troutgnat

Ham, I actually looked for any running water and did not find any. I guess they did not get the rain like we did here. Water temp hovered in the 57 range the majority of the day. I never called for the lake level but it looks to be dropping. I saw alot of main lake "crappie" brush piles down by "seed tick" which are now out of water.

Gentlemen, Went back at them again one week later. Well I don't know what to say for you all to go catch fish. I did not fair as well yesterday as I had a week ago. I started in the creek arms and caught a couple shorts on the wart. I decided to work the main lake after that and focus on some good windy banks. I worked bluff ends with jig and some main lake pea gravel with the wart, so on and so forth. I never boated a fish on the jig but took just a few on the wart. Whenever I saw a likely dock or brush for crappie I'd throw a tube jig. I boated numerous short bass on it, several "more than large" bluegill and a whopper of about a 3lb largemouth. Lends me to believe maybe I should have really downsized and finesse fished more. I saw several other boats but many were hopping from spot to spot so correct me anyone but looks like it may have been a tough one for all out there.

Guys, Here's one of my own custom painted versions of a phantom-green craw knock off. I've been catching a few on Bull Shoals on it including one pushing 6lbs last week in Shoal Creek. Phantom-green in the original wiggle wart was always one of my favorite colors around here.

Gentlemen, I managed to scratch a few keepers today up in the creek arms. Got bit on jig and trailer and on the wart. I had one good LMB on the jig and lost a dandy over 4lbs on the wart which came topside and threw the bait.

Speaking of beavers! They are not something you want hooked up on the end of your flyrod. Yes, I actually witnessed this nightfishing on Taneycomo several years ago. A buddy of mine somehow hooked a beaver stripping in a wooly bugger.......we saw the beaver at one point but didnt know if he was a coming or a going and it sounded like a 300lb gorilla trying to beat us down with a canoe paddle. Yeah, kinda scary when your trying to break him off with 6lb flourocarbon, wasn't very easy......LOL

Thanks Phil. That was on my hit list! I hope it is as good as hope it to be!

I'm putting in at Indian Point tomorrow around 1pm. Driving an 06' Yota (white) w 99' 374 Ranger (Burg/Silvr) in tow.........D

This was the absolute one color that was a must-have for me to try and duplicate. The Original Wiggle Wart "Missouri Crawfish" is on the bottom and "well-worn". I forgot the color #. Anyway I was down to my only two of the originals left! This one's seen its day and alot of fish! It took me quite a while to try and get the colors right, had to do alot of mixing of paints. Anyway, not 100% but I'd say an 80%+ match. I never did like the flo. orange belly on the original so yes, I did modify this one to be a bit more of a darker orange.

Well thanks guys for the remarks. I wouldn't put myself up against Tim, his a celebrity at this. I've always had an artistic side. I've been tying flies, crappie jigs, making other tackle, etc. for a long time but never got into the painting. It was something I always wanted to do but waited too long so I finally just bought the supplies, set up the bench and went at it. I actually surprised myself at how fast I took to it. These were my first two phantom craws I ever did. Plenty of research ahead of time goes a long way!

Sorry missed the attachment in the original post. Still a beginning airbrush artist and learning the curves. You can see my obvious mistake on the phantom green craw. It helps if you use the right side of the stencil for the side of the bait your working on.......LOL. Like a fish is gonna care, so I'm fishing it anyway!...........D

I wanted to say thanks for several on here who offered some tips on getting me started in custom painting my own baits. These are my first attempts at the phantom colors. I am having so much fun at this! I'm wasting too much time at the painting bench instead of the boat fishing........Dang it! Guaranteed I will have my baits ready for this spring though. But these phantoms will be thrown very shortly on the Rock. Let's say Thursday........LOL

Motoman, if I can accomplish even 1/2 of what you have here in just over a year I would be impressed with myself. Wow, great job on the crankbaits. As fine as what you would see on the shelf at Bass Pro. Thanks for your info. To you and everyone for the information share so far. I can see I am going to get addicted! If I can even do 1/2 of what you've accomplished in just over a u

Gentlemen, I have been researching this on the forum archives and have found some info but very little. Let me first say I know several of you on here do some custom work on the side and I am not looking to compete or steal any business! This is for my pleasure only. I, for years have tied my own flies, crappie jigs, etc. and have recently begun making my own bass tackle. I have an artists' eye for detail and would like to add this technique to my tackle making arsenal. Not to mention I am one of those guys who bought-in on the original warts on clearance at BPS back in the day. I have 2 370 boxes full and not many left of the good colors I like to fish. Anyway, For those of you who have experience please share. I have done alot of research on the internet but very little is actually provided on painting hard baits. Please send details. I would like to learn of the following: -your equipment(airbrush and compressor).....I am currently looking at the Iwata Eclipse series -best airbrush for fine detail and broad work -what do you use and where to find stencils for baitfish patterns, etc. -what finish remover do you use to remove paints from old baits -what's your best or favorite brand of paint -what's your favorite mix, lacquer, epoxy, etc. for topcoating your finish Well, sorry for all the questions but I trying to prepare myself to do it right the first time for ease of learning! Thank you all for your advice and comments. This will be my new hobbie all winter long! PS: Ph

Walleye fished last Fri. on Bull out of Diamond City, trolled crawler harness rigs around the area. Caught 4 walleye and they were all 17"! What the????????????.! Best part was only had one recreation boater even remotely close!......Aaaahhhh!!!!

Jerod, Thank you, I felt as though I was living in your shoes!

Very reasonable hunt! About $325 for a two day hunt, hog any size.

Glad to hear you had a great day!

job well done!

no kidding, I never expected to see that but I guess one should just come to realize that you never know what you may see on the Rock!

Gentlemen, I had one of the best mornings of topwater action ever! Put in at Cows Creek on Sat. morning. I was heaving my first spook at 5:00am. I didnt have to run far at all from the ramp. I found a bunch of fish who had shad cornered in a small cove off the end of a bluff line. I have seen some good blow ups on the rock before but not like this. I'm not talking thousands but possibly millions. I was an honest 100 yds away when I heard a piercing aggravation of crow calls like none other so I motored over to resolve my curiosity. Schooling bass had shad cornered up underneath a dock, I could hear and see the water churning 50 yds before I got there. There were probably a dozen or more crows on the dock roof and the trees divebombing the dock. Shad were flipping up on the dock walkways everywhere and easy pickings for the crow assault overhead. There was also a blue heron and a green heron on opposite ends of the dock. Well the best part ease not to mention the show was I had not stop action on a spook around that dock and cove for the next two hours. I caught an endless bag of smallies, kentuckies and those big ole' white bass. I didn't keep a one, didn't feel like cleaning any. Had a number of real quality keeper fish as well.

I guess one would say this is where a short 5' 1 weight would come in handy..........LOL........If you listen really closely you can here the guy to his right cursing him under his breath.......LOL

Just a few pointers I would throw in. 4lb test is a good rule of thumb, make sure it is NOT clear/blue flor. line!!!Areas to sit and bait fish would include: Coopers Access, downtown next to Scotty's trout docks and some more seating on down past the other end of the boardwalk. Another tip.......Please visit Lilley's trout dock. Phil Lilley is the moderator of this forum and owns Lilleys Resort. Take your business there and let them know your an OAF member, he has a great staff and they will set you up with anything you may need to catch trout. If hes not swamped he may let you fish off his dock for a bit. Phil will put you on fish. Anyway, for the rest of it. If fishing from the docks bring a lawn chair, benches not always provided! Typically, with any units running bank fishing does best with the Taney 3-way swivel rig. You can pick these up at Phils. Grab a few and 3 jars of Berkley Power Gulp eggs in the following colors. White, Chartreuse and Orange. Your good to go!, Unless Phil says the night crawler bite is better. Which maybe, some days its powerbait, sometimes its crawlers. With the powerbait put two on your hook in alternating colors. I do best with white/chart. or orange/chart. Well, I could go on and on but the above will catch you plenty of trout 365/24-7.

The beauty of Table Rock! It can change drastically from one day to the next.

Well done stump bumper. Did your water have any color to it? Were you flipping tubes or jigs?

Ooohhh, Champ I like to hear those words! This is kind of a specialized bite and only comes around so often. I am very tempted to put nothing but my crankin gear in the boat and go all out or bust. If I stick with it I should figure a pattern. To earn a quality crankbait fish is like no other for me. PS: You on the water Sat. too?