tapout

My wife caught a 8lb at least - no scale (25 inches and thick) - LM on a redfin near KC. I was fishing deep and she kept asking me to go over to the bank so I finally did and well.... her redfin got slurped and just took off down the bank. I had to troll over to the submerged limb and reach about two feet deep to lip the bass as it had wrapped her up good in the limb. The hook was bent and hanging in the outside of the lip by one barb, had the bass shook once more I'm sure it would of swam free but it tuckered out and just waited for us. I still have to listen to her brag about how I should listen to her when she wants to go fish shallow. It was awesome. Only thing better than me catchin a toad is my wife or kids catchin one. I

Nice! Work with what God gives you - in this case, dinner. thanks for sharing as to date I haven't found whites in abundance. It gives me hope.

Wrench, I appreciate your two cents. Since I don't know much, as a DIYer, I really thank you, and others like you, that do know and are willing to share. Thanks.

8.5 crappie rod works fine for me. I'm sure a little more distance could be gained with a 10, but my 18 foot boat is always crowded so 8.5 will do. Punisher and homemade jigs are my choice in 1/16 oz, don't rember name of the color but gray with red and or chartruese. I use the three way swivel cause thats how I was taught, but I imagine it works without. foam weighted bobbers work for me. The jig just needs to be heavy enough or bobber small enough to hold the bobber vertical. Most of the strikes - the bobber lays over horizontal, rarely does it to under so it requires focus. 2 years ago it was great. Last year not so much. I don't have enough experience with fnf to know why cause I hit the same bluffends the same time of year. I'll try again this year but given the inconvenience of the rig and the slow approach required, it's not for everyone and the verdict is still out on whether it's for me.

Hee Haw - thats going back a few. I like it. Andy's Red is sooooo good, I don't even cut the red meat out of whites. Just andy's red on a regular filet. Nobody round my house complains. Maybe we like the fishy taste.

Closing lake access really stinks for home owners in the area. I mean buying a house near a lake access only to be told now you have to drive 10 miles to another coe ramp, sucks. Happened to my in'laws down renfrow road. Of course rif-raff was trashing the shore line so coe blocked the access for all (they blocked the road at the take line), ultimately punishing the residents that bought property for that access. Ironically the residents were the ones complaining about the trash. I don't think that was the answer they were looking for. Economically, I can see repurposing the land, but they should leave a small parking lot with a ramp for the public.

Yes, thanks Bill. I have learned a lot from you on this forum. I hope you're Guide and BandB are as busy and profitable as you want them to be. You definately work hard for it.

Very good report. When it works it works. My night fishing has been painful this last month.

Good topic. 135 Merc Opti. As for the ethanol. I burn maybe three tanks of gas per year. I went through three water/fuel separator filters in the last year. I drained the tank this May and used in my lawn mower. Ethanol does collect water when sitting so I decided to put the non-ethanol (premium) in now and rarely put more than a half a tank in. Maybe it's bunk but the filter is still working so I'm going with it. I've been fishing once a week. Ozark to Shell Knob runs me about $30 in the truck (depending on whether or not the oil companies bump or reduce the price but, around $3.50/gallon). I boat very little and at low rpm's so I'm speculating 2 gallons, or $8 (premium), in boat fuel. One+ gallons of oil lasts me all year so roughly $20. I won't bother to calculate the oil. So for the last month I've spent $152 on fuel alone. Paltry compared to $2,xxx. And on my budget I'm actually feeling bad spending that much per month. Like Champ mentioned, adding in snacks, drinks, and terminal tackle, I don't want to think about it. Now I'm suddenly thinking my kids need shoes and school supplies so I may have to curtail the trips to one in august. Nah. I do remember $1 .50 gas when I bought my first boat, (also a 135hp) oddly my income was the same, and being able to go for $25 total, and run the boat to death. Electric bills that were $100. Ha. No more. Try $280+. Home phone and cell phone was $100. Try $340 for cell phones (four of them), satellite, and internet. I'm careful and probably go fishing half as often as I did 10 years ago. I sound like my Dad now, but I do believe the economy is bad and we just have to adapt cause I don't believe were going to see any major relief. That Kayak idea on the roof of an S-10 is sounding better and better. (of course I'd also vote to shut off the satellite and cellular phones but I'd be a minority in the house) Sorry, TMI, and no sympathy needed as we have choices and choose to live a certain life style however foolish it may be, including owning a bass boat.

Opportunity plus desire leads to crime. Some criminals are very driven, some are more oppurtunitstic. (A small percent of theives cannot be stopped, but most can.) A dark, unoccupied dock, with thousands and thousands of dollars on it. Please light it up. (I see way, way more dark docks than bright docks). Post signs that you use video surveillance. Use your imagination. Little electric timers from the hardware store are so cheap and you can have a radio come on periodically, etc. etc. And don't leave items of value. If I leave my brand new zero turn mower out by the highway overnight, it's not my fault that it's gone in the morning, but it was a pretty bad idea to leave it there and I should not act suprised. I do sympathize with folks that get hit, but please put some effort into prevention and you will eliminate a majority of the thieves. If you can't risk the last few theives that might still work past your prevention efforts, then don't leave a boat in a boat slip overnight.

I started making my own jigs several years back so I wouldn't sweat loosing them. It costs me about 80 cents a jig. It's fun and kind of a pride thing catching them on your own creation. Sometimes one lasts a whole day but usually I lose several and sometimes at night, I lose alot. Thanks for the information. I'm am definately going to get out and try the tree top thing. My DS just isn't cutting it. I caught lots of LM under docks this week on the DS around Kennel branch. Suprised me a little as usually I'm catching K's off docks this time of year. Fished every day so far this week and caught a 3+ LM under walkway each day but otherwise just a few keeper K's and mostly dinks. Nothing to brag about just a little different than my usual and thought I'd share.

Bummer. Well it was good while it lasted. Sunday my son n law, wife, and I caught fish all day on the fin. I'm glad we got in on the tail end of the top water action.

pm sent

That one makes up for a two day slump. Nice fish.

That's what I'm talkin about!

Well I had this long post fully of comedy and emotion planned. But it's time to make the donuts. I took my wife and two of my kids, 10 and 7, and caught 40 plus bass. No Whites; despite being within sight of point 5 all day where Babler ripped em for two hours (*odd). Great day. 12 keepers, mostly K's 16 and 17 inch. I didn't fish much; but I re-tied two dozen times and lost two dozen jig heads and went through three packs of yamamoto grubs and my thumbs are sore. It was awesome. However; to do it day after day after day, you guides earn your money. *(It's not actually odd, I'm being sarcastic on my own inability to find them a half mile away.)

Was down saturday across from the state park and even with rain dimpling the water I was sitting in 18' fow and could see the individual pebbles on the bottom. I was also astonished at the numbers of fish we saw. Lots of smaller males waiting for a few warm days. Didn't catch any size in the 3 hours I was down but #'s were not a problem. I don't recall seeing the water this clear, but according to my wife my memory and hearing is very selective. hmm.

When you mention the heavier / more loaded - the better / faster it runs.....????. That said I'd be lowering the motor on the jack plate all the way and start working 1 turn at a time back up. Make sure the boat is loaded just like you will have it loaded when you expect peak performance. It can be really frustrating (like "I'm selling this @$% of @#$^ thing!") finding the height / prop combo. I can't imagine what I'd say if I was having to purchase new props regularly. Good luck. In fact, disregard my advise as I don't want to add to your frustration. I'm frustrated just thinking about it.

I agree and thanks for sharing your sentiment. Great job in the tourny. Spending time with our kids is awesome and has a positive impact on all things in life for both the adult and the youngen. I understand when someone doesn't want to share what their catching them on, but I'm soooo appreciative of those that do share. My sons like to go fishing but they also like video games so I occassionally grab a controller and play with them cause I love it when they toss on a life jacket, grab a reel, and hang with me.

Thanks Duck. I was heading down thursday without a plan, so the new Duck inspired plan includes redfins and blades. (No pressure I'll take other junk too incase they change their mind as they so often do)

I have a large ziploc bag full of old bass jigs (Roughly 50). Most skirts are faded and the rubber collars are deteriating. A few are still good to go as is. Some of them have rattles on them. Mostly 1/2 and 3/4 ounce variety with heavy weed guards. They are flipping or arky style heads. I came into about 5 bags of these jigs a while back. I refurbished all I want. I re-tied the ones with good skirts and replaced some of the skirts but I'm jigged out. I have five 360 tackle boxes full of them so I'm pretty sure I won't need another bass jig for the next 10 years. Anybody on a budget message me and you can pick them up for FREE in Ozark. You can also rip the skirts off and use them on hula grubs or whatever. I just hate to toss them cause the hooks are still sharp and 90% of them have never touched the water. Just faded. If you're young and poor and just scraping by but love to fish I will probaly also dig up some soft plastics for you you. I'm over tackled and my friends by new stuff so I'm ready to thin it out a tad.

I second the Shepherd of the Hills outdoor theatre. Good show with some awesome history mixed in and it starts late (so you can fish till early evening) and easy to get to it from KC. I also think College of the Ozarks is just super impressive. Not just the grounds but the history and example they set. And it's free to visit. Their restaraunt is allegedly good but I think quite pricey. The Dewey Short visitor center and the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery are free (I think) and very nice. And you really can't go wrong with The Landing one evening. It's just a glorified outdoor shopping area but well done. Silver Dollar City is still great if you haven't been. As for the steak IDK but share your feedback if you find a one you like.

I fished around Joe Bald yesterday and I caught several smallies and K's on tubes, unfortunately no size, but catching fish none the less. I caught em on flat gravel points in 12 fow and around docks in 8 fow. Couldn't tell you where their bigger siblings were. All the fish I caught were skinny but no bloody tails so I assume males yet to spawn. Water clarity maybe 5 feet and 69 degrees. Good luck to ya.

Bill, Very well said bout a-rig. Your unbiased, experienced reasoning is refreshing. Thanks. dtrs5kprs, I tried float and fly in same places I was catching them on last year, and this year nuttin!

I got out Friday with my wife from 10am till 2pm. Fished point 11 to campers point. Caught 6 or 7 mostly K's with one LM on a blade. No keepers. It was windy and my boat skills are fair at best so kept it relatively brief. We managed 7 whites. I believe if I could of held the boat in one spot we could of limited on whites, but then again cleaning 7 at a time is fine by me.