Champ188

I wondered if the density of the colder water would affect the settling of the particles. I wasn't aware of the clumping process. I think it would probably clear faster if those dang stripers weren't swimming around breaking up the clumps. I'm blaming it on them.

Let there be chat.

Spot on, Flysmallie. There's an art to "fishing fast --- slow." Just watch VanDam sometime. Clunn is another who mastered it. You still have to "fish in the moment" and be flexible if things go awry, but your day should be penciled in your brain before you ever leave the ramp. For me, that goes for fun fishing as well as tournaments. Unless I have some idea of where/how/when I'm going to fish, my day can quickly get away from me.

Table Rock still had lots of 50-plus degree water as recently as Saturday. These last couple of frigid nights may knock the surface temp a few degrees but it won't send us into a rapid deep freeze. Barely cold enough for any semblance of a jerkbait bite. Some dying shad would sure help.

There are several ways ... first would be to use a good topo map, either an old-fashioned paper one or an electronic version on your sonar/graph unit. Another way is to look at the landscape. The steep banks are where the channel swings in close, while the lesser-sloping banks generally mark flats. Just visually extend what's on the bank out into the water. A third way is to idle around with your sonar unit and find the deeper water.

Incredible info, Ben. Thanks so much.

Donna and I have had Cabela's Guidewear for several years. We're known for fishing in some nasty weather, so we've put it to the test and have been very satisfied.

You can power fish on Table Rock, but you have to do it with finesse. I've kicked around the idea of writing an article on that for the forum and even started on it. May finish it soon.

Wellllllllll, doggies. I thought it was called a Jed rig!

I'd buy off the state legislature to pass a bill requiring all convenience stores to have a non-lottery ticket line so those of us who don't buy lottery tickets could get in and out in a reasonable amount of time.

Gotcha, wdberkley. And when guiding, you often have no choice but to fish deep because some clients aren't skilled enough at casting to fish shallow. For whatever reason, I just felt compelled to try and dispel the notion that all shallow fishermen are simple-minded "bank beaters." Babler very well knows that, as do many of the regulars here. He's been very complimentary over the years of my skills, such as they are.

You guys go right ahead believing that. There are plenty of guys out there with names like Sullivan, Thomas, McCutcheon and others who for many years have been padding their wallets with tournament winnings made by fishing shallow. It was never easy on Table Rock and it's getting tougher as the lake ages. But it is still possible most months of the year to catch a lot of fish from 20 feet of water or less. That's where I spend 75% of my time and I'm pretty often successful, both in recreational fishing and tournaments. Just like deep fishing, there's a lot more to consistently catching fish from skinny water than meets the eye. Sky conditions, wind speed and direction, water clarity and temp, available forage, the presence of the right kind of cover for that day (wood or different types of rock), lure selection and many other factors play into it. Being consistently successful at it is probably harder than being consistent offshore because the absence of one necessary ingredient can spoil everything. Any shallow pattern is far more fragile than deep patterns because shallow fish are affected more greatly by weather changes, etc.

Take this and run, don't walk, to the bank.

Now Ham, that's just mean. What did those poor little slicks do to you?

My biggest problem with Ike and Ish both is their foul mouths when they know they're on camera. There's just no sense in it.

Lovely. We get to pay $10 more per year for less places to use. Don't know about Beaver, but access points are dwindling on Table Rock.

J-Doc, always keep in mind that a crank bait needs to stay in contact with the bottom as much as possible throughout your cast. And once you get it there, good crankers "pull" the bait with their rod more than actually winding it. If it's a square bill, you want to keep the bait in contact with cover (logs, rocks, dock supports, etc.) as much as possible. The following link is to a Wiggle Wart video filmed by Dave Barker, one of the all-time winningest tournament fishermen in the MIdwest and one heckuva nice guy. Although the Wart is his lure for this video, the concept is much the same for all crank baits.

If you want to see them, just enter a tournament out of Kimberling City. They'll be out there in the predawn hours, nosing around trying to catch someone with a burnt-out or flickering stern light, checking registrations, etc. Eight hours later when you're trying to get back to weigh-in and dodging OBVIOUS drunks in wake boats all the way --- you know, REAL safety hazards --- they're nowhere to be found.

Very true, Jerry. I normally try to conceal any fish I catch from boats around me but it had been a slow weekend for everyone and I was proud to see that one. I ended up around fifth place in that 2-day derby with less than 20 pounds. You know yourself how stingy October can be.

Why target the spawn? Fishing is good here throughout the spring on a variety of patterns. Should be some spinnerbait, crank bait and topwater action throughout the Kings River arm. If that fails, get yourself some spinning outfits, spool them with some good-quality 6-pound mono and stock up on shaky heads and Ned rigs. (You can read up on the Ned rig here on this forum).

They were throwing "winding baits" ... not flipping ... up in the flooded stuff.

I talked to one of the guys yesterday afternoon who finished second Sunday. They caught all of their fish in less than 10 feet of water.

Some days we just suck. I fished a derby at LOZ not too many years ago and absolutely zeroed. First time in a very long time I'd done that. Fastest 8 hours of my life. Hadn't been able to get on anything in practice and the crap continued to snowball on derby day. What's more, my co-angler caught a limit out of the back of the boat on a jig and I refused to tie one on. It was personal between me and the bass by that time. They were either gonna eat what I was throwing or I just wasn't going to catch them. You can guess who won that shoving match. LOL

The way Ike shows his butt sometimes makes me cringe. However, I ran into him several years ago in the small pocket right above Hardman Hollow. It was about 1:30 in the afternoon and I was fishing the fall Central Pro-Am event. He was already in there but was out in the middle dropshotting so I waved and asked if he minded if I buzzed thru there with my spinnerbait. He asked if I was fishing the CPA tourney and when I said yes, he reached for his trolling motor and said, "Dude, I'm just practicing for next week. (There was a PAA derby that upcoming week). I can practice here tomorrow. Good luck in your derby." I tried to tell him he was not in my way but he insisted on leaving and did. Best part was just as he was cranking his motor, I caught one about 3 pounds. He gave me a big thumbs-up and took off. As I said, I don't agree with a lot of what he does, but I thought he showed a lot of class that day.

You guys keep doing what you're doing, mojorig. I don't agree with every decision biologists make but that's generally out of my own selfish wants. We'd be in a pickle without you guys. We'd be in trouble without mechanics, too, but some of them aren't as smart as they pretend to be either.