Champ188

"Wish you could taste it"? And pics, too? That ain't right. 😂

I use 12 lb. Sunline Sniper when casting rocky/woody areas and 15 lb. when pitching docks. But I'm using 5/16 ballhead finesse jigs exclusively. You can go up to 20 lb. for dragging football jigs. Too bad Bo isn't still around to post his usual poo-poo on my feelings about line size.

Hey, Randy .... happy birthday! Better late than never, huh? Well, except in tournaments. LOL

Another fine example of Johnny Moneybags demonstrating his overwhelming passion for the great outdoors ... and cutting out the everyday man in the process.

Well shoot, I was hoping you'd at least bring us some rain!

Well done, you two! Nice to see a report from you. And you did all that in under 5 hours without even darkening the door of Aunts Creek! :)

Ain't that the truth!!!!! Furthermore, if I dare pull hard (not caring if I break off a jig), the friggin' line will without exception break inside the reel rather than at the knot.

If you don't do it in a derby ... and you of all people would not ... you are guilty of nothing. As you said, all's fair in fun fishing.

Another of Uncle Johnny's smooth moves.

Using the TM to let line out is no problem in my mind because you aren't actually moving the lure at that time. You're using it to let more line out, which I don't see is wrong. BUT, if you engage the reel and then use the TM to drag the bait for extended periods of time, that's where the rub comes in for me.

Bo never waited for an invitation to speak his mind --- and rarely do I --- so we were bound to clash at times. But from those clashes was born a mutual respect for one another that progressed to a friendship. Can't ask for more from an internet forum. As for being the Fishinwrench of TR, you nailed it shut there. Great analogy. Your gal Donna says congrats on the big jaw, although I did detect a slight tone of envy in her voice. Nothing wrong with strolling for those mid- to lower-lake smallies as long as you aren't doing it in a derby. That's where I'm with Bo and call it shady. We might all briefly allow boat movement to move our lures at times, but if you're doing so intentionally as many guys do this time of year, it's trolling. Other opinions? C'mon guys, fishing and forum activity are both slow. Let's discuss this.

Gorgeous fish, indeed. Bo would've been very happy to see that beauty in the river (and probably would have claimed it was one of his River Smallmouth Enhancement Program lower-lake transfers). Good man. May God rest his soul.

Huh?

Bingo ... and we are way past the point of improving either of those. We don't teach common sense or courtesy in the home anymore.

Prayers from here, too.

Amen.

Never been a fan of messing with what God created. Without starting a theological war, I firmly believe that fish and wildlife belong in the areas He put them in. I have no problem with supplemental stocking of what is already there but when humans start moving things around and purposely crossbreeding them, I don't like it. Peace out.

Very good thread. Tons of info in here that can be taken an applied to other areas. Thanks, guys.

ODFW recognizes that Grand Lake gets a lot of tournament pressure and responds by bolstering the natural population of LMB. Meanwhile, MDC does nothing to supplement the spawn at TR, which is literally POUNDED during the spawning season.

Whatcha doing with that old Christmas tree-colored Spook tied on? That thing ain't no good. How you gonna compete with the live scopers using outdated crap like that? 😆🤣

So it's a hand-eye coordination thing mostly? 😆🤣

Well done, sir!

Great job. Hard to beat those runouts this time of year. Let us see your electronics upgrade when you get it installed. I recently went to a pair of Lowrance Elite FS 9 units and absolutely love them. No Active Target though ... not my cup of joe.

I recently upgraded my electronics and gifted my two 2013 model Humminbird 998c SI/DI units to a local high school boy for his 1990 Ranger that he is learning to fish from. This young man's gratitude and knowing that he will get much joy from using them is worth far more to me than whatever extra dollars those units might have brought on eBay. Something to think about doing with your unit.

Again, my opinion ... but no guide worth his cheapest Zebco combo is going to insist that a client keep and kill bass. It's just idiotic when the lake that provides your living is as highly pressured as Table Rock and receives no supplemental stockings of the fish that attract all of the pressure in the first place. I have no qualms with folks keeping an occasional (not weekly) mess of spots (Kentuckies) for dinner. I think we can all agree they are more prolific than their LM or SM relatives. Not sure the size limit on them shouldn't be reduced in order to make it legal to take home a few of those 12-14 inchers, which seem to stockpile just under the 15-inch minimum. But for a "guide" to encourage the daily killing of limits of bass is ... in my opinion ... irresponsible and just plain stupid.