Quillback

Ain't that the truth! I'm getting used to driving to the Big M in the dark early morning. Only good thing about it is there's no traffic. Just got to watch out for the deer.

That is one fat fish!

That brings back fond memories of my days of living in the PNW. I used to hike in to lakes in the Cascades in Washington, some amazing trout fishing at times in beautiful scenery, and more often than not you'd have the lake all to yourself.

Congrats on the boat, and welcome to the forum!

Rumor has it this creature is attracted to underwater lights. http://nwahomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=438522

I'll be interested to hear how you do. I've trolled Bandit 300's on Beaver a few years ago and caught crappie and walleye, but never have on Table Rock.

Good idea, doesn't hurt to throw something else for the fish that don't eat the big worm. I'm also thinking of throwing a fluke around docks and brush on a Jika rig.

I've been using a 4/0 Gammy EWG and a #3 split ring. The Gammy eye isn't big enough to go over the two wire part of the split ring so it has to set on the one wire part, but it works fine. That being said, I need to make some using the rps method. I'm thinking a hook manufacturer will eventually come out with a Jika rig hook, one with a bigger eye.

Jason, I was throwing the c-rig with the Monster early, until about 6 AM. Fishing it on a gravel point, throwing it up into 2 feet of water. Those bass are on that point early, feeding up. Later I tried the Jika shallow up in the buck brush, and I swim it back into deeper water. There's a lot of bream up in the buck brush and I think the bass see that beaver and think it's a bream. I did try some deep stuff off of points and nothing going on there, but to your point I probably should have tried deeper off the brush. Right before I left, I threw a cast into the water behind a dock, got snagged up, went in to try and get unsnagged and spooked a 1/2 dozen bass that were right up on the bank off the dock corner in a little shady spot. They were some solid LM's, wish I had not gotten snagged up. Maybe should have thrown a Senko around the docks also.

The day sure started off well, a good early bite on the c-rigged Ol' Monster, caught 8 or so on it, had a big fish, bigger than the 5.75 I caught yesterday right up to the boat, it made a last jump and threw the hook. Very painful. After the early bite stopped the fish shutdown for me, threw the Jika quite a bit, never got a good bite on it, yesterday they loved it, today they hated it. I'm blaming it on the bluebird skies and no wind. Picked up a few random spots on the drop shot, could not get that dialed in either. Left in disgust at 11 AM.

Thanks for the report!

Got out early again today, picked up a couple of Ol' Monster fish on the c-rig and some top water action on a Lucky Craft RC wakebait. Also did a bit of drop shotting and picked up a few doing that with a Zoom finesse worm. Decided to do some Jika fishing today, picked up a couple last time I was out on it, but I did not give it much time. I fished a creature on the Jika in flooded buck brush and around laydowns, did OK, not a hot bite but some good fish, got one that was 5.75 weighed on the Boga grip. Funny thing was, it was the last fish of the day, caught her at 1130 and I was on the trailer at 1230. Caught about 25 fish today 2nd pic is the 5.75, should have put a reel or something next to her for some perspective. Beat up tail on her, she looks like she just finished spawning. I might go again tomorrow and fish only the Jika after the TW bite dies down.

Very nice! Love to see those happy clients.

Call in sick (bass fever).

What do you guys think, should I bring some top water baits?

What do you guys think, should I bring some top water baits?

Some storms are moving into the area this morning.

Yep, when guys talk about the "Fin", they're talking about the CC Redfin.

Well a guy could always fish with barbless hooks. Not saying that I will, and a person will lose more fish, but you won't tear them up like the fish in the pics.

What has been working for me lately is first to go very early. I like to be on my favorite point by 0530. I've been throwing the Zoom Ol' Monster worm right up on the shallow water, 2 feet deep, on a c-rig, I use 1/2 oz weight. Boat is sitting in maybe 8 feet. The fish have been very aggressive on the Monster, but it only lasts for about half an hour. Then I switch to top water. If there's fish in the places you're fishing you should see topwater activity early in the AM and you should see shad flicking around. If not, I'd find another spot. Later in the morning, I've been picking up a few fish by c-rigging a small craw like a Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw or a Strike King rage craw, or Baby Rage Craw in water 15-20 feet deep. I'll usually go a little lighter, 3/8 oz on the c-rig weight while doing this. Bites are usually pretty light so hopefully you've got a set up that is somewhat sensitive. I haven't done the drop shot this year, but I'll probably start trying it next week. It does really help to have electronics that will show you fish suspended off the bottom out in the deep 20-35 foot depths. If you see them, drop it on them, no fish, move on. Zoom finesse worms, Old Purple is a great color, Plum is good. Roboworms work, Morning Dawn is a good color. Visibility in the White river arm is about 6 feet, dunno if you're fishing the clear water, if so things may be a little different.

Have to have the Allman Bros in that list. And Charlie Daniels, can't forget him. "Uneasy Rider".. I love that song.

Yeah when I was much younger I used to do the sneak out on the golf course thing. That was the best.

Or you can go out at night after a good rain, and pick them off the ground. City parks that have short grass and are well watered were always good spots to get crawlers at night. But nowadays I'm like Ham, I just go to the store and buy some.

Except in NW Arkansas.

Florida Guitar Army!