Champ188

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.

Bruton Marine at Golden (Eagle Rock) sells Premium Plus in bulk for $20 a gallon. Doubt you're going to find it much cheaper.

Not sure why anyone would want to trade in a Shimano anyway myself. I have green Curados going back 15 years that still work like they did the day I bought them, and I fish close to 100 days a year.

I've found Trilene 100% to be tougher and more sensitive than other flurocarbons. I do use Vicious some, especially when practicing for a tournament, but when the money is on the line I prefer the Trilene 100%. Vicious just doesn't seem as sensitive to me.

Adaniels, thanx for the heads-up on Heartland but I was talking about Central Pro-Am next weekend, March 6-7. Will be there this weekend for a practice run then going back Tuesday night for the rest of the week.

Thanks for the post getfished. Donna and I are headed up there Friday night for the weekend, then going back Tuesday night and be there Wed-Sun for the pro-am. Sounds really tough. Definitely going to start our search around the Gravois and work toward the dam.

One other thing, Slabhunter ... if you catch a good windy day (even better if it's overcast), don't forget to throw a spinnerbait on main lake points and secondary points in the creeks. You want to fish the ones where the wind is blowing in. My personal favorite is a quarter-ounce War Eagle with double willowleaf blades (one nickel, one gold) in gold shiner, green shad, mouse, lavender shad or cotton candy skirt colors. If you catch a couple early on it and like that style of fishing, I'd put everything else up and throw it the rest of the day. Persistence is the key with spinnerbait fishing. That bait will cover tons of water and produce some great reaction strikes.

KVD's leading? I wanna show you something. It's my shocked face. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqVBKO_QM3o

LOL Bill, I'm skeered to even go into Aunt's Creek these days and if I launch there, I make sure to run hard and fast outta there lest I get caught and get hot coffee poured on me. On second thought, hot coffee poured on me might feel pretty good these days.

Tritonbass, Look for a big tall guy in a red/white Skeeter. Follow him. Everywhere. Like a lost puppy.

Thanks for the report, Fishrman. Had to work 6 days this week and wanted to go badly on Sunday but just not tough enough to withstand 30-30 weather ... 30 degrees and 30 mph winds. Hope to get out there later this week.

Slabhunter, my strong suggestion would be to put back a little extra money for this trip and hire a guide. Two that come to mind immediately are right here on this forum regularly ... Bill Babler and Don House. Not only will you catch fish like never before, you'll come away with knowledge that will repay you year after year when you come back for your annual trips.

I think everyone here has made valid points. My contribution would be this ... because it's a darned expensive sport at any level and especially at the top of the tournament food chain, you have a certain amount of young, rich spoiled brats who feel they're entitled to do whatever they wish while they're here. Heck, they're leaving in a few days so what do they care what we think about their actions or about them in general? What they don't think about is the lasting impressions they leave on the sport itself with everyone they come in contact with. While these guys may not be the majority, there are certainly enough of them that the general feeling they leave behind is of ill will toward FLW and bigtime tournament fishing as a whole. I have been an outdoor writer all of my adult life and covered many B.A.S.S. events back in the days when Ray Scott and tournament directors Harold Sharp and later Dewey Kendrick ran a tight ship. Not that they always knew about it, but when they heard of someone behaving as many of the young guns do now, the offender got a butt chewing. Besides that, the old hands on the trail would take him aside and give him a talkin' to. You'll never convince me that Charlie Evans gives a flying flip how anyone behaves. He's interested in nothing but making a buck so he can buy more hairspray.

XP, I can also personally vouch for Capt. Don House and Capt. Bill Babler. Have fished with both and not only are they great guides who will work their tails off to get you around fish, they're just fine darn folks.