DADAKOTA

I use AbrazX fluoro in 15. Has the diameter of 10# mono.

Ya'll remember the Big Wag worms? Absolute killer dirty water bait.

One would think that people would use common sense and have some respect for folks whose property they could damage.

To find bushes at LOZ you got to be in the very backs of the creeks I'd guess.

Love the late fall through early spring stickbait bite. I see the pros catching stickbait fish year round. Anyone play the stick during the summer?

I'd be fishing brushpiles with a big worm or a jig. Other than that a topwater early and late.

My buddy was at Stockton over the weekend and said that you couldn't keep the drum off of his walleye rigs. Are they getting over populated?

Not condoning the whole "poking the bear" thing. No need for that. I too am C&R but don't belittle those who like a fish taco. MDC does a great job of monitoring the fish populations and setting the appropriate bag limits. How many of the C&R have mounted fish on the wall. I have none, and would have a replica made if I finally caught one worthy of the wall like a 7 pound smallie. Why is dtrs5kprs a more competent authority on the health of the fish population at TR than the MDC? He states, "Dangerous part is that folks get influenced by what they see, and could pick up the behavior. Especially young folks, people new to the sport, folks who started with no one to mentor them on stewardship." I was taught to fish by my father. When he grew up in Wisconsin, fishing put food on the table. Bass were a trash fish that you threw back or gave away. When I learned to fish, we caught fish for the table, but we were taught to only take what you needed for a meal (within the daily limit). I don't need to fish to eat, but I sure enjoy eating freshly caught crappie. I am C&R on bass by my choice, but I don't knock someone who takes fish for their table. Guess I didn't pick up my Dad's behavior. Keeping some spots for dinner is not a gateway for everyone to keep every fish they catch and decimate the population.

The Rock is a premier bass lake. Apparently those who keep bass for dinner are not hurting the population. Love to hear your responses to my other questions.

Wow. Nothing worse than fishermen turning on each other. So let me get this straight. The C&R guys can't stand the knifers eating bass. C&R is the only way to go to protect the resource. So the C&R team doesn't eat fish? If they do would they not be hypocrites? Do the C&R folks release all the crappie, walleye, bluegill, and catfish they catch? Or is it only the almighty bass? Before you get your panties in a wad, I am a tournament fisherman and practice C&R on 99% of the bass I catch. I think crappie, walleye, and gills eat better so those are the species I catch for the pan. With that said, I do not have a problem with someone catching Kentuckies to be released in grease. They pay the same fees, sales taxes, etc. that I do and as long as they are legally harvesting their fish within the limits established by MDC that is their choice. There are probably more released fish that die every year on Table Rock and feed no one than this fella catches and eats. We all enjoy fishing no need for a brawl.

Wow. Hadn't been on for a few days and this was the first post I read. I am shocked. Never met Jim but had been pm'ing a bit lately. What a truly nice man. Sure wish I'd have given him a call last time I was at the lake as he had instructed. Wished we could have gotten our schedules together and fished. I truly enjoyed his posts. There will be a hole in the Stockton forum. God Bless ya Jim. Prayers for his family and friends.

Fished Stockton many years ago when the buck brush was several feet under water. Hammered the bass on salt and pepper sluggos. Twitch it down and watch them eat it.

Not sure what the big argument is about. If you want to use the Ned then do it. If you don't then don't. Who cares if someone likes it or hates it? Chevy or Ford? No one wins the argument. Some of ya just have the need to believe that only your opinion matters. Ned is just another tool in the box. Use it or don't.Seems like some testosterone poisoning around here.

Adding ice to a cooler can be tricky. Ice made with chlorinated water can kill your fish. Adding too much ice and dropping water temp too quickly or over 10 degrees can shock and kill your fish. I freeze water bottles and add them to the livewell as needed to cool the water. That way you have no worries about chlorinated water. I know of one fella that dumped an entire bag of ice in the livewell at Truman during a summer tourney instead of bagggin some up and adding a little at a time.. 3 of the 5 fish died and the other two may have lived after being released. Those 5 would have paid right at 1000 dollars had they been weighed.

Very well said. I agree that time on the water is the best teacher of all. However, You also need time on specific lakes at specific times of the year to be consistent catching fish. Some lakes fish very similarly. Others fish totally different. Then there are the particular nuances of lake like a specific bait to throw, types of vegetation to fish, or forage you need to match.. Having a red blade on your spinner bait for example. Being versatile and having the ability to fish various techniques and baits is a benefit to an angler. You don't want to be a one trick pony.

Never fished under the lights. What type of spot do you set up over?

Bob - Sent you a PM

Anyone got a depth chart for #7 flickr shad on 10# test?

Nice mess of fish..

Well said Sac RIver Jim. I have many of the same beliefs as you. Finding fish, trying to figure out why they are there, and figuring out different ways to catch them is far more satisfying than the actual catch itself. I totally enjoy taking folks and putting them on some fish. Maybe they can take something I showed them and use it to help them catch fish in the future.

The cabins at Stockton Lake are not on the lake, but are the nicest accommodations down there. Stayed at the place right before the mile long bridge on 215 and it was decent too. I run a 16 foot jonboat down there with a 25 and just look at the wind and weather to determine where I put in. PM me if you need more info.

While cleaning a few Stockton crappie last week I noticed bloody looking spots on a few of the fillets. I saw no worms or other parasites and the spots were easy to cut out. Any idea what I was seeing? Wish I'd of taken a picture.

Spots directly compete with small mouth. I'd rather have smallmouth personally.

Nice fish. Be a good reproduction.

What are the dimensions? Aluminum?