shape to "cradle" the fish. I've seen more than one instance in which someone would measure a "line burner" fish on a belly board out in the boat and the fish would end measuring short on a straight board (i.e., Golden Rule) at the weigh-in. Frankly, I don't buy the old "livewell shrink" excuse but I do believe the two different styles of boards can measure slightly different.

Why so blunt? No one in the history of Ozark Anglers has shared more than Bill. He asked for general information, not specific locations. Anyone unwilling to contribute methods, theories, equipment choices, etc. really has nothing much to offer here.

No to white line. YES to white rods!

Awesome info, mojorig. I'll now have to break a lifetime habit of saying "warmouth" for green sunfish. Apologies to Big C for the wrong info during our trip last week. I was sure those green sunfish were warmouth.

You'll have to try elsewhere. I bought them all.

Walleye are generally deep-water fish, especially as we enter the warm season, and therefore are going to be very hard to access from the bank.

Moguy, i know it's not ideal for topwater, etc., but that off-colored water in Long Creek can be a blessing for flipping/pitching or working moving baits like spinnerbaits or square bills at close range. Anytime there's a pro tour derby here and the water is off-colored, Long Creek usually kicks out several of the top strings. Try getting in close and flipping a MIssouri craw jig, or a green pumpkin beaver or other creature bait with the tips dyed chartreuse. You can also back out just a little and toss a 3/8 War Eagle hot blue herring spinnerbait or a 1.5-sized square bill. I like the new 6th Sense one-knocker baits. Hope this helps put a few more fish in the boat.

Dave (dtrs5kprs) is apparently too modest to say anything but he makes the Ozark Finesse heads, which are by far the finest Ned rig head available anywhere. Or maybe he's just loaded up with orders. Either way, anyone fishing a Ned rig would do themselves a huge favor to fish the Ozark Finesse heads. Unlike the Z-Man heads, these have a single cable wire weedguard to save you from hanging up every other cast. In fact, you'll hardly hang up all day. Cut Zinkers or Zeroes, Ozark Finesse heads and a bottle of Loctite Gel super glue and you're good to go. As for colors, anything green pumpkin-based or PBJ is pretty much the ticket on Table Rock.