gitnby

I normally agree with Champ188 on most everything he says, and he makes a good point on this thread. I don't fish tournaments, but appreciate and admire guys/gals who do. I also don't play on the PGA Tour, for much the same reasons: 1.I'm not good enough, nor do I have the time or money to devote to being good enough. 2. I enjoy the sport without the need for the competition That doesn't mean that I don't try to get better at it, whether it be a swing tip or some new fishing method. We can all thank the PGA and B.A.S.S. for most of the technology advances in both sports. Without the sponsors and the $$, we would likely still be using cane poles and persimmon woods? My question is this: How many bass are actually being caught and eaten? Versus how many fish die from poor catch n release methods, whether it be from a tournament or weekend angler? I don't know if there are any studies on this, but I would venture to say that there really aren't that many folks that catch n eat? Personally, I don't like the taste of bass. For way less then the cost of a Whopper Plopper and a day's worth of gas for the boat, I can grill a nice Tuna steak, Salmon or several other delicious choices available at Harter House. As for sharing information, this site may be the single best resource I've ever seen. Are there "eaters" on this site? Probably a few? Are there "guests" who use the info on this site for for personal gain in a tournament? Probably a few? But, for the simple task of setting up an account, anyone can get on the forum. (Unless Phil institutes an IQ test to qualify, in which case, me and several others would be banned!) Maybe I am naive, but I just don't feel it's as big of a problem as some think.

the most I saw at one time was around 7 or 8, but I didn't get in it until after 7:30PM

Is there a way to post the chat room comments? I was on it last night for a while, and there were some good discussions. Maybe the last guy to leave the chat could cut and paste and post it? Or, maybe there's a way to archive the chats?

Whenever I catch a good bass, and someone asks me how much it weighed, I say; "Just under ate" !

It's a breaker dock, to help minimize the wakes from main lake.

Had a little fun with the Min-Crusader on Saturday afternoon. Went out from 1:30 - 4:00 PM. Caught these 3 in 15 minutes just as the tournament at Port of Kimberling was checking in. They were right up on shore as the wind and boat wakes were crashing against the rocks

I have a house and slips near the 13 bridge, and fish out of an Old Town 10', which is small for fishing, but I manage. It's a sit-in model, which is a little restrictive, but I manage. Have 2 removable rod holders installed, and I use some cord and an old 5 lb hand weight for an anchor/depthfinder, when I need it. small plastic tackle box that I secure with velcro on the floor between my legs. Nothing like catching a good smallie, up close and personal, in a kayak!

Loaded at midnight? Been there! Sometimes much earlier? But, never while fishing! Okay, never while fishing in a boat! Okay, never while fishing in a boat and being the driver! Okay, not since the early 1970's!

Update on Mini-Crusader: With the bluebird skies, the TW bite wasn't as good as I had hoped, but the FB jig was a good backup bait, and it produced most of my keepers the past 3 days. No monsters, but some good SM, several barely keeper K's and 1 decent LM. FB jig was working better later in the day, and it seemed as though the fish backed off in a bit deeper water? Was sitting in 30-35' on secondary points, and targeting 18-25'. Also several on the Ned, but only 2 keeps. Only had 3 fish on the Crusader, and all were well-hooked, no misses! That thing is like throwing a Turkey drumstick, only heavier! Great action, and you can gurgle it or burn it to vary the action. 2 of the 3 bites were on surface busting fish, and the other from the corner of a shallow dock. Can't wait for the cool-down later this week!

Had Chris Berry (Houston, TX) and Mike Lavallee(Utah) pre-fishing around my dock this weekend. Had a chance to chat with both. Gave both of them some info on my favorite nearby spots & methods. (If they're smart, they didn't listen) Mike was on some fish, Chris was struggling a bit catching keepers. Both were extremely courteous, professional and engaging young men, and I will pull for both of them to do well this week! Rumor is that McClelland is on a good pattern (Wow, there's a shock!) and is the guy to beat! Apparently, Bill Beck has been working with him to find the fish. Stay tuned http://www.bassmaster.com/tournaments/2015-bass-pro-shops-central-open-3/leaderboard

GREAT POST! I love fishing from my kayak. can we see a full pic of your kayak all rigged up?

One noticable difference with the Mini Crusader is that the rear hook eye and spilt ring is covered with a hard rubber coating, so it doesn't hang down freely. I assume that is to keep hook 'in-line' while running. But, the rubber does allow the hook to move 360 degrees around main wire shaft. Be interesting to see how that affects hook-ups?

Update. got an offer for tickets to Cards-Cubs game Friday, so I left yesterday and never got out to try my makeshift whopper plopper. Decided to stop in Bass Pro in St Charles to see if they had any whoppers in stock. NOPE! However, the guy there showed me a knock off called the Tyrant Mini-Crusader. I bought 2, one in Baitfish, and one in reverse loon. $17.99 a piece Looked it up on the internet, and BP doesn't even show it on-line, and Tyrant doesn't even have a pic of it on their website? Here's the full-size one at BP, which is 6 1/2". The Mini is about 5" http://www.basspro.com/Tyrant-Tackle-Crusader-Topwater-Lures/product/10211313/ Found these pictures on a Musky Bait shop page. http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/products.php/nav_id/197/page/1/id/3248/name/TyrantMiniCrusader baitfish reverse loon also available in a few other colors. they had plenty of them in stock at BP. seems to be about the same as a whopper? not sure if Springfield store has them or not? Coming back to the Lake tonight after a Cards victory, and will fish it Sat, Sunday and Monday and let you all know if it works.

Don't have a whopper plopper, and didn't want to go get one, but I may have come up with a home-made version that'll work? I took an old Devil's Horse and removed the rear hook and cut off the rear prop with tin snips. I then took a Strike King mini buzz bait and attached it to DH with split ring, and then crimped top and bottom wires together behind the split ring to keep BB from sliding down. Bent the top wire on BB so that it was "in-line" with bait, and then bent bottom wire down to clear the blades. Had to play around a little with the angles to get it to run right, and I put a heavier hook on front and middle to counter the weighted rear? Trimmed skirt even with hook bend and it ran pretty true. The front prop keeps front end stable, but you have to get it going right away to get everything churning. I'll try to get a picture of the finished product, but it is one crazy-looking deal! Will give it a try on the water either tomorrow or Friday and let you know if it works?

Had Chris Berry (Houston, TX) and Mike Lavallee(Utah) pre-fishing around my dock this weekend. Had a chance to chat with both. Gave both of them some info on my favorite nearby spots & methods. (If they're smart, they didn't listen) Mike was on some fish, Chris was struggling a bit catching keepers. Both were extremely courteous, professional and engaging young men, and I will pull for both of them to do well this week! Rumor is that McClelland is on a good pattern (Wow, there's a shock!) and is the guy to beat! Apparently, Bill Beck has been working with him to find the fish. Stay tuned http://www.bassmaster.com/tournaments/2015-bass-pro-shops-central-open-3/leaderboard

I guess I didn't realize that they were already making bass boats? I've seen their pontoons and their 'walleye' models on the water, but I guess I missed seeing their bass boats? How do they compare to Tracker?

They make a pretty nice pontoon from what I've seen. The Sportsman 17' looks like a decent set up? http://www.g3boats.com/2016-sportsman-17 http://www.g3boats.com/sportsman-17-promo-price

Well, if Champ188 uses the word "blade", we know for darn sure he's NOT talking about a fillet knife!

My suggestion would be to go to Lake of the Ozarks or Mark Twain Lake?

I'm trying to picture that? And, I keep seeing a ZMAN Zero cut in half? What do they call that dang thing? Ummmmmmmmmm.........."Net gig"? or is it a "Bed pig"? Oh, I'll think of it!!!!

Interesting! I rarely fish it on a shakey head, but it does seem the hits happen on the initial fall? The real key is that on a split shot or C-rig, as you drag it , the weight bounces and bumps which imparts action to the bait and causes it to 'swim' up a bit. Then, as it settles back down, that's when I get the most bites. Makes sense that the slower fall at that point will get more bites?

forgot to mention that especially with the water color we have now, I LOVE to dip the tails on the green pumpkin about a 1/4" or so in chartreuse dye.

I have fished the Zoom Centipede and Fish Doctor for a lot of years. Usually green pumpkin or gr pumpkin w/red flake. Most often on a split-shot rig in 20' or less, with the split-shot 12-15" up the line. I don't disagree with anything that's been said, but I take a different approach. I'll hook it from the side so that the ridges are on one side of the hook and the flat side on the other. I rig it Texas style, put the hook (Gammy 1/0 rnd bend) all the way thru the bait and then skin-hook the point on the other side. The line twist will happen, but I think it actually helps sometimes? As the the bait falls and glides, it will actually turn over from flat side to ridge side, which gives it a nice darting action. I think on a C-rig with a large sinker and an 18" or longer leader, riggin it flat side down might be better, as it may give it a slower fall? In the end, I'm not sure if it really matters all that much on which way you hook it?

Just got this from David Casaletto at Ozarks Water Watch. OZARKS WATER WATCH