Quillback

Thanks for the report, I'll have to start leaving a spoon tied on one of my rods.

School of big gizzard shad.

Nice one, that's a very healthy bass!

Yeah I catch a crappie every now and then on a jerkbait, and they're usually nice ones. FYI for everybody, just got an email from Basstackledepot.com, they are having a 25% discount sale through Sunday. 110 McSticks for $8.62. RC STX's for $5 and change. Looks like no discount on Megabass.

Could've been those bluebills. I'll have to remember to bring the binocs next time I'm on the lake.

Had my first decent jerkbait bite this year on one of the Bella Vista community lakes, caught 8 LM, no bigguns, but most were in the 14-16" range. However, I'm proudest of this almost 15" black crappie. Ghost shad McStick was the winner today.

Yeah they flew right above the water, some of them so low that their feet were dragging.

I think we did see some grebes, but these other fowl might have been Buffleheads, I saw some today on lake Ann here in Bella Vista, and I think this is what I saw on Beaver, but they don't let you get close enough on Beaver to get a good look. Didn't know what a Bufflehead was until I looked them up today.

Fished out of Jeb's boat yesterday, we fished the Rocky Branch area, fishing was slow, we managed 8 black bass and one white. Threw just about everything at them, could not find that hot bait. Anybody know what those small ducks or waterfowl that have white undersides and kind of a dark grey or black back are? Saw lots of those in the Rocky Branch area, curious as to what they are. Quite a few eagles flying around, seems to be more every year.

Fished out of Jeb's boat yesterday, we fished the Rocky Branch area, fishing was slow, we managed 8 black bass and one white. Threw just about everything at them, could not find that hot bait. Anybody know what those small ducks or waterfowl that have white undersides and kind of a dark grey or black back are? Saw lots of those in the Rocky Branch area, curious as to what they are. Quite a few eagles flying around, seems to be more every year.

I'm wondering if the Hickory Creek COE ramp is still open, it get pretty dicey in low water. A couple of weeks ago I saw a long range forecast that called for us to have a winter like last year, relatively warm and dry.

That's not a bad day on Beaver Thumbs. If I catch 12-13 bass on Beaver in a day, I'm pretty happy.

No, they were not around docks, I did throw the Senko at a couple of docks, but no takers. A few of them came off the outside of a point on a steep, chunk rock bank, the others were in 5-10 FOW, near trees or relatively shallow rocky structure. Main drawback to fishing a weightless wacky Senko is that it takes forever to get down 10', so you can't cover much water. There are ways to weight a wacky rig, but then you get a fast sinking Senko, which may not be as effective. My guess is after this cold front, they're going to want something different, hopefully jerkbaits will start working.

I haven't had much luck on the gravel points since August. Just about every time out lately. I'll stop and drag a FB jig on a point, but can't find one with fish. Wish I could tell you where the 6 lbers are, I'm looking myself.

Saw this link on another board, wonder ow long it will take for someone to show up on that river with a "pigeon" fly tied on? http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/45134/catfish+found+to+beach+themselves+orca-like+to+catch+land+birds/

I use BC's now for WW's, plugs, SB's, and heavier topwaters. I'm more accurate with my BC, and my BC rods are technique specific for cranks and SB's. For SB's especially, you don't get the line twist issues with a BC that you'll get with a spinning rod. Working a mid or deep diving crank on a spinning rod is a chore, much easier with a BC. I do like a spinning outfit for jerkbaits, i just seem to be able to work them better with a spinning outift, but a lot of guys like to use the BC for that application.

Anyone try the new "Madflash" Wiggle Warts? Also curious as to how cold of water you guys keep fishing them in? I always thought of WW's as losing their effectiveness once the water temp drops below 50 - but I could be wrong!

Yep I agree, I like to visit BPS a few times a year myself. Love that Spring Fishing Classic, you're likely to see my digging through the Wiggle Wart sales bins looking for Phantom Green.

The Rock was mean to me today, the steep bank tube bite went away, I did not get a bite on a tube today. Same thing for the blade, Wiggle Wart, and jig. I did get a tug on a jerkbait. The whacky rig Senko saved me from a skunk, managed to boat 7 bass on it, all decent fish, including a 3 lb. LM and a 17" smallie.

Speaking for myself, I like Tackle Warehouse...

Nice boat Champ, congrats!

BTW, if you do see any flying pigs, it's legal to shoot them.

I picked up a set of BPS Redhead XPS midweight 2.0 thermals this year, been pretty happy with them so far, works well as a base layer when the temps are around the freezing level. I'll probably pick up a set of the heavier 3.0 if we start having a cold winter. One of the pluses of the BPS line is that they carry (and have in stock) the big size that I need - 2XXL long.

I haven't thrown them on TR yet, but 2 winters ago they were working well on Beaver. Last winter they didn't work at all, but I think that's due to not having a shad die-off last year because of the mild temps. If we get a cold winter and get a shad kill, I'll be throwing them.

Fished with Jeb today, we roamed from Big M up to the mouth of the Kings and went up the Kings a mile or two. Mainly we were looking for steep chunk rock banks, when we found one that looked like it had possiblities we'd stop and fish it. Had a good quantity day, not much quality, caught 30 bass, mainly 12-14" spots. Biggest fish was 2 lbs. and we may have had 4 or 5 that might have made it to the 15" mark, but not by much. Green Pumpkin tube accounted for 20 or so, the rest came on Senkos and jigs. Not much wind, but threw a blade around a couple of places where there was a breeze, but no takers on the blade. Nice day to be out, saw several eagles, not much boat traffic.