Whack'emGood

KCAngler, Whatever you decide to do will be fine either way. Even if they all catch'em really well like you say they will, it won't affect the fishing. There are so may bass in TR that even if they caught 30,000 bass, you would barely even notice it (if at all). Sure, there will be a some spots that get beat pretty hard for 4 days, and then won't be good for a few days afterward. However, there are so many places that hold fish that there will be plenty of catching for guys like us-- whether we fish during or immediately after the tourney. Think of it this way... there are probably at least 5,000 (just throwing out a number...) decent or better "fishin holes" on TR where you can have a chance to pick up at least a fish or two on any given day or time. There are only 200 boats in the tourney... they can't cover all of those holes at once!! Also, after the weigh ins, they will use a release boat to release the fish. They will spread them out throughout the lake. There are so many bass in TR that it would boggle the mind, and at any given time, a bunch of them are catchable!! When you get here (whenever you decide to come down) go out there and get'em!!! You will do fine. Good luck! Whack'em

The FLW Stren Series Championship is fishing out of State Park Marina from 11-5 to 11-8. It is gonna be 200 boats for four days. Not good news to me, but it shouldn't hurt the fishing. There are so many places to catch'em on TR that there will never be a time when there aren't a bunch of good open spots that hold fish. Welcome down KCANGLER, and good luck! Keep a close eye on the forum as it gets closer to your trip! Whack'em

The bass will be fine. Tourneys really don't affect them enough to notice. They're used to it-- and it's a big lake. Plenty of bass for everyone to catch at all times. And... they will be biting good when you get here... you can count on it! Whack'em

No bass report? It's one of the best times of the year to catch'em!

I will be praying for Mrs. Champ as well. My hat is off to her for being so brave about the situation. God Bless you both. Whack'em

Amen. Sorry for your loss... That was a nice tribute... and you are so right about fishing. It's not just about catching. God Bless You Marty.

BRBF-- The surface temp was 78* Friday night, and I would think it has dropped another degree or two since then... In my experience this year, it topped out at 93* (which is about normal for late summer), but has dropped considerably since then. This rain we have coming might drop it another 3 or 4 degrees (I'm guessing)... They will soon start schooling for Fall and moving up to stage and then (later) move up into the creeks. This is when you can really catch them. This winter, they will move deep and pretty much sit down there and wait for Spring. Then, in the Spring (when water temps near 60*) they will start moving up again and thinking about spawning. Then we will all catch them really good again. Then, after they spawn, they will move back out to their staging spots again... then move back deep for Summer. This year the conditions weren't exactly traditional, and it was a little odd and a little tougher to figure out (because of all of the extra water). You said that everything won't return to normal until late '09-- I think that everything will actually return to normal this Fall. That is my short summary version. There are alot of other guys on here that can explain it in better detail than I can. Someone will surely give more and better detail. Whack'em

BRBF- There should be TONS more topwater talk than what you have found. There are a few guys that fish topwater alot-- and are good fisherman. Their names, specifically, escape me... Sorry I can't help with more specific info... Look for their posts. They are there somewhere. Nobody has been posting good results lately on topwater though. Whack'em --- rps, SKMO, Crappie5 are a few that have reported on Topwater and are good fishermen... look for their posts.

I found some more specific directions.......... From Branson West/Junction Highway 76, 3.9 miles south on Highway 13, then then 2.7 miles west on Highway OO. You're Welcome.

From Branson West-- go South on Hwy 13 (toward Kimberling City) just a couple of miles and turn right when you see the sign. You can't miss it. If you see the sign to turn right to go to Joe Bald, you have gone too far. After you turn, follow the signs down to the launch ramp. I can't remember the names of the roads... sorry. Good luck in the tourney. Whack'em

Way to go HC! Looks like you had a great time and did well. You also got the privelige of learning from one of the best (Capt Don). Take that knowledge and stash it away to use for next time. I enjoyed reading about your trip. It is always nice to hear about a great family vacation. Come back and see us soon! Whack'em

Don- Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I guess they have just gone deep. That's what I figured too, but usually we are able to catch them all Summer at night. Generally, late in the Summer we catch them about 25 feet deep at night-- as opposed to catching them 15 feet deep earlier in the summer at night. Not this year... They had been relatively really shallow up until the drop in water temp (at about that same time they stopped running water to get the lake down to normal also). I suspected they had gone deep and relatively inactive as well, but I was hoping to hear something else from you. You have confirmed what I had feared. I guess we will have to wait until they move up and get into the Fall pattern. I am looking forward to some Fall fishing when everyone can start whackin'em again!! In the meantime, I guess we will just have to put up with a whole bunch of mean and fiesty smallies!!! Sad isn't it?!! ... not really! Whack'em

Hey guys. We have been having a heckuva time trying to catch even a single LM lately. We have strictly been going night fishing, but we haven't caught a single LM (even a small one) for the last 3+ weeks (since the water temperature dropped 12 degrees in 5 days). During this time we have gone 7 times and we have been catching a ton of Smallies (none bigger than 2.5lbs though) and a few KY mixed in-- which, normally I would have no complaint... but, we are looking for a few big uns, and would like to get ahold of a few big LM. Like I said, I generally don't mind catching 2 to 2.5lb Smallies, but would like to have a chance at some 3 to 5lb+ fish. We have been fishing from KC to a little way up into both the James and White from where they meet. Has anybody else run into this quagmire, or is it just us? Has anybody been catching any LM? Does anybody have a theory on why all of a sudden they have disappeared? We were catching alot of LM (and big ones) and now zero. It doesn't make sense at all to me, unless it is just this weather pattern we have been having. Are they just inactive or have they changed locations? We have tried everything we can think of. It is about to drive us crazy. Any tips/ideas would be much appreciated. Whack'em

Interesting and informative article Denjac. Good job on finding it. It makes sense to me. It seems there will be both negative and positive effects of all of this rain we have had-- but I agree with KevinKirk... the positives will greatly outweigh the negatives for the fishery. The spawn had to be excellent this year, for all species. The fishing has been good on TR, no doubt, but I think even better fishing is just a few years away. Good times are ahead boys!! Whack'em

Check this out. My Neice (on my wife's side) down in Texas caught a 50lb Black Drum on a Barbie Rod awhile back. http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/kho...sh.477f31f.html I think her dad (Kirk) might have helped her a little to land it though. Amazing! Whack'em

We have found the same thing Jaybird-- most of our fish have looked extra healthy... and I don't have a problem catching a bunch of Smallies either ... Unless I'm in a tournament. Smallies will almost never win a tourney (especially a night tourney) on TR. Gotta get some big LM in that case!!! Those Herons are alot like Trav... they love that farm fresh trout! Whack'em

I wonder if the MDC would have the answer. Does anyone know anybody there? I guess anybody could just call though.

That type of stuff got really bad at LOZ a couple of years back. We were catching fish that were covered with sores... and nearly every fish we caught had at least a few on them. I don't think it is really hard on the fish (I hope not)-- just a nuisance for them. We have been catching alot of fish all Summer long on TR and haven't noticed any of that ourselves. Maybe it's just that particular area of the lake that has the problem. Whack'em

Give it a shot. Tell them it's "Fishing Elbow"!! Thanks for the report guys. Looked like a good, fun day. Way to go. Whack'em

Thanks for the reports guys. Nice fish Redbud- those are a couple of dandies. Way to go! Whack'em

Wow. That's a big sack! Nice job boys. Bob-- It looks like you finally snuck in there for second... Way to go! Whack'em

That means alot S&M... Thanks. Its easy to be positive though when you get to talk fishing with the great members of this forum... There's nothing better!

Way to go 4fishys!! Well said... you are right. It is fun to get out of your comfort zone sometimes and try something new. It is currently an ongoing process for me on learning the drop shot. I got some great help on here from Mr. House and Mr. Stone, among others-- enough good info to get me started. I have had limited success in limited time doing it so far (have been spending all of my hours on the water night fishing this summer instead)... but I will eventually get enough time doing it to improve. It is definitely fun and exciting learning something new though. Glad to hear you did well-- nice job for sure for a first time on TR in the Summertime. Come back and see us soon! Whack'em

Top notch report from a top notch guy. Thanks, as always, Bob. Me and dad won our weekley TR Mill Creek Night Tourney last week. We are hoping to make it up there soon to fish with you guys on Thursday Nights. Until then... good luck! Whack'em

Yep. My whole life... My dad's family is from AR. Wooo Pig Sooooey!!!