steveearle

Can someone give me the quick rundown...I couldn't find it in the search feature....Specifically the top half...what are you using for the 20lb./large section? Thanks in advance.

Lawn mower cord from a hardware store will work, as well..

I grew up near the Miss River...I thought it was every lock and dam there that had catfish bigger than the divers.

Spring 2000, I came down for a couple of tourneys and it was 899.9 when I left here...Brutal, as it followed the '98-'99 fish kill. Every tourney seemed took like 15lbs of spots to win...

Couple of things...I'm not in agreement, but have no proof, so I won't argue...but..The first things is, they were not on beds during the Elites..With the cold winter, they were still a ways off...but speaking of...I am somewhat convinced (although I am not sure why), that this winter had something to do with it...maybe.....the reason I say that, is that I fish Lake of the Ozarks quite a bit, and the fishing has been "off" in a lot of respects, this year...The winter weights were down somewhat, and the A-rig played hardly at all...The early Arpil funk was very weird..the spawn bite was somewhat normal, but hey, its the spawn..The post spawn/predictable deep-ish bite was also not very good at all...Just "off" is the best way to describe it..

Hammering a blade flat will give it more thump as well...although I've only done it with willow blades

Thanks fir the heads up...and that sounds like a good story...

Thanks for the head's up. I was concerned and may just pull it out and park it...They claimed its "secure" but I was skeptical..

Thank you everyone for all of the recommendations...After calling a lot of places, I ended up booking 3 nights at Villages of Indian Pointe...I was left with very few choices trying to book a late July trip in late June. Thank you all..

I've been coming to the lake since I could walk and did the resort thing back in the 80s..recently have either stayed with family in No. Arkansas or got a larger condo with the extended family..so...looking to come down with my girlfriend, my 2 kids, her 2 kids (all ages 4-9), and the Phoenix 721 in tow...before you tell me I'm crazy to make the trip, I'm looking for a resort recommendation..on the water, preferably in a cove, and on the eastern half of the lake, if possible. Kimberling, Indian Creek, dam, Long Creek, etc...trying to avoid the Campbell Point, Shell Knob, viola, upper white area, based on travel time from the St. Louis area. Thank you...

I've stayed there that time of year...You can find some drop shot fish without wandering too far, including the docks in the cove

Hey Bill--Have you figured out a favorite Keitech color...I have quite a few but its always somewhat of a crap shoot when you order judging by a website pic....TN shad, Bluegill Flash, Silver Flash Minnow..??

If you move around enough the numbers are as stupid as the size. Its the most tightly bunched I have ever seen them, in places. We landed 52, 11-13 inchers off a 15 yd stretch 2 Fridays ago..its as good as I've ever seen it.

You can also wrap the spool with "plumbers" tape..will take less of the line capacity away and still give the braid something to dig in to.

There are 3 deep cranking sticks that I have used a bunch (mostly at LOZ) over the last 7 or 8 years, I guess...In order, from softest to most powerful... Shimano Cumara (Reaction) 7'11" MH-F (came action as the Crucial listed earlier in the post)... Dobyns Champion 805 CB RM (My currrect deep cranking stick) St. Croix Legend Tournament Magnum Cranker 7'10" Hvy.-Mod (Kind of a beast but awesome for maximizing casting distance with these 1 oz.-ish baits).. Feel free to PM me is you have any questions about any of the 3...

I'm glad it worked out Bill. This was my referral that I asked you about via IM when they booked and we had some confusion...I think your wife took the reservation and hadn't told you yet..LOL. Thanks for making me look good. John and I are co-workers (sales)...him in Chicago and myself in st. Louis.

I like the Buckeye Wake Up as well. Caught my PB smallie (4lb 14 oz) down there on it the day before the Easter weekend record flood a couple of years ago.

I'd highly recommend adding blades as opposed to cutting the arms off. It seems like the more blades/baits you have, the better...if you don't want to add the pull of a #4 willow, downsize to a 3. The extra hardware won't hurt..but I don't have near the confidence with a 3 arm bait...just my $.02..

I am a fan of willow blades on the "open' arms, however, a Hitchhiker is a very good option for the dummy baits

Not trying to be a jerk, and not saying its not a nice rod, but the Cara/McClelland stick isn't under 2 oz. Not dogging this rod...there is not a casting rod on the market that appoaches that number.

Shuffield was throwing the Swimming Frenzy...It actually comes in 3 sizes...micro, mini, and swimmin (full size) and in a variety of 3, 4 and 5 wire configuations. I like the RI Little Dipper...The Keitech is a great bait, and the Swimming fluke works well and is probably the easiest to find.

It is variable from waterway to waterway. There is acutally no length limit on the Miss River and its 8 walleye limit per person (only body of water with these regs). State limit is 4 fish and was reduced from 18" to 15" back in about 2000, I believe, with the 18" limit waters still as follows (from MDC website): Bull Shoals Lake and its tributaries, Current River and its tributaries, Eleven Point River and its tributaries, Long Branch Lake, Norfork Lake and its tributaries, Table Rock Lake and its tributaries, Wappapello Lake and its tributaries, including the St. Francis River and its tributaries above Wappapello Dam.

Here's the deal. The fish in Table Rock spawn, say 3-20 feet deep, depending on the year. If you are ever fishing the Rock in water, 60-68 degrees, give or take, you are going to catch fish on beds, REGARDLESS of whether you can see them or not. We could always do like the libs in the north and northeast do, and close bass fishing til June 1st. Hows that sound? BTW, a nest can be ravaged even if you immediately release the fish you catch. Time and time again, studies have shown that spawn fishing doesnt not significantly affect year over year recruitment.

.......Now, if we want to have the conversation about the "pleasure boaters" who have no manners, no experience, no regard for safety, no appreciation for the dangers of big water, and 100% ignorance of all boating laws....... then I'm in.

Bill-- Usually truly enjoy your posts, and maybe I have it wrong, but aren't the guiding and lodging industry kept healthy by folks with good paying jobs, disposable income, vacation time and many times payed for by profitable corporations. If we had no well-off people that liked to bass fish, wouldn't certain businesses shrivel up and die? We want enough fisherman to fill the year's schedule, but not enough to beat us to our favorite fishing hole or disturb, what is perceived as, our own personal playground?? I'm kind of confused.