Donna G

What doesn't look familiar to you on TR? lol You probably have a map chip embedded somewhere under the skin like vets put the tracker chips in pets. Here's your clue. We launched at Shell Knob. It was the last place we fished before putting it on the trailer.

I do like them, but that's Champ's rod I'm holding. He was still dragging his FB jig after I landed the SM. He handed it to me while he snapped the pic. What an opportunist.

Yep, and nothing to see here. Move along. That one's for you, Techo.

lol - of course we're watching the game and I've had my 20 on the exercise bike. At our age, it is too much. However, we decided we'll rest when we're pushing up daisies. What suffers is the housekeeping and yard. I hate that.

Put in at Shell Knob around 7:00 a.m. and went under the bridge. For more detail on where we fished, ask Champ188. I get lost on a stock pond. Fished in at first. Lots of bait, but nothing looking up. Couple of short K's, plus one giant turtle, on a 1/2 oz finesse jig with a twin tail. Really needed a lighter jig, but was too lazy to change. We're having turtle soup tonight. lol Mr. T was successfully released, although he had a hook in his maw from an earlier encounter. Stupid turtle. Fished one of our favorite docks 10-12 slips. We each broke off what we thought were decent keepers. Cable and dock corner. Hard on light line. Finesse jig and shaky head. Deepest end of dock 30-35 feet. Most of the bites were a couple of slips in from the end. Decent wind at that time and dock is on a productive main lake point. Fished good ledge rock toward the back of the pocket and a few cedars. Normally a productive spot for us, but not today. Still nothing looking up. Champ wanted a blade fish bad. He said we were probably one more cold front away. I glanced at the water temp once. Think it was 77.3. Went to some of our favorite bluff ends. Champ caught a nice white in the tail dragging a FB jig. Fish slammed it, swing and a miss. When Champ swung and the jig jumped, white apparently spun around and swatted with his tail. He also caught a keeper K somewhere along the line. Pretty slow and we had a tee time to play golf. Headed back to the ramp and stopped on a favorite smallmouth spot. My guide was determined to catch me a keeper. Still 1/2 oz finesse jig, but with a green pumpkin Critter Craw this time. Caught a beautiful keeper brownie with my bait almost vertical barely moving it. Fish just started swimming with it. Should have stayed on the lake as our golf was rained out. However, my guide insisted we didn't need our rain suits today, so they stayed in the garage. Think it was payback for our snow day to Lake Eucha (OK) last year and the bass caddie failed to get our GoreTex in the boat. I was in timeout all day that trip. Anyone else go today?

Aw, you guys are too sweet. We picked up the boat in December, thus all the layers and red Guidewear. I look like a proud, pregnant momma. Lol. Champ started taking a pic of his new girl and I jumped right in the frame. Didn't notice the PP until later and gave him grief about it. Would love to catch some jaws on jigs. Fun, fun. Don't need that PP in the boat, Champ. You know I have my own porta-potty-in-a-pouch. Takes up way less room than than green monster and mine is girlie pink. Course, that's about the only girlie thing I own.

That's Champ's theory. He says the bass have been getting hammered with all the tournaments. Obviously, some people are still catching 'em, but there are other good Grand sticks who usually have nice bags scratching their heads wondering what happened to their bite.

Donna's size what? huh? I know you mean size of bass.

Thanks! I never have an opportunity to eat good salmon, so it was a real treat. I started to smuggle home the leftovers.

Thanks to you and Bill for putting together. I hope you got to socialize some - you were so busy cooking. All the food was great. Sorry we didn't bring anything to the potluck, but wasn't sure I could pull it off since we left Arkansas in the morning and were on the lake all day. Looks like there was plenty of food, however. The chicken was fantastic, fried fish, smoked salmon, bread, hushpuppies (very fluffy) were all very tasty. Enjoyed putting faces with a few handles / names. Hope we can do it again. Maybe the weather will cooperate more next time. Glad it was yesterday instead of today, though. Brrrrrr. It's a typical day off here - Champ's snoozing in the recliner, I've got laundry going and about to make a sausage and potato chowder for a cold day lunch. Guess I contributed to the snoozing - pancakes and hashbrowns for breakfast. No carbs there. lol

The salmon was AWEsome! Thanks for bringing it.

I believe there were 112 teams. Sorry. Keep trying to copy and paste the results and the forum doesn't like the image. Here's the link. http://www.midwestfishtournaments.com/aiagrand2013_march16.html

lol - I told Champ we needed to buy a good portable work light and put it in the boat. Always comes in handy. He has been known to pick up a cheap shower head at the local Walmart and change out what's in our room if we are staying awhile.

You're a funny guy, Bill. The more amusing part is when I realized I had left Donna's-patented-port-a-potty-in-a-pouch (coffee can and poncho in a backpack) at the truck. We were in flight 3 and my angler was kind enough to suggest I run up to the parking lot and get it before take-off.

Paid 29 places. 145 boats and 5 flights. 110 anglers weighed fish. Big bass on angler side was 7-01. Co-angler was 6-14. 1 BILLY LEMON SAND SPRINGS, OK 19-11 (5) $4,806 2 BENJAMIN KING GARNETT, KS 16-12 (5) $2,403 3 ZACK BIRGE BLANCHARD, OK 16-07 (5) $1,605 4 JEFF REYNOLDS CALERA, OK 15-14 (5) $1,121 5 BOB NOBLE NOWATA, OK 15-10 (5) $961 6 JAMES GILZOW BELLA VISTA, AR 15-00 (5) $881 7 CASEY SULLIVAN VIAN, OK 14-10 (5) $801 8 WALTER ANDRIES COWETA, OK 14-09 (5) $721 9 BILL GIFT TONTITOWN, AR 14-07 (4) $641 10 DON MCFARLIN GORDONVILLE, TX 13-10 (5) $561 http://www.flwoutdoors.com/bassfishing/bfl/tournament/2013/7080/grand-lake-boater-results/

I'm so proud of Champ. Our bite had totally disappeared the last day of practice. He had one spot left that produced a fish, but it was a one-and-done deal. He told me the night before the derby that if he didn't catch fish on that spot, he didn't know what he would do. I told him, "Just go fishing." He really put on his thinking cap and leaned on his years of experience and got 'er dun. He was diagnosed with a ruptured disc last July. Saturday was our third day in a row on the water. I was in the Elk with my pro and it was pretty darn rough there. My guy told me he really felt sorry for any of the anglers who had to come in from the dam, which is where Champ was at. Tough guy when it comes to tournament fishing. Wish I could say I did as well. I was thrilled to draw a local who had really been on the fish, but his bite was gone, too. He threw three different styles of A-rigs, plus jerk baits, spinner bait, jig, tube and Wiggle Wart. He caught one keeper fish late on a tube. I was amazed I caught anything since we weren't around active fish, but I finally had a short green one on a jig. Super, super nice guy. I enjoyed the company and learned a few things. Always do and that makes it worthwhile. Oh, I learned don't drop your bibs in the parking lot. Someone will run over them and break the buckles.

Ok. Here's the report card. As stated, simple, but nice and definitely fisherman friendly. You can't beat the price. If you tell them you are fishing a tournament, you get a discount. It was $45 and some change. You can back your boat up to the room and not unhook, however, ask for a room on the side that starts with room 101. Those parking spots are angled toward the road making it easier to get out. You have to back straight in to the ones on the other side. You can drive all the way around the building which helps getting out. Our room had an outlet right at the door at eye level and the outdoor lights are bright making it easy to work on your boat. They direct you to two tubs at the office when you check in - one is marked boat towels and the other boat chocks. How cool is that? Vending with soft drinks and snacks are available, as well as free ice for the room. The room has a microwave, small fridge, alarm coke, coffeemaker and coffee. Decent TV and remote with cable. We had double beds, a dresser and pretty nice upholstered chair. The room was clean enough, carpet and bedspreads looked fairly new and no unpleasant odor to anything. The down sides - not the best indoor lighting for working on tackle and, although the shower wasn't bad, we're spoiled and Champ188 is tall. Plenty of hot water - could have used a better shower head and more pressure, though. Towels certainly weren't fluffy, but the bath towels were plenty big enough. There was no table, also hindering tackle work. Something about jerk baits and bedspreads. Bad stuff happens. Location is convenient and it is very popular. I made our reservation on February 28 and they had five rooms booked. By the time we checked in Friday night it was sold out. Sorry, I forgot to ask about pets, but the owners live on property and they have a little dog.

Ok. Will do. Getting ready to go if the old man will wake up. Snoring in his chair. We had a long day on the water yesterday, but slept in our own bed. We're going to stay over tonight.

We ended up getting a room at http://www.hickoryinngroveok.com/ . On Main between State Park Road going into Honey Creek and the bridge. It's 3 miles from Wolf Creek Ramp. Haven't stayed there before, but sounds like it's got all the right stuff - back trailer up to the room; cheap rate for fisherman, etc. Staying next Friday night. I'll post a review when we get back, if anyone is interested. Thanks for the suggestions.

Thanks! We don't have to be too close to the ramp.

Where's a good place to stay for one night and park your boat? Planning an overnight trip the week after the Classic. Since we'll only be there one night, it doesn't have to be fancy or have all the bells and whistles. Just clean and good boat parking. Driving through the main drag I've never noticed anything that looked like it would work. Several little motels, but not really any parking for a boat. Ideal would be if we could back the boat up to the room. If that's not an option, would want a room where we could keep an eye on the boat and access to power. Any thoughts? Will be launching at city park. Thanks.

Sorry, QB. Haven't been on the forum lately. I like Bass Times best. More how-to stuff and a little meatier. Less fluff and advertisement, I think.

Bass Times had some good articles, too. Haven't read them all yet, but finished the feature story. Haven't come across any coupons yet.

I am crazy about my Costas. I have tried a number of other brands and tested for visibility under the water against the Costas - no comparison. Champ would point out a fish that I couldn't see. I'd take off whatever flavor I was wearing at the time, put his Costas on and the difference was amazing.

I listened by podcast, too. Cancellation of the show is a loss.