Champ188

Yes, that's almost bound to be the same one but are you sure it wasn't Cutter-Morning Star? Brady and his sister Kerri both attended Cutter and she was actually a better athlete than him. She was an All-State basketball player and champion track athlete, too. Brady's dad is Freddy Meredith who is well known as a tournament fisherman. He won a lot of money on Ouachita, Hamilton and DeGray and fished the pro circuit for a short while in the 1990s. I used to live just inside the front gate of Hot Springs Village, so I know quite a few folks around Jessieville. Heckuva good bunch of people. The football coaches Don Phillips and Don Pierce were a couple of my favorites.

abk, I use the BPS Crankin' Stick and love it. I believe mine is 7-6. You might also look at the Duckett Micro Magic rods. They have some models specifically designed for that application. I'm using several of their other rods and am really impressed with them.

The guy who won the tournament the first year is a longtime friend named Brady Meredith. We are both originally from Hot Springs, AR. He caught the fish on a buzz bait above Holiday Island in the White River.

Thanks for the heads-up. Empty now.

Same here on the rebuild. Mine was 12 years ago and the shoulder is still good as new. Best advice I can offer is be vigilant about the rehab. Prayers for a safe and successful surgery.

I had a couple of 15-20 pound days last winter on Beaver with the RC Stix. Nuff said. If it'll work on Beaver, it'll work anywhere. And oh yes, I placed sixth in the BFL on Grand last March ... again throwing the RC Stix all day long. Buy Megabass if you want. I own some. They work. But the RC Stix work, too. If you don't like the hooks and split rings, it's easy enough to change them.

I'm not to be trusted with sensitive info, QB.

X2 on every word of this.

I use green pumpkin, except for when I change to green pumpkin. You could also try green pumpkin.

Same here, Jeb. A good quality FC like Trilene 100% FC will not break on the hookset unless (a) it has been nicked or tied improperly or ( someone simply jerks too hard. Today's jigs (the ones worth throwing) have such high quality hooks that it doesn't require a broomstick and braided line to securely hook a fish.

Pretty sure he took a wrong turn and ended up in Aunt's Creek, Bill.

Welcome, 96 Champ. We have a member here (Techo) who LOVES Aunts Creek so we send as many people there as we can to help him catch em. LOL I'm a White River arm guy, too, although I do venture down to the KC/dam area on occasion. Lots of good water in Big Cow/Little Cow, along with the main lake area down there. Just have to hunt and peck around and find what suits your style of fishing. Hope you enjoy the forum. Lots of good info here.

Going after crappie in a clear, highland reservoir is not normally a recipe for success. Summer is especially tough because crappie are known to follow the baitfish way out offshore and suspend, much like spotted bass. Trolling with crank baits like a Bandit 300 series can be productive in places like the James or Kings river arms.

Appreciate it, abk.

QB, co-anglers are limited to three fish per day.

I've learned that anytime I start thinking fishing is tough, I just need to come to the forum for some inspirational reading. Someone is always catching the heck out of them regardless of the conditions. Green ones, brown ones, spotted ones ...

Hate to hear that, RPS. Glad you have such fond memories and his generously shared knowledge to carry with you.

And that is exactly what makes guiding one of the toughest jobs around. If a tournament fisherman blanks or struggles, it affects only him and his family. When a guide does it, he has to face a mighty disappointed client ... or two or three.

Fished against Watson for several years in Central Pro-Am and he is indeed a nice guy and a funny fellow. I wish him the best.

I'm with Quillback. Donna and I do keep and eat a mess of fish occasionally, but I won't kill a 15-inch spot. I'll catch my "eaters" elsewhere than Table Rock..

At least with no established thermocline it will be a real fishing derby instead of a contest to see who has the best waypoints for drop shotting/spooning isolated deep trees. With the fish scattered like they are, a guy who comes up with a strong pattern is going to be the one to beat.

Won't be long the weather will cool off, night fishing will be over and hopefully we'll be back to discussing fishing instead of bickering and ragging on the water patrol.

Good on you for helping with the dog/lady debacle.

Wonder if MDC should consider reducing the 15-inch limit on them to encourage some limited harvest? Oklahoma has gone to no creel or size limits on spots statewide (unless superseded by individual lake regs) and Arkansas has taken the length limit off spots on Beaver. No regulations are worth the paper they're written on unless there is some controlled harvest.

Donna has caught quite a few decent fish on TR throwing a Keitech swimmer behind me while I was throwing a Fin. Seems particularly effective around cedars since she can Texas rig the thing and swim it right thru the trees.