Longball22

I wouldn't worry too much about the current pattern. Lows in the 40's the next few nights should help zap the water temperature, and that just might change everything.

Not trying to be critical, but I'm not aware that Johnny owns a wake boat company. Did he buy up another boat company?

Spent several hours on the water today, and is tough. Looked at the Tournament of Champions results from yesterday, and 15.22lbs won in a 51 boat buddy tournament to back that up(looks like only 7 limits brought in). Water temp is still mid to high 70s, and bait all over the lake. Very meticulous drop shotting was the only thing that got me bit at all today, and it was not impressive. Lots of short bites on the drop shot today, but not many to the boat.

I sat on our houseboat yesterday and watched 10 or 12 huge balls of those tiny shad work around for over two hours. They would come to the surface, run across it, and I never saw a bigger fish break the surface. Absolutely amazed at how much bait is out moving around right now. I drove across the 13 and 86 bridge at Eagle Rock, and you could see the same scenario both places.

Great site, and if you're patient, you'll find what you want in the $100 range. Steep and Cheap is a clearance site for backcountry.com. Several good styles that aren't on S&C for around the $100 mark right now: https://www.backcountry.com/Store/catalog/search.jsp?q=costa del mar&sort=%2Bprice I love the sunrise lenses for mornings and cloudy days. Green mirror is the best lens I've found for Table Rock. Maui Jim and Kaenon also have rockstar products. Kaenon's proprietary lens material is incredibly durable. Retail on Kaenon's is about $200-$240, but I've found them for as little as $70 on these two sites. Copper (C12) is a great lens in their stuff.

Bill was an amazing guy. I tried to get out with him a few times a year, and was fortunate to do so one last time a few weeks ago. He helped me buy a new bass boat after our trip, and didn't get the opportunity to thank him when I picked it up Friday. I did get to go to his celebration of life on Monday. Lots of great folks there, and a good way to send him off. He will obviously be missed by many.

Upgrading my rig and ready to sell this boat. Was my first bass boat, and would be a great first boat for someone else. No issues/ready to fish! More info here: https://springfield.craigslist.org/boa/d/2006-nitro-591-dc-bass-boat/6288529941.html

Maybe they'll use that hull in a few years to make the Nitro Z-41. I'd like to see that boat with a padded, carpeted front deck.

I will say we have boats in Port of Kimberling, and the water patrol has a boat or two there. I've seen them buzzing the lake and pulling people over more than I ever have. We were out last month cruising on a houseboat and we counted 26 boats they pulled over for very brief checks in a few hours one evening. I have been impressed with their presence in that part of the lake this year.

OTM Bait & Tackle in Kim. City had some of these colors in stock when I was in a few weeks ago. I think I left a few on the pegs.

That would look pretty good snagging spoonbill in the spring

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I think I'm trading the bass boat in for one of these..... http://www.duckworthboats.com/models/pacific-pro/

Are you still on chunk rock, or have you ventured on to the gravel? I'm finding fish both places, but definitely not getting bit as frequently as you. I'm on the same color pattern as you.

I've been out a few mornings and evenings in the same area of the lake, and seeing a lot of the things you are. Caught a few fish, but definitely getting a ton of short hits or fish that come unpinned after a few seconds. Assuming there are a lot of short smallmouth out there playing games with the bigger bait.

Very nice. Assuming the water clarity is coming back up there?

This is one I caught in the spring of 2015 very close to Kimberling City. 8 FOW on a Rock Crawler. I think she was eating well.

I have not heard that one before, but I can definitely see where you're coming from, haha.

Got out this afternoon and caught a 3 fish in just over an hour. All were shallow, all were keepers, and best was just over 3lbs. Marked a lot of fish in the 12-17ft range, but couldn't get them to eat. Can't tell you what I caught them on.

I just bought a refurbished GoPro Hero 4 on eBay for $230. This is factory refurb and comes with a 1 year warranty. http://www.ebay.com/itm/322090737799?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I launched at Kimberling Inn Saturday. Plenty of ramp there.

I'm at Port of Kimberling, and the COE is telling the folks here that we could easily see 931 or 932 based on what has fallen already and what will fall. They told us they may even have to cut power to some docks, access could be an issue to docks temporarily, etc.

Agree on Panoptix. McLelland seems to like his.... https://www.bassmaster.com/news/mcclelland-takes-open-title

+1 on Dave's heads, 1/8oz. if they're shallow or 3/16oz. if you're trying to get a bit deeper. Cut the round nose off of the Keitech so it sits flush against the mushroom head. The only drawback I can see to this is that on occasion they take it pretty deep with that smaller hook, but not often enough to deter me.

Woke up early with the intent of going out, and saw the rain was about an hour out, so I went back to bed. Woke up at 11, on the water by noon with low expectations. Pulled back in the back of a creek and saw fish busting everywhere. Caught 25-30 fish in 30 minutes on the 2.8" Keitech, few on a Jointed Thunderstick on top. Mostly SM with a few K's mixed in, from 10-17", with most being in that 14-16" range. Another boat and I were on opposite sides of the shad, and pulling fish in as fast as we could get back in the water. Love it when it get's like that. Things slowed and went back out to the channel to see if the fish would hit the Thunderstick a bit more. Got over some deep trees and caught another 8 fish. Went to another few sections of good gravel on the main lake with some trees mixed in, and put another 20 or so in the boat, all on the 2.8" Keitech. Seemed like most fish were in 10-25 FOW, but the topwater fish were in over 100' of water. Ending with 50-60 fish total when I pulled off the water at 3:30. Probably the best 3.5 hours I've had on this lake. Nothing huge(best was 17" and probably just shy of 3lbs), but constant catching, and lots of hard pulling smallies. The last picture I put up is of the Thunderstick I've been using last year and today. I noticed in Pete's Youtube video this week he mentioned buying custom weighted Redfins. If you look closely, near the back of the main body, I super glue three stacked Storm Suspenstrips. I glue on on top of the other, because the factory adhesive on there never sticks, then I seal the edges with glue to lock them on. This is basically the Po'Boy version of what Pete mentioned, and it works for me. I experimented with 1 to 4 of them, and found 3 to be my sweet spot. The bait will wake easily, and has a nice roll to it in my opinion. It's not pretty, but the fish can't see those strips on it's back until it's too late.

On the 2.8's, I've started using Dave's 1/8oz Ned head. I cut the round nose off the Keitech, and glue it tight to the back of the jig. Looks good and comes through rocks/cover well with that weed guard. The fish don't seem to mind it either.