abkeenan

I've heard from others on BBC that the Falcon HD rod leaves a lot to be desired. Especially if you are using it as a bottom contact rod where sensitivity is obviously important. Royal Blue's suggestion is probably the right play. I've always been a fan of the BuCoo line from Falcon. I also have a newer SR model and like it as well.

Lotta truth there. Been plenty of times I've read the most recent successful fish catching reports.....drop the tub in the water......get shut out trying to replicate that "pattern".

Probably fishing one of those big tournaments?

GREAT report and pics. Those gills have some shoulders on them. Nice work.

Added. Chustle14 - M. Morrison is the only one who hasn't been added.

Everyone who participated should now be in the group message except the following: Bassmaster1 - J. johnson Chustle14 - M. Morrison J. Johnson I sent a message to a Bassmaster10 and not sure if that's you or not. I couldn't find either handle here on OAF so please respond here with your handle or PM me and I'll add you guys.

You've been added.

Guys and Gal, I just sent out a PM with all 27 participants included with instructions on how to get each other the bait payouts. Let me know if you were in the league and did not receive the message. If you have any questions PM me or post here. Quill- Your inbox must be full because you were the only one that was unable to receive messages. Clear out some space and I'll add you to the group message. Tight Lines- Brett

Congrats to Champ, our 2017 league champion. Was a fun season and thanks to all for participating. Here are the final league results: 1 Champ1882 - J. Gilzow 2 Bassmaster1 - J. johnson 3 supremeJCK - J. Keenan 4 swelbo1 - S. Welborn 5 st041986 - S. Turner 6 Ketchup - J. Leads 7 aarchdaleacoresleepcom - A. Archdale 8 basfis - D. Reader 9 kansasskeeter - A. Roberts 10 Lvn2fish - C. Spinks -----------------------------------------------------------------------Cut Line 11 Cheesemaster - C. Hunt 12 moguy1973 - J. Horrom 13 SplitG2 - D. Young 14 abkeenan - B. Keenan 15 Chustle14 - M. Morrison 16 Quillback - J. Rhodes 17 rogueagent - T. Enke 18 wmander - W. Andersen 19 likinmo - G. Littrell 20 Royal Blue - P. Baum 21 AADAAD - A. Davis 22 SoreThumbs - J. Mitchell 23 Jpb2187 - J. Burke 24 frenchcat - D. french 25 DonnaG - D. Gilzow 26 Mike jones - M. Jones 27 crazy4fishin - B. Turner Here is the break down that we decided on earlier in the year: 1st - 6 baits 2nd - 5 baits 3rd - 4 baits 4th - 3 5th - 2 6th - 2 7th - 2 8th - 1 9th - 1 10th - 1 To recap what should be sent from an earlier post: "Baits should be in the $5-10 range. Nothing crazy like a $25 Megabass and no $1 Walmart spinnerbaits either. Something like a pack of your favorite color of senkos, a crank in a color that you don't see others throwing but kill then on it, etc. Maybe let someone in on a secret bait if you're feeling froggy. This is supposed to be fun and maybe have guys try baits they otherwise wouldn't think of tying on, perhaps." I will be sending out a mass PM to all participants so we can get the baits to the winners. Addresses posted in a public forum may not be a good idea. Champ may be overwhelmed with "fan mail" from non-CPR anglers. In that PM each I will let each participant know to whom they should be sending their "bait ante" for the league. Of course this is on the honor system and I am not going to track down "dead beats" who didn't send their lure. Again, thanks to all for participating and hope we can do this again next year. -Brett

Thanks for the kind words. But I really didn't do much other than post reminders to get your lineups in. Maybe next year you can join. It takes 2 minutes to sign up and 2 minutes to make your picks each tournament. It doesn't require much attention like other major fantasy sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.). If you beat me next year I'll throw in a free years worth of access to The Green Dock® private fishing quarters.

It was a good time. I think we will make this a yearly OAF deal.

Bump for the last tournament of the year. Looking like Champ could be at the top of the heap this year unless he REALLY bombs. Was a fun season. After the standings have been finalized I will send out a mass PM here on Ozark Anglers to all of the participants in the Fantasy League. I will then "divvy up" who gets what amount of baits and we can get addresses to the winners. Again, every participant sends ONE bait of their choice, no matter if you come in 1st or last. Thanks to all for participating and good luck in this last tournament of the season. If you have any questions feel free to PM me here on OAF. -Brett

They look good for sure. But I don't really see how this is any different than drop shotting a larger profile bait with semi-neutral buoyancy. A large mojo or Lindy Rig weight could hold down just about any floating bait and have the same effect. I am not so sure you need to spend $20 on that lure.

Last call on getting your lineups set. Good luck.

This is turning into a gang fight I see.

Green pumpkin hat. Check. Green pumpkin shirt. Check. Green pumpkin shorts. Check. Green pumpkin craw. Check. Green back. Check. Green dock......UNCHECK... yourself! Nice report Mike. Glad you and the lady friend got into some.

I throw my big swimbaits on 15lb Big Game on this rod: Dobyns Fury Casting Rod 7'9" Med Hvy Swimbait Show Information Taper Line Wt. Lure Wt. Guides Handle Type Handle Length Stock Price Qty Fast 15-30lb 1-5oz 9+Tip Fury Swimbait 20-1/2" In Stock: 3+ $119.99 Also works well with A-Rigs and Whopper Ploppers. Long handle is really nice when flingin' heavy baits.

Nice report Quill. Always fun to play "guess the bait" with Quill and his report pics. Seems he always has a new jig trailer, crank or other bait every outing. This one took me awhile. You sneaky devil, you.

That last island there in front of Big Cedar Hollow before you get to the 86 bridge is terrible. Have't heard of it referred to as "One Tree Island" but that's exactly what it is. The fact that a light pole, several shallow water buoys on all sides or some sort of beacon hasn't been installed there is a crime. Depending on the water level that island is nearly impossible to see. Even the most rational and cautious person operating a boat or watercraft really wouldn't suspect that to be out in the middle of the channel. That accident a few years ago was just terrible and truly senseless. Some sort of safety precaution should have been installed THE NEXT DAY. I've driven by that island hundreds of times and STILL keep mental note when on plane around it. Someone unfamiliar with the lake would have no way of knowing it's there until it's too late. Add in low light conditions or at night???? It actually surprising that more people haven't been killed or injured running into that death trap in the middle of the lake.

I also have a cheapy Revros. Nothing wrong with it. I am also in the boat of going cheap on spinning reels and buck up a little more for baitcasters.

Funny you mention the largemouths. This trip was the highest largemouth to smallie /kentucky (usually all I catch around the dam) ratio that I can remember in a LONG TIME around the dam area. Not sure if that has to do with the water being high and in the bushes for the majority of the summer or due to the thermocline setting up and pulling some fish out of their deep haunts. Don't know but either way it was a welcome surprise. Not to say I don't prefer smallmouth but it's nice to get the size on the LM's.

Found fish scattered for the most part. Didn't fish beyond 35 feet because I didn't feel like going the spoon or drop shot route. Brother and I picked up one here, one there, when beating the bank. If fish were bunched up they were right on breaks and roll offs that have that sudden 10-15 foot drop. Usually big flats or pockets adjacent to those drop offs is where we found them. Mainlake transition points type locations produced most. There is a definitive thermocline set up from 22-25ish feet in spots in the dam area. Big fish of the trip was the 4 pounder (1st pic) early in the AM that came off said roll off in that thermoclish depth on a 10" straight tail worm on stand-up head. Weather was a real BEAR this weekend. Mostly due to the nonstop winds that persisted on into the night on Saturday. Had a hot spot going in a location like I mentioned above but could not stay on it with the wind like it was. Had to leave them biting as fighting the troller at night became too much. Tried a crank, popper and jerkbait at certain times throughout the trip and didn't get a sniff on any. All fish came on bottom baits. Mainly a 1/2oz NuTech Elite jig with a full brush hog or paca chunk or big shakeyhead worms. Had quite a few short strikes on the full brush hog but at the same time did get more bites than the smaller profile of the paca chunk for whatever reason. In certain spots it was hard to keep the blue gill off your junk. About the least amount of fishing pressure I've seen around the dam area in quite some time. Had any mainlake point I wanted this weekend which was refreshing. Not sure if the weather kept people (both fishermen and pleasure boaters) at bay or what but I will NOT complain. Too short of a trip, but it always is. Good luck out there, stay safe and tight lines. This post has been promoted to an article

Coming down tomorrow for a short weekend trip. Will be out there on Saturday night in the dam area. Your NuTech Elites will be getting a work out.