Tfsh4bass

I agree to a point and have always wanted tournaments to be from Oct-April for the most part around here. I also wanted May to be a catch-n-release only time so the fish could spawn without being bothered that much but that is another debate. One thing I will say is plenty of non-tournament people kill fish as well and make up a higher percentage of fisherman on the lake on a given weekend. It is just a lot more obvious when it happens at a tournament and for the most part tournament fisherman do all they can to keep fish alive because it is about the money.

Most of the dead ones were in their release tank but there were some floating by shore when I left...hopefully they netted everything up before they left I like the rule as long as guys aren't just throwing dead fish out in the lake and then filling out their limit with live ones

Yes, there were some weighed in...while I was up there I saw 5-6 teams take penalty but we were 2nd flight so we didn't weigh our fish until 3:20ish

They had a cooling tank and when I went up to get a bag there were only 5 guys in line to weigh...then only 3 when I got up to weigh. My only complaint with the cooling tanks were they didn't have any "stay alive" chemicals in there which I think they need....they weren't that cool either but you could see where they put several bags of ice in them. AIA is a pretty big outfit but don't draw well at TRock for some reason...drew 112 at Grand last month and always draw well at LOZ. They do a good job and yesterday was just a little shocking because I have never seen that many dead bass at a day tournament at Table Rock...some of the old Cape Fair night tournaments in July/Aug used to kill the crap out of fish which is why I stopped fishing those.

We had a black yesterday that still had eggs also...pretty crazy! We were fortunate that all of ours lived as well and 2 we weighed in had been in the livewell since 6:30ish. Rejuvinade and running recirc all day plus a little ice. Pretty funny I also saw a 5-6lb mule eating some shad by a dock and I fired in only to catch a 15.5" spot...made several more cast but no luck on the big girl.

I understand the post spawn plus the sudden rise in water temps played a part...just hard to see 30+ bass dead. Like I said AIA does a good job and were just a victim of circumstance more than anything.

Not sure what everyone was throwing Sunday at the AIA but there were too many fish killed for there only being 39 boats. AIA runs good tournaments but it sure was sad to see the aftermath floating around Ahoy's yesterday.

Could you still launch there at Oakland?

Not showing up on my UVerse guide here in Nixa for some reason

Last August I saw 3 BIG stripers within 1/2 mile of the Beaver dam just swimming around together

Always good to hear about a blade bite...one trick I like to do is throw a 3/4oz with double #4 blades. This allows me to cast on windy days and I am burning it anyway so size doesn't really matter. Thanks again for the reports and keep firing at em...

I 2nd that...caught a bunch of largemouth, smallmouth, spots, whites and walleye on Saturday. Concerning Oakland just make a left when you first get into park area and follow road around until you see clearing and launch from road. It was easy and just idle out of marina carefully. Bull really handles the water well and fishing was great all day.

I will find out more tomorrow but I called Oakland Marina and she said there was a way for me to launch there. If not, I know I can launch at Bull Shoals boat dock. Also, per a few members Pontiac has a working ramp.

No worries and I appreciate the info. .I know I can launch at Bull Shoals Marina if I need to and will probably just drive down there instead of searching.

Hey Mark - Could you tell me the ramp options over there? I usually put in at Oakland just to save a little drive time but wasn't sure if that was an option. I used to put in at Lakeview for tournaments but not sure I ever put in there at this level. Thanks in advance for any info!

I launched at Mutton today and the water was fine around there. My suggestion is to throw senkos/flukes in pockets around the bushes and you should catch all the buck bass you want with an occasional decent one. I threw a blade and flipped a jig today and caught a lot of fish. Also, I have heard the crappie are very shallow but I didn't mess with them. Good luck this weekend!

Yep still wetting a line a day or two a week on various bodies of water Will do...

Nice report Cajun! Bull is a great lake and one of the best winter lakes around. I haven't been down there in a couple weeks but am heading down for a all day adventure tomorrow and hopefully some are still biting.

Kind of slower than I expected but it was so nice out there before the storms came in especially for late Dec. I fished from 6pm until 10:30ish and caught 6 on a single spin (4 SM 2 LM) with 1 good one around 4lbs and the others were keeperish size. Had the boat in around 15' and caught the ones I did just inside points around docks with brush.

I was actually fishing out of Indian Point that night but decided to leave around 10:30 after the rain and lightening started. Glad everyone down there was OK. Here is story with video http://ozarksfirst.c.../?nxd_id=379597 Some pics http://ozarksfirst.c.../?nxd_id=379367 From the National Weather Service...they think there were 3 tornadoes (maybe 4) around Table Rock that night/morning http://www.crh.noaa....010dec31_survey

Pretty much done with this but if you are going to open you mouth at least know what you are talking about. It is hard to be on a shallow pattern the last 6 months when I didn't make a cast on Table Rock from the end of June until the 2nd week of Sept when the water came up in the bushes. I rarely fish Table Rock during the summer and like to spend my time floating various rivers in the area, fishing strip pits, heading up to Minnesota or messing around on a few conservation lakes. The only exception to the rule for me is if the water is up like it has been a few times lately...otherwise you won't see me on Table Rock much in July, Aug or Sept. The "ruled the rock" comment is unnecessary but coming from a guy who told an FLW touring pro he needed to quit his day job because he couldn't catch them in March...I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

The 2nd pic with bright orange pinchers is what a few were eating the other day

Honestly, I have heard people catching them from 40' to a 1'. I have been catching most of my fish less than 10' but I know several people who are catching them deeper...a lot of different patterns when the water is around 60. You can't go wrong with main lake bays, inside/outside points, bluff ends or ditches...I don't like just running down a bank much but that is just me.

Some of the smallmouth I caught the other day were spitting up a light brown and orange craws. I had one smallmouth spit up a small bluegil along with a craw when I got him to the boat. I was actually throwing a bluegil color spinnerbait with double gold willow leafs that I like to use when it is cloudy...not sure if it mattered because they were biting but pretty cool regardless.

Thanks again guys! I will probably head down again on Sunday but kind of want to see some new water. Might head to Stockton or Bull but not sure just yet.