J-Doc

Seen him in person before huh? (j/k bud)

I think that's his middle name!! LOL!! (Politically Incorrect)

Jolicious?? Looks like one of your custom jobs.

Fishless is always a risk on manybbodies of water. On this lake, it's a higher risk. Lol! It's just tough. I found two groups of stripers last weekend. They would only bite when the sun wasn't out or when it was raining. And they wouldn't bite my live bait or crankbaits. It was a tough and humbling morning. They get locked in on a particular forage and action. Makes it harder to duplicate. No e there are some who are just wizards and can catch fish all the time no matter what but even they struggle to figure out what will get them to bite. So what's it worth to you? A fun time on the water no matter what you catch? Come on up. If looking to fill the cooler only? I'd say look for later in the summer. Maybe next month. When water settles and bite is more stable.

Anywho..... I forgot to mention. Be sure and fish slowly on the shakey head and Ned rig. Try not to feel for the bite. If you feel the bite, don't set the hook instantly or you will probably miss. Let them chew on it for a few seconds and then sweep the rod like a c-rig hookset. Sweep it and keep the tension on them. The Ned rig is fished without feeling the bite. Keep a little slack in the line and watch it. Check for weight on occasion and if you feel anything abnormal, sweep the rod and hang on.

I won't lie. It will be tough. Expect slow bites. If you do well......great! Don't expect a banner day. Just don't want your hopes up. Best thing would be small shakey heads with finesse worms fished slow ONCE YOU FIND FISH. Finding them on main lake points, underwater structure and brushpiles will be good starting points. A Carolina rig would be a good option too. If you're a dynamite crankbaiter, good option also but I'd stick with small finesse plastics for bites. You can catch good sized fish on shakey heads and Ned rigs.

Wait so Dad gets a new boat? Lol! Focusing on college is best.

I saw where the winner was a 19yr old young man. Kudos to him! Glad to see it go to a young guy vs. someone who already has a boat. And didn't need one.

I've had a bass hammer one as I was reeling in the Ned to make another cast. Hammer is the term too. I think it was watching it and didn't like it leaving.

Not I. I found a few yesterday but they would short strike my jigs. Wind was so bad, I struggled to stay on the spot. Was out of time and didn't have time to figure them out. I bet live bait could have helped.

This is for interpretation of screenshots and understanding what you're seeing on the graph. Your issue sounds like something you call the manufacturer about and have them help troubleshoot it. Could be several things. I had a transducer go bad and it created issues like that. A pinched wire inside the black wrapped wire can create havoc. Could he the unit itself but I doubt it. If you know someone with a similar unit, connect to their transducer and see. Hope that helps for what it's worth. These can be hard issues to trace. Sometimes, cleaning the transducer helps, a restart of the unit, etc.

I aim to please. :-)

Southtown Sporting Goods in Fayetteville or Hook Line & Sinker in Rogers (on the way to Prairie Creek). Flickers work best trolling. Not as much casting for some reason but I have caught fish casting them. But as a general rule, they are a trolling bait. Just cast one out and let out some line (like 100ft) and you'll snag something eventually. :-) For bass, use a shakey head. Use a senko type bait about 3-4" long (cut it off so it's no more than 4") and cast it out and let it soak. Don't try to feel it. Just keep an arch in the line and watch for it to swim away. Every few minutes, gently lift to feel the bait and if you feel weight on it or don't feel it at all, sweep the bait like a c-rig to set the hook. Its much like fishing the "Ned rig" but if you don't have the right baits and tackle, a shakey head will work well. I've seen big smallmouth caught doing this.

I'd go Prairie Creek due to the rising water. And the ramp at Monte Ne can be packed with too many boaters or even jambed with floating debris. I live the cove, but I don't think it's a hot spot right now. Then again, I haven't been there in many weeks. I would imagine it's pretty muddy.

If it was only that easy. I live 15mins from the lake and every trip is a new adventure where history can fly out the boat like a forgotten life jacket. Not to be a downer but that's just this lake. It's a conditions lake. Water has been on the rise and floating debris up river so I would stay within a couple miles of the 12 bridge area. Don't venture further than Horseshoe Bend unless you drive carefully and watch for floating logs and debris. Just warning you. Also, crappie have been off I'm told but I'd try docks, main lake coves and such. Sometimes they get on a hump or brush pile on large flats. Be prepared to move around a lot. Once you Mark fish, stick with them to get them to bite. Bass bite has been best offshore on main lake structure. Bank beaters will struggle.

Sorry I was napping.... Is this still going? Lol!

"Brrrrrrrrrrrr!!!" Love that sound. :-) https://youtu.be/AicqBhHvGlA

New fuel lines are supposed to be ethanol tolerant to help stop this. Fishinwrench educated me on this. You can look up the code printed on the side of the hose and verify if it's compliant with EPA and ethanol tolerant. I looked up my fuel line on my new boat and it was indeed ethanol tolerant. Tolerant.......not "full proof" or indestructible. ;-) Thus why I use Stabil and Mercury Fuel System Cleaner every time I put gas in it. And that Mercury Cleaner works good too. Noticeable difference. I also double up with Yamaha ring free additive. Wrench says it's witchhazle and nonsense. I error on the side of caution and I've seen performance differences with and without it.

What problems did you have? Fuel line or seals dry rot?

I use Marine Stabil every fill-up. And I've tried the "ethanol free" route only to find out most stations have ethanol gas even though they think they are free. When E15 comes to town...........look out. Most folks won't see the labels on the pumps and E15 is a sure fire engine killer. HATE ethanol gas...........

Hahahahhahahahaha!!!! In the summer, I would have to yell back, "Thanks dude! That feels much better! It's hot as heck out here!" Of course I'm kidding. Out of respect, I'd fish another dock and let him have his slice of the world. Plenty of water to go around and in all honesty, I don't care. I can fish plenty other spots. If I sunk $300 worth of crappie habitats (which is way over-invested in fishing habitats) I'd probably want anglers off my dock so my kids/grandkids/guests/etc could catch a few fish. We are in fact in a boat and can fish elsewhere quite easily. Not defending the guy but I try to see others perspectives. I know of one dock in particular that is LOADED with fish habitats and typically always has fish on it. I've fished the dock with the owner fishing it also. He didn't care and I asked if he minded........he said "go ahead". Simple communication goes a long ways.

No not fishing.... No boating. Meaning no wakes within 100ft which is the law.

Wow...... That's a slabosaurus!!!

If they are trying to catch people, more power to them as long as they are not sitting in middle of the channel. We need patrol down here bad. When they are around, they will wake you, or just do nothing. Had Water Patrol wake me 2 weeks ago while I was trolling on a main lake point. Drive right over my lines... I respect the water patrol, rangers, sherriff, etc. But they need to enforce the law more on this lake. Way too loose.

Be aware of your surroundings Be respectful of other boaters Don't fly past another boater, they may turn into your path because they are unaware of your course or your very existance Don't wake another boat not on plane and under power or heading Drive on the defensive, not the offensive And for the love of all things fishing...... If boating at night or even before sunrise/sunset TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS!!!! If you're night fishing, sitting on a main lake point, channel, hump, etc. with your lights off, you're a fool. Use your head and be safe. It's not worth the alternative. This couple leaves two young girls behind. Respect other boaters and give them some room. http://wired2fish.scout.com/story/1546123-husband-wife-killed-in-bass-boat-crash?s=537