Walcrabass

I can't say for sure because I haven't been able to go for the last few weeks but....... in the past this has worked for me. Big rocks or standing timber in 20 to 35 feet of water. Should be next to deep water and preferrably deep water with current. ( Wind or otherwise.) If they won't bite big stuff then try smaller. As always....Jigs, Craws, Worms, Heavy Spinnerbaits......all fished deep. Use everything you can get your hands on to help the bite, like Craw or Fish Scent. Drag them or Short Hops until you find what they like. Oh Yeah, one other thing, FISH AT NIGHT....LIKE 9:00p.m. TIL 4:00 a.m. Use Fluorescent line and Black Lights. I gotta stop before I get started trembling from Fish Fever!!!!!

What I want to know is where are the Bass Fishing reports from "Skeeter", "Zarraspook" , and the rest of the gang. The fishing can't possibly be so bad that one of you guys doesn't have something to report.

The 11" length limit on Stockton would be great. I don't believe we need to lower the daily catch as catching 15 of the 11" fish would be a good sign of a healthy lake. I have always said that there is an enourmous amount of shad that die every winter and are never utilized as food. Maybe this resource would be consumed by more and bigger Crappie instead of becoming nutrients on the bottom of the lake. If any of you can remember the length limit was 8" on the Crappie many years ago. The fact is this simple. On lakes where there is ample food if you increase the length limit of any species of fish then you increase the size of the top end of those fish in that lake. Period. The time to increase this length is when you already have a surplus of legal fish in the lake. Like right now!!!! The truth of the matter is that by bumping the length up we could actually have a 12" limit on them like some of the Southern Lakes. I hate to bring up a sore subject but remember the 4 point rule that "Just wouldn't work in Missouri" for Deer Hunting? Well guess what.....it's working. While we are at it don't forget my desire for a slot length for the Bass either. Let's go to a "Anything between 12" and 18" must be returned to the water. Then follow with Kentuckies being in their own category and can be kept over 10". Smallmouth? They need a category too. Like nothing under 16". Just imagine a day on the water with these types of restrictions being in use for only two years. Your Jaws would drop!!!!!

Big Bay Outdoors, I made it to Stockton on Saturday about 4:45 A.M. "Night" fished for a while with Black N Red Neon Spinnerbaits. Caught one 17 " Fish. Sun was coming up and so Fished the 3/4 oz. Rebel Popper. Caught about 3 fish and another keeper. Began throwing Crankbaits in a couple different styles and colors as the fish were boiling after small shad. No Go!!! Threw Trick worms on stand up heads and caught a couple. Now the sun is up and it is getting hot. Obviously the fish are going deep. Began fishing brush piles with Bluegill Bandit, Missouri Craw, and GP Mauler 1/2 oz. Jigs and trailers. Used Craw and Fish scent. Caught fish on Deep bluffs, Big deep rock, and large standing timber. Fished until 3:30 P.M. and headed out to escape the storm. Caught 14 ( I think) Bass and had 5 keepers. Not bad for 100 degree heat and an incoming storm. Five fish might have weighed 11 pounds. Oh Yeah, I forgot.... they would not TOUCH A BIG WORM!!!!!! More proof that shorter, smaller, more compact is the way to go when they are not AGGRESSIVE!!!!!

Craw Scent made from REAL CRAWDADS. It doesn't matter who makes it as long as it is the real MCCoy. Same goes for the FISH scents. There are a lot of cover up scents on the market and they do work. I just think that the real taste is better.

Hello Night Fishermen, Here is something to think about from an old guy. Big worms are great and I love fishing them. The problem is that sometimes they just aren't aggressive enough to really inhale them. Thus the nights when you have to "wait" to set the hook. The Black and Blue Flake or Black and red flake are awesome colors. There are things you can do to improve your fishing on these nights when you are reeling in 1/2 of a worm. 1. If you insist on staying with the big worm try adding some Craw scent......REAL CRAW SCENT!!! It will make a difference in how quick they put the whole thing in their mouth and how long they hang on. 2. Try fishing with a small weight or no weight at all. It takes a long time to get to the bottom but they can inhale it with less effort. If your big worm has salt in it then sinking will be no problem. 3. If you simply want to catch more fish and bigger fish then fish with a high quality Jig with good enough hooks to get the job done. There is absolutely nothing ever invented that will catch Bass year round more consistently than a Jig. Because it is shorter than a big worm then when they pick it up they have the business end of things in their mouth. Very few times this time of year will they pick it up by the skirt. Add Craw scent to it and you have the bait of your dreams. I personally like the biggest jig they will pick up so I can have good contact with it. I use Black Neon with Black Neon Trailers. I have fished them side by side with worms and other color Jigs and this is just what I have found to work better in our waters. My last trip to Stockton was a night that the fish just weren't biting. They guy who fished with me used big Black and Blue worms and Black and Blue Jigs. He fished in the front of the boat and ran the boat. I used Black Neon Jigs and trailers and used REAL Craw scent. Our efforts for the night brought in 13 Bass and a few keepers. Every fish was caught by me. Like I said.....just something to think about from an old guy.

I am hoping for Jig, Spinnerbait, and Big Worms all being the ticket. Not asking for much am I? I noticed in the Generation Tables that Saturday is the only day they won't be running water. That could make the night a long one.

If anyone has been Fishing for Bass at Night I would appreciate some info. I am thinking about going Saturday night and haven't been for a couple of weeks. Just wondering what the fish are thinking right now. Thanks

I have said this before...... We have Hunter harassment laws..... We should have Fisherman harassment laws......We are certainly not wanting them to stop having fun......We are certainly not wanting them to impede ours. If we had these laws written it would simply be a matter of a cell phone call to report anyone that is acting wrecklessly or is causing close proximity anxiety to a person that is trying to fish. No different than someone using their car or truck to cause anger on the road. As we all know that is NOT ALLOWED!!!!

You must have the "Magic Touch". Myself and my friends have a terrible time fishing Football Heads in Jagged Rock or Brush Piles. That and the fact that I lost an 8 and a 9 pounder a few years ago because of the hooks on those Jigs straightening out is why I use the tapered nose Stand Up Jigs now. Do you have a way of rigging the circle hooks weedless? I can't imagine running one of them exposed through a good log or brushpile. We used to fish 6" Purple worms with the split shot rig as far back as 40 years ago. Just jiggle the rod tip and the tiny splt shot will make the worm dance. Great way to catch them in 6 foot or less of water.

Sixstring531, The Sticko's are a good bait. I fish them on Stand Up Jig Heads with weed guards. Also on Skirted Stand Up Jig Heads. I feel like I get a better presentation than with a weighted "Fluke" hook or a Texas Rig. Sometimes I even shorten them to make a shorter "Trailer" for my Jigs. One other note, I DO NOT USE FOOTBALL HEADS. They hang up way too much. If you are interested in the heads I use P.M. me and I will see if I am computor smart enough to answer.

Zarraspook, How deep did your crankbaits go and what color?

btlfs2 short, Thanks for the invite but weekdays for me are almost NEVER!!!! I night fish up Son's creek quite a bit. Just have to go slow and know your way around. The hard right turn that heads you towards 39 Hwy has a killer timber and big rock bank on the South side. I have caught a ton of Bass there on Worms and Jigs. I'll watch for your report.

Thanks for the report. If you could report again on your Friday trip I would appreciate it. I haven't neen fishing that portion of the lake but have been wanting to go there. I probably won't get to go until Saturday night. These fishing reports help keep a guy from having a "Dud" trip and blowing $40.00 worth of gas.

Fishbait3, My son and I are planning to go on Thursday to the "Fishermans Gathering". We probably won't make it until 6:00 P.M. or so. If you put it off until 5:00 that would help us a bunch. We will be dragging the boat and plan to fish a little afterwards. Hope the wind lays down!!!!!

Fishbait 3, I am really not trying to be dumb about this but did you say in the State Park Marina area???? This is where the cabins are rented right? I do not know where the picnic area and courtesy docks are unless the courtesy dock is the boat ramp by the Marina. If you are talking about the driveway opposite the entry to the State Park please clarify. If you are talking about the picnic area down the road from the entrance to the State Park please clarify. Thanks a bunch.

9 lb, I have to reply to your comment on the whites. This will take care of any "rough" fish you catch. In a bowl with a couple of quarts of water add your fillets. Pour in about 1/4 pound of salt. Add 1 or 2 Tablespoons of WHITE VINEGAR. Do NOT USE ANY OTHER VINEGAR!!!!!!!! Soak them in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Take them out and rinse them and the bowl real well. Put the fillets back with water only. Soak again for 24 hours. Repeat the rinsing and plain water for 3 more days. At the end of this time your fillets will be "White Meat" and you will not taste any of the blood streak in them. We eat Drum, Carp, White Bass, etc. and they are all good. We also fix our fish on the grill or in the oven on a cookie sheet sprayed with Pam. We just sprinkle on some Greek seasoning mix and bake until done. They are fantastic and NO GREASE!!!

This is a great idea!!!! I think that the 10 dollar thing is great too. Multi species is the way to go.Crappie, Bass, Walleye. Fifteen Crappie, Limit on Walleye, and Five Bass.Maybe even weigh the sacks against each other for largest stringer. Also agree about drawing for a partner as it is a great way to make a new fishing buddy. Might have the people put down for which species they wish to fish. That way you won't end up with a Crappie Ultralight fishing with an 8'0" Alabama rig in the same boat. The lunch deal sounds great and maybe charge a fee for lunch and use that money for give aways after expenses. Maybe giveaways would be donations???

Hi Guys!!, Fished on the 12th and I say the fish are definitely settling in for the summer. Caught them on Rebel Popper, Brush Hogs, Plastic Worms, Bandit Crankbaits, and of course Jigs with trailers. Fish were from 2 feet to 20 feet deep. By far did the best on Green sunfish colored Jigs with Paca Chunk in Magic Craw color. Added some Crawfish'um for taste. Literally caught 17 or 18 out of the same brush pile. Stopped fishing around noon and they were still biting but much slower. Don't know how many I caught but a WHOLE BUNCH!!!!!! No big fish but several keeper size. Reely ( pun intended) had a great morning fishing. I will try again tomorrow. Try to stay away from the tournament guys as well!!!

Brian G, I hate to say it but it is a more and more common thing for this to happen, Like I have said before we need some kind of legislation to bring this to a halt. Most of these people are just "low life types" that believe that as long as they can get by with it then it is O.K. and maybe even kind of funny. I have had it happen twice in the last few years. Once at the point of Birch Branch and once way back in Birch Branch. Just like you said, "Throwing to the bank and the guy went right in front of me WHILE I WAS CATCHING FISH, CUT ME OFF, CAUGHT SOME HIMSELF WITH HIS BACK TO ME, AND THEN WENT ON ABOUT HIS BUSINESS!!!!!! The other instance I was Crappie fishing and fishing out from the bank about 60 yards in a Cedar tree. A guy fishing about 80 yards from me ON THE BANK FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION hollered at me to let me know I was in his spot and I wasn't honoring the code of ethics. It was all I could do to keep the 21 year old males in my boat from swimming over to jerk him out of the boat. Since I figured the man was drunk or inept I simply said to him " Oh, I guess I didn't realize you were coming all the way over here to fish, we'll just leave." Always remember " There is some kind of nut waiting for you around every corner!! Thanks for not pounding the guy like he truly deserved!!!!!

Fished Saturday up Son's and around Mutton for Bass. Caught about 13. Two over 15, 10 at 14 to just under, and one 12" Water was 50 degrees. Nothing on Jerkbaits or Spinnerbaits. 3/8 and 1/2 oz. Blueish/Greenish/ or Brownish Jigs with Zoom Craws and Paca Chunks. Bite was light. Used Crawdad oil. Fish have scattered with the 70 degree temps. Don't know where to catch big ones right now. Probably some still deep on Main Lake if you have them located. If the weather holds we will be catching them on everything pretty soon.

Feathers and Fins, I agree with you totally on the tournaments in hot weather and fishing for the bedding bass. It has been scientifically studied on the effects of catching bedding bass. I have read where some of them never return to bed even if they are immediately released. Livewells can be equipped with cooling reservoirs of ice and thermostats with pumps. This definitely helps keep them alive. The problem is that when they are weighed and released they are shocked by being put back into the warm water. They need to be gradually warmed back up. One thing I would like to mention on this subject is that when fishing a tournament in Missouri in the hot months it is illegal to cull fish. Now that we have discussed this matter I think everyone knows why. How many of our tournament fishermen are honest and honorable enough to do this???? Don't know but I hope all of them!!!

I hope they are using Heavy line and Stout poles..... that thing will be hard to reel in. LOL

Hunter 91, Your humble opinion is a good one and correct as well. But I did have another thought. If the spinning wing Duck decoy really works even if only in some situations, wouldn't the Duck population have to go down just a little bit??? After all, in Hunting you don't have "Shoot and Release" like we have "Catch and Release" in fishing. Just a little humor Ha Ha!!!

Feathers and Fins, You are exactly correct with your obversations and comments..... just as mine. I like the comparison of "Bone and Gut" too. Just think of how our Professional Bass anglers would fare if they were fishing with it today. I don't think there would be very many sacks of five Bass that weighed 25 pounds. I think we need to look at other items that have been made "Illegal" for our tournament fisherman. Live Bait is one.. and for good reason.... not a lot of personal expertise involved. That is why we teach little kids to fish using it. Another that I remember from yesteryear is jiggerpoling. I haven't seen anything on it in years but it too was at least at one time "illegal" in tournament fishing. As I said I use what is necessary to compete with the others around me. I am just thinking we are losing the "Art and Knowledge of Fishing" to the Electro/Manufacturing Knowledge in Fishing" in a lot of ways. I don't think there is anyone out there that would argue that we could use our "Bigger Brains" to completely wipe out ALL the fish ( and everything else too) if we wanted, including ourselves. Just some food for thought... that's all.