Champ188

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.

The guys that finished second, also with 18 pounds, say they caught them all on Rock Crawlers. Then again, one of them's dad designed the Rock Crawler.

I'm with you, Ham. Rain, wind and cool/cold days are often the very best for fishing on highlands reservoirs like our White River lakes. And many here know these are the days you're almost sure to see my truck/trailer at the ramp. However, you gotta use common sense. Buy GOOD cold/wet weather gear, always wear your life jacket and SLOW DOWN in rough water or areas where debris is likely to be lurking.

I know the guys well who won it. J.R. Beehler (who now lives in Wichita) and Ricky Searcy who owns Bella Vista Marine. They had 14 pounds and change. Don't know how or where they won it and if you asked them they wouldn't tell you anyway. At least one 11-pound bag was caught flipping bushes, but I doubt that's how J.R. fished. That's just not his usual game. As for debris, my partner and I traveled from PC to the dam and the back of Indian Creek and back and only came across half a dozen significant pieces of debris. Mudline was around the mouth of Rambo. For the most part, it's pretty safe out there. At least in the lower half of the lake. May be a different story above the bridge but right now, I doubt anyone can even get under the bridge.

Leave it to the darn James to muddy everything up.

I was in 50-52 degrees all day in the dam area.

^^^ Dave knows from whence he speaks.

No sir. From the junction of 13 and 86 in Blue Eye (the Blue Eye Burgers corner) you go north on 86 (toward Long Creek) about 2 miles, then turn left on 86-40 (there's a brown Corps sign for the scout camp ramp marking the turnoff). The ramp is in a little pocket at the mouth of Big Cow Creek. Donna and I launch there when we don't want some of these OAF hooligans to know we're actually fishing somewhere besides the river arms.

Happy 2016, everyone.

Of course! It's not like I'll be busy reeling in fish. LOL

I caved to the boredom of sitting in my recliner for the last 5 days. A buddy and I are fishing the Polar Bear. At least he's the kind that no matter what happens, the day will be enjoyable.

Hey bassinjackson, shouldn't be any problem at all to put in at the Scout Camp ramp off 86 near Blue Eye. That ramp is very long and should still be perfectly usable.

Bo, I slid the existing washer onto the cable and then used the single crimp piece on that end. On my MK Fortrex, there was no problem with it fitting up inside the mount.

Do you put the shrink wrap over the top of the clear vinyl coating?

Nope, it's on. At least that's the word from my very reliable source.

Awesome, Ben. Thanks for the info on both the temp and the clarity.

I've never stayed there but I do know it is next door and I think they have a pretty good reputation, too. We got to know Nancy/Basil back when we were fishing Central Pro-Am and have never stayed elsewhere since.

LOL, figured as much CadeWompus but we've been surprised on here before. Recently ran across a Facebook page for the oldest bass club in Missouri (Missouri Jig and Eelers founded in 1962) that still kills and eats fish. Sad. Hope Harpers Valley works out for you. Please tell Nancy or Basil (the owners) that James/Donna from Arkansas sent you.

Chad, I would definitely look into Harpers Valley Resort in Kimberling City. They are located in the back of Fisher Creek and have their own concrete ramp with plenty of parking, plus reasonable rates, lots of room for your BBQ or fish fry (hopefully not bass), covered dock, etc. harpervalley.com

You won't find a better source of dependable information than Beck.

One thing to always keep in mind when LM go shallow in high water is you MUST get your lure all the way to the bank. You can pick off the occasional swimmer working the outside edges of the bushes but by far the majority of the fish are going to be very close to the bank. Don't ask me why. I've just learned that's what they do.

I've personally played golf with Bobby Murray, George Cochran and Ron Shuffield. Murray won the first-ever Bassmasters Classic, and Cochran won two Classics plus a Forrest Wood Cup. Shuffield is still among the BASS all-time leading money winners. Fishing and golf share a lot of similarities ... both are individual sports which can never be completely mastered, i.e. you can always catch one more fish or shoot one stroke lower. Just sayin.