abkeenan

Also, most of the guys I bumped into on the water had the same results as I did in the dam area....not good.

After fishing the dam area this past weekend......it is a wasteland as of right now. All my bites came closer towards KC.

Quick blurb from the weekend. Strange conditions with near freezing temps at the start of both days but warming throughout the day into 60's and 70's. Windy would be an understatement except for the first couple hours day two. Don't mind some wind but for cripes sake that was a little much. Fished from Cow to 86 Park and everywhere in between. Fished all kinds of bank compositions from main lake to the back of creeks, shallow and deep and some docks. Fishing was pretty poor but managed to stick a few on the McStick, Crank, S-Waver and A-Rig. Couldn't get a sniff on the jig. Snuck into a 10 spot on day one with a 3.80 largemouth on the McStick in a pocket next Spring Branch (because for once I had the place to myself...for about 30 minutes anyways). Cost myself a 7th spot by not weighing in the hour before and waiting for the final hour to roll over due to mistake made reading my digital scale...doh! Hindsight, I fell into the old "force them to eat it" pattern instead of switching gears to what they probably were more apt to eating. Was a great time fishing with my brother, as usual, even though fishing was a little disappointing and weather was somewhat frustrating (wind tunnel). Stayed around after the end of day two to see Mr. Keltner accept the keys to his new rig which was pretty cool. His retelling of his catch was a hilarious, typical "big fish story" deserving of the new boat. Shout out to Mr. Babler who was kind enough to give me some info and intell WITHOUT provocation and without any skin in the game. He went out of his way to contact me just to lend a helping hand (I needed BOTH and it still didn't help a hack like me). Just a class act and we are lucky to have him here on the boards and patrolling Table Rock in his Phoenix. Thanks again Bill. Second shout out to the overall production of the Big Bass Tour. Although some will gripe about the amount of boat traffic and some unsavory moments on the water, for the most part it is just a fantastic event. I had only one instance of moronic on the water behavior by another boater but that is somewhat to be expected when you have an extra 300+ boats fishing the same body of water on top of locals and non-tourny fishers. The BBT staff is ultra friendly and puts on a great event. All the fish that I saw weighed in were in GREAT shape with plenty of spunk. Did not see nor hear of any fish coming to the scale struggling or dead in the tanks. Always a blast and can't wait til next year. My 3.80 Brothers 3.66 bubble boy brownie (last spot bumped)

That's only when you are on an adrenaline high after a Duke win and you're all pumped up. Fishing over your (ned)head.

They're simpletons Ham. Can't think much beyond a 1/16oz jighead tipped with half a worm. Baby steps, baby steps.

Not your imagination. Lots of anglers looking to get info from the best possible resource come tournament time.

Buck, I would post this over on Bass Boat Central as they have probably 100 times the amount of traffic going to their site than here on Ozark Anglers. Lot of guys that know what they are talking about there. I don't visit there much anymore as it is like the Jerry Springer Show with the nonsense that takes place but there is a lot of knowledgeable folk over there that could steer you right.

This makes 0 sense.

Rock snot might be less apparent this spring as the water lake wide has more color and is dingier. Rock snot I believe it due to super clear water where sunlight can penetrate to the bottom and promote whatever bacteria, algae, photosynthesis, etc. that makes up the "rock snot". Babler and Rock Regulars might be able to comment on the amount of slime this year compared to more TR norm water color years. Two years ago I think was the clearest I've ever seen it and I believe the green menace was also the worst I've ever seen it. Just gobs of the green shower drain hair clumps engulfing any bait contacting the bottom. Like the effort to clean up the lake, waterways and tributaries...hate the green plague.

I am not saying don't share information and certainly don't stop taking pics. Ozark Anglers is probably one of the best resources for fishing information on the web (Thanks Phil!). We have a TON of awesome, awesome contributors. But there is a point where you have to be at least a little discrete and leave a LITTLE to the imagination when sharing stuff on the internet. If you want to give exact points, baits, banks, docks, humps, brush piles fine.....but like RPS said a few post ago expect increased activity on your fishin' spots. Be smart about it is all I'm sayin'.

I will disagree. Just look at how many views are on Alex's thread. As of my typing this it is up to 1,796 views. There are more prying eyes on this forum from non-contributors than you think. They would use that info and probably fish the crap out of his locations just based on the pics. ESPECIALLY this weekend with out of towner's and heck even locals fishing in the KVD Big Bass this weekend. Don't blame him one bit for what he did. Giving people a depth range and if you are nice enough to give a handful of baits that you used is more than generous. Babler, Quill and others go above and beyond. You start showing EXACT locations......might as well just give gps coordinates, tie the lure on for them and cast it out there too.

Well the Big Bass Tournament is this weekend and I believe Alex is fishing it....so I more than get what he is doing by photo shopping the backdrop to his locations.

Was thinking the same thing. If the ingredients and chemicals listed above are the same that are in the fish care products like Rejuvenade and others.

Was wondering how long it takes for a fish to get their "slime coat" back once it has been removed. Found this info on the interweb...so take it for what it's worth but seems like decent info: The slime coat (mucoprotein coating) is the fish's main defenses against infection and disease. It acts as a shield against disease causing organisms in the fish's external environment. It also acts as a barrier to prevent loss of internal electrolytes and body fluids. When even a small portion of the slime coating is removed, the fish will bleed electrolytes from its body into the surrounding water. Essential electrolytes necessary for osmoregulation are lost through breaks that may occur in the skin and slime coat, causing dangerous stress. Open wounds and abrasions caused by handling and netting are readily attacked by disease organisms, resulting in further stress and disease. When a fish is hooked or netted, handled a placed in a stressful situation, such as low oxygen, high carbon dioxide or temperature fluctuations, the slime coating is disturbed, making the fish vulnerable to disease, such as bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases.Particularly when fish are shipped in high concentrations in low volumes of water, they are subject to trauma such as being scraped, bitten and otherwise wounded. Ammonia, a waste product of fish's digestion and respiration, is released into the water containing fish.Ammonia is also released at high levels by dead fish and decaying food.At high ammonia levels, the fish are subject to ammonia burns which disturb the slime coating and adversely affect the fish. Beneath the fish's mucoprotein coating (slime coat) are its scales which can extend to the outer skin surface from the underlying dermal connective tissue. Beneath the scales in a fish's skin is the epidermis, comprising several layers of cells. The fish epidermis is distinguished from mammalian epidermis in that mammals require hardened layers of skin to prevent dehydration, whereas in the aquatic environment, the fish has no need for such protection. Thus, unlike the case in mammals, mitosis is usually seen in the lower layer of the epidermal layer of a fish. Beneath the epidermis of a fish is the dermis comprising fibrous connective tissue interspersed with black pigment cells. The vascular dermal tissue contains a network of capillaries providing nutrient to the skin. Stress is the number one cause of a deteriorated slime coat. Below is a list of some of the sources of stress on a fish. Poor water quality: Poor water quality can really eat away at the slime coat of a fish. This can come from improper pH, salinity, etc..... The main way to avoid this is to do regular (perhaps monthly) water changes. Water temperature: Water temperature is one of the most overlooked problems. While different species of fish require slightly different water temperatures, it is important to make sure that the fluctuations in water temperature are moderate, both throughout the day and year. Water changes: Every time you change the water in you tank, you are adding stress to the fish. This comes from both the water removal process, and the introduction of new water that may contain chlorine and be at a different temperature than the aquarium water. Be particularly cautious when doing larger water changes, and make sure to use de-chlorinator to treat the water. Transportation: Fish do not enjoy traveling. Transporting fish can have a drastic effect on their slime coat, and often can be a nucleating cause of infection. When introducing new fish into your tank, take special care to acclimate the water temperature of the new fish with the aquarium. Netting and Handling of fish: In gathering bait this is the biggest problem you will be faced with. Some don't are Don't over crowd your net or holding tank without proper circulation-filtration-aeration.Don't handle fish / bait anymore than you absolutely have to.When harvesting, Use the proper size and quality of net to prevent the bait / fish from being gilled. How to help your fish get their slime coat back. (1) Aqueous aloe vera gel 5% to about 30% (2) Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (cmc) up to about 7.5 g/l (g/L is an abbreviation for grams per litre : - .0265 oz per .28.16 oz) - mucoprotein slime-replacing compound. (3) Polyvinylpyrrolidone (pvp having the molecular weight of about 40,000 - K-30 available from GAF Corporation) 1.3 to about 25 g/l (0.046 oz / 28.16 oz) - mucoprotein slime-replacing compound . (4) Sodium thiosulfate or asorbic acid 12.5 (.44 oz to 2.12 oz / 28.16 oz) to about 60 g/l - dechlorinator (5) Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) 2 g/l (.07oz / 28.16 oz) - chelating agent. (6) Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane 0.3 to about 1 g/l ( .001 to .035 oz / 28.16 oz) - maintain the pH<>Diazolidinyl urea 1.3 to about 4 g/l (.05oz to 1.4 oz / 28.16 oz) - preservative (7) Aloe vera gel ("VERAGEL 1501") 4 liters (1.057) gallons. (8) Sodium thiosulfate 1400 g (49.38 oz) (9) Carboxymethyl cellulose 100 g. (3.52oz) (10) Polyvinylpyrrolidone 400 g. (14.11) (11) Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 40 g. (1.4 oz) (12) Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane 17 g. ( 0.6 oz) (13) Diazolidinyl urea 80 g. (2.8 oz) deionized water enough to dilute to a total volume of 40 liters (10.6) gallons

I must always catch the ones that have had their brains scrambled after having been slammed off windshield, down the console, then the deck and then coming to a quivering catatonic rest at the bottom of the boat. I would have no chance of catching fish if not for the rip cord pulling monofilament bungee water ejection style boat flippers keeping them stupid for dummies like me.

The "plopper craze" actually didn't kick off until last October after James Watson won the BASS Central Open catching most of his fish on a plopper. After word got out what he (and Clunn) were throwing they really took off and were somewhat hard to find. But like others have said water is still a bit cool for topwater action. Shouldn't have had a problem finding them last April.

Exactly. Can think of a few trips where it was either stupid to try to fish or downright dangerous. One instance a few Aprils back I was fishing in the back of Brushy Creek with my brother in our boat, father and uncle in another, about 75 yards apart. Was probably low 40's air temp and wind came HOWLING straight down the gut like a 44 halfback dive. I mean flag cracking gusts and sustained high winds. Had to tie off to a tree with rope and continued casting for crappie but was useless really as wind would just pull the jig to the surface with the bowed line. Looked over down the bank at the other boat and uncle was laying in the bottom of the boat trying to get out of the wind and elements. He had thrown in the towel and the man hunts in below freezing temps with snow on the ground in tennis shoes. Was just stupid to try to fish in that situation. Another time a front came rolling in as I was pulling in on the bluff end out in front of Moonshine beach. Again, wind speeds picked up to around 20+ mph with gust touching 30ish and within 5 minutes it was whitecap city. This was also in April and I stuck a nice 3lb smallie on a McStick first cast and knew it was going to be good with the current and wind on that point. Made one or two more cast and I had to pull the troller and get out of there. I left them biting as I just couldn't hold the boat and it was dangerous at that point with rollers coming over the troller and bow from the large section of the main lake. Moral of the story sometimes it is just not worth it. Live to fish another day.

Highly doubtful. I am a natural fish repellent. Fish stay clear of my non-fish friendly electromagnetic field. I have my HYPOWAVE® turned on at all times on the bow of my boat.

Shut this thread down. Shut it now.

Wow. What a toad.

Hmmm. I don't know. I've never had that issue with mine. I only throw them on A-Rigs and not as a single/solo bait. Not sure if the rigidity of the A-Rig keeps them running straight even though they are out of tune to where I wouldn't know it.

There is a service that will do it on the lake if he has it in a slip on a hoist. Comes to your dock via boat with all the equipment. Don't know the name but could get it for you if interested. Not sure on price but if you call him Little Trump then that prolly isn't an issue.

Wow. Is that a softshell? That's a nice one. Probably thought you snagged a hubcap coming up from cranking depth.

Keitechs are great but are expensive and tear easy. I myself like the pre-rigged Storm Wildeye Shads. I use the 3" but they have whatever size you want from 2-6" in a wide variety of fish catching colors. They are denser plastic/rubber and are very durable. Also come with a nice stout and sharp hook. I like the pre-rigged aspect as you just pop them out of the pack and onto your snaplock on the A-Rig arm. http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Storm_Wild_Eye_Swim_Shad_Swim_Baits_3pk/descpage-SWE.html

He must have remarried. His son is like 13 and he will be 70 in July as he mentioned on stage. Do the math. Either way good for the old timer showing the young bucks what's up.