Champ188

Predator1, You bet they run in schools back to the lake. Some of the very best white bass fishing of the year occurs AFTER the spawn and it's topwater fishing. Now is the time to start looking in the middle sections of the rivers for them to blow up on top in big schools. They'll kill a Redfin or Zara Spook Jr. when they're doing this. The bigger pockets off the main river channel are good places to look, as they'll herd shad into those and feed on them. I see this in late spring every year up the White River but you can bet the same is true in the James.

I'd probably go to Long Creek. I hear you can catch bass down there on anything you throw so it stands to reason that the cats should be easy pickins too.

Same here on the timing. We have Central Pro-Am this Saturday on Beaver. Donna and I are in with more notice, though.

All Bill is saying is that there have been a lot of guides working that same area lately and none of them found such easy pickins. Wart, blade, grub and stick is a lot of changing around in a few hours of fishing. Granted, the report did not include a specific number of fish but the overall tone was that it was "throw anything you want, they'll bite it." Look at the recent derby results and some of the names who have struggled. It ain't that easy.

Sure be glad when the CPA derby on Beaver next weekend is done with and I can slide up the road to TR and get in on some of that. I'm ready for some of that wart-blade-stick-grub "throw anything you want" action. I'm having to work all dang day to piece together a decent limit. Easy pickins sounds mighty inviting.

I'd ditch those spinnerbaits. Those things never work very well.

Shoulda gone to Aunt's Creek for the AIA derby. Woulda burned a lot less gas.

Gorgeous boat and yes, too bad. Thieves obviously weren't too bright — that black/red Cobra is gonna stick out like a sore thumb. Not a lot of them running around.

In my opinion, any tournament director who'd disqualify you for a potty break or any fellow competitor would protest you for it is a chicken bleep anyway. Just my 2 cents.

Yes, Cap'n Joe, thanks for a great idea and for herding this topic through the rough terrain. Look forward to getting my stickers. BTW, will those also serve as a season pass to fish Aunt's Creek?

Mudbug, Sometimes after applying all of the logic and scientific knowledge in the world, a likely-looking area still doesn't produce. That's part of the siren song of fishing ... in the end, they are living creatures and will do unpredictable things. Bottom line is that every lake has areas where "fish just live" and areas where they don't, no matter how promising they seem. You might try drop-shotting or dragging a football jig around the mouth of Railroad Cove in the summer months. I've caught some there but never anything to write home about.

I'm in for the fluorescent orange motor stickers and would suggest the back of the cowling for placement.

At this rate, we may still be fishing pre-spawn conditions when Central Pro-Am visits TR the first weekend in May. This has been one stubborn winter in the Ozarks.

10 inches on the ground in Bella Vista this Sunday morning.

I like Capt. Joe's fluorescent ribbon idea. Yes, the bumper stickers are very nice. But the ribbons would be easier to see from a distance.

Welcome indeed, EP. By the way, if you're looking for a fishing spot somewhat close to Kimberling City, I hear they're chomping in Aunt's Creek.

I was swimming around (trolling actually) like I was disoriented myself Thursday up the Kings. But I didn't get caught in a net.

Put in at Viola about 7:30 this morning and fished til 5:30. Caught about 40 (60 short of the 100 a day some are rumored to be catching) but only had two keepers in the whole dadgum bunch. Little fish shallow, little fish deep, little fish in between. Wart, spinnerbait and finesse jig all produced fish. Fish on wood, fish on rocks, fish everywhere. Just no big uns today. Probably had a lot to do with high, bright skies and no wind. I think I'm the only guy who can go fishing in the middle of March and catch a glass-calm day with nary a cloud in the sky. Water temps ranged from 46 below Viola to 54 above.

Thanks, Larry. I too like Berkley 100%. Just thinking of trying to save a little $$. Usually not a good idea anyway.

Don't worry about any more coming into Aunt's Creek, Bill. I dropped a submerged sign down at the mouth of it advertising a free shad/crawfish buffet in the Kings River. They should be headed that way now.

Has anyone used Cabela's fluorocarbon and what was your experience with it? I noticed that it's priced very reasonably but don't want to give up performance for price. Thanks in advance for any input.

Darn nice one indeed, Tyler. Good job.

Ron Shuffield put a serious dent in those fish during the FLW. The glory days of Aunt's Creek may be a thing of the past.

Topwater: Redfin and Super Spook Jr. Jerkbait: Spro McStick, Megabass Vision 110 Jig: War Eagle Heavy Finesse Jig, War Eagle football jig

You guys enjoy all the hot action on the Rock. I'm stuck down here at Beaver trying to get ready for Central Pro-Am early next month. Fished all day Saturday for three fish. Two keepers on a jerk bait and Donna caught one "liner" on a shaky head. Good times.