Champ188

Been thinking all day how I'd like to be out there. Gotta be just stupid good with the cloud cover and rain.

Thanks, Wrench. I'll take your word for it. I know a straight striper from a straight white but I get bumfuzzled when you throw in the wipers.

Does LOZ have hybrids, also called wipers? They're a cross between whites and stripers. Just curious because the broken lines on the lower sides of both of those fish look like hybrids. What do some of you other guys think?

Jerry, do you pick up used chewing gum off the ground? For gosh sakes, every time something comes along that involves money, you rip into it. Frankly, it's none of your business how the rest of us spend our money and I'm not the only one around here who takes offense to your comments. Tim does a darn fine job of custom painting lures for people who want them, and at a very fair price. He also helps develop stock colors for lure companies to be sold off the shelves. He does not openly advertise nor solicit business from forum members. I, for one, don't appreciate you suggesting that people not use his services. Again, it's not your concern how the rest of us spend our money.

You know how to fish a Wart, then. A well-fished Wart should always have a sore lip.

Nice day, huntest. Those spots are always loads of fun. When you start catching keepers on a spinning rod in 60-something degree water, you have a battle on your hands.

www.hughescustombaits.com

Nice work, for sure. Those would work great on TR or Bull Shoals either one.

They must be coming up shallow for their fall feed, too. I caught a short one (16-17 inches) yesterday up above Sweetwater in the Kings, of all places.

Praying that you will get your mobility back very soon, Hazbin. Don't give up, man. There's a lot of fish out there yet to be caught.

Nothing wrong with bank fishing. Congrats on a couple of darn nice fish.

Indeed, good news. Donna and I have both beat cancer over the past few years as many of you know, and it's some scary stuff. Happy for Stacey.

Likewise, QB, and I had actually miscounted ... I've had three OA anglers in the boat this year. Any of you guys would do yourselves a favor to spend a day with QB. He knows his stuff, especially on the upper White portion of the lake. Thanks, Bo. Been figuring they were right on the verge of this fall bite for several weeks. Just needed this good cold front to kickstart things.

The arrival of Friday's cold front finally seemed to shake the largemouth loose from whatever was holding them back from beginning their pre-winter feed. In short, fished 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and it was a total beatdown from the git-go. Had the pleasure of having OA member huntest in the boat with me. If you guys aren't getting out and meeting each other, you're missing out. Even being the introverted old goat that I am, I've gone on two blind dates this year with fellow OA members and both have been two of the nicest folks I've ever shared a boat with, and I've been fishing for 40 years. Huntest and I met at Carr Lane store and launched at Shell Knob bridge. We ranged no more than 3 miles downstream and 5 miles upstream from there into the Kings, and caught them all day long on a spinnerbait. Windblown main-lake banks seemed to be a bit better than pockets, but we caught them in both locations. As usual, transition areas were best. Gravel wasn't the deal ... needed some bigger rock present. Wood seems to be starting to hold some fish also but was still a little hit-and-miss. Pretty sure a squarebill or mid-range crank bait like a Bandit 200 would have worked but hey, when they're whacking that blade, I'm not gonna put it down for long. In all, we ended up with just north of 50 fish, with 60-70 percent being largemouth. Best five around 14 pounds, counting a 4-pounder that jumped off at boatside just before we called it a day. Again, this forum is something special and it's because of the integrity and general goodness of the people who make up the membership. Get out and meet someone. It'll be a blessing.

Hey 96 CHAMP, sorry you haven't been able to get on the water. Will say a prayer that your family issues are resolved soon.

Never fish that bluff. Nothing to see there. Move along.

Nope, and can't fix DGAS either. These days, I think that may account for as much of it as anything.

As Jeremy said, much different trying to hunt on Table Rock. Among other things, there are lots more winter fishermen here than at Truman and they aren't used to being on the lookout for hunters.

Good one for sure, Bo. Nice job.

Danger and "T" --- thank both of you guys BIGTIME for your service in that awful war. And thank God above you both made it back with your health and your sanity. I was one scared little boy watching those daily reports on the evening news and just knowing I was gonna have to go someday. I was a few years too young but had reached my teens by the time it ended, so didn't miss it by much. I went on at 18 and did four years of peacetime service in the Air Force. Again, thanks for what you guys did and proud to call you friends.

Hope so, addiction. Ready to start catching some better fish.

How do you let your dog fall off a boat and not notice that he's gone? Hope someone finds the little rascal.

Good job of staying after them and figuring something out. Of all the things I love about The Rock, none are greater than the fact that there is ALWAYS a way to catch them. The only possible exception is when the water temp gets down into the mid-30s. Again, nice job. Glad you found that coz I'm taking a forum guest Friday and I figure with bluebird skies already in the forecast and probably light winds too, we may have to work for 'em.

One of the great advantages of a spinnerbait is the ability to cover water with it. Bo speaks wisdom here.

If you have a Battery Outfitters store nearby, they will load test it for you. Good people.