Champ188

A good guide will spend at least a few minutes on the phone with you and quiz you about your expectations for the trip. Is the purpose purely for entertainment or is the client looking to learn something? What is their experience level? What style of fishing do they enjoy or do they care? If a guide isn't willing to discuss the above things and perhaps more on the phone, he's probably not your guy.

Dang, Mike ... even Covid doesn't like you! 😆😂😂

Indeed, happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I've made some very, very good friends in this room and I'm thankful for each of you.

😆😂 😆😂 😆😂

There are tons of misguided folks out there -- most of them willingly turning a blind eye -- who will insist until they are blue in the face that they're making money fishing local tournaments. The rest of us know the truth -- they aren't. I quit fishing Central Pro-Am when participation dropped to the point that you literally had to WIN to recover your expenses for the event. And that did NOT include boat or truck costs. Between entry fees, gas, lodging and food, Donna and I were spending $1,500 to $2,000 per event to fish for a WINNER'S CHECK of around $1,500. You don't need a degree in finance to figure out that's not a good investment.

Did you actually weigh that fish? Looks more like 5.5 to 6 lbs to me.

Bill, surely you jest ... live scopes have been out only a couple of years. How many tens of thousands of fish did you catch before then? If that's the case, I have a 2013 Ranger for sale. No live scope. Buyer will have to add that himself or make do with a couple of obsolete old Humminbird 998's. 😂

So where is this Beardsley of which you speak? Is it a good spot to fish? Any docks in there? 😆😂😂

I've seen migrating pelicans a couple of times up around Eagle Rock ... specifically, on the long, shallow buoy point on the east side just below the Hwy 86 bridge. There are lots of them at Grand Lake in Oklahoma, but I think many of those are year-round residents. I see them at all times of the year and all over the lake. That lake has more baitfish than any lake I know, so they have worlds of food.

Maybe the peacocks hate you! Have you ever considered that? 😆 😂

And there you have it ... now all of the struggling local guides like Babler, Buster and others can get off Taneycomo and head back to TR for the forthcoming bass bonanza! 😆😂

Why not buy an annual pass and have the convenience of launching wherever you want? 🤔

Enjoyed the video and agree fully ... solitude is always a dream of mine when I go fishing.

I could see it being a straight-up SM or a meanmouth. But if I had to bet, I'd say the latter.

I'm picturing everything from drones to nuclear-armed missiles. 😅

Your little fishing spot better be boobie-trapped at DEFCON 1 level if you aren't gonna be there to defend it yourself! 😅

It's certainly about time for that spinnerbait bite to get going in the rivers.

Great story and an even better takeaway. We all get impatient and fail to show compassion for others, even though we know better. The past few months have taught me firsthand that everyone is going through something --- and even if they aren't at the moment, they soon will be. That's just how life on this imperfect earth works. Between my dad passing, my mom going downhill at an alarming rate, trying to manage their affairs from 3.5 hours away, Covid policies creating havoc at work, etc., I haven't been at my best lately but I'm sure others have been patient with me. The least I can do is return the favor.

One factor is that we've all been pushed around so much by the jackwagons of the world that it's pretty easy to be hypersensitive about stuff like backing down the middle of the ramp. I seriously doubt that you're a jerk but the guy who backed down beside you didn't know that. He was probably just reacting to having that same thing done to him a dozen times. The real jerks make life harder for all of us.

Lots of information in that report! Tells you just what stage the fall season is at right now and where it's headed. And what a gorgeous smallmouth! Did you happen to check it for a tongue patch? Almost looks like it could be one of those meanmouths with a spotted bass shape and pure smallmouth markings.

For sure, being certain that loved ones know Jesus as Savior makes death a lot less "final" but still never easy to deal with. Prayers for this family.

When you combine the rampant lack of respect for others, ignorance/wanton disregard of boating law/etiquette, alcohol, outright stupidity and other factors, the end result can only be more accidents and a whole lot less enjoyment for everyone. We are living in some very sad times.

Heck, I thought 35 feet was beating the banks for BB!!!! 😁

It all comes down to paying attention, slowing the heck down in potentially dangerous situations, and using COMMON SENSE. Of course, it's impossible to use something you don't possess.

Hey Steve, sorry you had this encounter. I fished derbies for 40 years and still fish one occasionally, but the disrespect shown by SOME (that means NOT ALL) tournament anglers for EVERYONE else on the lake is one reason that Donna and I decided that we'd rather fish for fun than money. For us, the two just were not synonymous anymore. Hope your rig is running good now and that you are finding some fish to catch. Fall fishing is coming soon.