Champ188

Capt. D, I can't believe you just caused me to go out to my garage, take spoons off my pegboard and put them in my boat. Leaving early in the morning for CPA this weekend on TR. Lawd help me if it comes down to me having to jerk a spoon but after two frustrating days last weekend, I just might try it. As always, thanks for the thorough and FREE report.

Rangerman, I've had that same thing happen twice in my life ... with the line levitating off the water and my rod audibly buzzing. Scary stuff indeed. I was much younger both times and won't allow that ever to happen again.

A blonde, a mouse, a crippled giraffe and a polar bear walk into a bar ...

hay erik, wate til u see da next isshu of da magizeen

yup, we iz stoopid hillbillies but we kin play futball purdy gud. we kin evin katch a bass sumtimes.

Much better, dont you think?

B-b-b-baby you just ain't seen nuthin yet.

Eric, Count me and Donna in. BTW, there's going to be a UFO (unidentified fishing object) on the lower end of TR today — ME. So tired of catching dinks up the White that I could scream. Dinks on docks, dinks on points, dinks on the rolloffs out to 35 feet. Same in the Kings. I hear rumor there's some huge concrete object down toward Branson that actually holds the water back. Oh yeah, and a big paddleboat parked nearby. Say it ain't so! If I don't report back by mid-day Monday, someone send out a search party for me and Donna.

Hey Techo, do you mean I need no help finding fish or finding a place to eat? Of the two, the latter would definitely be more true.

Smallmouthjoe, my experience with largemouths is that a good number of them will stay shallow until conditions literally force them out deeper. In summer, if the water temp reaches a point that oxygen is depleted and it stagnates, they will go deeper. Likewise, many will stay shallow in winter until the water becomes so cold they can't move. Food and cover are factors, too — if those are available shallow, there will be some bass there in conditions that can surprise you. Not all LM do this, but in any lake there is definitely a segment of the population that is headstrong about living shallow.

Well folks, seems the right time to register my complaint. I got some info last fall from this site prior to fishing a derby on the Rock. Was actually able to locate and catch the reported fish both in practice and the derby. Was thinking, "Man, what a deal. Those OzarkAnglers.com guides really know their stuff!" Then just before time to call it quits on derby day and race back to the weigh-in, the unthinkable happened. While battling a 5-pounder at boatside, the ding-dong fish came off! Yup, the thing had only gotten the back hook of my crank bait in its mouth and just came unbuttoned. Cost me a fine check in the derby, too. Had the @^%$# guide bothered to MENTION that the fish were half-heartedly biting the baits instead of swallowing them, thus ensuring a solid hook-up, I'd have looked elsewhere for my own derby fish. As it was, I was left checkless — toeing the gravel at the weigh-in. But obviously, his only interest was self-promotion with no regard for the pain and suffering his incomplete information might cause to those consuming it here. P.S. Note to the whiners: Shut the heck up or take up Fat Boy's offer on the cheap golf sticks. The rest of us, and particularly Babler as he donates lots of time to moderate this forum, don't need you here. We're just darn grateful that the guides are willing to freely share their hard-earned info.

Good report, Troy. Thanks for posting.

i know a good marriage counselor if you guys need one

Guys, This is no-BS deal ... $10,000 first place. Where else can you find that kind of payout? Depending on your boat company's incentive money, you stand to win even more. Plus, new CPAA owner Jim Thompson runs a fine tournament. Hope to see lots of you there Saturday.

ozarkgunner, that old Wiggle Wart in your tacklebox is absolutely worthless. in fact, i would suggest that you contact me by private message and let me give you my address. that way you can send it to me to make sure you don't get it mixed up with the newer models, which will work far, far better.

Agreed in full, Bill. I admit that I sort of took offense to Fatboy's comment about Larry Herndon only fishing during spawning season. Maybe he does only fish then, and I overreacted. I just happen to believe that Larry is a man of strong ethics and I hated to see him take a rap for doing something entirely legal. As I've stated on here before, I have some guiding experience and you're dead right — guide clients nor fisherman of average skills aren't capable of catching a big bag of bedding bass. Takes lots of skill, experience and perseverance.

It was not Bill's comments as much as the other that "the only time you see them fish" is when the fish are bedding. Larry Herndon spends his own gas money to drive all over our region, wherever Central Pro-Am is fishing, and gets out of bed in the wee hours to give a Sunday morning devotional before tournament takeoff. He does not even fish the tournaments but never misses an opportunity to share his faith on Sunday mornings, regardless of the tournament location. To me, that speaks volumes about the man.

Not a bed fisherman myself except to play around with the fish on a fun trip once or twice a year, and those fish are immediately released back onto their nests. But as long as bed fishing is legal and money is on the line, people are gonna do it. Seems we're insinuating here that the guys who won OMTT did something wrong. I don't see it that way.

Indeed, Randy was a fine man and will be greatly missed. The good news was that he had a strong relationship with the Lord and was quite outspoken about it after a recent illness. Still, his family needs all the prayers and support we can give them.

2004 Champion 188, white/silver/black hull w/red pins and 200 Merc Optimax.

I must say that the obscenely obese K in that last picture particularly compliments Bill's new "leaner and meaner" figure. A fine trip and great report, boys.

I'm fishing a BFL on Saturday out of Ahoy's. Yeehaw, sounds like lots of company out there.

Sorry for the correction, but number to Hook, Line & Sinker is 479-631-8118.

twosets, Just finished four days at LOZ for the Central Pro-Am bass tournament and fished Thursday-Sunday. During practice Thursday and Friday in the Big Niangua area, I kept a spinning rod with a crappie jig and bobber handy. When I would come across a visible brushtop in 4-8 feet of water, I'd pitch the jig and bobber to it with the jig set 2-4 feet deep, depending on the depth of the water around the brush. Caught lots of crappie this way and even commented to my wife that there is no tellling how many crappie a guy could catch in a day's time doing that. Was using a Shineee Hineee jig (yes, that is the correct name and correct spelling) made by Arkie Lures. You should be able to Google it and see what I'm talking about. Best jig color in the stained (but not muddy) water was white. Good luck on your trip.

I'm with ya on the Senko stuff Bill. Shoot, I'd rather MOW grass than fish that silly thing. But in answer to edyer's original question, yes, the Flick Shake worm and heads are available just down the road in Arkansas at Hook, Line & Sinker tackle stores in Bella Vista and Rogers. Green pumpkin and watermelon candy are local favorite colors as well.