doroger

I'm here!! Don Rogers

Guys: This is great info!! Question for those of you who are using braided line: are you using any leader, or tying directly to the jigs? Concerned about the fish seeing the line especially in the clear cold water of winter. Keep the tips coming!! Don Rogers

Eric: Could some of these "guides" been some of those who were following you, Babler, Capt. Don and others earlier this summer and caused such a fuss on this board? Would be interesting to find out. Regardless, for all licensed guides who post here, thanks for all your tips and help. I know your help has made me a better fisherman!

Bluffboy: I have fished as a Co for the last three years in the Heartland series. Heartland pairs Co's & Pro's at the meeting following the Team Tournament. I let the price of fuel and cost be my guide. I never give less than $30, and when gas was high, I gave $50. Many times my pro has said that I offered too much. I counter this by telling them to have dinner on me, or take your kids and family fishing on me. If you take care of this issue the night before, both of you can enjoy just going fishing!!!! I can say I have not had a bad draw as far as the Pro's go. Give what you think is fair and learn as much as possible on the water!! doroger

Doop: My favorite area is around Long Shoal. Marina, good launch, camping, and your choice of fishing lower Grand, Tebo, lower Osage. As far as bass, watch for the lake to rise as we have had serious rain in the Olathe area, which will all wind up in Truman. If the lake gets up, a solid pattern has been soft plastics, Beavers & tubes in small buck brushes around secondary and main lake points. Haven't been able to get much on top, but it's always worth a try. If they start to pull serious water, c-rigs & cranks on main lake points could be real strong. Keep an eye on the lake level and generation on this website for clues. This area can bee good for whites & hybrids around the main lake points early and late at the junction of the Grand & the Tebo. Also check the weir in front of the dam, this is shown on most topo maps, for whites and hybrids if they pull water. Spoons & jigs will work here. As far as crappie, they are moving out to summer patterns, main lake flats creek channels, river channels with timber. Last week, they would hit black & chartreuse tubes about 10 ft down regardless of area. Keep moving from tree to tree, you won't catch more than 1-2 per tree, but I caught some real nice sized ones last week. Hope you have a great trip, hope this leads you in the right direction!!

Monday, Tuesday on Truman. Good bite in flooded brushy tops in 5-7 ft of water. Fished the Long Shoal area, didn't burn but about 5 gals of gas both days. Look on main lake points, first couple of secondary points with bushes. Wind seemed to help. couldn't get anything on top or with spinnerbait. Baits of choice were Sweet Beavers and tubes, black & red flake, green pumpkin. Fish on Monday were males protecting fry, Tuesday better quality females starting to show up. Best 5 on Monday would have weighed around 13-14 lbs. Best 5 on Tuesday around 16-17 lbs, biggest of the trip 5 lbs. Water color in this area good stain, temps mid 70's. Good luck, hope this helps!!

With all this high water, can someone explain how and where the current breaks will form when the lake starts to drop due to release? When water is being pulled through the dam, will the majority of the current still be in the river bed, or does it free flow across the lake? How do you determine where the most current will be? I ask because of all the high water, we may be looking at some good fishing in our lakes with all the high water.

Check out the Loomis Shakey Head model also, the same price, that's the one I bought over the Bronzeback model. Little different power curve, but so far have used it for shakey heads, floating worms, & drop shot with much success. Whichever model you choose, yo will be buying the best.

i would take them all to a qualified reel repair shop. They should be able to get them back to like factory new reels. Cheaper than replacing them all. Let the corks dry on your rods, lightly sand, like new! Glad you got most of your gear back.

Check out the Loomis Shakey Head model. Bought one last year, great for both techniques, has plenty of backbone and for me just the right tip action.

Hey everybody! I've been visiting this board for few months now, and like most people who visit, what a great place for info about Missouri. I really enjoy reading all the posts, and have found some great tips, techniques, and patterns to try on the lakes I visit. Keep the news coming, I'll try to contribute when I can. Special shout to Babbler, great TRock info!!!