Walcrabass

Mr. Aggressor, I am in total agreement. It is also the reason for the smaller fish being caught and not so much on the larger ones. It takes the bigger fishes body ( more meat to cool down or warm up ) longer to recover from changes. Glad to know the lake turned over. I'll stay home for a week or so. Wally

Don't know about "everywhere" but I have been finding the Thermocline in all different depths and weird places. I have even found "Pockets" of it in little depressions on the bottom. Wally

Fishingwrench, I have known many people in my life that have had a hard time believing the things in the good book. I like to point out that those "things" are also recorded in historical accounts. Not just something someone made up to have some "miraculous stories" to tell. I don't attend Catholic church but we have this church to thank for sifting through all the chapters and doing the research to prove that they were accurate. Besides all this historical proof........... what about a guy that is definitely dead........ then walks around alive again and has hundreds of witnesses that see him?? After that being said.......well the rest is history..........literally. Walcrabass

I was fortunate enough to know Jim too. A great guy. As one stated he was level headed and truly loved helping people whether in fishing or other things. People like Jim do not come along in our lives every day. Very, Very sad to hear this. Walcrabass

You guys are exactly correct. That is why I said that it takes a while for the fish to warm back up. It has to be done slowly to prevent shock. Maybe a biologist who reads this can give us a rule of thumb for Bass according to their weight as to how long it takes them to bring things back to normal. Along with the cooler water in the livewell we also have to remember LOTS AND LOTS OF OXYGEN !!!!.

OK, Here is one device. Look up Koolwell on the internet. I have never seen one of these units but it looks pretty much like it would work. I think the thermostat is the key as you could send them into "Polar Shock" if you did not have one. I personally have iced my bait and caught fish for years. It is kind of a hassle but a livewell cooler would make things a lot simpler. Wally

Also, There are articles on the internet about how to make a "cooler" for your livewell. They actually work pretty well. Still have to remember to change out the water every once in awhile to keep the fish poop to a minimum. Wally

Guys, One more thing. After the fishes body has cooled down they have to be gradually brought back up to the lake temp before being released. It takes some time. A four pound fish does not adjust quickly. This is one of the reasons that a study done showed that 40% of the weighed in fish die after being released. Putting them in the livewell and hauling them around is just really tough on them. The paper trail tournaments are the best for the fish. But then honesty can get in the way if you do not have a certified ( that is lie detector test) judge in the boat. Sorry to be the bringer of bad news.

There was a bowfishing tournament sponsored by and weigh in at Bass PRo. Talked to some guys who were fishing in it at Big M.

Here is a fish story for you Flathead guys. ( I am one of you ). Bud Leeson was running a line on the Osage and was trying to pull in an enormous Flathead. After figuring out how he wanted to put it in the boat he began pulling it to the surface. Upon getting it to the top and before he could get a gaff in the jaw it pulled off. Bud said it might have been an 80 pounder or more.When he pulled in the line it had about a 7.5 pound channel cat that was swallowed about half way. The digestive juices had pretty much bleached the skin and he tool a picture of it. It was pretty amazing. Some time after that I read where catfish were one of the favorite things for big catfish to eat. That is when I started using bullheads for bait. I cut off the pectoral fins with side cutters and hook them under the dorsal fin. They live forever on a trotline. Catch some big cats too. Nothing better than Flathead steaks fried in a skillet. Let them cool and put in the refrigerater for 24 hours. Then bake them in the oven. Knockout delicious !!!!! Making me hungry.!!!!!!!

To All, I thought it was interesting that Hack has such a good grip on anglers like us. We can't all be Bass Pros, or Race Car Drivers, or Doctors, or anything else or the world would not go around correctly. We also need to be thankful that most of us have a job and a family. I have known more than one man that lost one or both of these things due to being way too involved with his hobbies or himself, whether Bass fishing or other things. I have and have had a couple of friends that do the Pro Bass thing. It involves more driving and time than you can imagine. For me, I am thankful I can be home at night and still get some fishing done. It takes a special set of conditions, sponsors, family, etc to be able to commit to things on a big time basis. Kind of like he said in the article.........fishing is all some of them get to do. It is kind of like someone told me a long time ago....... be very careful what you wish for...... it might come true. Good Fishing ...... be careful...... be thankful.....have fun..... and also learn a little about fishing......it is the greatest sport ever invented.

Old Plug, I am politely in disagreement with you. When fishing the Carolina rig it is common to drag and stop or scoot and stop etc. It is on this stop that the bait can be easily inhaled ( if it is small enough). Since you are in contact with the weight of the rig which is on the bottom and not the Bait which may be slack due to falling after the jerk, drag, etc. then this gives the fish a chance to pick it up before you know what is going on. This is literally where the lack of positive connection between me and the bait you spoke of comes into play.Same with other lures like Jerk Baits. How many times has a guy been doing the Jerk Jerk thing and WATCHING HIS LINE CLOSELY only to find when he goes for the next set of Jerks that the fish already has the lure in his mouth. "Unfelt" bites are common especially in the colder water times and from Storm fronts. I want everyone to understand that what I am presenting is just the opinion of myself and many other anglers. It doesn't mean it is etched in stone in the Bass Fisherman's training manual. Please don't condemn what I post as something coming from a dictator or psycho. I just feel that as anglers we need to give some thought to things as they play out ( not a pun even though we are talking about fish ) during our angling adventures. Ever respectful, Walcrabass

Smithvillesteve and others, I am in complete agreement with you on the Carolina Rig thing. I have seen more Bass " deep Hooked" with that method than any other I can recall. Once again though I think a lot of it has to do with the size of the bait. Most of the people I see using it have about a 6" plastic on it. Pretty slender, pretty easy to suck in. I personally changed to a bigger lizard one time to stop the problem. I caught a lot ( that is A LOT !!!!! ) less fish but it cured the problem. The fish were a little bit bigger but I still was not catching keepers on up. Started fishing Spinner Baits and Crank Baits after that. Thanks for your input. You brought up a good point. Wallermania

Love Ya Daryk. I truly like the way you relate things together. It shows creativeness and intelligence. Always remember that all things have something in common...... it is called molecules. As long as we return to them then all things are similar. I have to agree with you wholeheartedly concerning your thoughts on this matter. Not a lot of difference in things other than size, tails, shimmy, hooks etc. Which brings us to the point that all things that are similar will do the job in a similar way. Just for the record: Wall is for Walleye, Cra is for Crappie, and Bass is for Bass. Seems like I have had this conversation before?? Please don't think I rant.... it is just not in my nature. Wal.......Cra........Bass

Fishnwrench, I am not very good at this computer stuff. I have had problems processing a PM message in the past. If you would like to try to PM me I have some friends that have an idea for a big "Ned Rig" kind of bait. Between us we have not used it a lot yet but we do know it works. It is kind of a "power/magnum" approach to a bait that is similar. I will get their contact info to you if you and I can get together through the air waves. Walcrabass

Well, Now that everyone is in a happier mood you won't believe what I found on the internet today. This guy named Ned talks about the Beetle Spin and how it was the fore runner to the ....ta da..... Ned Rig !!! I am not even kidding. Type in Ned Rig on Google and see his videos. I believe he said a guy named Chuck Wood invented the Beetle Spin and then it was morphed into the Ned Rig we have today. Talk about hitting the nail on the head and having no idea of this video !!!! Right now I am feeling kind of psychic !!! Of course if I really was I would know when to pull the Ned Rig away from small fish and keep all fish from swallowing it !!!!! The Swami, Walcrabass

Bitethis, Let's ask a MDC person to answer that question. I just remember in the back of my mind that possessing fillets on the water in Missouri is illegal. Remember that the back of my mind might go "BACK" a long time. Also remember that fish in the creeks /shallower water are easier to pass a bait in front of their noses. Jigs with Craw trailers and "Minnow" imitations can be great fish catchers. Good Luck, Wallyboy

Wow !!!! A guy just tries to pass on some food for thought and it is like a bomb goes off. I understand completely why we have some of the problems in the world that exist. Chief Grey Bear..... I have to say that you are probably a very normal person. Thanks for the mature and respectful approach you bring to this site. To all readers: lets make a deal.... when someone sends something to the site you disagree with......please send your comments without malice towards others. Unless of course it involves terrorism.... then call the authorities so they can trace it down. Man oh man, all this from a viewpoint on a fishing lure? I am in disbelief. Straw Hat, maybe you are in the right ballpark when you say we should just stay home from fishing. Maybe the highest concentration of dangerous people are anglers. Come to think of it I did get hit in the back of the head one time with a crankbait by a buddy. Maybe he was a kook and he had it planned.....hmmmmmm ! I am really sorry I sent my concerns for this bait to this site. Hope we can all get back to normal..... Sheesh !!!, Walcrabass

Bitethis, Hope you catch a ton of fish !! Canoe fishing is great !! Still do some of it myself. Be careful about your "Fish Lunch". Make sure you do not have fillets on the water. It could prove to be very costly. Wally

Everyone, I was NOT BASHING ANYONE...... I never do. I was only cautioning about a lure that I feel catches a large percentage more small bass than other lures. We all know that a fish can and will swallow even big baits at a given instance. I have fished it myself and have been in the boat with others fishing it. They were consistently catching smaller bass and so did I. When I fished with something else ( bigger ) they continued to catch smaller and I did not. As far as the treble hook thing I am glad it was brought up. I also do not fish with a lot of Crankbaits/Jerkbaits. For the same reason. A nice slender jerk Bait really goes down the gullet easily for a fish a guy might want to release. Don't get me wrong.... I DO fish with them. But if the fish are swallowing them I try another bait....like Spinner Bait, Jig, Worm, etc. to get away from the problem. I really hate killing them unless I have decided to take them home BEFORE I catch them. Yes, I do eat Bass. In fact I ate one a few weeks ago....his first name started with K and ended with entucky. Please don't list me as a complainer..... I am only trying to be a Trainer. If I was going to complain I could find much better subjects. Wally

Well here goes, The Ned Rig. Something relatively new?? How many of us remember when the Beetle Spin came out? Great fishing lure. Remember how you could get one spinner and two beetles in the same package? How many of you fished with the second beetle and no spinner? Well pat yourself on the back ..... you fished with the Ned Rig !!!! That's right. A fifty year old bait has resurfaced with a little bit of change. The one difference is we don't use the spinner. I have several friends that fish this Ned thing. I have tried it myself. The problem as I see it is that it catches far too many small Bass. Because of the normally small and light size they way too often inhale it. Unhooking them causes problems and I feel many of the fish die. Be careful fishing with this rig. If you are catching small ones it might be best for your future as a fisherman to change to something that the "Little Guys" won't be so likely to pick up. Now with all that said if they institute a separate length for the Kentuckies then find those suckers and fish the Ned like crazy. It will put lots of those 12" fish in the boat. Wall-----well...... you know

Everyone, One thing we need to remember is that Stockton is a secluded lake because of the lack of private ownership on the shoreline. Couple that with large camp grounds and it makes it easy to hide and cause trouble. A lot of people carry personal protection today, I do not blame them. I sure would not want to shoot someone, sure would not want someone to shoot me. It is a different world today and a different frame of mind needs to prevail. When I was young I would go into the National Forest, DEEP, and stay for days by myself. I would not dream of it today. I back packed in other states too. Not today without a group of back packers and person al protection. For now drugs are a way of life for many..... drugged minds do not have reasoning....... be VERY careful. When you go to the boat ramps at night take a big light, check things out before going on shore, look around vehicles before approaching them, if the boat ramp is not lit at night do NOT USE IT WITHOUT BEING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE. I have known people that have been jumped WHILE IN THEIR CARS !!! Please be careful, everyone. Always remember.... when you isolate yourself you are giving someone a huge opportunity to cause you some problems. People that live under bridges, in culverts, and off season campgrounds can be pretty desperate. Think long and hard before doing things ....especially early in the morning and late at night. Sorry, I am not a dooms day person, it is just the world we live in now. Wally

Crappie/ Crappie/ and more Crappie, All these nice sized Crappie.........13" Males !!??!! ....... what a great time to move the length up to 11" ..........actually 12 would be better. Write your conservation department guys. It is time to take advantage of this and take Stockton to the next level. Walcrabass

Trapshot and others, Thanks for sending the report Mr. Trapshot. I enjoyed reading your honest account. I just want to give everyone a little hint about the Ned Rig. As you saw you "Kept up" with it by fishing a jig. That is usually the case. They are pretty much the same speed/presentation. I have to say that the Jig is more versatile as it can be pitched for a smooth glide into the water and has a better fall when "Hopped". One major consideration for the Jig is that the hooks are usually substantially stronger that the Ned Rig hooks. The first time you have a 6 to 8 pounder open your hook up and swim away you will know what I mean. I am speaking from experience with lighter hooks. You can always fish a piece of a worm or a craw and no skirt on your Bass Jigs to get closer to the Ned Rig profile if you want. Just trying to save some crying at the boat ramp. Walcrabass

Another suggestion: Keep your Deer tag number on your mounted Deer Heads/antlers. One in the freezer too. Wallyboy