edwin

are you certain the transducer was aligned correctly? I've found that they're pretty sensitive to the direction they're shooting...ie, you need to ensure that your spoon is in the same place the transducer is shooting. I would also lighten up the sensitivity...no need for it to be that high IMHO when it's set up right (at least with my LCX 37c)

Well done, especially after the fight it put up!

If BPS is your style, the Johnny Morris Signature reel is on sale today for $80.00 http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Johnny-Morris-Signature-Series-Baitcast-Reel/product/90567/-1527920?om_rid=Br54Zu&om_mid=_BM9PIJB8V7-RH$ I much prefer my Shimano reels, but I do have one like the one in the link and it's a major improvement over the old JM Signature reels.

I like the Chompers 4" tubes...always thrown on a tube jig head.

BB is a class act for certain!

I have no issue with folks fishing my dock...but chucking a 3/4oz jig into the transom of the boats is another story. 75% of the fishermen are very courteous, but we have regular 'discussions' with those that either need to refine their flip / pitch technique or have general disregard for others property. I watched one PAA pro catch one on a spoon, had it fall off as he was hoisting it to the boat. The fish landed on our swim dock. He was polite when asking if I could pick it up and toss it back. I welcome folks like that, even offer them a cold beverage too.

I had some decent success yesterday am with the Norman Top Dollar. I caught plenty of fish on it, and the stock hooks that come on em are pretty good and sharp too...not Deathtrap sharp, but pretty close to it. One thing I noticed is that I couldn't throw it quite as far as a Sammy. All things considered, the Top Dollar is a great lure especially for the price.

Yessir...magic yellow is a popper type topwater. Pretty similar to a Pop-R with a much nicer finish.

Great time today Bill...first rate trip for sure. Too bad the Merc had other plans as I was able to get back on the topwater bite for a good part of the afternoon. Hope they got you back up and running.

I buy the Daiichi treble hooks at http://lurepartsonline.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=280 $3.30 for 10 hooks.

Take care...thoughts are with you and Champ. Tough last 12 month for you guys.

Ozarks Bait & Tackle is exactly what you're looking for. Great peeps, always up for some BS'ing...clean, well stocked, and a decent amount of foot traffic thru there.

I've never had any luck catching fish from the couch...get on out there!

I'd concur 100% - once the fog lifted and the skies cleared, the bite completely went away. I only caught a handful of fish after 9am.

I had marginal luck at best on Mon, Tues...today was a much better day. We skunked on bluff ends, 45 deg banks on points, etc. Went to shallow (fish in 4-8') gravel points up the James a bit, ended up catching 42 fish before 0730. First 4 casts on the Sammy produced 5 fish (first for me to have two keeps on one smallish topwater), the jointed redfin really started working around 0615. I took my Dad with me today...he gets out fishing about once every 10 years, and is way more into catching than fishing. Once I found the fish, he'd reel one up to the boat, I'd take the rod / fish from him, and give him another rod. As the fog started to break, we switched to the super fluke in pearl white and watermelon green...really worked great. Was great to see my Dad catch the biggest bass of his life, it really hit the 'fin pretty hard. It was as good of a 90 min period as I could have asked for. After 15 mins of unproductive fishing, he was ready for another cup of coffee and Fox News...had my Dad back to the dock by 0815 and went back out solo. I followed the fog and kept the same shallow gravel points. The fish had moved a bit deeper but most were still in the 12-17' range. Again, redfin and fluke worked best. Even rigged up the Eric Prey 'greedy rig' and caught a double on my second cast. Drove home to STL this afternoon, back to the lake this weekend with my wife and kids. Hope to get the kids on the same pattern!

Being back-boated can make for a really long day. I recall a few days like you mention at LOZ when working dock after dock after dock...not fun IMHO. My only real answer is to be the guy in the front of the boat.

We were catching 20-25 fish per morning this past weekend on top water. Of all the fish, only a couple of the strikes came within 20' of the shore. Most times the boat was in 25-35' of water, over gradual points / banks. nearly all the strikes came when the bait was about 1/2 way back to the boat. Redfin outproduced the Sammy 3-1

Wanted to pass along that the folks at Denny Dennis in Fenton, MO are having a customer appreciation sale thru Saturday. All fishing equipment - rods, reels (including Shimano), combo's, tackle, etc. are 20% off. They had a great selection as of last night...

Well, I was out all day last Saturday, often in the pouring rain...got a good opportunity to wet-test my Symetre. Happy to report that even after hours in one of the wickedest storms I've fished thru, the Symetre worked like a champ. No complaints here at all.

Wanted to close this out. I truly appreciate the help on the rod suggestions. It didn't work out to get to a Falcon dealer, so I picked up a St Croix Avid 6'6" MH. Nice rod for sure...but it's definitely on the stiffer side of MH. Since this trip, I've picked up a Cara T7 Finesse Jig Rod with split handle and a Cara T7 6'6" "All Around Cast". IMHO, the Falcons are definitely more my style. They're super sensitive, the handles are fantastic, and they seem like a really solid rod. I like the Jig Rod so much that I went and bought a Calais for it tonight...what a combo! Thanks again, edwin

As for a guide, I've hired both Don House and Eric Prey...highly recommend either of them. They'll certainly put you fish... Similar to techno's comments, Mr. Babler will be getting my $$$ for my next guided trip.

Got mine on my Merc, hanging on the back of a red / silver BassCat. I have an ice cold beer in the cooler for the first person to come over and introduce themselves from OA!

We got down to TR late this afternoon, took the girls out for a couple this evening after the rain quit. No idea how many fish we could have caught if they could have kept the grubs off the bottom. Highlight of the evening was both of them hooking up with a couple solid smallies. The Zebco Omega's drags were singing!!!

I add a small swivel about 12"-16" above the hook to help eliminate some of the line twist

Funny you mention the pressure...never seen anything like it in Aunts Creek. I was back in the area for a bit this am, had two boats on each point for the cove, a pontoon trolling back and forth in the middle, and a few boats working the banks in and out of the cove...crazy! Tight lines