Quillback

I think a lot of us are tired of the catch and release argument. But for the record, I would have liked to seen it released, however that is not what happened and there may be good reason for that.

The lakes biologist here in Bella Vista claims that the nutrients are good for the fish population for the lakes here. As far as a big system like Table Rock, I would still think so, but I don't know if the comparison holds true.

Holy Toledo! Break out the 2 oz Punch Ned.

Yessir, I think I could get in there if I really wanted to. But, as Bill Babler says, I'm not that mad at them.

Took a trip over there today too see what it looks like at 928. Not much parking lot left. Water doesn't look too bad, hard part is getting a boat in the water. Didn't see a single boat on the lake during the 15 minutes I was there.

Yeah man, what a mess.

I'm not familiar with that area - is that water coming out of Taneycomo?

Welcome! I had Basic and AIT at Leonard Wood in 1975. Haven't been back since.

Interesting. I caught the part where he says "Catch and release for public lakes is good". Then he adds, except for small public lakes. He also mentions that slot limits are the way to go (I have always thought this). Release the big ones. But all that being said, it seems what he says is mainly focused on largemouth and private lakes. Hard to apply that to a large body of water like Table Rock that has 3 species of bass. One thing I picked up that I did not know, was that a large female bass can lay eggs at multiple times during the spawn. Always thought it was a one and done deal. But it appears they only lay the eggs that reach maturity while still carrying eggs that are developing that are layed later. Another point he makes is that public lakes are managed according to politics and enforcement.

Yes that is it, Talbot.

Thanks for the report, I may give it a shot this week.

Spent some time talking to the one of the quail biologists, she works out of that CA that is about 50 miles west of Springfield, managed as a quail emphasis area - can't think of the CA name right now. But the birds are there, 12-16 coveys on average in that CA which is about 5,000 acres. She thinks the birds there are very hunter wise, they'll head into the woods to get away from the hunters and dogs, and they'll run rather than fly. Basically the birds that learn how to evade hunters survive and pass down their genes to the next batch. Most guys, including me, won't go back in those thick woods after those birds. G3 Sportsman show did a rabbit hunt with beagles on that CA, seems I remember them bagging 3 or 4.

Big ol' fish for sure. And kudos to them for releasing it.

Another way to look at it is, no habitat = no birds.

Bird biologists will tell you it is all about habitat. Hearing some scuttlebutt that there appear to be good numbers in Kansas this year. May have to give it a shot this fall.

Hopefully you will get into them.

I would think it is worth a shot, I threw a 5XD around a bit on Monday, but no bites on it, but that was before the water jumped another 7 feet. Had a couple of fish chase jigs to the boat, could be time to throw a swim jig into those bushes.

I think you guys did good to put 4 bass in the boat with the lake up almost 7 feet since Tuesday.

My mom's side of the family (Bootheel MO) fried everything, fish, beef, pork and chicken. Always made gravy from the drippings (except for the fish). Canned everything else, cream corn, beans, Crowder peas, tomato relish and fruit. That stuff was sooooo good. Times have changed.

Tough division, Pittsburgh would be in first in either of the other 2 NL divisions. The Cubs would be in first in one division, and a game out in the other.

I feel your pain. I have plenty of green tomatoes, but not a red one yet. Cucumbers are doing pretty good, made up 8 jars of pickles last week. Squash has been OK, but the squash bugs have shown up in force here also, won't be long before they destroy the plants.

Welcome!

Powerful looking fish, big tail on it.

From the Bass Blaster email: "I was out on the water by a little after 8 a.m. and decided to try one of the coves on the loop west of Viola. I was about 15 feet out from the shoreline when something made a large splash just a few feet from my boat. My first thought was a fish jumping, but it had too much of a 'kerplunk' sound to it. > "Then within seconds I actually saw the second rock arc through the air and hit just a couple of feet of where the first one did. It was a little larger than a softball and it had come from far enough back into the brush and trees that it would have taken a champion shotput thrower to throw it that far. > "...all of a sudden this huge hairy man-like thing reared up from apparently being crouched down in the brush. Judging by the fact that the 4-foot-tall bush only covered him from the waist down, he must have been close to 8 feet tall and built like a weightlifter. He was covered with dark brown hair over all of him I could see.... > "Then all of a sudden he let out with a screeching scream - that is the only way I can describe it - and reached over and grabbed a sapling that was at least 2-3 inches in diameter with both hands, shook it a few times and then snapped it like a dry twig. That's when I decided it was time to leave...."