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Tom Blake wouldn't know about "Hillbilly Engineering" anyway. He is originally from Iowa. Really a good guy!

Tom Blake at Blake's Econolift. 1-888-779-5721 or cell 417-464-2111 Everyone on our dock agrees that he is the best. Reliable, fair price, and usually can get to you pretty quick. Tell him Don from Arrowhead Dock recommended him.

Pretty impressive list! Gary Klein, Rick Clunn, Tommy Martin. Was this a Senior Event? Seriously, those guys are icons! Tommy Martin has always been one of my favorites. Gary Klein was also one of the big names in Pro Bassing when it took off in the 70's and 80's. And Rick 'the old hippie' Clunn might have been the first Bassmaster to wear sandals?

We also have our own version of "Chicago-style" politics! But, instead of Lake Michigan, the bodies end up in Table Rock Lake!

Or a Lil' George? You can cast that thing a mile!

Between family gatherings and honey-do's, I fished Friday from 6 PM-8 PM, Saturday from 7AM-10AM, Sunday 4PM-7PM and Monday 7AM-10AM. Total of about 11 hours over 4 days. Fished from Point 7 to Point 9 primarily. Topwater early was unproductive for me. Couple spinnerbait fish near bluff ends and alongside docks, one a "barely". (1 keeper) Couldn't find any in the bushes. Eakins jig on ledge rock was decent, but inconsistent.(3 keepers, one about 3lbs.) Smoke Grub around shady deep-water docks worked pretty well.(2 keepers, several shorts) Best bite was FB jig real early or right before dark on main lake and secondary points in 15'-20'.(4 keepers, all 3lbs +) Major Sunshine all 4 days made it tough for me to find a good pattern?

Stone County Gazette(weekly) will deliver by mail or pick up a copy of the Stone County Gazette at a local newsstand or call 417-739-3237 for subscription information. Also try www.hwy-13.com for some local news and chat.

I use it whenever I see em bustin on top. I used to use a short steel leader with the snap on one end, and then tie the line to eye end of leader, but the straw thing seems to work better? It looks like a blood trail behind the lure and it keeps the line back and up away from the back treble!

I rigged up a new topwater bait that seems to work well for me on schooling fish. I take a Redfin, and tie on about 2-2 1/2 ft of line to back eye ring with a white 4" or 5" grub on a 1/4 oz head at the end. To keep it from tangling, I feed the line through one of those red mixed-drink straws cut in half. I put a dab of super-glue on the knot, and then another dab on end of straw. This keeps the line from tangling with the rear hook, and maybe adds something to the lure? Not as hard to cast as you might think? The redfin has a little more resistance, so I need to work it a bit faster, but the action of the Redfin is still good and it gives the grub an interesting wobble as it moves through the water. (tried it in my neighbor's pool first) Haven't had a black bass double yet, but many doubles on whites. Overall, I'd say I've caught more on the grub, including some real nice smallies. I'll try to get a picture posted.

1995 Johnson 200 on bass boat and 2002 Merc 200 on pontoon. Haven't winterized in 5+ years, not a single problem with either. Sta-bil in full tanks on both, drain all water from engine, replace lower unit oil every Fall, grease fittings, trickle charge on all batteries. I do store all of my electronics in the house. Have fished in December, January and February almost every year.

I was messin around on the dock late this morning and was watchin a couple of kids and their Dad catching bluegill inside the slips. Nothing big, but fun-size for the kids. All of a sudden I heard this huge splash and thought for sure one of the little kids fell in? I looked over and saw a huge bass clamped on to a small bluegill that the one kid was reeling in. It thrashed the water and let go of the bluegill, but I swear this fish was at least a 8, maybe a 9 pounder. Absolute monster! Yikes! Gotta figure out how to catch that one tomorrow?

Very nice Fish! Judging by the rig you're in, I'm guessing that fish was caught in deep water fishin vertical. Either that, or Mary has recently re-decorated Bill's bass boat?

I have a vegetation permit, which I just renewed. The rule is you can cut down any thing that is less than 2" in diameter at a height of 4.5 '.· Trimming of trees is prohibited. Unfortunately, that rules out most cedars, and they are the major 'view-blocker' down here. No set $$ for the fines! My neighbor was fined $11,000 over 10 years ago, and supposedly that was the landscape value of the trees he cut down? In addition, they put a 10 year moratorium on the property. Just came up for review, and they turned down his request for a permit!

As I have posted before, I had an old buddy on our dock that was always trying new and different lures and presentations. Unfortunately, he passed away a couple years ago. His favorite lure was the jig and eel. (does Uncle Josh still make those things?) Anyway, when everyone started using the drop-shot technique, he rigged up his own version. He would put a 6" curly-tail worm (blue or black, as I remember) about 18" up from his jig and eel, and drag it and hop it along. He did well, day and night, and would work it at depths of up to 40'. Most of his fish would take the worm, and sometimes he would get doubles. Kinda makes sense? The jig stirs up the bottom, and the fish comes to check it out, and sees the worm as easy pickins? Forgot all about this until T-Rock Jaws brought up the topic! Not sure how it would work for suspended fish, though?

Ditto on the black spinnerbait! I 've been using a 3/8 short-arm with single Colorado blade. I have had good luck sitting in shallow (4'-6'), throwin it out as far as I can, letting it helicopter down and then rolling it near or on the bottom all the way back to boat. A lot of my hits were on the first or second reel turn after I felt it hit bottom. I think that initial fall draws them, and when it starts to move horizontally, they whack it. Then I go back over with a 10"-12" Black or Black/Red Power Worm or Larew Salty Snake. Getting more hits on the Spinner, but bigger fish on the worm. Saw a guy in a small john boat throwin a buzz bait last week around a couple of well-lit docks. Couldn't see how big they were, but judging by the sound of the splashing, he got 2 good ones!

I'm glad someone else saw one! I thought I was goin crazy a few weeks ago when I saw what looked like a roadrunner going across our path to the lake. Although I haven't seen any this year, the pileated woodpecker is another interesting bird. These things are huge! As big as or maybe bigger than a crow, and when they start diggin for ants on a tree, it sounds like a jackhammer! When you see one, you automatically think of Woody Woodpecker. Looks just like him.

I could never figure out why I was so darn tired after a day of fishing. Even if it was cool weather, I would feel worn out, and it usually wasn't because I was hoisting so many big un's into the boat? Then I read an article a few years ago about properly hydrating your body when you are outside. Basically, it said that you should drink 8 oz of water every half hour to keep your body in good working order. Even if you're not sweating, your body loses moisture through exposed skin, whether that be your hands, neck, face, etc. Also, don't take off your shirt when it's really hot! (This is especially important for those of us over 50 and over 250 pounds, as it isn't really something anyone wants to see! If your fishing partner is female, under 35 and under 150 pounds, then it actually is highly recommended, especially if the fishing is slow!) Seriously, you should wear a light color, light material, long sleeve shirt. Dunk the shirt in the water to help keep your skin cool, and always wear a hat or cap. Since I started doing this, even as I get older, I find a have much more energy. I also usually take a couple apples and/or bananas to munch on, and some kind of salty snack. There are at least 5 obvious warning signs of dehydration to watch for. 1. If you stop sweating when it's really hot. 2. Pinch the skin on top of you hand. It should spring right back into place. If it is real slow to do so, or stays pinched, you are in trouble! 3. Your eyes will become slightly sunken into the sockets. Keep a mirror or have your partner check. 4. Dizzy, or cloudy vision 5. Your Urine has a deep yellow or orange tint. Should be clear or slight yellow tint. Dehydration alone is dangerous, but it can intensify all other ailments like heart conditions, high blood pressure, arthritis, indigestion, etc. Be careful out there!

I'm thinkin we could get great attendance at a tournament held at that ramp? Maybe a Guys and Gals format? Fishing optional!

Is there anything that can be done? Does the Water Patrol or the Corps have any regulations or restrictions on wakes? Actually, some of the worst I've seen is from the 'smaller' versions of cruisers whose operators don't know what the trim button is for? It can be very dangerous as many of you have seen. Not to mention the damage that is being done to the docks and the shorelne! Is it going to take a tragedy to get someone to address this?

Great picture! Obviously, you stayed at Schooner Creek Resort.

We caught quite a few yesterday on the gravel flat just West of the 13 bridge on the South bank at Wilderness Point. South of the docks down to the next point. Eakins and FB jigs in 12-25' and dropshot out to 40'. Mixed bag of smallies and K's. No monsters, but solid action with several keepers. If it's bright and sunny, those docks can hold some good fish, too!

Possibly a bad Redfin with a leak? Other than that: -try putting a split ring on the nose -maybe the new hooks and rings were too heavy? -hold rod tip high until it gets closer to boat, and then drop rod down to parallel or lower as it comes back.

Fished Sat and Sun from 6 Am - 10 Am each day. Throwin Redfin Sat at first light and ran into some nice whites. Wanted to quit and look for green fish, but was havin too much fun! Worked Fish Doctor and had 4 keepers and about 15 shorts. 3 of the keeps were on the outside edge of flooded bushes on main lake gravel. Other one was on a grub on gravel flat. Sunday, Redfin again, found some nice whites again, but this time I quit and moved on. Found more surfacing fish and they ate the Redfin for 15 minutes. Couple of chunky spots and 1 keeper smallie which was hooked up with his little brother? First time I've caught a double smallie! A few more shorts on the rig and a grub and one miss on a huge smack on the FB jig. Decent action, but nothin to really brag about.

Anyone want to guess what the big weekend warm-up will do to the bass? Looks like clear skies and hot the next few days. Any suggestions?