Donna G

Probably so, but what's the fun in that? lol

I think the low water helped, Mike. I'm originally from Texas and never saw a clear highland reservoir until moving to Arkansas. When I learned to bass fish, I knew nothing about structure. We were all very cover oriented. It's still hard for me to fish something I can't "see." So, I like this. The low water has made a lot of shallow wood visible. I caught a good number of finesse jig fish on little sticks and laydowns right on the bank.

Yep. Girls. Silly girls. Go, Kathy.

Got a late start and you can see I'm the one that bled for the team this trip. Fun day, however, long and not easy. Ended up with 31, but it took all day to do it. First two fish caught were keepers and the second one exacted revenge on me when I swung it right into my leg. Yes, that is a lot of freckles. Going to let Champ188 fill in the details. Oh, Pepe, I'm out of Lumpy Craws. The bass were loving 'em. Me, too. I like the meaty body and big segments and pincers have a good swimming action.

We were fishing a Central Pro-Am event.

Is that considered trolling or strolling? hehehe Couldn't resist.

In my pro's defense, he wasn't standing on the trolling motor and dragging his jig...he was just drifting, but as Champ pointed out to me, the pro did have to use the trolling motor to change direction, steer away from a boat dock, etc., while dragging his bait. I've caught fish dragging a FB jig, jerk bait, swim bait, etc. from the back of the boat and, yes, sometimes Champ starts the TM and moves a small amount down the bank or changes direction while I'm doing that. Guess I'm trolling / strolling.

Trust me, if he catches himself again, I'm not landing him. Will just do the Jimmy Houston quick release.

I don't disagree. IMO some of these anglers (and golfers) are clueless. If you don't say something...politely...how can you be sure that they aren't just dumber than rocks when it comes to fishing etiquette? You'd be doing them and the world a favor. All of our glaring and swearing under our breath will have no impact. Not saying stir up a fight. Just make a stab at explaining. If that doesn't work, just thank your lucky stars you're smarter and nicer than them and move on.

So, very, very nice to hear from you. You're still on our prayer list. Hope to hear a firsthand report from you soon. I definitely think it's going to start getting jiggy out there and I can't wait!

Oh, you have to see some of Pete's, too. They are very good and you get the added benefit of his pal Gizmo.

Should I speak for Techo? Nothing to see here. Move along. ?

It was a pleasure to meet the both of you, too. Thanks for stopping. Looks like you have the makings of a fine young man in Cooper. Glad you found the drop shot fish, but I must be getting older and crankier because I didn't think it was very peaceful out. lol

Champ188 and I take turns being the Chatty Cathy. Today was his turn, I think, until the boat traffic beat him down and I took over Cathy's duties. Love that Nitro commercial.

No, sorry to say. It was pretty tough today. We ran across a huge school of main lake breaking fish shortly after getting on the water not far from Shell Knob and played around with them for awhile, but they were scattered and never stayed up long. Champ188 caught a short LM and a big, fat keeper spot on a top water in the school. We left the school and tried buzz bait, top water, square bill and swim bait in some trees, jig and shaky head in docks, but very little love. Clouds burned off and it got hot and blue. Boat traffic was nuts, both recreational and fisherman. Saw plenty of material for the thread "you can't make this stuff up." Champ found us some FB jig fish and we started catching a few off bluff ends and gravel, but it was hard not to get killed or washed overboard. Best bite seemed to be in 25-30 fow. Gave it up and headed to the bridge so boo-boo lip Donna could try and catch another one when we met Codywskeeter1521 and his son, Cooper. We had a nice chat with them. Cooper is a nice young man and was showing us the soft plastics they received from Pepe. Ours were on deck, too. Good looking stuff and I'm anxious to give them a thorough test on a better catch'em day. We finished up with FB jigs close to the ramp. I got to catch another keeper spot. We had around a dozen total with three keeps. Most were spots, but we had one or two brownies and the largemouth from the school. While we still had fog and cloud cover, I threw the heck out of that black buzz and was really surprised that I never got a sniff. Full moon last night and very little wind today., I guess. We're playing golf tomorrow and I'm probably staying away from the lake until some of the wake boats get put up for the year. Starting to look like a junior LOZ out there.

Going to give a black buzz bait a shot this morning in the fog. Launching soon.

Nice.

Here's another picture of Connie Jenkins wearing her frogs (F.R.O.G. - Fully Rely on God). I can't leave Champ188 out of any of the categories - fishing friends, family and idols. I was already "a dynamite kisser and great bass fisher" when he caught me, but he has taught me so much and gets a bigger kick out of me catching a good one than doing it himself. Naturally he's family, too, and my best friend and fishing buddy. Oh, and pretty awesome. And a front-ender, particularly with a blade. Pic of James is February 2010 at one of my favorite places on the Rock.

Yep. He did all our WBT weigh-ins and now he's on MLF with Marty Stone and Sheli Sanders.

But he may not be here. Better keep that new PFD on while you're fishing this weekend, darling. I didn't say I wouldn't go fishing with the man, but I'll come off that back deck at you like a spider monkey and put you in the water. There might even be a scissor kick involved if I get a running start.

You didn't hijack anything. You were remembering your time fishing with Mike and that fits in to the TBT theme. I bet it was really something to observe. Hard to concentrate on your own fishing when watching the pros. I always wanted to draw Dave Barker when we were fishing CPAA, but no luck. I did get some exciting draws in CPAA and BFL, like Jim Eakins and Jacob Powroznik in FLW. I was awestruck watching Jim and Jacob flip/pitch beds that were really hard to get to.

I knew what you meant. Have enjoyed watching the PAA tournament coverage on TV in the past. We consider Mike a friend and bought our Champion from him that we had prior to our Ranger. I still have the Mercury cap he signed for me prior to my first WBT derby. I believe that was 2006. He lived around the corner from us in Bella Vista. We went over there one evening for the express purpose of getting a "good luck" cap signed. He and his brother, Shannon,we're preparing for a tournament and were working on tackle. I noticed Shannon tying an unfamiliar knot that got me curious. I'm not very scientific and half blind. I tie a Palomar on everything. Easy to do with cold and / or wet hands and old eyes. Turns out he was tying a Palomar, but wasn't doubling his line to start. He would go in the eye of the hook like he was threading a needle and then turn the line around and go back through, still making the beginning loop. I loved it, thinking it had to be much easier than forcing doubled stiff or thin line through a hook eye. Been doing it ever since. Champ188 is stubborn so he still squints and cusses and pinches his doubled line as hard as he can to push it through. I've tried telling him that if a young fella like Shannon wasn't ashamed to do it, he shouldn't be either...and he'd get back in the water sooner. lol Mike's oldest boy, Justin, used to mow our yard. How's that for TBT. Now he's fishing the B.A.S.S. Opens. Oh, and Mike and Justin witnessed me catching my first Zara Spook fish on Lake Windsor in Bella Vista. Mike was practicing for an upcoming tournament working with swim baits. Champ188 was teaching me how to walk a Spook. Caught a 5lb LM off a point right in front of him.

Our care package is amazing. Thank you. Everything looks great and I'm looking forward to trying the craws. Been bugging Champ188 to find me some small craws, even smaller than a Lil Critter Craw, to try on a drop shot. Those baby craws are perfect. Looking forward to testing my theory. BTW the package labeling is super. Professional in appearance with all the details you look for.

Nope. Hint, the WBT gals called him Lurch. Don't know why. Never knew his real name until I saw him on TV in the last few years.

Nope. Guess again.