Champ188

Loved it when Hackney's piece-o-junk Quantum snapped at the butt in the MLF show Saturday.

Too bad Yeti doesn't have a security device to keep bears like Alex from raiding your dock fish.

Good job, my friend. That's a good morning on an Ozarks lake in July.

Total inability to drive. I've run from Grand Glaize to Niangua in bigger stuff than that in a 188 Champion and never speared a single wave. It's all in knowing how to work the trim and throttle.

Wrench, you are right about quality and purpose. For cranks, topwaters and other fast-moving treble hook lures, you certainly don't want an IM10 rod with titanium guides, etc. Too sensitive. Not spongy enough and will result in lots of lost fish, not to mention pulling a lure away from fish. The exception FOR ME with moving baits is a spinnerbait (obviously not a treble hook lure) because I fish a quarter-ounce bait with small willows a lot and I like to feel every turn of the blades. Even then, though, I don't use a $500 G-Loomis. I used to throw a Duckett, but my favorite spinnerbait rod is now a Denali Kovert technique-specific spinnerbait stick that retails for under $150. Very, very good rod. I'm using the same make of rod in a 7-2 length with medium power-fast action (finesse jig technique) for my Wiggle Warts and other mid-size cranks. Works like a charm.

Can't expect a lot from a rod under $100 these days. Actually, $150 is probably closer to the upper middle class of bass rods these days.

Note to self ... do not complain about fish size or boat traffic/wakes next time Donna and I manage 64 fish on a July day with a 5-hour lunch/nap break.

Make room, boys. Here comes Champ and Donna. A mere 136.8 feet of sportfishing nirvana. Bet you could spot the white bass breaking at the dam from Eagle Rock up on that fourth-level tuna tower.

Dangerous as heck to be fishing around Kim City on any wkd, much less a holiday. Glad your dad wasn't tossed overboard.

Good job and thanks for the report.

I think QB was saying that someone 81 years old should know better than to overload a boat like that.

You said a mouthful there, C4F.

Congrats on the new job and the excellent location. Don't forget there are some smaller lakes in that area, too, that are well worth checking out. Enjoy and keep us posted on your fishing exploits.

Indeed, thanks for the report. Keep fishing and posting! And you don't have to catch em to post a report. Sometimes it's just as valuable knowing what didn't work as what did.

I'm open to the idea of braid to a lengthy light fluoro or mono leader (at least 8 feet) but can't see finesse fishing with braid/no leader.

Anyone who doesn't think line size matters in clear water is mistaken. Whether it's visibility, lure action or whatever, my personal experience here and in the clear waters of lakes Ouachita and DeGray where I grew up is that you will definitely get more bites on 6-pound than on 8-pound, and more bites yet on 4-pound. I am talking about slow-moving or bottom-dragging presentations here, not reaction baits. As I said, that has been my personal experience. Others are welcome to believe differently.

LOL yes, you need to toe the line sir.

Thanks for the good report, Ranger185. And I concur on a lot of those green fish staying in the bushes. As long as they have oxygen, food and cover, they'll hang out shallow. Especially in the upper Kings and James river arms.

Figured I'd go to Big M this morning since Quillback is hammering all my stuff downstream. Got there late (around 8 a.m.) and only had 3 hours to fish but they were just chomping. Caught 37 on my first stop --- still practically within sight of Big M --- including 35 keeps but nothing over 5 pounds, so pulled off after 45 minutes for more fertile grounds. Next stop produced more of the same ... nothing but one little 3-4 pound rat after another. Got bored after a couple dozen of those and high-tailed it again. Spent my last hour just jumping points and finally managed a 6-pounder and a couple of 5's. Still nothing really big but OK for a 3-hour trip. Total for the day was somewhere around 125 with 117 keeps. Oh yeah, and six keeper Walters to boot. Gotta love Big M. Right QB? Almost forgot, I wrote a little song about it ... sing it to the tune of the Green Acres theme song. Big M is the place to be, Hawg snatchin is the life for me; Lake spreadin' out so far and wide, Keep Shell Knob just gimme that upper White.

Glad you're ok, Jim.

I'd start with a TaylorMade SLDR and a Titleist NXT Tour.

I heard there's a new owner. Babler probably knows the deal.

You said a mouthful there, brother.

Listen to this man. Now that JD Fletcher is gone, Randy knows more about walleye on Table Rock than any three other guys put together.

I like the way you think.