abkeenan

Dave, I am a novice at best when it comes to the white spoon in the docks technique. Guess I will just have to keep working at it and gain experience just like anything else. Would be nice to go with a person who knows the ins and outs of spooning docks and see just how they work over slips, hoists and whatnot. I gave it the ole' college try that's for sure but will just have to keep at it.

Not a wimp at all RPS. If I am using a treble hooked bait for whites I sling them in the boat on the deck then step on them with my foot and use pliers to get the hooks out. You are just asking for it if you try to lip or handle them with your hands.

Tried that this past weekend with no luck. Just one butterball 13" kentucky off the end of dock in about 70ft of water and he hit it at about 25ft (probably came off the deep cables) is all I had to show for my efforts. Might be a few weeks before that bite comes along. Water temps are still pretty cool and they don't necessarily have to go hide under the docks to keep cool when the summer weather hits. Shouldn't be long though. This was in the dam area in the Beardsley Branch and I could see my 4" white flutter spoon sitting on the bottom at 30 feet just as clear as day.

Huntest, That is pretty much the rule of thumb that once the sun comes up or the cloud cover gives way to bright skies the topwater is pretty much done and the fish head for deeper water or shady locations in trees and docks. You can still pick up a few that will come and get the topwater throughout the day but its not nearly like the action it is early morning or when there is overcast skies. Best to start throwing something else IMO.

Dave, I threw an A-Rig with no molded lead head with 3 short arms that are willow blades and 3 longer arms with 3" storm wild eye swimming shad and the whites just clobbered it. 3" was the perfect size as the whites mouths aren't as big as the blacks/browns. Perfectly stuck right in the top lip each time and easy to unhook. Trebles sometimes on whites can be a nightmare as when they flop around you might get stuck with a hook in the hand or their razor sharp fins and/or gill plates will get you too. Really digging this version of the a-rig as it requires 0 dummy baits, can throw it on normal gear and is probably a third or less of the weight of the normal version. Was throwing mine on a 7'6" MH Daiwa T-Rod with LEWS Speed Spool on 20# Seaguar InvizX and it casted a mile and was easier than the big old 5 arm a-rig setup I have that is about 3oz fully loaded on a bigger, stiffer rod , 65# power pro with an Abu Garcia C3 5500. Bill, great report and thanks for the tip about the jitterbug. Easy for kids to use....and me. lol. -Brett

I would think its getting close to spillway/moonshine beach time for the whites. The schools there are just MASSIVE. A couple of years ago my uncle and I were right in the middle of the largest school of whites I have ever seen right there at the spillway. It was about the size of a football field with them just going ballistic on shad on the surface for about 10 minutes nonstop. Both had our limit of fish in that 10 minutes. Hard to find anything more fun that whites when they come up and feed. Fight like absolute mules too, fun fun fun.

Yep. Its perfect the way it is. Don't change a thing. People would still complain if you let them fish this event for free probably. The event, staff and all the sponsors are top notch. Meeting people and talking to other anglers who share the same love of the sport is a good time win, lose or draw. Thanks for coming to TR and looking forward to next year 1 day after it ended. You guys rock.

The are all over the dam area right now. Come up randomly and just hope that you are near them. Had them back in creeks in pockets/coves and on main lake as well...doesn't matter. Had a big school come up in about 4 ft (yes 4 feet) of water on a pea gravel mainlake point across from the Branson Belle. I've never seen them that shallow bust the top like that but I guess they just pushed the shad into a corner against the bank so to speak. Brother and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and threw our 3-arm a-rigs into them and caught them while they were in a feeding frenzy. Didn't last long but it was fun and the ones we caught were absolute tanks. All 3+ lb'ers and brother had one pushing or over 4lbs. Too bad we couldn't weigh them in during the KVD tourny. Nuts.

Was a great time yet again. Didn't cash a check but was in the lead for the hourly for about 10 minutes with a 3.01 fat little football spot. Can't take that away from me! Again great time, great event and will be back next year. Thanks for putting it on and the new Long Creek Marina looks great.

Also addressed in the rules: © Trailering a bass to weigh-in site during tournament hours is permissible. Any contestant whether trailering or not, shall be required to bring their boat and respective partner or partners, if any, with them to the official weigh in site for a boat inspection when weighing bass in any respective hour.

That IS addressed in the rules if you read the rule on the website: (e) Each person in boat must be a paid contestant of the tournament and abide by all tournament rules and regulations. It is the contestant’s sole responsibility to review the official rules prior to the start of the tournament. Entry into the event either online or in person represents acceptance of all tournament rules and regulations. (f) Non-contestants are not allowed in paid contestants' boats at any time during official tournament hours. The only exception to this rule would be an official observer, tournament staff and/or a cameraman. Contestants may fish alone but tournament staff reserves the right to assign an official observer to the contestants’ boat.

Last year 1st place hourly weight in was $500 and then 2nd was $400 or so and then on down the line to 5th. So yes the payouts have pretty much doubled. A lot more $ in the pot so to speak. Will also be in Branson on Thursday evening around 5 then in Waxy O'Sheas for a few beers before driving down to Blue Eye.

KU_B, Nice report and glad you got on some fish. It is not uncommon to find a fish with some gear still left in it. Once caught a nice 19" smallie that had passed a hook all the way through its digestive system only to have the hook stick in his rectal opening. The hook was 75% out and at the turn of the shank but I guess the barb just wouldn't allow it to come out. Didn't want to hurt the fish so I released it "as is" and figured he/she would eventually pass it on through naturally or it would rust out.

Wow Dylan, I am not just saying this to be nice to a forum member, those are AWESOME. Just fantastic. Your craw pattern is some of the best I have seen. Absolutely love how you have it to appear to be broken up into shell segments like a real craw and then have the eyes in the back of the bait and tail in the bill like a real craw would swim, which is backwards. Just fantastic really. Good job young man.

This thread is STILL going? Why don't we have a Midwest Ralley at Phil's place in Taneycomo and have a dust up to settle this....jeesh. PS - Last man standing gets a brand new Ranger and BPS gift cards.

Well I did a water test on 4 of them I bent the bills on.....100% failure rate. Back to the drawing board. Might have to fully replace the lip with various sizes of circuit board. What a disappointment.

No I was just kidding. My wife would kill me if I spend another nickel on fishing gear/tackle. But when time comes and it is allowed I may take the plunge.

Good stuff Dave. You sure are costing me a lot of money the last couple of days!

Thanks for the pics Dave. Got tired of the "stupid Kindle" excuse.

My brother and I have a laugh about it every time one of us thinks about it and brings it up. It happened over in Jakes Branch where the power lines cross over the cove. During the spring always gobblers going bonkers over there under the power lines where the side of the hill is bald.

Great report with pics of baits used. Good stuff and thanks for posting.

My brother and I call a creek in the dam area we were fishing Turkey Creek after a turkey decided to try fly from one side of the cove to the other and was running on fumes near the end of the flight and crashed into cedar tree and fell in the water. Absolutely hilarious btw. Does that count?

Dave, Thanks for all the reports the last couple of weeks. Just great stuff and keeps me sane while I can't be there. Safe travel back west and hope the fix isn't anything costly or complex. -Brett

Champ, I remember a while back someone posting that stringer snagger idea for rods gone overboard. Thanks for the refresher and will now store one in the boat just in case this scenario pops up. Thanks for reminding me and for posting.

How did this go from a thread about Lew's reels to a Chevy vs Ford boat battle? Hahaha. No dog in this fight but went to a boat show last year to really give boats a good shakedown and I think if I were purchasing a new boat Phoenix would be first in line. Running your hand in all the rod lockers/livewells/compartments you know you aren't going to be stuck by some piece of fiberglass like you will with some other manufacturers out there. To me that just speaks of quality craftsmanship and attention to detail which in today's age seem to have gone by the wayside in favor or increasing the production and bottom line. Pride in your product and proud to stamp your brand/logo on what you are producing is something rare today and I think both Lew's and Phoenix can say that they are indeed proud to put their names on their products. My 2 cents.