Walcrabass

Straw Hat and others, You can put out a fire, you can hide in the ground from a tornado, but you cannot stop water on the rampage..... Just ask Noah. It is very difficult for me to comprehend that these fish were allowed to be imported and stocked as we all know that flooding occurs and releases whatever is in the water to all points possible. A very sad and bad decision that we all will end up paying for in the long run. I have seen on the internet that in some places these fish are being netted etc. and their general condition is going down hill. This is due to the fact that their numbers are so high that there is not enough food for all of them....... and the other fishes that eat the same food as well. My personal outlook on all this kind of stuff is this: Any animal or fish can become an "invasive species" if proper rules and regulations are not put into effect to keep their numbers under control. Imagine where we would be if they closed Deer season for about ten years. There would not be any crops for humans to consume for themselves !!!! Just a little more "food" ( pun intended) for thought. Wally

Jas Long, You could be correct. It has always been a concern to the fishermen when they start dropping the water lever during spawning times in anticipation of more Spring rain entering the lake. You need to keep one thing in mind though....... fishermen don't really count...... or the fish......... it is all about floods, water levels, and generation. Fishing is just a by product of these events I am sorry to say. Walcrabass

MSeery, There might be a Silver lining to this situation. Lots of decaying vegetation to help nourish the lake? Spawning sites?? Wally Stickbait, Not up front..... but you need fertilizer to make the garden grow..... Wally

Zarra and Quillback, I am in agreement with you guys. Wally

MSeery, There might be a Silver lining to this situation. Lots of decaying vegetation to help nourish the lake? Spawning sites?? Wally

All - Righty !!!!, Just what I wanted to see. The Red Eye thing, the truth about the cross breeds/ meanmouth thing. The fact that the Kentuckies were STOCKED !!!! Some of the actual pictures of hybrids. The fact that the lakes are NOT a natural thing and that they distort natural fish populations/percentages. We have seen that the cross breeds are a detriment to either parent species and grow slower than either parent species. ( read all the literature that is out there) So I stand very firmly behind what I have been saying for years......... you know... all my " Kentucky Stuff". Al, Straw Hat, Wrench, ...... to you guys in particular....... thanks for the great and truthful information. You are intelligent guys !!!!

Straw Hat, Very well put..... and along with the alleles that are spoken about it all makes sense. That is why when we have fish like the Wonderful little ( please put emphasis on little) Kentuckies that you can get fish from other offspring on down the road that are far "worse" than either parent. Simply put it degrades the ancestry of both parent species. I can tell I am REALLY going to like this post. It will get very interesting before it is exhausted. Wally P.S. All of you that may have told the people taking the survey concerning the "Spots" or Kentuckies in Stockton please follow these posts carefully.

To everyone, Now we're cookin'. Wrench, I had read the article you posted some time ago. I may make some comments later on what they published. Wally

Fishnwrench, I appreciate your help on the matter. I have Googled it some already and have gotten some conflicting info. I would really like to see something form the Scientific Community written here with the testing etc. to back it up. Wally

Everyone, I would like to see some info on the Meanmouth Bass thing. I have looked up a little bit on the internet but would like to see SCIENTIFIC DATA presented by others. To my friend Straw Hat............ this should be right up your alley. I know you have the knowledge to find some data for us. Specifically I would like to see info concerning the origination of the name, the "eye color thing", and if what we call a meanmouth bass today is the same creature that it was originally. Any state biologists/university biology professors please feel free to comment. Walcrabass

Cold water sinks.......... hot water rises.......... I am saying shallow.

Skeeter, Was your comment because of the recent rain or just in general??? I can almost bet you there will be Bass caught in VERY shallow water from all this. I have caught them in less than 5 feet in normal cold winter weather before as they were hanging on some giant rock bluffs warming up on the sun drenched rocks. Wally

Resourceful yet not wasteful........ my kind of Bass fisherman....... Sure glad they didn't suspend...... I would have been in for a l-o-n-g night. Wally

Quillback, I've gotta agree. Think you nailed the pattern. Mr. Skeeter, Now you have got my interest even higher. I see the jewelers work on the bottom of the lure. I assume those are lead suspendots?? and a little bit of lead wrap too?? Please don't tell me you have made this thing suspend. Because if so I can see myself at the kitchen sink for a few hours trying to get some of them to suspend. Gotta admit this is probably a great color for Stockton. Seems like anything in the more true Crawdad colors are a hit there. Wally

Skeeter, OK, I have about 8 million Wiggle Warts but I don't have that one. Do you happen to have a model/color number ?? Seems like the "good" patterns are harder to pick up. SOunds like you had a good day...... it will be awhile before I get back to Orleans or the Aldrich direction because of holidays etc. Hope this rain doesn't knock things off too much !!!! Happy New Year and keep sending the reports. Walcrabass

And the color was???

Straw Hat, Good to hear from you !!! Have a great Christmas. I always look forward to your reports!!!! Wally

Ham, Thanks for your knowledgeable input. I believe you have saved me from using an underwater camera ( which I don't own ) or something else to find out why my Jerk Baits keep sinking lower and lower. I do fish when it is very cold. In fact there are times when I don't see another angler on my part of the lake. Kind of like it that way. Walcrabass

Ham, Gotta say I agree with a lot you are saying. I can see my FLuoro line sinking in the water column. I will do more research as to exactly why that is....... For the sensitivity? It is definitely more sensitive. I feel bites that before using it I would have never known they are there. I catch fish today in the dead of winter while Jig fishing that weren't possible for me to catch some years ago. I have noticed when fishing with others that I am getting more hits than them by quite a bit. Most of it I attribute to my set up. As for the visibility..... I remember reading that FLuorocarbon was used by Tuna fishermen because it was more invisible to their unbelievable eyesight. Sounds good enough for me !!! I need all the advantages I can get. Fishnwrench: Durability and Longevity??? I have to say too that it lasts and lasts. Don't know if they make a line lube just for it but I use Reel Magic on mine and seem to get good results. I regularly leave my 14 pound on up on my reels for a year. Yes, I use it in other sizes like 20 pound. Walcrabass

OK, So now this gets even more interesting.... I can see that there is going to be some small differences that might make some large differences. I think it is cool that Fishnwrench has already done some research on the stretch thing. I have had the observation that the Trilene XT is pretty tough and " stretchless stuff" too. I use the Trilene XL and XT in Fluorescent for my night fishing. 20 pound XT is formidable line !!! I remember from yesteryear that I used some line called Maxima. Don't know if it is still made or not. I am thinking that 17 pound Maxima was probably good enough for a replacement ski rope..... really tough stuff. Just my eyeballs.... and maybe the fishes.... but I do believe FLuoro is more invisible in the water. As I have said before, My daytime "slow: fishing lures I believe are more productive with it than mono. And so.... back to the drawing board.... or maybe research board. Wally

SMalls21, Fishinwrench, and others, Ok, now you have got my wheels really turning and I am asking myself questions. I am going to do some more critical research on this to find if my "observations" have been correct or not. I am very curious as to what the people on the Table Rock forum would have to say as I am unfamiliar with this site. Clue me in as I am always in a "Learning Mode". Wally

To All, I am using Bass Pro XPS Fluorocarbon in the 14 pound stuff. I use this with Deep Suspending Jerk Baits. I have actually tied it on hooks and tested it on scales and the break point is always in the 14 pound range. If I tie a pretty knot and wet it down good it usually exceeds it. As far as it helping the Jerk Baits to sink yes I believe it does. Hope none of this makes me an "out" or an "incast". Not trying to "Create" or "Draw" fire from anyone. Just what I have found myself. Might also say I have not used every FLuorocarbon on the market. Just a few recommended by fishing friends. After all it is expensive stuff. Walcrabass

Waterpossum, You are right about the FLuorocarbon thing. It was years before I would use it. Breaking, fraying, no knot strength etc. Now I am of a different opinion. Seguar, P-Line, and Bass Pro all seem to be pretty good. I get great knot strength on the Bass Pro. I tie the improved Cinch most times. Two times through the eye. I can tell you for sure that my slow presentation fishing ( Jigs, worms, even some top water,) have improved greatly with using it. I know.... not supposed to use it on top water.... but I do..... makes a different slop, pop, and sub surface retrieve. Fishinwrench, I am in disagreement on the FLuorocarbon being able to make a Jerk Bait sink a little. I use 14 pound Fluoro on them and I can definitely say it will make them go down. Actually gotta watch it or they will sink farther than a guy wants. Wally

Justfishing, Sorry to hear about the lower unit. I am certainly no mechanic but I have been told they are tough to work on. Good Luck to you !!!! When you are back on the water let us know how you do with your Winter Fishing !!! Walcrabass

High Tech Fishing Buddies, Here is a great idea !!! We can all get Drones to take to the lake with us. Upon arrival at the ramp we will simply wait for those " Better Fishermen" to launch. Using the Drone we will be able to follow them in complete secrecy. When they stop to fish we will simply zoom in on their Electronics screens with the Drone's camera to record their GPS coordinates. After that it is a simple matter of returning to that spot when they are not there. We'll catch all the fish and take them to our own spot to release. This is much less obvious and embarrassing than the ancient "Bent Pole" method where we simply wait for them to start catching them and then get our boat right beside them to join in on the fun !!!!! Whaddya think ??? The body is failing but the mind is still in overdrive !!!! Wally