J-Doc

Are you fun fishing? I am debating on getting up there sometime. Not sure when yet. The floatilla of spectators will be pretty massive. Not Bassmaster Classic......but large none the less.

Second this from personal experience. I've also seen these work in his boat so I know the colors he's stating works. I Peal White (gray back, white side/belly) are the best go-to's) for cleaer water and above 20ft. Some days the bloody white will work better and some days anything sexy shad will work better. Just have to experiment. I've gotten to where I'm trolling one color on one side and another color on the other and letting fish tell me which one they want more. Then I'll tie on a pair and whack em!

C and thank you! (I do like D as well but I totally agree for your reasoning for C as it is already in use currently)

I got a small Plano box for my Skunkworks baits just last night. I want to keep them separate and know that when I'm tying one on. I will most definitely post pics of what they catch. Problem is, I gotta quit playing with crappie and stripers first. :-) The standup jigheads are great. I threw on a craw bait and it would swim back under a dock when flipped into a dock. You had to hit it at the right angle but it would swim back and under. I do think they would work better with a wire weed guard though vs. the plastic guard (JMO).

Rain tomorrow. Might be time for some more fish!! Having a stocked freezer is a blessing. But it's still got room to spare. That's a curse that must be remedied!!

So why is Elaztech so crucial compared to any other senko? If you're dead sticking it with very little action, what's the big advantage? Also, and you insert a worm rattle or use a bead in front of the jighead to make a little noise? Seems if you're keeping it in one spot, you would want to make some noise with it to call the fish in.

History typically never repeats itself, thus the olld saying "fish conditions not history". That being said, very specific tournament winning patterns rarely repeating themselves year after year. Its to difficult to find something different that nobody else is doing. We all know that. however, I think the square bill by a river on on select spot that nobody else has found of that 2-3 day stretch will be strong factor. Thus Palanuik. He's proven several wins on that type of pattern. I agree, Edwin is on a mission this year. He has a good shot as well. Definately Christie as well.

Wart bite approaches

I thought so. I'm trying different things this year for my bass jigs.

Thus also why I said Palanuik. It's in his wheel house for sure. That and his squarebill crankbait tactics match that of Rick Clunn. One would think Rick will do well since it is his home lake but........these new guys are just dang good! I think Rick has a good chance to be in the top 20 for sure and if he pulls out an old-school trick, he could be in the top-10.

I wonder if it's back to 44-46 by tomorrow with the colder night temps. I figured the Wart bite would be good around point 12 area and up towards Monte Ne since the water below War Eagle is slowly turning to "chocolate milk".

^^ Ditto

Does anyone have a video link or "short description" on how to fish the Ned rig? I figured it's like any other worm bait or similar to a jig. You can drag it, hop it, swim it, twitch it, etc.

Just curious............anyone given these a try yet? The baitmonkey caught me at the local bait shop and convinced me these were worth a try on a jighead. More natural look to it. http://www.bigbitebaits.com/Newitems2013.htm

^^ ditto Matches some of the winter research I've done on crawfish. Which is no where extensive, only brief readings and searches but the basics match what I found as well.

Brandon Palanuik....... He won on Bull Shoals. TR is in his wheel house. Fits his style. I think he has a great shot at it. Need I say more??

After seeing some of DC's jigs in person (thank you again), they are top quality. His jigs and jig heads are better than store bought material. The quality is just there and the design is great as well. I personally like the double weedguard. I've had some finesse jigs with double weedguards and they tend to come through cover easier. I haven't noticed the bite being affected by the double weedguard either.

Not joking here. Is there really? Is it state specific or national? I haven't heard of it. What is it by the way? My boat can't go faster than 41 with a good tail wind on good chop so I doubt I would be infringing on the limit!!! LOL!

Now how the heck did that occur? Oh wait.....it was on the MO side of the line correct?

The need to put a marker buoy on this spot if there is not one already. If someone has hit it, someone else will eventually as well. Yet another accident where no one was wearing a PFD. They are lucky they didn't drown.

Sounds like a super tough trip but getting those big bites is why everyone and their grandmother make the pilgrimage to that lake. I have a friend who lives near the lake. I've been thinking a spring/summer trip might be needed. Sounds like it sees more pressure than Beaver Lake and that's saying something!

Well a topwater bite is kinda obvious. :-) If they are biting in top, lots of surface baits can work but not all will work at the same time/condition. Sometimes smaller topwater plugs will get the bite and sometimes the larger baits will get the bites.

I'd like to know this myself. I'd say 60 degrees and up? (Guessing)

I installed a kill switch on my 35yr old gal so I could compete in a tournament (tourn. rules) and for overall safety compliance. This poor young man didn't have a kill switch engaged and lost his life. No matter what the water temp is or your belief about your ability to swim..... Use the dang killswitch please!! Me and my family may be out boating and your runaway boat could hit me and my family. Or a dock with kids fishing on it, etc. Be safe and use a kill switch. If you want to drown it's your life but I prefer to live so please use a kill switch at the very least. http://m.newson6.com/story.aspx?story=24970430&catId=112042

I'd like to think I donated a good bit to her education thank you very much. Lol!