Champ188

It never had to be this way. There probably aren't two more polar-opposite folks in the world when it comes to our ways of fishing, and I would never begin to argue against Bill's deep-water methods being more consistent than my shallow pursuits. Day in and day out, the deep-water bite is FAR more consistent than my shallow fish. Yet, we've been friends for many years now and there's not another angler in the world whom I respect more when it comes to Table Rock. Well, Dock-in-It comes close, as well as Quillback. Yes, two more deep-water experts. Like Bill, I've made friends on this site who have become more like family, and for that I will ever be grateful. And that goes double for my Mizzou-rooting, comedic, deep-fishing friend ... Mr. Bill (as my wife Donna calls him). Love ya, brother. Onward.

Sorry to hear this about Lefty. Donated plenty of money myself to him and Marty. Glad to hear he knew the Lord and was prepared for eternity.

Actually, it's not much of a mystery at all. Even a guy like Bill --- who redefines the phrase "great guy" --- gets enough of putting out his very best efforts at being all-inclusive and honest to a fault when giving fishing info, only to be criticized or questioned about his contributions. I can't speak for Bill and I won't try, but he has retired from guiding and is indulging himself in other interests --- namely pickleball and spending more time with family and friends. Sometimes, we all just need to step away and do something healthier for ourselves. Kudos to Mr. Bill for doing just that. Even collectively, we could never thank him sufficiently for all of the help he has volunteered here on this site.

37 is some darn cold water for June. 😆

Fish was probably swimming across the lake to MegaMillions Lodge to see if it could get a pic taken with someone important. LOL

What color KGB? Where near the dam? You're on a dock ... did you bring it in to eat it? Were you using Livecheat Livescope? Enquiring minds want to know! 😆🤣 Oh, by the way, nice one!

Heck yes, let's have some more tournaments. Bigger ones. Not enough boats on the water yet.

Nice report. Thanks for sharing that.

Very much so. He knows more about this lake than just about anyone still walking around.

You don't have to worry about Bill being on OA anymore. He's done. This site loses a lot of credibility with him gone.

If the Colin guy told you he's a pro, he's full of goose hockey. Just another wannabe. No shortage of those around. But glad he helped you out, even if he is just another bass club jersey jock. And it wouldn't surprise me if that club cleaned and ate those fish they are holding in the pic. Wife and I watched a club from somewhere in MO a few years back cleaning one good SM after another at the cleaning station at Schooner Creek Resort a few years back. All told, they probably sawed the sides off 50 bass that day.

Don't answer this, Andy. He's trying to poach your crappie spots! 😆

Hey Dock, at least yours are still swimming where they were caught, had their picture taken and were released alive and healthy rather than getting beat half to death on a ridiculous boat ride all the way to Johnny-palooza in Long Creek. At least have some consideration for the resource and stop killing big fish during the spawn.

This is a competitive arena in which FFS should certainly be banned. These kids need to be able to compete on ground that's as level as possible --- and not be disadvantaged because their boat captain didn't have FFS and others did. You learn a lot in high school competitions ... losing gracefully is one of the most important. When you get beat on level ground, the lesson you take away is (a) someone is usually going to be better than you and (b) to be top dog, you have to outwork the others. You shouldn't be able to "buy" first place at that stage in life. Those hard lessons --- that often in real life, money is the determining factor in who wins --- will come soon enough. Let the kids play on equal footing.

Hey Mark, so happy to hear this good news for you. Been thru a couple of divorces myself --- second was a classic rebound marriage that only last a few years. But the first one was my childhood sweetheart and the mother of my two kids, so yeah ... not a place you want to be. God specializes in bringing us out of those dark places ... sometimes even without us asking. Welcome back to the game of life, brother. Glad to see you making the most of it by being a dad first and foremost.

Talk about pulling something outta thin air ... where'd you come up with "gay" as having anything to do with my feelings about FFS? Maybe you should ask my son ... he's actually gay. I have nothing personal against you or anyone else here --- scopers, live baiters, etc. It's a fishing forum and fishermen are never gonna agree on not just everything, but MOST things. My concern is the same as it's been since FFS hit the market ... that we may do substantial harm to certain species like crappie.

So, scopers are doing us a favor by only catching/possibly injuring/killing fish with the potential to grow big? Not saying it's gospel, but I've read before that only about 1 in 10 LM are even genetically capable of reaching 4 pounds. So let's come up with an idea of how to target those fish and further hurt our fisheries? Yeah, that's a great idea.

You don't have to justify what you spent on FFS to us --- just your wife.

It all comes down to a matter of choice. Once you hit 60, it becomes pretty darn clear that WE are now the older generation ... the ones holding onto the old familiar ways rather than embracing and learning new ones. And now we can see how the "old guys" felt years ago when paper graphs, then liquid crystal displays replaced the old Humminbird Super 60s or Lowrance 1240 flashers. On a sliding economic scale, they probably cost a lot back then, just as FFS does now. I couldn't care less about tournaments anymore ... I've turned into a semiretired weekday fisherman and I love it. And as far as how FFS affects me personally, I already see it pulling some of the otherwise shallow-water guys offshore and that just makes more room for me up in the dirt. So, it's actually a plus for me when cast in that light. My one true concern about it ... and I think we should all care deeply about the resource as a whole ... is this: Are certain species more susceptible to having their numbers decimated by FFS? I say yes and my particular concern is crappie. Hopefully the DNR and AGFC (Arkansas) are on the ball and ready to do some stocking if this becomes an issue.

An old friend, Jeremiah Kindy, won the Lake Ouachita BASS Open a couple of weeks ago without using his FFS. He fished the old-fashioned way, letting his lures (lipless cranks mostly) do their jobs in submergent vegetation without breaking his neck staring at a screen all day. Chalk one up for fishing like a man instead of a snot-nosed gamer kid. Just my opinion, to which we are all entitled. I put FFS in the same category as A-rigs ... call it advancement if you wish. Don't care if you call it a purple-headed, five-legged unicorn. I see it as putting a lotta work and money into an easy way out.

And that puts QB clearly into the early clubhouse lead for 2024 understatement of the year. Seriously, even thru all my years as a sportswriter, I don't think I have ever come across a team with the talent that Arkansas has that has struggled as mightily as they have.

Not sure if it's still the same but the conference tournament champions used to get automatic bids.

Hogs may make a run at the SEC tournament title. It's their only hope at this point to make the big show in March/April.

If that's the case, you shouldn't worry about what other people worry about. It's America and it's an internet forum. By nature, it's a place to voice your opinion. Many of us served proudly to defend that right. I've been close friends for 40 years with a guy who has won three world championships in fishing: 2 Bassmasters Classics and a Forrest Wood Cup. And he still isn't richy-rich. Anyone who gets into tournament fishing with the idea of supporting a family from it is sadly misled.

I did a fair amount of research before I replaced my three TM batteries last year. Duracell takes a beating in customer reviews ... I'd stay away from those. I went back with Pro Guides, just like I've always done. Always get several years from them.