D3BPS

It hasn't been so bad since water's low the past few years, but I thought Bull Shoals used to be mismanaged badly. It seemed like the strategy was to keep Table Rock relatively stable and hold as much spring runoff as possible at Bull Shoals. The fish would move up into the flooded brush and rock banks to spawn. Then they'd open her up and drop the lake level rapidly and ruin that year's class. I wasn't down there every year, but it seemed like it happened an awful lot. Are there many White River tributaries that need clean-up efforts? Do you think some of this money will be to try to buy private land to create more public access points?

Since I'm at the Pro Bass I could use the machine any time, but DON'T... I can't believe people pay top dollar for reels and line and then have us wrap it around their spool at 150mph rather than take it home and use the proper care to get ready for fishing. The only way to spool line properly is by placing a pencil between your first and second toes on each foot with the spool spinning on the pencil. For spinning reels have the line come up from under the spool toward the reel and for baitcasters have it come up over the top towards the reel. To keep tension on the line I put a sock on whichever hand I'm not reeling with and pinch the line between my thumb and forefinger. Don't overfill... at LEAST 1/4" from the lip is good. This sounds quirky and crazy, I know... but one of my favorite evenings of the year is when sometime in late winter I bring home my first round of line for the year, get down all the rods from the rack and respool the whole bunch while thinking about all the fish I'm going to try to catch in the upcoming months. The only problem is my toes start to cramp up after about six reels!!!!

I've not had the bigger fish eating my catch, but I have had 2 bluegill and also a bluegill and a smallie both hooked on my Rebel Craws on Jack's Fork. Lots of fun!!!!

I'm sure nobody wants to hear about our associate purchase plan. Also, I would imagine that our friends here don't want this to turn into a Bass Pro commercial spot... I appreciate your enthusiasm but maybe we should just let people know what we have here if they ask us first????? ddd

Not much in the way of smallmouth streams that I've found close to St. Louis, but I don't mind a little drive. My favorite for smallmouth is the Jacks Fork between Bee Bluff and Eminence. The hot summer sun burning my neck and the brownies burning up my Rebel craws or crickhoppers makes for a perfect day.

I'm sorry I haven't made my way here before. Based on my first visit, I knew this was the first web-based group I ever wanted to join. Thanks for what you all have started here. . . I hope I can contribute even a fraction of what I feel I'll be getting out of this.