Whack'emGood

I am itchin' to do some night fishing for bass. We tried it once... about 3 weeks ago... with very meager results. There hasn't been any talk at all lately on the forum. Has anyone been going? I would imagine that with the water temps nearing 80* it would be starting to pick up after dark. Any results/info. would be much appreciated. Thanks, Whack'em

Another great post SKMO. Good stuff. I am primarily a bass fisherman, but I also do go after crappie and an occasional walleye. SKMO is right... with the high water... the bass fishing has been so good and other species so spread out and slow this spring, that everybody has been after the bass primarily. Therefore, thats all you hear about.

Probably because of both water clarity (hard to locate) and lack of population because of competition (for forage) from the huge populations of whites, kentuckies (especially the kentuckies) , and smallies I would guess. I am not a fisheries biologist though, so I don't have a better answer. Also, Stockton is so close and is a top notch crappie lake. I have always thought that most serious crappie anglers go up to Stockton to catch'em. Maybe someone who really knows why will have a better answer for you. I agree with Lilley though... in 2-3 years the crappie population should explode (because of this year's high water spawn) along with the baitfish and all of the other species as well. I figure in 3-4 years you will be able to (relatively) cast anything out into the water nearly anywhere and catch something (including crappie). Probably not quite that easy really, but TR should be choc full of all species. Some really good times are just ahead of us boys. Whack'em

Great. Thank you very much Charles. It is really appreciated. I hope to return the favor sometime. I will pass this info on to my Brother-in-law. I may just go up there with them... sounds like some fun and relaxing fishing. Thanks again! Lance.

Pay attention to SKMO's post... he really knows what he is talking about. Also Babler, House, Prey (focused fishing) or Stone (ozarksfishin) are excellent guides and they may have something to post for you (pay attention to what they say to the T). I usually don't target them because they are so unpredictable and can be anywhere. We sometimes get into them when we fish for blacks... They will just start busting shad out of nowhere. It is key to be in a spot that is choc full of shad thats for sure... they will be around somewhere when that is the case. Could be anywhere on the lake with some depth really. Even right out in the middle. I always have a grub and topwater tied on and ready to fling when they surface within casting range. They are alot of fun for sure... and when you cast to them... HANG ON! Sorry I can not be of much more help. Welcome, and good luck!

What's the best way to get to the Aldrich Bridge from Springfield? My sister and brother-in-law are wanting to take their kids up there and try to catch a few crappie (and maybe some bluegills) from the bank. Any directions/tips/other info. would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance, Whack'em

Yeah, Denjac, that's kind of what I'm thinking. Still, I would like to go try it, but haven't been able to pull the trigger. The fishing has been so good at TR, that I haven't been able to pull myself away. When I finally do end up trying it, I will let y'all know how it goes and what I find out. Whack'em

Bill and Don, Don't let'em get to ya. Anybody who is serious about all of that baloney is full of it. You guys all know each other and can charge whatever your clients are willing to pay. If anybody wants to talk about price fixing (and gouging by the way) they can talk until they are blue in the face about the gas stations. They hike up their prices on a daily basis as a group at will. The bottom line is... when the expenses of any company go up, they are allowed to raise their prices/rates to keep their margins. You guys do what you have to do and everybody else needs to stay out of your business. Thanks, once again, for everything you guys do. Whack'em

I knew I would end up asking a stupid question! My unit is fairly new to me and I didn't even know about the ping speed thing. Thanks alot Don! I will let you know how it goes. Whack'em

Awesome info Mr. House!!! I was posting and you had already replied... This is all amazing (FREE... don't anyone here ever forget this... what great guys these guides are) information. I can't wait to go out and give it a shot. I will try not to bother you, unless I have serious problems with it, but I really appreciate the offer for further help considering how busy you are (thats a good thing) with your paying clients. Now, correct me if I'm wrong-- but these 3 things are in addition to cranking up the ping speed and chart speed... correct? Thanks, Whack'em

Thanks Mr. Stone. I greatly appreciate your time and expertise. Like I was saying, I would love to be able to afford to hire one of you great guides--- but, hopefully, with this information I can figure it out enough to start catching a few. I would like to get started and then, when I can afford to do a guided trip or two, I can learn the fine points and get more tuned in to it. Yes, hopefully Mr. House will give me a few Humminbird-specific tips. That would be great. You guys are great... keep up the good work. Whack'em

Mr Stone, Yeah, I would like to learn to drop shot for sure. If I could afford it, I would book a guided trip tomorrow. I have a question/concern about it though... I have a Humminbird 585c with a trolling motor mounted 'ducer. Is that unit good enough or capable of seeing the action? If so, how should the settings be set up in order to do it... generally. I have heard alot about the Lowrance units-- and, if I had one of those, I could review the forum and probably would be able to set it up pretty good I think... but have not heard much about the Humminbirds. Any suggestions/tips would be much appreciated. Anyone have a Humminbird 585 or similar unit that they use for shotting? Also, do you have to be able to see them to make it work, or could I just go out there on a point and drop it down and try to get bit? I would like to think I am a pretty fair fisherman, but I am a total novice with the drop shot. Thanks, Whack'em

Justice is served... in the form of a ruined vacation and a new prop costing hundreds of dollars!!!!! Way to handle it professionally Eric. It is they that are the uncivil and unruly. Us fisherman are just out trying to have some good clean fun and not bother anyone. Would like to give'em a whoopin and take out some frustration on their heads... but I guess a guy just can't (shouldn't) do that.

Thanks lymore. I agree that we need to keep a topic about night fishing going. I, for one, am very interested in night fishing. It is really my passion... for whatever reason, I enjoy night fishing much more than any day fishing. We went Saturday and fished the afternoon and about an hour and a half after dark to try it for the first time this year. We caught 4 before dark, then I caught one really nice SJ about 30 minutes after dark on a jig. We fished for about another hour after that with nothing before we decided to call it a night. I am hoping it will pick up substantially soon. Thanks again. Please keep the night reports coming fellas. Whack'em

You're right. Its not as fun when there's no challenge to it. There's a happy medium in there somewhere. Its the best when you're fishing the lake... working at it to figure out the pattern... and then you finally get into them good. That is satisfying.

Nice report Tom... thanks! Congrats to you and your brother. Way to take the pattern and execute! Its nice to hear y'all had a good time and caught a bunch.

Thats true Trav... Thanks for the vote of confidence.... I wonder how long it has been since Bill Dance has had a bad day though??? Fishing those private waters he fishes on t.v. and catching 5 pounder after 5 pounder... I'll bet he has forgotten the last bad day he had years ago. Don't you wish you could get paid for making those shows and catchin em like he does!!!?????? Now that's the life!!

Good post CB... all good points. I just wish I could catch more fish!!! .... maybe I just need to get better. That might help!!

Thanks for the report. I can't catch them now either. Fished Saturday afternoon (after all of the Tournaments got off and weren't crowding up the lake anymore) in the KC area. We caught a few shorts and a few keepers, but alot of fish were following the grub all the way back to the boat but not eating it. ????????????????? We didn't know what to do, but just keep throwing and changing speeds and such. It didn't get any better. It seems like they just aren't interested in eating right now. Or maybe they were shellshocked after all of the grubs that they got thrown at them by the Tournament guys all day before we got there?????? Or maybe all of the active fish had been caught and dragged up to the scales already. Anyway, all bites (when they decided to bite--instead of just following) were very light. We fished points and insides of points in spawning coves. Hope my 2 cents helps. (didn't) Whack'em

Now thats a good, sensible post Trav. Maybe the MDC should sit down and talk to you for awhile... They might learn something.

Thanks Mr. B. I will try the points like I have been fishing in the KC area and go from there. I will report what I find. Good luck on the water. Whack'em

Nobody out there has any current info about this area of the lake that they would be willing to share? Please????

We were thinking about going up to Big M tomorrow afternoon/evening to try it. Have been fishing the Kimberling area all spring and haven't been up there yet. Has anyone fished that area lately? Has anyone evening/night fished up there lately? Any results, general patterns, general info would be much appreciated. How's it looking (water color, temp and such)? Thanks in advance for any help. Whack'em

That's why I don't ever fish a tourney as the non-boater... Most guys treat you like a second-class citizen. I've heard Babler talk about having his less skilled clients drag carolina rigs behind the boat with some success lately... also, dragging a split shot rig. Especially if your boater is beating the brush. Not to say that you are less skilled... But if you are stuck in the back of the boat with nowhere to cast... I would think you could have a chance to pick up some nice ones doing that, as opposed to trying to compete for casts with the inconsiderate guy in the front. That is, unless you get lucky, and get a guy that is not inconsiderate and allows you to cast at some good targets. Maybe someone else has a better idea... but I think you should consider dragging the rig. Good luck.

Thanks, as always, for the report. Amen on the bed issue Marty. Everybody, please, do not target spawners. If you catch them off the bed, the eggs have no chance!!!! If we preserve the spawn, we will preserve the population of fish... Then we can all enjoy catchin' them in the future.