Quillback

Well I think habitat improvements would definitely help, but you also have to deal with lake flutuation, habitat that is 10 feet deep in the spring might be high and dry in the winter. Something about Beaver just doesn't seem to lend itself well to healthy fish populations, too much deep water? Too much fluctuation in water level? Lack of habitat during low water times? According to the bios, fish reproduce well in Beaver in high water springs like we've had the last few years.

Yep, that's where I get my Abrazx and Invisx. 3,000 yard spool is the best value. I use floro (Abrazx, Invisix) for bottom contact stuff, weightless worm, and some cranking applications. I use mono mainly for some cranking and topwater. I also like mono for light line stuff - 4 lb. test, for throwing small shad raps or float-n-fly. With line that light I find mono to be more reliable than floro. I use geen line for mono, that way I can tell at a glance what reels have mono vs floro on them. I've been thinking of going to braid this summer for deep cranks, anybody use braid for deep cranking? I guess I could put a leader on it, but you would think with those big ol' deep cranks banging on the bottom that line visiblity would not be an issue.

Nope, nothing on the wallies. Yep I could see stocking some rainbows in the PC cove as being a good thing during the winter time, as long as they hung around and didn't scatter out into the lake. I'd also be concerned that the stripers would figure it out and get in there and clean them out. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. I've also thought they should stock cats in Lake Bella Vista (it's named Bella Vista, but it's owned by Bentonville, thus open to the public). Lots of bank access there and you see a lot of folks with kids fishing it, but not having much success, would sure help if they had a bunch of 12" cats in there.

I just read the quarterly report for the fall quarter put out by the Charlie Craig hatchery. Last fall they stock approximately 50,000 channel cats and 30,000 blue cats. These fish were reportedly 6" on average, so I would suspect there will be a relatively high number of them that make it to catchable size. They also released 500,000 crappie fingerlings from the crappie rearing pond located south of the 12 bridge. This number was one of the highest ever released for crappie, they had recently done some improvement work on the rearing ponds and this accounted for the high number of fingerlings released. Also the AGFC did some shad sampling using nets and they experienced higher catch rates for both gizzard and threafin shad, indicating a higher shad population for the lake than it had last year.

Nice ones!

Looks like Palaniuk and Pace are fishing pretty close to each other.

I like the new coverage options, I think it's great to be able to follow the tourney while it's in progress and not have to wait until the final weigh in to see how folks are doing. BUT, the estimated weights seem to be off a bit to say the least, so you still won't know until after the weigh in who will win. I haven't been on the lake, but from what you're saying it seems the spectator boats are out of control, I don't know how they can get them to back off and let these guys fish, but it sounds to me that Bassmaster is going to have to start appealing to folks to stay away, keep the electronics off, and for crying out loud, don't fish close to the pros. Show some courtesy and let these guys fish. Might be a good idea to appoint marshals like you see in golf tournaments, to go around and ask people to back off, that way it keeps the pros from having to do it and risk confrontations. I see that Palaniuk has taken the lead (based on estimated weights), but several other guys are close. May go down to the wire!

I thought maybe Pressey turned a corner after playing so well vs Florida and for most of the game vs Kentucky. But then he goes out of control in the overtime period, they are going to need him to be clutch in the NCAA's if they are in close games, he's capable, he's just got to keep it together for the entire game.

I was fondling their drop shot rods in both baitcaster and spinning versions while Jeb was talking to Gary L (I was listening with one ear). Felt like very sweet rods, dragging a bait across the carpet, I could count the individual fibers in the carpet as the bait ticked off them (OK that's a bit of an exaggeration), but they were very sensitive. It's tough for me to lay out 400 clams for a DS rod, but maybe one of these days I'll do it.

I have a couple of Humminbirds that are networked together and through the options I can select which transducer I want to use, I never have used this feature except for playing around with it when I first got my boat. That being said, it sounds as if your plan should work, I don't know what the Lowrance mounting brackets are like, but Humminbird makes quick connect brackets, so that it would be possible to have a bracket in back and one in front, you could then just pop the unit out and move it to where you wanted it. I'd think you'd probably need two transducers to make it work, but this isn't something I have researched so I don't know the details. If you have time today, run over to the Classic Expo in Tulsa, Humminbird and Lowrance both are there, with some very knowledgeable staff on hand that could show you what you need to do.

You guys are right about how popular bass fishing is in this area, I went over to the expo Friday thinking there would be people there but it would not be crowded. Boy was I wrong, the place was packed. I imagine with the nice weather today, there's going to be a lot of people there.

I had Scotty electrics for years, used them for salmon fishing in the Pacific NW. Very reliable and problem free. If you're going to get an electric downrigger, they are one of the best IMO. Can't help you out on striper locations, but this time of year there always seem to be some in the Indian creek area. Best way to find a striper is to target black bass, tie on an expensive jerkbait and work it aound the edge of the timber in the coves.

I was over at the Classic Expo yesterday with Jeb, they had monitors set up throughout the expo showing the leaderboard and the Trax deal. I mentioned to Jeb that there's going to be people all over those spots where the pros are, and those spots are going to get pounded during the tournament and afterwards. The Expo was definitely worth visiting, had long conversations with Gary Loomis, Gary Dobyns and a Shimano rep about rods. If you want to look at bass boats, most of the major players are there with all their models. Lots of outboards to look at, quite a few lure manufacturers. Spent about 4 hours there and that was enough, walked away with a bag full of stuff.

Hard to say, we got there yesterday at about 1115 (doors opened at about noon) and got a parking spot about 200 yards from the front entrance to the expo center for $8. There are quite a few lots in the area with prices running from $10 - 20 to park. I'd say if you go early you can find a spot somewhere.

I hear you guys on Pressey, he was a differsnt player than the Pressey that played AR. He's a heck of a better player if his first option is looking for another player rather than hoisting a shot. Mizzou's D played lights out in the 2nd half, seems like all FL could do was launch desperation 3 pointers as the shot clock wound down. I think that's where a noisy home crowd really comes into play, providing just enough distraction to the concentration a shooter needs to hit those 3's.

" He lets that bait set so long it starts to reproduce." That's the best one I've heard in a while, LOL! I need to start fishing my jerkbaits slower, 10 seconds on a pause is about all I can stand, but I need to change my ways.

I'm always happy to post a report, but I haven't been on the Rock for a while. I'm hoping to get out a bit more starting next week.

Some of the stuff they can't advertise at 20% off because of the agreement they have with the manufacturer, but you can call them and you'll get the discount.

That's a nice , fat smallie for a Beaver fish!

Pressey needs to take his game up to the next level. He needs to play smart, disciplined basketball. As I watched that game I kpet wondering why Mizzou wasn't taking advantage of their bigger and stonger inside game. If Pressey learns how to feed the big guys, rather than looking for his own shot, Mizzou can be tough to beat. But if they continue to play like they did vs AR, they're going to fail in the Big Dance.

Thanks Donna for the info!

Wow! Just a touch overpriced IMO.

Yeah definitely send them over to Crystal Bridges, it's free, and now one of the top art museums in the country. Gusano's pizza which has 3 locations, Rogers, Bentonville, and I believe Fayetteville. There's an American Indian museum in Bentonville also, lots of arrowheads and other artifacts to see there. Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove battlefields. I haven't been there, but I hear Har-Ber village over in Grove OK, is neat to see. And on the way to Grove you'll pass antique and thrift places. Check the U of A baseball schedule, they are currently ranked #1, might be fun to take in a game.

Even as a Hogs fan gotta admit the refs maybe were a tad favorable towards the home team. Pressey didn't play a good game either. Chippy game, physical, not a lot of X's and O's going on.

I wonder if they do a big convoy with all the rigs together with a police escort, or if they just hit the road on their own as soon as they get on the trailer?