Dutch

A friend took me down there today to do a little bass fishing. It was quite slow for us but he managed this eye on a tube. I measured just over 25" and weighed 6.25#.

You may have to wait till next spring unless some of the eyes guys post up.

Wayne with Stockton being 4' over pool there are a lot more banks with brush out in the water than there are clear banks. I for one would go to Hawker and pick a nice flat spot to camp instead of busting brush just to find a place to sleep.

He'll have all the solitude that he wants at Hawker's. I doubt anyone else will be there. Cedar Ridge and Rouark East get the shoulder season guests.

As far as I know Hawker like other Stockton COE sites is in the shoulder season. Electricity is on but the water is shut off. Camping is like $5 per night.

Powerdrive is the main walleye guru around here.

6 of us did a test in cold water one time. A friend and I used braid and the other 4 used mono. We suffered a severe beatdown that day. Since then I use a leader in cold water and clear water. I have a love hate with the stuff, love it on spinnerbaits and A rigs but hate it on anything with treble hooks.

That would be tresspassing on government property. I think I'd go to the state park ramps before I'd risk that.

Justin said this should not have any effect on State Park ramps or the marina side of Mutton Creek. There are also ramps in the backs of coves down by the dam and up by Cedar Ridge.

The Little Sac will probably be rough since it lays to the nw. I have been fishing there the last few days and it has been kind of slow for me. Fish seem to be about 12' deep close to points but that will probably change.

Those should work find. Spray a cloth and wipe with WD-40 and it will help keep them from reforming.

You might look into the one by Lighfoot Landing. I can't remember the name of it but they have long term camping and a boat dock right there by the ramp. I think it might be called Goodies but I am not sure.

I'm not sure that I understand everything here. Is that a tld Shimano reel? And do you mean $150?

I'd go down there and show you around but I'm going to be out of town for quite a while starting about the 20th. Anyway that lake is so small you won't need a guide to help you get around. All you need is a good map that shows contours and basically stay in the channel when you are looking around. If you go into a cove, do it at a idle as lots of them are full of standing timber that may be just under the surface. Don't cut corners as some of them are hidden flats. At Lightfoot you will only be about 8 miles from the dam so go that way and look around. When you get to the mouth of the Lindley go up it to above the Nemo Marina and hwy 64 bridge. That will give you a feel for the main body of water. You can learn the creeks later if you are going to be a resident.

If you put it down, it will germinate when it rains, even as late as November. I've already put down a lot of mine and will finish in the next couple of days.

I fish a jig every time I go. But not that deep on Stockton.

I'm planning to try the bottom bouncers and spinner rigs on Friday. This will be my third time for this type of fishing. I'll probably be in the High Point area. I fished the Big Sac the other two times and blanked.

Wow I never figured Stockton bass would go that deep. I'd have been skunked if I had been there and that was what it took to get a bite.

Thanks again. The floating bead idea sounds good. Where might one buy those?

Yes to some extent. I have some molds that I have to change the bend but 90° on the eyes is quite a bit.

My main line is 50# Power Pro because I am using my Arig setup. I have 8-17 mono and fluro to use on the spinner rigs. With all of the brush piles on Stockton I know I'll lose a bunch but I want to try the jig hook. Is the 1/0 the one to use or is that for experienced guys like rps? BTW I noticed that the hook eye is turned in you link posted by rps. I have read that it should be that way for snelled hooks. Is that a real important item as fuel alone to go to Cassville and get some would be over $30.

Thanks again. How about the #2 or #1 are they too small? I buy hooks by the 1000 ct and have hundreds of 2, 1, 1/0 and 2/0 and I ordered 400 blades yesterday. I just don't want the hooks to be too small if I am going to make up a bunch and have them on hand.

I think my hook choice was bad. I'll try lighter wire hooks and hadn't even thought of using a jig hook on a crawler. I have hundreds of jig hooks from #4 to 4/0. How do you think it would work with a # 2 instead of a 1/0? Would that be too small?

I tried them out earlier this week and got hung in some brush piles. Needless to say they are still there. Is there any way to get the beads and blade back when you break off? I have tried a few ideas and all of them were bust.

Thanks for the responses guys. I have enough tied up to try this type of fishing out and see what happens. I hope to give it a try for a bit on Friday morning. Do you use a double snell on crawlers or is it necessary?