fozzype

The link to the video below should be watched by anyone who runs a rig. We all think we know the limits of our boats, but accidents do happen. Seeing things like this really made me think. Go to the 1 minute mark to see what happens. Be careful out there. Brett

I don't want to clutter this forum, but Dad and I are headed to lake O or Truman next weekend. I know some of you guys head up there often. I need a little help. We have a large overhead and were wondering a good campground or area to stay near Warsaw. Also, is the water below Truman Dam OK for a Bass Catcher Rig? Any fishing advice would be great. We are wanting to get out of town and it has been years since we have been up there. We are on meat hunting trip for whites, crappie, etc. However, I know I will just end up bass fishing. Thanks in advance for any info.

My dad and I are coming up to upper Lake O and Truman next weekend. Can you run a bassboat behind the Dam and are there any areas a guy needs to be careful when running? Also, any suggestions on a place stay would be great. Any fishing reports up in this area? Any help is greatly appreciated. Brett

Put in at Long Creek this morning. Rather slick, very clear water above 86. From 6 AM to 9:30 AM the K's would destroy the spook. We lost count at 30 by 8:30 AM. However, the spook fish were mainly under 12". We did not catch a keeper on tops. However, you could throw the grub and the larger K's came - Ended up with 4 keeps in the 2-3 lbs range before making a dumb move. Most fish came from cuts in chunk rock or ledgey banks near the bluff ends or points. About 10 headed for the DAM area, just wanted to catch SMJs. We ended up with a few shorts SMJs and K's. Finally caugth two barey legal SMJs that on the grub. Decided to head over the Jaques Creek and throw blades in the wind - We definately had wind. Had to hold on to stay in the boat and use all 100 lbs to keep the boat off the bank. Only very short fish would hit the blade. Tried flipping the fluke in the docks and had several fish follow it up. Switched to very aggresively fishing the jerkbait and hooked up with two very large jaws 4-5 lbs, but only landed one. This was definetly the big fish bite, but it was very hard to fish the bait this hard and make accurate cast in the wind. Also, don't like throwing $30 baits around docks. Caught several more fish on this method but no more keeps. Thanks for the reports this week, they were all spot on. I would only add the K's were stacked on shadey bluff ends with transitions to water in the 20' range. The wind factor seemed not to matter on this bite. We caught several doing about whatever you want: grub, C-rig, tube, shakey head, and jig. I have a hunch the K's are in pre-spawn feeding mode due there greater than normal aggresive behavior. When you would reel them in, several would come in together - just drop the fluke and almost double up every time. Great day on the lake. Caught fish all day, but ended up with only 7 keepers. Best 5 probably around 12-13 lbs. Also, needed all 21-10" of the Coosa and a rain coat when heading back to Long Creek. Still not catching the really good ones very well but maybe I am starting to break out of my slump. Brett

The Hitch'n Post directly across from the State Park used to sell minnows. It burnt down and I am not sure if the new store is open yet. Might give them a call. If not, Cricket Creek Marina sells them - I usually ask for a couple of dozen when signing up for Marks Thursday Night Tourney. He doesn't have a sense of humor.

Nuclear Eng - You'll be upgrading the 9.9 soon. Love that senior design class, brings back bad memories. See Ya on the Rock. Brett - UMR Alumni CE 2000

The Moss is somewhat broken up in Schooner Creek, but didn't connect with much up there on Sunday. Didn't have my head together sunday either. Just one basic theme: MOSS, MOSS, MOSS,MOSS SUCKS, I HATE MOSS, MOSS BLOWS, MOSS, MOSS, MOSS !!!!!!!!

Thanks EP, I am just too hard headed. I've been up long and cricket and caught several large stringers early in the spring. But when the fish move up, I like the clearer water. Don't know why, just seem catch more quality fish there once the spawn begins. However, this year Long Creek is much clearer than it has ever been. It just seems like since the fish have moved up, I haven't been able to stay on a consistent 'big' bite. I appreciate the help, I like to fish the wind and it looks like Thusday I may get my wish (44 mph gust, I'll probably use all 36 volts. Brett

Suppose to be windy tommorow. I would find a big creek and burn the banks with whatever you want. I might not be much help with catching fish but I would stay away from big water. Flatbottoms + Wind + Mainlake = Dead T-Motor Battery Before Lunch.

Champ, I have a 520C that the antenna has just quit me. I love the graph and the GPS, However Lowrance's customer service just flat out stinks. Also, antena failure is very common in these units. Lowrance says anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 MONTHS to get the antena repaired. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I will never buy another new lowrance product. Their 20 minute wait when calling them ofter turns into hours. Emailed them and it took 5 weeks to reply. Their customer service will force me to the other side. By the way, if anybody has a LGC 3000 antenna, I need to buy one. Brett

I am on a streak of bad luck and/or bad choices. Since the fish have moved to the Bank, it seems I can't find the good'ns. Went out Thurs for a few hours to Indian Pt. with 2 keeps on the blade and several short fish on the sammy. The moss was bad and effected my great desire to fish the shakey head. Went to Kimberling on Sunday for a few hours and tried the common "ledgey" pea gravel banks that I have commonly found spawning and/or post spawn fish on for years and only 3 shorts. The moss really screwed with me. I am no pro by any means or even claim to be a very good hook. However, I know the DAM area to Cricket Creek pretty stink'n well (lived in Clevenger for 5 years) and usually can find fish and catch them in the Spring. This Spring I am flat out struggling. Can catch several numbers, but the quality fish are really inconsistent at best. I really see hope in the reports that the SMJ are picking up. They don't win much money, but there is nothing I love more to do than rip SMJ lips. I have had good luck in years past fishing for the main lake whites, but it seems like I missed them this year. Anybody else feel the same way? Anyway, enough bitching. I am going to stay in my "home waters" for the next few weeks. Really appreciate your reports on here, they give me a boost that I'll figure them out. Going to fish the next few days, I probably have some very unhelpful information.

Bill, Have to agree on the hooks, they are mean. I foul hooked several short fish on the LC Sammy yesterday with Diachi # 4 . As for you seats, I would just fix all the seats. The vinyl that comes in ALL new boats is not the quality you can buy after market. I had the same thing happen and had all my seats in my boat done for under $300. Heck that was even with some flashy colors that were extra. Try Becky at 425-7145, see did an awesome, (way better than factory) on my seats. Brett

We are putting together a little 2 man derby out of Long Creek on Saturday from 7:00 to 3:00 or so. Just an informal deal to have some fun. If anybody would be interested, jut add a post. If we can get 5 or more boats, I will post details tommorow. We are thinking $20 bucks a boat and $5 for big bass. Weigh in will be on the new courtesy dock. Several of us do this often, and it is usually a good time. I think it would be great time for a few of us to meet. Phil- Might be a good time to sell a few stickers, and no this is not a white bass tourney. Sucks for you and Vince I know.

I also fished long creek on Friday and Saturday. The fishing Friday was much better than Saturday. I saw 60.2 at the warmest and agree it is very tough in the afternoon. Had 4 keeps on Friday. Three keeps very early on a wart/blade and one later while crappie fishing on a swimming minnow. The fishing did pick up very briefly in the afternoon, about 30 minutes before the rain hit. Saturday, there were just too many people and I skinned out to flat creek (via Rte.76) to catch crappie without a single keeper in Long all morning. Did hear of a friend catching a few on grub near Brushy, but he said it was very tough. Bill, how was Taney this morning? I was just working on the new Bridge, wishing I could fish.

Go to Marine Repair in Springfield. Phone Number is 417-833-9191. These guys simply provide the best customer service of anybody and their prices will be as good if not better than others. They value their customers and have the best knowledge of anyone around.

Put in at 7:00 AM near Big Cedar. The fog was thick so I took off down the bank with a wart. Caught three 12 inchers in 5 cast. Then caught a 4-10 oz (She was fat, I thought she would only weigh 3.5 or so). Then caught 6 mean mouths (all 14" or so) on 6 straight cast. Ended up with only 3 keepers, but caught 24 shorts in the 12-14" range. After the fog lifted at 10 or so, the wart bite was basically over. Fished to 2 PM with stick, grub, fliped a jig, and dragged a rig with no takers. All in all, not a bad morning.

I think the current coming in the coves and cuts will help move them in these areas. I truly believe the dirty water coming in these cuts and creeks will bring the bait fish into these areas quickly.

I have a 25 pitch Mercury 4 Blade Trophy Plus that is 9.5/10 in excellent condition. It is on my 21' boat and I not getting enough RPMS and would like to trade for a 3 Blade Tempest Plus in 24 or 25 Pitch or Fury. Would be willing to swap out and try each others props before we commit. I would sell the prop for a little less than I could find a reconditioned one somewhere. Call Me at 417-230-0343 Thanks Brett

Add blue and white to Don's list and you have it all - Except for the 50 other colors Phil sells

A small florescent vinyl sticker 3-4" in diameter on the motor cowling would be a good identifier. It could have a OA or logo in the center and be highly visible. A vinyl sticker will peel off easy and last much longer than regular stickers. Also, I would like to get a night tournament together on Thursdays starting later this spring from the Dam Area (Moonshine or the State Park). The tourney would run from 6-11 or 7-12 as a warm up for the weekend. We fish one out of cricket creek and it seems everybody runs to the dam area. Would anybody be interested? I believe I can even get a few sponsers.

I have 8 wiggle warts and 1 wee-wart that are still in the original package. They are the realy old ones with a split ring and silver hooks. I have all the popular colors: brown crawdad, red crawdad, green fire tiger, baby bass (very rare), watermelon, and others. I simply have too many of these. T I would like to trade for some equipment or other lures. I need a new loomis,cara, or st. croix elite shakey head rod, LC square bills, LC Sammy, Spinnerbaits, or just about any tackle would be considered. I will sell them, but the whole lot will go. Email me at fozzype@yahoo.com and let me know what you have or what you would pay. Leave your number so I can call you back. Thanks, Brett

Babler is probably right about the rod. However, I have recently picked up some of the new All-Star Cranking Sticks. They are the lightest cranking stick I have ever used, they are balanced, and have excellent "fiberglass" like action for only about $ 80. Honestly, if you compare them directly to G-Loomis's cranking stick, I can see absolutely no difference in weight or action.

This weekend the whites were still stacked in the mouths of the small creeks between Beaver and K Dock. They are a little inactive, however they can be caught if you fish verticle and "piss" them off on your graph. Also, my past experience is that the the south mud banks will turn on in the late evenings if we get wind and sun. However, they can be anywhere.

On "factory" jigs, do you guys really have trouble with the rubber band breaking? On my jigs, I use a a small ziptie. These work well and are fast. Probably not the "pure" thing to do, but I am not a jig nut.

Acutal 7 lbs 6 oz, there were only 29 total fish caught. My report was actually for 3-6, the day of the tournament. Saw a lot of boats running, very little fishing. The winners took home $ 5K (team) and $ 5K for the college's bass club.