Quillback

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.

I don't think I spelled his name correctly Seems his MO in Badgerland was to run the ball behind monster linemen. Don't know much else about him. If there's any Badger followers on here maybe you can add your opinion. My snap judgement is that he's a good hire, but not a great hire. I hope he proves me wrong.

Well good luck, let us know how you do, not that I expect any secret info, just want to know if you get any. BTW they stocked Saugeye in Avalon a couple of years ago, the lakes Bio netted one at 17" this fall.

Well Trophy I'm hoping you do well so you can tell me how to catch crappie in Beaver. Have you thought about coming over here to Bella Vista and trying Avalon? 2 years ago they stocked several thousand 5" crappie in Avalon, don't know how many survived, but it's worth a shot. There's brush piles all over that lake. I caught a 17" crappie in Avalon this spring on a jerkbait while bass fishing. Released it, maybe it's still in there.

Yeah if I was appointed dictator of NCAA football, I'd organize the major schools into 8 or 6 (or whatever number) of 16 team, 8 teams per dvision, regional superconferences. Each superconference would have a championship game between the division winners, and the champions would go into a playoff system that would ultimately decide the NCAA champ.

Well I must admit I get most of my info from Jeb, my best days on Beaver have been out of the back of his boat. Sholder, if you want to give one of the Bella Vista lakes a shot one of these weekends, I'll shoot you a PM when it looks like the fish are cooperating. Fished Saturday on Lake Windsor and all we had for our efforts was 3 dinks, but maybe this cold front will get them into a winter pattern.

I'm looking forward to the Arkansas State vs Kent State game. Also the WA vs Boise State game (due to my Northwest roots, it's a heckuva matchup for that part of the country). And the K State vs Oregon game should be entertaining. I do hope ND can pull off the upset, or at least keep the score close.

It's only real if it's verified by the MDC.

A true innovator would stuff the inside of a tube with Frito bean dip, before coating the outside with Frito crumbs.

I was fishing Table Rock last Thursday with my buddy Jeb. I was up fron throwing a tube, he was in back throwing a jig, I caught 12 on the tube, he got around 10 on the jig. I wasn't dragging the tube, I was hopping it down steep chunk rock and bluff banks. I like a tube sometimes because I like to t-rig it with a light weight and get the slow death spiral effect a tube gives you on the fall, a different presentation than you get with a jig. Fish around here see a lot of jigs, not as many tubes.