LWW

It was a great weekend! My 4yr loves fishing, maybe even more than me and that's scary! He makes me read the BassPro Shop spring catalog for his bedtime story! Good times!

Best trip I've had in a long while, it was a hot bite on the 1/2oz Ftbl Hd (Pb&J & Wtrmln Candy) in 5-15 fow. Caught 60 and probably a dozen more that almost made it in the boat. Managed a few on some of the flooded gravel points targeting the tree line on either side of the points, but really found my groove on the bluffs. Coming out of Campbell's Pt marina, I decided to buzz straight across to the bluff and work my way back towards Shell Knob. The high water was a perfect mix of flooded brush and rock ledges. I'd pitch to the walls and or any brush close to it, work the 5-15ft water and they clobbered it! When the jig slowed a bit, I would pick up the 4in Fat Keitech and had plenty of takers on it too. I wasn't looking for just straight bluff walls, it always got hot when there was a small pocket to explore. They really congregated right out in front of some of the bigger brush/trees in about 10ft, and could often get a quick flurry. Had a solid mix of LM, Spots, and Smallies every day. Caught more brownies than I ever had, but they were mostly smaller. Got the boys out for a few hours w/ me too, but they're not quite ready to work the bottom and didn't have any takers on their spinner bait or Keitech. They took some great short movies I'll enjoy for a long time though! Here's some pics of the best keepers..

Thanks fishinwrench, I'll keep that in mind as I experiment a little bit! It's hard for me to put the jig stick down, but always love a good top water bite!

I've been experimenting with the plopper, was wondering if anyone has better luck popping it or a steady retrieve? I'm 50/50 w/ my home waters here in OK, but wondered how Table Rock bass prefer it? Will be back up after Memorial Day, looking forward to trying it!

Thanks everyone, it was a great weekend! That little man is eaten up w/ fishing. I knew I had an angler a year ago when he kept asking to watch fishing shows instead of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Saturdays! He's got big shoes to fill, his big brother boated his 1st double at 4 1/2 so now they both have some bragging rights! This is such a great lake, we're all so blessed to have this beautiful place to enjoy so many experiences!

Beautiful weekend. My main goal was to help my 3yr old son catch his 1st bass from "daddy's boat", and we did! Sat. morn he boated his 1st KY on the plopper. Followed it up with another KY on the drop shot today. Well worth all the tangles and snags we had to go through! We fished the Shell Knob area and we're able to put together a few on the jig, plopper, keitech, and drop shot. Best bite was the drop shot on the gravel flats in 20-30 fow.

Thanks Bill, I was hoping so! I'm itching to hit the water after being cooped up all winter with Mama and the (3) cubs! Hope everyone enjoys this coming spell of nice weather for a change!

We're hoping to spend the weekend at the lake, does anyone know if the Shell Knob bridge ramp is open or do you think it will be by Saturday morning? Might save the gas money and go next weekend if the ramps aren't open. I appreciate the heads up!

troutgnat, you're exactly right.. I can't tell you how many times that list has changed, but it is slowly helping me zero in on all my favorite techniques and how to rig them. I used to have it on a spreadsheet (and never had it available on the water), but I got smart one day and copied it to the "Notes" app on my iPhone. Now I can see it, and change it as needed!

I keep this list on my phone so I can remember how to rig different techniques for the equipment I have. Of course things change occasionally, but here's where I'm at currently... Helps me track techniques to rod action, line type, and reel gear ratios. All the rods are Falcons, either Cara's, BuCoo's, or Lowriders. T-Rock baits... Rod / Rigging 7'4" (H) MMC Heavy Cvr Jig (7.2:1)(Floro) - 1/2oz Ftbl Hd Jigs / 10in Worms / Carolina Rig 7'3" (H) CC Cara Amistad (7.2:1)(Braid) - A-Rig / Frog 7'2" (MH) BMC Swim Jig Spc (7.2:1)(Braid or Floro) - Keitech Swimbait / Chatterbait / Swim Jig 7' (H) BMC Liz Dragr (7.2:1)(Floro) - 1/2oz Wobble Head, SK Rage Menace Grub / Babbler Spc, 7/16oz Chompers Wobblehead, Yum Twin Tail, Biffle Bug, Brush-Hog 7' (MH) BCC Trap Caster ( 6.3:1)(Mono) - Lipless Crankbait / Normans DD22 / SK6XD / Buzzbait 7' (M) BCC Cranker (5.5:1)(Floro) - Wiggle Wart / Poe's Cedars / Berkley Flicker Shad / Bandit 300s 6'10" (MH) CC Cara Finesse Jig (7.2:1)(Mono) - Spook / H2O Express / SK Sexy Dawg 6'10" (M)(Spinning) Shky Hd Jig Spc (5.2:1)(Floro) - 1/8 - 1/4oz Shky Hd / 3/8oz Tube Jig / Ball Hd Jig Wacky Rigged 6'9" (M)(Spinning) CS Cara DS (5.2:1)(Lt Braid Backing, Floro Leader) - Drop Shot, Robo Worm, Zoom Finesse, Chompers / Spoon, Jigging Style - White or Chrome 6'8" (MH) CC AOY (6.3:1)(Mono) - 1/2oz War Eagle / SK KVD Square bill / KVD Popper / Excalibur - Spit-n-Image 6'7" (MH) CC Cara Wtls Wrm (6.3:1)(FLoro) - Senko / Fluke / Wacky Rig / Jerk Bait, Spro McStick, Rouge, Rapala Xrap, MegaBass, LC Pointer, SK KVD 300 JB 6'6" (M)(Spinning) LFS Open Hk Spc (5.2:1)(Floro) - 1/8 - 1/4oz ball head w/ 4-5in Grub / Ned Rig / Mojo Rig w/ Fish Dr or Centipede / Split Shot

No, it's actually the TWS. It runs a little tighter and retrieves smoother than the spook. My buddy had been using it at Grand, and after a couple years with it at the Rock I'm convinced. For $3.99 it's easy on the pocket book too! http://m.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_22353_-1__true?color=Sexy+Shad&N=97009336+4294966997

To my surprise, my dad and I found some whites up the white river half way btwn point 22 and point 23. We caught them like Bill said with wakers, my new favorite the Academy Sports H2O Xpress topwater plug out caught the super spook 5:1. Caught about 40 between Sat/Sun morning. Caught them on the points on the east side and back in one of the spawning cuts I like to check out this time of year on the west side of the lake. We also caught about 18 spots, 6 LM, and even 1 smallie all topwater in the same area. Even had some decent luck with the blade running it out of the buck brush and then over some cedars while my 4yr old son captained at the helm. Of course my biggest lm came off a watermelon candy fb head jig in about 20 fow in front off the bluff wall before Carter's Hollow. Had a blast, especially when my not so experienced dad puts them in the boat and being able to spend some quality time with my future bass partner!

In regards to hand warming, it's tough to beat a good pair of football gloves. The tacky palms provide excellent grip for rod handling, and their pretty moisture resistant when handling fish. I can usually tie most knots and more importantly still feel my line while fishing. Under most conditions they'll still keep me warm on the boat ride, but if it's super frosty I'm not opposed to good pair of thermal gloves for a few minutes. Probably a lot like the golf gloves Gitnby mentioned, just a bit more durable.

I've been reading lately about finding fish suspended in trees or relating to specific structure in the lake. I've been fishing the Rock for about 10yrs now, and haven't studied my Hotspot maps or updated my navionics chip since about then. Lately, I've found myself running the same water over and over. Eager to explore new water, I realized I need to do a little research. In regards to searching out submerged wood, are these old maps reliable? In other words, has anyone noticed any significant difference in new maps/chips vs the old?

Bill, you should write a book! I'd buy that kind of information by the season! Great stuff, just wish it was more about S.K. so I'd have a clue! Thx, Wes