Quillback

Sweet!

When I lived in Massachusetts, while in high school and then going to college after getting out of the service, I would usually go ice fishing a few times a year. Winters are long and cold, and if you're an outdoorsman you just have to get out and do something. I was a minimalist as far as tackle, a steel pole with a chisel on the end for hacking a hole in the ice, one of those ice skimmer deals to clear the hole, and an ultralight set up. No ice shack for me. Pretty much caught panfish, - crappie, yellow perch, and bluegill on ice fishing jigs tipped with wax worms. Sometimes I would being a few tip-ups with me, bait them with shiners, and watch for the flag to go up. Almost all the fish I caught on tip-ups were runt pickerel. Can't say that I miss ice fishing, but I did see an In-Fisherman show where they were somewhere in Wisconsin, fishing for steelhead through the ice - now that looked like fun.

Was just scrolling through the reels for sale in Cabelas Bargain Cave. They have those Lexa 3000 (and other sizes) on sale for $79. I am NOT buying one as I have enough spinning reels for now, but thought I would pass it on.

I have lost WAY more than I have found. Seems like I'll pull one out of the lake a couple of times a year. Usually Flickr Shads for some reason.

I count the bass I catch, I keep a journal and note the water temp, lake level (if on a fluctuating lake like TR or Beaver), and of course note what lures and colors were fished that day. I just summed it up for this year and I caught 1,517 bass. I don't use a clicker so that's not an exact number and I don't count bass less than about 10". Probably 75% of them came from Table Rock, but also caught fish from Beaver, Swepco, and the Bella Vista lakes. I think this year I am going to spend more time throwing cranks and swim baits. probably won't catch as many fish, but I think it might produce better quality and it's fun sometimes to fish different stuff than what I normally fish. With all that being said, it sure is fun to be out on a nice warm late spring morning throwing a top water. I hope all of you are able to get out and enjoy yourselves fishing this year!

I have a bunch of those worthless Deep Little N's. Haven't caught an 8 lber on one yet. Did get a 4.5 lb. mean mouth (my PB meanie) on one. I didn't get to fish TR before the fish kill, and my biggest bass from TR is a measly 5.5 lb. LM. I have netted a couple of 6-7 lbers for guys fishing with me, and seen a few get off at the boat. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to keep fishing in pursuit of the Big One.

Thanks guys, I'll look into some type of punch-out/bait button deal.

I won't be going, but will be interested to hear the results. Good luck to ya'll that are going!

On Lake of the Ozarks. Neat to see them fishing on something local and public. Saturday afternoon on the Outdoor Channel.

I like horseradish with prime rib, but I would not want it to be real strong. "Nasal Napalm" would probably be a little beyond what I like.

Ham if you are ever over here on this side of the state the spring we'll have to go and see if we can catch some redears. There's some in a few of the Bella Vista lakes and according to the AGFC biologists there is a healthy population of them in Bob Kidd lake which is located southeast of Fayetteville and is an AGFC lake.

Picked up a jar of these trailers from TW a couple of months ago. I thought they would make a great trailer for winter jig fishing. Anyway, tried them out when I got them, threaded them on the jig hook, tried just poking the hook through once and let It hang from the bend, no matter what I did, the trailer would come off before I got the jig worked back to the boat. And it wasn't because of a bite. They look great, have good action, real soft, but just will not stay on the hook - but - maybe there is some way to rig them that they will stay on? I sent an email to slimers - no reply. Thought I would appeal to the great minds on OA to see if any of you had fished these, or had any rigging ideas. Could be something obvious that I am missing.

Picked up a jar of these trailers from TW a couple of months ago. I thought they would make a great trailer for winter jig fishing. Anyway, tried them out when I got them, threaded them on the jig hook, tried just poking the hook through once and let It hang from the bend, no matter what I did, the trailer would come off before I got the jig worked back to the boat. And it wasn't because of a bite. They look great, have good action, real soft, but just will not stay on the hook - but - maybe there is some way to rig them that they will stay on? I sent an email to slimers - no reply. Thought I would appeal to the great minds on OA to see if any of you had fished these, or had any rigging ideas. Could be something obvious that I am missing.

Same here. Good job Sprint.

Go get them Dan. Hopefully you will get those young-uns hooked up on a couple of stripers!

I wonder if it has anything to do with the Cabelas buyout. Cabelas sells Daiwa and Daiwa makes the Cabelas labeled reels.

Congrats on some nice eyes!

You're killing me! C'mon knee get better. Great fishing weather for this time of year, and some biting fish, and I am stuck indoors. And top water action too. Aiiieeeee!!!!!

Congrats on some good fishing! Looks like pretty decent weather for the upcoming week, at least for this time of year. I would think a guy might be able to get out and catch a few. Got a pretty good shot of rain last night here in BV, if it was enough in the Beaver drainage to generate some run off, that might help with the bite this week you would think.

I have more of a love-hate relationship with JB's.

Merry Christmas!

Good stuff, I will be interested to hear how you do on Beaver.

Thanks for the report, I can't wait to get back out there.

Ned rig, and the 2nd choice would be tough. I'd probably go with a worm for choice 2, but I like to throw top waters, and on the days the top water bite is on, it is hard to beat.

That's a great day, congrats!