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Fished Schooner Saturday early (6:30-10AM) 2 keepers, one smallie on a redfin, and another on a Baby Brush Hog. Ran in to Captain Joe while we were workin the same flooded bushes. He was chuggin a topwater, while I was throwing a brush hog and small jig with the same results. NADA! Sunday morning was tough also, so I went back in early. Decided to go try one of my favorite main-lake points that evening and had a blast! Stayed on the same point from 6 till 7:30 PM. Mixed gravel bottom with a good stump field at 25'-28'. Started with the FB jig out deep and was getting getting pecks, figured maybe bluegill? Moved in and sat right over the stumps and threw a Gr. Punkin Fish Doctor,dipped the tail in chartreuse. Game on! Caught at least 25 with 4 keeps, 3 smallies and one huge Spot. No monsters, but all 13-17" with a lot of fight in em. And on 6 lb line and spinning tackle, it is still fun for me after all of these years! They were sitting in 15' on both sides of the point. Non-stop action for a little over an hour, and then they stopped. Switched to topwater after seeing some boils right at dark, but nothing doin.

Canadian Rig- a lindy with 5 live minnows or leeches. "Hey, hoser, what'd you catch those fish on, eh?" Hence, the original version of the "eh" rig!

There's also the : San Francisco rig- Obviously, it is a tube bait, often used in "Buddy Tournaments", where the terms Co-Angler and Life Partner are synonomous! Usually, the guy in the back of the boat has control of the Power Pole. New York City Rig-known for blue and orange hair jigs, and more hookers than a tackle box full of Alabama rigs! South Beach Rig- best lure to catch cross-bred hybrids. Only lure where both the jig and the fisherman are wearing rubber skirts! Branson Rig- a lure that was semi-popular 40 years ago, is usually red, white and blue, and still catches older fish year-round!

Kansas Rig- A lure that you lose on the first cast of a tournament in March, and you curse your SELF!

Of course, everyone is talking about the Alabama Rig. The Texas rig has been around for years, and the Carolina rig is still very popular. Got me to thinking about some other rigs that are named after other states in the US? Florida Rig-live shiner hooked to a jig made from Roland Martin's hair. (Oh, Son!) Missouri Rig- gloveless hands reaching into catfish holes, originally popularized by a guy named 'Lefty' California Rig- a "good buzz" bait, made entirely of environmentally-friendly material that is tied to spun hemp instead of fishing line. You can really cast this thing Far Out, Man! Illinois Rig- a very "fishy' method of using dead people to register for B.A.S.S. tournaments. Was originally used during the 1960 election and only catches Democrats! Minnesota Rig-a topwater bait made of an old Hamm's beer can. (It's a big-time deal der, eh?) Arkansas Rig- a cigar-shaped jerkbait, also called a "Lewinsky". Alaska Rig- what did Sarah Palin catch her fish on? I don't know, but Alaska! Hawaii rig- barb-less, grass-skirted jig with a head made from a macadamia nut. Also called a "lakahooki" Oklahoma Rig-any product endorsed by Jimmy Houston that does not catch fish, and that would be pretty much all of them! West Virginia rig-catches fish that have never been in a school Massachusetts rig-use beans for chum, and catch fish in the 'hah-bah'. Michigan rig- Kevin Van Dam in any tournament! How good is this guy? Tennessee Rig-wearing an orange and white "T" hat signed by Bill Dance and throwing a Silver Buddy on a Billy Westmoreland rod while drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels. Washington, DC rig-pretty obvious! A lot of lies about how the fishing is improving all around the country! Kansas Rig-are you kidding? Nothing good comes from Kansas!

I haven't had any problem casting the A-rig on the braid until Saturday. The braid holds water a bit, and the line was freezing and getting stiff and tacky on the reel. After tightening down the tension knob, it was better, but I felt like I was casting dock cable from a winch! I was dipping my rod about every 2-3 casts just to melt the ice on the rod guides.

I have a friend who played on the PGA Tour for a few years. Never won a Tour event, but had over $3M in earnings, and won a couple of Nationwide events. He said that there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of guys out there that can hit the shots that the top players hit. He has seen guys at Q-school, and in small tournaments that had amazing talent. He says the difference is that space between the ears, and in some cases, the time or the money to commit to it as a full-time job. I have a feeling the same could be said for the top Bass professionals? Interestingly, this same guy said he enjoys golf more now that he isn't competing for a check. Taught his kids to play, and he shows up at charity events from time to time. I have definitely seen the change in him. His temper was his worst enemy on Tour. Competition can bring out the best, or worst, in people!

'Cause the A-rig didn't do much. Went out for a few hours on Saturday. Fished from Mill Creek to just past Pt 7. Air temp in the high teens to mid to upper 20's. Steady breeze, bright sunshine . Only saw one other idiot out there. Caught 3 on the A-rig, all right about 16-17", all LM. Couldn't find the schools of shad in the creeks where I had been having good success. Caught all 3 just inside bluff ends over trees. I've never liked braid, but have been using it on the A-rig. In the freezing temps, the braid was getting stiff, and back lashes were a problem until I tightened the reel down. Very difficult to heave that thing with so much resistance! Switched to a reel with 20lb mono and it was much easier. Even was able to pull free from 2 or snags with no trouble and no lost lures. Nothin on jerkbait or jig. Sunday was much nicer day. No wind, sunny and in the low to mid 30's. Saw maybe 2 or 3 other boats. Didn't look for shad, just hit bluff ends and points with A-rig, jerkbait and jig. Had one blast the jerkbait as I was reeling it back, but no hook-up. Was going to pull out on some points with a spoon or grub, but my cable snapped on trolling motor, so I went back to dock and replaced cable with one from a motor a guy gave me several years ago. Water temps were still in the high 40's, but I guess the cold front turned the fish off? Which makes me wonder if the A-rig craze this year has been helped out by the fact that we've had more active fish in the warmer water temps this Fall and Winter? Here it is in mid February, and I'm pulling moss off of my jig?

I'm not clear on who you're pissed at? The lure manufacturers or the tournament organizations, or both? I am NOT against tournament fishing or tournament fisherman. I do think there are too many tournaments, and should be limited by the Corps or MDC according to the total number of boats on the Lake per weekend. Let me ask you this? What has been the long-term effect of tournaments on the bass population in Table Rock Lake? I don't know the answer, but I have seen dozens of dead fish on Sunday nights and Monday mornings. Do we outlaw tournaments because of that? What if was determined that tournament fisherman were primarily responsible for the spread of the zebra mollusk in Table Rock? (hasn't happened, but it could?) You contradict yourself when you complain about bottom line mentality. How many tournaments would you fish if there were no money or prizes provided by the boat, motor and tackle industries? If not for them, there primarily would be club and charity tournaments with low payouts, and many of them wouldn't survive without sponsors!

I said in my post that I have no problem with individual tournaments deciding whther to ban it or not. If MO. or other states decide to ban it, then I'm okay with that, too. But, for now, it is legal unless otherwise noted in a tournament. My attempt at humor regarding the Occupy Wall Street comparison was just that. It just sounded like the haves vs the have-nots to me. I'm pretty sure God didn't create Bass solely for the benefit of tournament fisherman! And, until there are studies that prove that the A-rig hurts the bass population, I don't see any reason not to allow fisherman to choose.

That won't work! The signal that is transmitted is an RF signal, which is inaudible, therefore can't be sent over a cell phone or any phone. The sounds you hear are just so you know it is working. I think there may be some new technology that allows you to have an app on your smart phone that will send some type of signal either similar to what Onstar does, or it has the same RF code that your fob has? My 2010 has a keyless igniton that won't allow the doors to lock if the fob is stil in the car, and won't start unless it IS in the car.

Bill Babler, Bill Beck and Pete Wenners are using it. 3 guys that are VERY generous with their time and knowledge of this Lake. 3 guys that understand and support the conservation aspect of their livelihood.

Demean was probably the wrong word? Maybe condescending is better? no matter what you try to tell me its fishing 5 baits at once. now what is it you don't understand about why I'm against it? I think by sporting what Csfishinfool is saying is it takes no skill with a rod and reel to heave 5 swimbaits out and slow roll it back. This rig is an equilizer for the average angler. good for recreational anglers, killer to true tournament fishing. I just don't know how you can say this makes you a better angler which is why we all fish to begin with.

So, you will rant and rave about it's use, but you've never tried it, and you won't discuss options that would make it "more sporting"? You take an elitist, I'm a big-time tournament fisherman attitude. You demean others for their opinion, and yet think that yours is the only one that counts? I'll bet you're a treat to fish with?

You obviously are so dead-set against this, that you failed to answer my questions. Would you be okay with an A-rig with 3 wires, 2 of them blades and a center swim bait with a hook? And would you agree that a typical double-bladed spinnerbait is 3 baits with one hook? And, would it be legal on the non-major circuits for 2 guys to be in the front of the boat, both fishing a spinnerbait?

It occurs to me that a double-bladed spinnerbait is actually 3 baits! (2 blades and a skirt) Many of us fish it with a stinger hook. The A-rig and a spinnerbait both have a head, which technically is a representaion of another bait. Would you anti A-riggers have a problem with an A-rig with 3 wires that had 2 blades, a head and only 1 swimbait with a hook and stinger? Basically an extra-large spinnerbait? 80%+ of my fish on the A-rig have been caught on the trailing swimbait or grub. Another question? Would it be legal for 2 tournament fisherman in the front of the same boat to both throw a double-bladed spinnerbait and purposely run them close together on the retrieve? That would actually be 6 baits, albeit only 2 with hooks. Thoughts?

According to my research, the 2 absolute best times to fish Table Rock is: 1.The week before you were there! 2.The week after you're gone!

This is starting to sound like an "Occupy the A-rig movement"? Seriously, I don't have a problem with banning it for tournaments. That is strictly up to the individual tournament directors. As far as I know, most have HP limits, but that doesn't mean I can't put twin 250's on my boat and go out and fish for fun! For those of you who haven't used the A-rig; please don't criticize it's use until you have gone out and thrown it all day! (kinda like the Occupy Wall Street protesters who have never had or looked for a job) If you catch so many fish that you feel guilty about it, then feel free to comment! The float n fly can also be a deadly approach at times on this lake. But, not everyone can afford to go out and buy a new 9-10' rod and super line and the fly, floats and swivels, etc. There have been times (just a few) on Table Rock that I have caught all the fish I could want on the fish doctor or got hooked up on a school of spots with a spoon or drop-shot. I never once felt guilty or called for the ban on those lures. Let this thing play out, and we'll see if the State Conservation people feel the need to change the regulations? Meanwhile, I will keep fishing it when it works, which is not all of the time or in all of the places. We keep hearing the stories about the big bags it is bringing in. We don't hear about all of the hours and casts that it didn't produce. Anybody remember what lure Dean Rojas used when he caught over 100 lbs in a 4 day tournament 10 years ago? Me neither, but I'm pretty sure those lures were not banned!

I would reserve judgement until you have actually fished this rig. It's not like you just heave it out and the fish jump on the line. Trust me, it is work! I've had fun with it, and caught some fish, but honestly, I caught more and better fish early this Summer on a baby brush hog and a tube. Tournaments will have to address this rig, I'm sure, but meanwhile, let's see how how this whole thing plays out?

Been playin with this thing the last month or so. The best combo has been: a small gold and/or silver willow-leaf blade attached to the 2 outside arms (no hook) swimmin fluke jr (white) to the longer middle arm and grub or swim fluke to the other 2 Last month, I was getting bit runnin it out from chunk rock and transition banks, and on the ends of bluffs and just inside of them Have had success lately just with a slow retrieve over submerged timber and in front of large docks. (cables are a problem, but ya just deal with it) You really need to learn the fall rate of your particular rig. I know it's exactly 18 feet on the corner of our dock, so I throw it there and count it down til I get slack. Then, when I get out over submerged timber in the creek channels, I can gauge my running depth and pull it across the top. You let this thing get in the timber and you can sometimes straighten hook, but if the wires or line get tangled, you'll have a heck of a time! Also, have been hopping it or pumping it through schools of shad or down in the fish if I see them. They hit it on the fall. Have had a few doubles and 1 triple, but 90% of the time they're biting the swimbait on the long arm. Using an old 8' telescoping flippin stick with an equally old Ambassador on 80 lb braid. I usually spray my evelets with reel magic and keep them wet so I don't groove the guides. Even if you don't catch any, after a day of chunkin this rig, you feel like you just did a Bow-Flex commercial! Hope this helps!

The loons are everywhere! In 50+ years of fishing this lake, I can't remember ever seeing so many? And the gull population down here is unbelievable. Anyone remember when the loons started showing up here? Either I didn't pay attention, or they were not here 25 years ago. Same with the eagles. It used to be rare to get a glimpse of one, but now I see several almost every day from November to March.

I have tried it with 3 arm, and 4 arm with the middle arm holding a blade. I rigged it on 2 different rods and ran it down about 3-4 ft to watch the action. The blade sure look awesome with the flash, but it looks like the turbulence caused by the blade takes away some of the action of the swimbaits on the outer arms, but with grubs, I couldn't tell? Theoretically, the more arms rigged with baits better creates the image of a school of baitfish, right? My conclusion is that I have no idea, but it seems like when they want it, it doesn't matter if I'm throwing a swimbait or grub, they jump on it. I tried the 3 arm with grubs and jiggled it up and down in 35-40 over some trees and caught 3 last week. Thinking of trying it with 3 spoons, but not sure how that will work? I'm sure having fun trying different things with it, but it seems like the best results have been running 3 swimbaits from just off the shore on chunk rock banks out to about 20 ft on a steady, medium retrieve.

Joe Bald Market has non Ethanol Premium. Not sure what they sell at What's up Dock?

Thanks for all of the suggestions! Gas line is new last year, and bulb is tight, no leaks or cracks. I use seafoam pretty regularly. Oil pump is a possibility, I guess? The thing is, it runs great once I get past idle. I put new gas in today, no ethanol, and it seemed a little better, actually? I'm wondering if the seafoam did too good of a job? I know when I put some in my riding mower, it loosened up some gunk, and then my carb needed cleaning. I took it out, cleaned it and it was fine after that. May try that on outboard?

195 200 HP Johnson has been a champ since day one. Recently, it starts rough and puts out more smoke than usual. Also notice slight odor of gas fumes at idle speed. Once I put the throttle down, it runs great. Then after I stop to fish for a while, and I crank it over it starts up right away, but then wants to die unless I put it in gear and give it gas. Other than the fact that the motor is old, any idea of what I should try? Ruled out fuel pump or plugs.