nwaoutdoorsman

Maybe a striper tried to make a meal out of him. A buddy of mine caught a spot and was reeling it in when a striper took it at the boat. He fought it awhile until the striper just let go cause there was no way to get a hook in it. It practically scaled it. It was almost unidentifiable. Just a thought. Thanks for the report. I haven't been out in two weeks. Hoping I can get out there this next week. Right now I have a few days off, but that may change.

There are a couple of places to launch in Rambo. Both are free and public as far as I know. I've launched at both, but its been several years ago. Rambo is great creek! Wish I could get out there, but I'm covered up with work. Good luck! Catch some for those of us that can't get out for a few days.

Just an idea.......I've seen tournaments that require those who participate to use a neoprene band that goes around the motor cowling for tournament identification. Not sure what they are called or where to buy. I tried to google it and find a photo, but had no luck finding one. They're about 3-4" wide and are usually fluorescent yellow or orange. They're visible for some distance. Like I said, just an idea.

You might try P-line fluoroclear. Its a fluorocarbon coated line and is very limp. I've had good luck with it on spinning reels and its not as expensive as 100% fluorocarbon lines. About half the price. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Here's a couple pics from my house. The back patio and my Aussie Bo.

Its been snowing here (Springdale, AR) since yesterday afternoon. I measured this morning and we had 6 inches on the patio table. Its still coming down hard and as far as I know its gonna do it all day. I've heard reports of 10-11" all around me. Might be deeper than I measured if I got out in the yard away from the house.

Did you ever make it up to the Clifty? Just curious how you did? I haven't been up that way at all this year but I sure would like to go give it a try. Anyone been out at all this week?

The wife and I went to the Rock today. Put in at Eagle Rock about 9 this morning and had a great day! We didn't catch anything big all day, but we made up for it in numbers. Fished bluff ends and channel swings with a jerkbait and caught several up til about 11.(threw a pro blue megabass vision 110) And then we started throwing a grub and I honestly couldn't even guess how many we caught. Seems like every point or bank we pulled on we caught 10-12. We did that all afternoon til we left about 6. Threw a 4" smake grub on a 1/4oz head. It was a great day! And I had a blast spending it with the wife watching her catch em. Can't wait to get back up there and do it again. Also caught a few on a wart. Didn't throw it alot, but probably should have.

20-30 seconds

Thats a dandy! I could have used her today myself. Or any other day! Congrats!

Fished a team tournament outta Prairie Creek today. Caught several fish with 8 keepers. Best 5 went 11 lbs even. Best fish was 2.91. Took 17lbs to win, a couple 14lb bags and 13 to draw a check. Not sure exactly where we finished but I believe 11 was good enough for 10th give or take a place. There were 59 boats. Not a bad day on Beaver, just needed a big bite and couldn't get it done. Ain't that the way it always is? Fished in the horseshoe bend/monte ne area. Fished bluff ends and flats next to ledges. Caught 'em on a blue bandit spro mcstick and a french pearl megabass vision 110. Also caught a few on a wart. Water temp was 44-46 degrees. I hadn't been in over a week and last time I was out they were relating to laydowns. I could skip everything in between and just hit the wood with a spinnerbait, but today that bite wasn't as strong. In fact, the blade bite was nonexistant for me today. They were scattered around and we had to work a little harder for what we had. Wish we could have runned and gunned a little harder and just hit the sweet spots. But it'll get better I believe in the next few days, with some warmer temps I think they'll pull back up in couple days. We need some sun! Congrats to the winners!

Topwater....LC sammy Jerkbait....Megabass Vision 110 Jig.........Bass X 5/16th oz roundball Beaver Craw with a paca chunk Grn pumpkin

Just about every jig I use has a rubber collar. I haven't had any trouble with the collars dry rotting. I do have a few jigs that I tied myself with round rubber. I have used a very light wire and also have used thread made for fly tying along with a drop of cement designed for that application. For me, its easier to tie jigs using thread. I don't tie any other than my homemade ones. The brand of jigs I've been buying are bassX and I've been very happy with them. They have a website and do mail orders. Hope this helps.

I change the hooks on mine. I use gamakatsu EWG as replacements, but any premium hook you prefer will work. I put a #4 on the front and a #6 on the back. And sometimes I use a red hook on front. I haven't decided if it makes alot of difference, so I'm not gonna swear by it, but I don't think it hurts at all.

I was over there on Friday and had a great day. We caught bass all day off beds. We caught every fish on a green pumpkin senko. I threw the 5" and my buddy threw a 4 ", but we couldn't tell any difference in one size being better than the other. I threw it on 6lb test and a spinning rod. And used an O-ring in the center to wacky hook it. I use a small drop shot (misquito) hook and just hook it under the O-ring. There are visible beds but most of those are empty. The beds that were holding fish were just almost out of sight. We were just looking for any light spot or anything that looked different in the moss. Pitch a senko over it and just let it sink. Never felt a bite all day just had to watch our line for a twitch or see it move off. Almost everything we caught was 2-3lbs with only a couple being about 10". Lots of big fish being caught we just didn't get that bite. Last weekend I talked to a guy who caught an 8lber and another guy had a 12lber. Not sure how they were caught, but I am assuming off beds as well. I think everything we caught were males guarding nests so the big females have probably pulled out and suspended a little farther in the guts of the spawning pockets. Once the senko hit the water we couldn't move it. Anytime we gave it a twitch or pulled it we never got bit. Just had to deadstick it. I hope this helps and you guys get back over there and whack 'em. I got talked into fishing a derby this next weekend, so if I get to go this week I'll be out on Beaver looking around. Gonna go there today I think for awhile and bass fish a little and crappie fish some. Good luck! On an added note, everything we caught were fat and healthy. The fish look really good in my opinion. Thousands of little 2" bream swimming everywhere so I would say thats they're main forage right now. I kept threatening to tie on a little square bill, but never did. Something like a LC RC 1.5 or 2.0 in a bream color might be worth trying.

No sir, I can't say that I've even heard of that bait, but I will keep an eye open for some at garage sales and flea markets. I wish I had several more flat warts, but like you say, they are hard to find. Thanks for the tip!

I couldnt say if the older or newer ones are better, never used the newer ones. A few years back when they were going to stop making them I bought a couple hundred. Still have a good supply. As for colors, my all time favorite is green craw V38. Also like watermelon, the older ones are a little different color than the new watermelon. And I have about a dozen that I had painted by fallcreek lures in a green pumpkin craw pattern that I like really well. Other good ones are brown craw, natural green and brown craw, green and brown phantom craw and firetiger in stained water. Its hard to pick just three. As for water temps I agree with the above. 40-65 degrees. Also, if you can find any flat warts they are an awesome bait as well.

You can store it in your fridge and it'll last a long time.

I own a few different rod brands. I have a several shimano crucials, a few falcons and a few Gloomis rods. I use to think Gloomis was the only rod to have but I really like the crucials, probably my favorites. I've sold a few loomis rods because I just didn't feel that they lived up to all the hype. JMO!

Thanks! I may give it a try.

What are the water temps in the river? I haven't fished that far up river in years, but was thinking about it since they've put in the new ramp there at the bridge. Can a guy launch a bass boat there or is a flatbottom better? I have both but sure prefer my big boat. My jon boat gets awful small with a couple guys in it. I've never walleye fished before other than catching a few while bass fishing. What types of things work for the non fly fisherman? Thanks for the report!

Its been so long since I put backing on that I dont even remember what I used. Any cheap or old line will work. As for size of backing I don't think that matters or that it has to match the line going over top of it. To tie the two together I just take the two ends, wrap around my finger and loop it thru, cinch it down, cut off the tag ends and spool on my new line. I fill my spool about a 1/4 to a 1/3 of backing. Saves alot of money if your doing several reels. The smaller the diameter the more backing you can use. It takes more 6lb test to fill a reel than 17lb test. Hope that helps!

I use a variety of lines for different applications. I use Berkley Big Game 15lb for spinnerbaits and topwaters. I use 10-15lb Berkley 100% flurocarbon for jigs, carolina rigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits, rattle traps and spoons. This year I spooled up some 6lb P-line fluroclear on my spinning rods to throw a grub, shakey head worm and senko on, but I haven't had the chance to go since I spooled it on. I heard good things about it, so we'll see. I've used braid on spinning rods and my spinnerbait rod before, but I just didn't like it. I did like the sensitivity and strength, but I didn't care for tying on a flurocarbon leader or like it around wood. Seems like with flurocarbon or mono I could pop or shake a bait loose if I got hung and with braid it just doesn't pop. Maybe its just me and my inexperience. If theres a trick I would love to hear it. I agree that fluorocarbon is over priced, but it does have more sensitivity than mono, better abrasion resistance and doesn't break down as quickly. I am very fortunate to a connection to get my fluorocarbon for free or I wouldn't be using it. I would just use Berkley Big Game or maybe give braid another try. I actually bought some power pro awhile back to try again, but ended up spooling on the fluoroclear for a try. Anyways, just a few of my opinions and experiences.

Ya'll pray for Tiffany Jolliff. She is the wife of Aaron at Hook Line & Sinker in Rogers, AR. She fell last night and broke her hip in 4 places. She isn't even 30 yrs old so this is not typical. The Dr's are testing for a possible under lying problem. She just had surgery, in fact, I just got a text from him as I type this and she is out of surgery and everything went well. She'll be in the hospital a few days and is looking at 6-10 weeks recovery. If you don't know Aaron and his wife they are the nicest people. Please remember them in prayers. Thanks!

Oh, may not have been. I really have no idea, just was taking a guess. Did you do any good? What was the water temp?