Quillback

Launched about 7 AM today, cloudy, cold and windy which it would remain all day. Air temp was 47 when I launched, and 49 when I pulled out at 1:30 PM. My expectation was that there might be a good crank bait bite with the wind and clouds - I caught a few early on a Rapala DT 6, mostly small fish, but one LM that was around the keeper mark. Had a decent fish that grabbed the DT right at the boat, got a glance at it's back, looked to be a smallie that might have gone 3 lbs, had it on for about 3 seconds and it pulled off. Not much you can do to keep them on when they whack it right at the boat. DT bite just flat stopped, so I switched to a Menace Grub on a 3/8 oz swing head. Boated a couple of keeper sized smallies on the grub, had a couple others that I never saw but pulled like decent fish. Had one largemouth that was around that keeper mark on the grub too. The smallies were on shallow gravel that had the wind blowing parallel to the bank, and it was no gentle breeze, that wind was blowing hard where they were. Not a great day as far as numbers, boated 9 bass, 3 keepers, but it was enough to make it a fun day to be out. WT 60-61. This post has been promoted to an article

The Tide rolled for sure. Looks like they will roll right through the National Championship.

With walleye. Not a lot of the Rock lies in AR, makes sense to stock walleye in the upper White and Kings, but dunno if it would do any good to stock bass up there.

Not a fan of either team, but I hope LSU puts a spanking on Bama.

I haven't seen anyone mention bringing drinks, so if anyone is looking to bring something, wouldn't hurt to bring a couple of cases of water and some assorted soft drinks. It's pretty much BYOB as far as alcohol is concerned. Somebody could bring chips, or other snacks, maybe some pastries/doughnuts for breakfast.

Still a little too warm for him, he likes to have some snow mixed in with the rain.

Tough here on the Bella Vista lakes too, know somebody that fishes a club tourney and 10 lbs won it. It was a championship tourney with teams from 2 local trails fishing it, all some of those guys do is fish these lakes so they know them well, but from what I hear it was a struggle.

Nice white bass!

Did a search, came up with this from Wikpedia: Pickerel Creek has the name of the local Pickerel family.

I have thought about that myself, I have only seen it while whizzing by on the interstate, doesn't look like it holds much water.

Hard to beat those, but I like Spring Craw for the Crawler also. I like just about all the Rock Crawler colors. Spro did a good job there.

15 and change took it. https://www.bassmaster.com/news/obscure-crankbait-wins-7th-annual-toyota-bonus-bucks-tournament

I'll get the oil. Do we have enough fish? Should I catch any random walleye or striper between now and then, I will bring the fillets. But don't count on it, fishing has been slow lately.

Sorry to hear you aren't going to make it Duane. I'll sign up for bringing the vegetable oil, Brett would you please confirm that it is 7 gallons? Or I could bring Canola oil instead of vegetable.

That just provides more ammo. ☠️

How much oil do we need?

OK, time to find out who is bringing what. I'll sign up for plastic utensils, plates and cups. I will bring ketchup and cole slaw. It seems that Thursday night is kind of a grazing on what is available night, Friday is fish fry night, and Saturday is again up for grabs. I am also happy to bring peanut oil (I think that is what Brett uses), if needed.

That's great Little Red, wouldn't be the same without a fish fry. I'll get a food thread going.

Nice one!

Thanks for the update, I haven't been out on Beaver in over a week. we should work our way out of the tough fishing soon.

Makes even Beaver look better, LOL.

A step-by-step would be neat to see if you find the time. If I do go it will be once things get colder and the leaves are off the trees. There's a big WMA near me that was just purchased by AGFC and is now open for hunting. On the north side of Beaver, Devils Eyebrow it is called. I doubt it sees many squirrel hunters.

Congrats on a great hunt, makes me want to go out and squirrel hunt. At Jigfest you'll have to fill me in on the best way to skin them without getting that durn fur all over the meat.

From Tacklewarehouse: https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-JLWBOTRL18.html

OK guys, things are booked at both places - certainly room for a few more people if anyone out there is on the fence about coming. Talked to Miles and he said a guide was out yesterday and his client boated over 70 trout on jigs. Could be some good fishing this year!