Walcrabass

I like the knot Shaw ties in the video. I have seen others tie one somewhat like it. This makes a pretty large knot. The problem I see with Florocarbon is that it seems to be brittle. Hence the reason for it to "Coil" on Open face reels in the winter. Hence the reason for it to snap after having a kinky birds nest in your line. This of course is also enhanced by what pound test you are using. I use a knot I came up with myself but I am sure it exists as a "named" knot somewhere. Go through the eye of the hook with your line and make the "loop" just as Shaw did. Wrap the end of the line around the two strands of line as he did but 4 times. Upon completion of the 4th wrap send the end of the line through the eye of the hook again. Now take the end through the loop at the top as Shaw did. Slowly work the slack out of the knot while making sure to put some saliva on it. The knot must be "pretty " and smooth as you draw it up tight. After snugging it up then pull hard on the bottom of the hook and make it really tight. Trim off the end of the line and you are finished. I have used this knot for years and it is actually a variation of when I tied "Hangmans noose" knots when I was a kid. It is extremely strong for Floro and Mono as well. I have found that the line will break anywhere but at the knot. Just something else from "the old guy". Walcrabass

Trilene XL is unbeatable for this application. Very reasonably priced too. Sometimes Wal-Mart has close out prices this time of year as their new line is coming into stock. I have used trilene for over 40 years. Good stuff.

Kwall, If what you are saying is accurate then both ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA have seen the light. Wish we here in mo would do the same. They are killing the genetic pool of our " Better Lake Bass" in our lakes. Thanks for your comment.

In my defense...... I don't want the Kentuckies eradicated from the Earth or anything like that. I love fishing for them......in small rivers and creeks where they belong. They are built to spawn smaller and grow slower and that goes right along with smaller food supplies.... like small rivers and creeks. They just don't belong in the lakes. Walcrabass

Probably has a lot to do with the fact that there is about ten million to 1 ratio of Bass Guys to Walleye Guys too. As a side note I would recommend skillet fried Kentuckies to anyone that is hungry. Just make sure they are legal. Of course by the time they reach 15 inches they are so old that their teeth are falling out and they may be too tough for the plate. Thanks for the opportunity to get in a comment on the Kentuckies again. SOME day SOME one will grow up out of fantasy land and they will be in their own category. Of course I'll be dead by then and some younger brilliant person will come up with the idea. Winter cold has got me bored, hope it gives SOME people some time to think. Walcrabass

Kansasbassfisher08, There might be just one little problem with that. They ARE NOT LEGAL !!!!!! Walcrabass

Bass Jig Nuts, You are all correct, Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Red Flake, Contrasting colors, PB & J are all good colors. If I may let me give some of my bass jig fishing experience/knowledge. To begin with consider the time of year, water temp, and water color. Dark Jigs for dark water. If you are using Black and Blue make it really pop. Not just a Jig with some black and some blue strands. If it is cold water then slow the retrieve and down size the Jig and or trailer. Paca chunk like trailers when it is cold and longer craws or worm like trailers when it is warmer. In the Spring the Craws will have some red in them. Take the hint on your Jig and your trailer. In May and later when the Bluegill are active then use a Jig and trailer that truly looks like one. Black on top, Shimmer Blue on the sides, some scaley green, and an orange belly. Give it a Green Pumpkin trailer and you are set to fish in the daytime. Clear Water, Watermelon red Flake.... make sure it really shows up in the water, good red flake and a transparent watermelon color are the key. As for the PB and Jelly it too is a great color. A contrasting trailer on any jig can produce. After all you gotta get their attention. Green Pumpkin same way. If the Jig is Green Pumpkin and so is the trailer then dip the claws in Red or Orange dye. I have had days when this ignited the fish and I clobbered them. Watch the water. If green eared sunfish are hanging around the Bass in Spring it is because they are eating their eggs. Then throw a Green Sunfish colored Jig and put it in the Bass' nests. If you think they don't like lizards you will really be amazed at this stunt. Just one other thing. There are colors that traditionally prevail. Green Pumpkin, PB and Jelly, Black and Blue, Watermelon Red Flake are right at the top. However the best all around warm water, cold water, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter color that I have ever fished is one that you very seldom see. It is kind of a powder blue, not a dark blue. You can use any color trailer you want including Chartreuse. When the fish just will not bite I have my best luck with this one and Green Pumpkin. Ok that is all from the Old Guy Walcrabass

While we are talking about big fish........ I know of a guy that caught a Flathead while Bass fishing at Table Rock several years ago. He was fishing with Jig and Pork late at night. The only net that was in the boat was a short handled net. The fish was so big he couldn't even get it's head in the net!!!!!! He had to grab it by the lower jaw and drag it over the side of the boat. All the while his wife who had been sleeping in the bottom of the boat was yelling and screaming. The kicker to the story was that the only other fish he caught that night was a Bluegill. What a contrast !!!! That is why you just keep fishing........ something is bound to happen. I love this website !!!!! Just makes me want to go flail the water !!!!!, Walcrabass

Charliehorsejigs, You are right about my fishing partner. He is a good luck charm. I could tell hunting and fishing stories about being out with him for hours. Our families are great friends and our kids grew up together. We have had many Deer and fish dinners together. The best friends I have ever had in life are definitely the ones I have hunted and fished with. Many of them are now gone and believe me it has made a huge sadness in my life. I am telling all of you this to remind you to put your work aside and go fishing with your friends..... it all comes to an end someday. Mr. Chambers, Quite the Walleye !!!!! Hope it was mounted !!!! In 1977 I caught an approximate 31 incher. At that time pretty much a lake record for length. The fish had hollow belly real bad and it didn't weigh a whole lot. I had it mounted by a guy named Hal Mers and he did a great job. Even today the mount looks new as it hangs on my wall and reminds me of the day I caught it. Another of my fishing friends that is now gone "netted" it for me.... by cupping his arms in the water....... as we had no net. One hook barely held it in the skin of the lip after fighting it. When he dropped it in the bottom of the aluminum boat (that is right... no Bass boat in those days) the hook fell out. We used to laugh about that all the time. Several years later he caught one about the same size on a tiny Mirror lure on an Ultralight. Once again in the Aluminum boat, once again only one hook holding in the edge of the mouth, once again no net, once again cupping the arms in the water to land it....... but this time it was my arms. Great memories !!!!!! Go fish and hunt with your families and friends ......you will never regret it....... no one has ever left this world wishing he could have " just worked one more week". Walcrabass

That is why they make rock salt. Just make sure you can stop when putting the boat IN !!!!! Don't want to launch the truck too.

Quillback, You are right in that it was cool to release a big fish like that. However, I am extremely upset about my Digital scales not working. My partner had no scales to weigh with either. Sometimes things just don't hit you right and when we measured the fish it didn't dawn on me just how big it could be. If you would like to see what I am talking about then go to one of the "Bass Calculators" on the internet and punch in the size fish we are talking about. I regretfully say that I think Johnny Morris and myself would have ended up on a first name basis. The good part is that maybe I will catch a big sister to it someday......make that an even "Bigger" sister. The better part???? That maybe myself or someone else that believes that the truly bigguns make more truly bigguns may have put back the one that spawned the "Bigger" sister. Genetic Engineering can be practiced by more that just Biologists...... we have a big part in it too. Especially when they help us out with BIGGER LENGTH LIMITS etc. !!!!! Just had to get that in there, Walcrabass

This is the kind of posts I like to see. Nobody bashing each other...... just some great fishing stuff. Gets my blood pumping for another great year of throwing my arm off after a Lake Monster !!!!!

Readers, This is the same problem I had when I tried to find out the lake record for Largemouth on Stockton. Glad to hear of the 9.5 and the 9-14. I would like for you guys to send in their lengths if you have it. About four years ago I bought my first digital scale. I was fishing at night on Stockton and caught the biggest Bass of my life. When we got out the digital scale it was dead. Not batteries, just dead. It was hot summertime and I was not about to haul the fish somewhere to weigh it and then have it die so I just measured it on the Ice Chest we had in the boat. It was over 27". Believe it or not the same guy was in the boat with me as the 18" Crappie trip. Later in the same year about 2 miles from the first fish spot I caught a 26.5" Bass that I quickly returned to the water. It was extremely skinny and I don't believe it would have weighed but around 7 to 7.5 pounds. Stockton has some big fish. I just hope we can find out what the BIGGEST largemouth to date might be. Walcrabass (Boy am I gonna hear it this time !!!! )

I really hate to post this because I know what I am going to hear but I caught "around" an 18" Crappie in Stockton several years ago. That is measured with my hands but pretty darn accurate. Cut me some slack guys ..... I am just giving it to you as accurately as I can. Had a guy in the boat with me for a witness. Hope somebody comes up with the Bass Record. Wallcrabass

O.K. I have tried this before but came up empty handed. Can anyone help me find out what the Lake record Largemouth Bass is for Stockton????? Just Curious, Wally

Concerned Sportsmen, ( Sportspeople in todays language??) I am glad to see that generally those who have commented are in favor of the 11" limit on Crappie on Stockton. Also glad to see the agreement on the Spotted Bass thing. I might add that I have seen the same comments before on the average angler not being able to tell the difference in different fishes. My reply is: But we can tell the difference in Ducks and Geese when they are FLYING BY AT 100 MILES PER HOUR ??????Come on.... give us a little credit ??!!! At least give it a try. Where the Stripers are concerned it is well known that they are an Ocean fish. Therefore well known that they won't spawn in fresh water. Right???? Unless it has just a little bit of salt in it...... then they spawn just fine. There is at least one lake in the United States where they have spawned so successfully that they are stunted in the lake. They actually ask people to remove them from the lake when they catch them.....no limit......no length limit. ( Wow!!!!! I just had deja vous about the Spotted Bass thing !!!!!) Just one other thing...... they EAT A WHOLE LOT OF FOOD !!!! Happy New Year, Old Man Walcrabass

Waterpossum, All good points in your post. However, in this case we are not talking about trophy size. Or introducing a new strain or hybrid. We are just talking about bumping up the length limit in a lake that has a great food supply. I think one of the things Stockton has going for it is that it has a lot of "river" or "Creek" percentage in the total water surface area. These creeks constantly bring nutrients into the lake. Granted the lake does not have the original trees it used to have but " fertile water" feeds into the lake in several places. I too have seen the Crappie improve since pre 1980...... I just believe it could improve even more. Like I said in my earlier post.... I would like to see some facts and figures published by MDC showing us why the length limit should not be increased. Until this happens I will be in favor of an 11" length for this tasty fish where Stockton is concerned. Walcrabass

Tens_Coach and others, OK. If this is the case then I would like to hear it from MDC. I truly expect studies and recorded facts to accompany it. With the Shad population that Stockton has I would be hard pressed to believe we could not increase the length for the Crappie. Of course if we were concerned about the food supply and quality fish as a whole we could make different regulations for the Kentucky Bass........ ( Sorry but that is something that we the state of Missouri need to follow in the footsteps of other fish and game people. It is embarrassing to be led by others.......it is more embarrassing to not be open minded enough to get into the game. ) Personally what Crappie fishing I do ( which isn't a whole bunch ) I will do at Table Rock. I know the length limit there is the same but the Crappie seem to run bigger. In fact I go with a guy who basically does not keep any under 13". Not saying he catches a limit every time he goes but he does pretty good. Anyway this is all good food for thought and we need to deal with the information we receive ( I hope we get some ) without letting our personal preferences or emotions get in the picture. Hoping your Christmas Trees were filled with Fishing Tackle, Guns, Ammo, Tree Stands, Fish Finders, you get the picture, Walcrabass

Lundone, I had heard that there was some concern that too many of the Walleye were dying before getting harvested at the 18" length limit. Don't know that this is accurate I just heard it that is all. In the case of the Crappie this would not be the case. I am all for quality fish concerning the Crappie and others as well. You are right in that we would then have a whole bunch of 11" fish and things would be better. Crappie are such a "eating type of fish" that increasing their size would be very beneficial. Many of us remember the 8" length limit on Crappie in years past. It makes me have nightmares. If there is someone on the MDC that is reading this and has some good reasons as to why the length on the Crappie in Stockton should not be increased to 11" or even more please send that information to this site. We would all be grateful and hence from the information more educated. Wally

OK, if the lake is full of 10+ inch Crappie then lets all BEG the Missouri Department of Conservation to increase the length limit to 11" for 2015. There is plenty of food in the lake and it is the perfect opportunity to increase the quality of the Crappie in Stockton. After all those 10+ inchers will be 11 by the time the bite is getting good and we will have more big fish for the next year. Wallyboy

Waterpossum, Looks like your account is very accurate. The places I fished this weekend at TR the fish just were not in the timber. Instead they were in 35 to 9 million feet of water and suspended......right in the middle of the Thermocline.....no matter what depth it was. I did loop some worms and Jigs through it but no luck. Glad you did better. Fishing will be much EASIER pretty soon. Everybody will be catching them on Crankbaits and EVERYONE will be happy !!!! ugh.... that has got to be the most monotonous way to catch fish ever invented. I would much rather use the worm and Jig with the Finesse and feel that is necessary to hook one. Thanks for sharing the info, we all appreciate it. Wallyboy

Crappie Cole, So I guess you were in the Big Sac River portion of the lake South of Birch Branch??? Really surprising that you found so many bigger fish in the shallower water that far from the river entry to the lake after all this heat. Even if you were on the road that travels West by the repair shop and fished in Son's Creek that is a great trip. the last time I was up Son's Creek the Bass were still in the middle of the lake feeding on Shad on top. That has been a few weeks.

Crappie Cole, O.K. I am confused. You caught 10 Bass that weighed 3 to 5 Pounds....the average weight was 3 pounds??? And....since you listed Son Sac...... did you fish at the Motel/ Boat repair center on the highway???? Please straighten me out. If you listed the style of fishing you practiced it would also be of interest.

So can anyone report on how much rain fell on Son's Creek, Little Sac, Maze Creek, and Big Sac ????? Just wondering how much water might come into the lake to have some effect on the Thermocline.

Waterpossum, So Whatcha fishin with...????? How deep in the timber. I fished on TR over the weekend and found no fish in the timber anywhere.