bobby b.

I bought and received today the Aqua Vu Revolution 5.0 (not the Pro version) from Aqua Vu, refurbished with a 1 year warranty for $200. I took it to my dock today in North Indian (pretty clear water) and dropped it in 18 fow - I could clearly see the fish species, so I am pleased with this purchase - it may help me understand fishing some particularly when the Garmin shows lots of fish but the bite is slow.

Yes I found shade to be important last week.

Last week I was in the brush often - Because I am so frugal (wife says cheap), I try to retrieve my Ned - last week doing is I put my first serious mark on my motor skey and after vowed to just break off rather than scratch my new (2 year old) boat ever again.

Happy b-day Randy. Bobby

I haven't been fishing due to the heat but did fish out of Cape Fair for 3 days (Wed - Fri) from about 8 am - 1 pm at the latest. Caught 15-20 fish each day mostly using Hula Stick in Watermelon Red in 0 - 7 fow on a 1/16 Ned head. Did catch some on a swim bait and on a heavy jig in 10 fow. First 2 days I went upstream of the Marina as far as Point 15 and a little into Flat Creek and the 3rd day downstream as far as Buzzard. The easiest bite was on a lay down but this generally either produced a near keeper LM or a baby bass. Only 1 or 2 short SM. WT 77 degrees. Only took one pic as the fish were unremarkable. There were less than a dozen boats the ramp each day. Very pleasant in the morning and not bad particularly if I stayed in the shade in the later morning. Bobby

Bill. Do you know what model that was?

There was a short segment on underwater cameras today on MFL fishing. It got me thinking about this again as I was fishing up the James around Piney last week. I had marked fish near the bottom at 20 fow in a stand of trees but they would not bite, and I tried a variety of baits. I even tried nightcrawlers. I did get one nice Spot and a channel cat. I stayed there for an hour thinking that a favorable solar lunar period at 11 am or so might improve things but nope. I would have liked to have known what those fish were. I remember Bill B. talk about Pete W. using a camera noting gizzard shad. I looked back at some old post here as well. So the question - What is your experience with these cameras, if any? I would like to buy a cheaper one of these - not really wanting to spend too much as I already have lots invested in boat electronics. Can you tell species at 20 fow particularly in the clearer water of the White? I was looking at the Aqua - Vu AV715C. - $350 on Amazon. Any experience with that unit? Thanks Bobby

Bill, Sounds like you are not locating fish with the graphs but rather throwing to known likely locations/areas. True? I did this some of this last year after a similar post (probably yours) but I located singles with FFS and threw past them but not really moving the boat. Really never found any schools. I will try your way soon - wife just came down with Covid so I am on kid to school and back duty for a bit. Bobby

We got 6 inches of rain in about an hour (Branson West area). Since there has been no post in this regard, maybe it was very localized. I was planning on going up the White or the James in the next day or so, so my question is was there a big rain to the west and/or is the Cape Fair area all trashed up? Thanks Bobby

Maybe you could get a room at the Bed and Breakfast for awhile. They would probably give you a good deal. 😃 Bobby

Bill, One of the challenges to retirement is deciding what to do each day. Bobby

I watched this quite a bit yesterday and am watching it again today - seems to be all about Forward Looking Sonar and throwing to what they see. Not sure I understand Wheeler with the crank baits and what depth he is in. Do you think he is cranking near the bottom or mid depth pulling fish off the bottom or throwing to suspended fish????

Randy, we caught a really nice walleye and better yet you cleaned it and gave it to me - and then gave me a Falcon rod you no longer use which I still use today - thanks again. Bobby

you're kidding, it can't be worse than Indian Point! Do the wake boats go down stream or upstream? Thanks Bill (hope you and wife are better by now) Off topic PS - a friend and his wife went on the Alaska cruise trip thing - they got off at one of the stops and were checked for Covid to get back on the boat and 16 or the 32 getting back on tested positive and were just left there being told to get a hotel or flight home. The cheapest room was $400/night and the flight was high too (I forgot) - they did not get trip insurance because it was too expensive too - $800 I think he said

I have never fished that for up the White (Shell Knob). I am curious regarding the ramp at the bridge. Does it get full (no parking left) after first light during the week this time of year. I think I read here that it does in the Spring time but how about now?? Thanks Bobby

There are only 2 types of boats on this end of the lake this time of year - wake boats and pontoon rentals from Indian Point Marina. Even with the high cost of gas, it seems to be as bad (or worse) than ever. SO SAD. Prayers for those involved in the accident and for all of us to stay safe this summer.

The Missouri State Water Patrol reports the driver of a pontoon hit a group of swimmers before the boat hit a rock bluff Sunday afternoon. The accident happened in an area known as Breezy Point, near State Park Marina.

Yes, nice. What year is your boat? Does the flasher in the dash still work? Too cool.

LOZ wanabes?

I have had some in the past be 12 inches long.

Rocker Crawler Phantom Green

Kids and grandkids here for the weekend. Lots of tubing and jet skiing - no fishing, too hot anyway. The grandkids had never had mudbugs so I got out the trap and one daughter-in-law was willing to do the cooking and preparation. I can get these under my slip day after day but am too lazy to do the work. I do like the eating though. Bobby

Carl, Lately I have the boat in my slip to reduce driving around because of the high gas prices and therefore I am more familiar with this area and can go to known spots or likely productive areas. Plus neighbors and I share information. My preference this time of year would be trailering to mid lake or the James to explore new areas and thus would result in lots more looking with the electronics. I have learned from the guys on this forum to do more searching before fishing. The winter months require lots more looking regardless. For me the FFS is the key. As others on the forum have said the FFS is the tool to not only locate fish but just as importantly to know where they are not. For me it has been an invaluable teaching tool in that if I know that fish are there it eliminates at least one of the variables so I can work on the others like type of ground, type of bait, color, presentation, time of day, etc.

Been fishing early mornings in between rains, sometimes getting wet but not intentionally. Been finding keeper SM in 10 to 15 fow on main lake primary and secondary points. Sometimes the bite starts early, sometimes later - no telling, at least for me. WT 75 deg. 1/16 or 1/8 oz Hula Stick Ned works the best. Keepers are always SM but also short Spots. SM are on a diet - nice length but they are losing weight. Heaviest fish only 3 1/4 lbs. Cooler mornings without rain are very pleasant.

Had the same thing early mornings this week - surge shad and plopper. Shad were so thick one morning I could hardly believe it. Bobby