Dutch

Good luck hope you catch a bunch.

Why not try something at a different lake like Stockton or Pomme de Terre or go to Lilly's landing and catch some trout.

Thanks Bill I been thinking about trying those Cricket Creek Critters for a while now.

I don't really have a fav. but I'd kind of like to see the unblemished record go all the way.

I spent several years fishing for them. Much of the time we could catch hundreds of them before people thought that they should be there. By the time people started showing up we would move on to another lake and another species. Current more than anything else is a good predictor for white bass movement. If there is no current they will move seldom. If there is good current then you can find them several miles up river from what you might have expected. In some of my research several years ago I ran across a study which radio tagged some whites. One of them traveled over 100 miles in the prespawn and spawn time. So, if you get some good winter rains, look for them up stream early. If not then the water temps and daylight hours will be more of a determining factor on movement. Also the location of the lake has a lot to do with how early they move with Table Rock and Bull Shoals being earlier than Stockton, Pomme de Terre and Truman.

Has anyone been or heard any reports. I've been wantin' to get down there and give it a try but it has been too chilly.

I couldn't get on last night and not until just now today. Have we had a little problem or just maintainance?

Check with Fin and Feather on Campbell in Spfld.

You never know how you will use a gps until you have one. I have friends who own them and never take them out. The don't have mapping capability though. I have had a Magellan hand held for several years. I use it in the boat, in the car, and geocaching. I rarely leave home without it. I did have to get software and lake map cards to make it more productive. Don't buy one without mapping capability. They are worthless. I don't ever plan to be without a gps again.

Try cutting the heat by about 100°.

How are you curing them? If it is in the kitchen oven, they fire up at a really hot temp. More than what you have set. Your jigs could be getting too hot at the start.

Wheel weights will work but they are harder than pure lead. It takes a little more heat plus you should put a drop or two of candle wax in the melted lead and let it catch on fire. While it is burning take an old spoon or similar metal object and stir the lead. That "fluxing" process will help you get smoother pours with fewer voids. There are lots of places where you can obtain lead. If you know a plumber or house remodler have them keep an eye out for a shower floor liner (40 # of good lead). I have bought lead at recycling centers for around $0.25 per pound. Another place is if you have any contact with a hospital or medical center, radioactive medicines come delivered in lead containers. Each of them will make hundreds of jigs and they are usually free. I keep my eyes and ears open all the time for lead sources. What I would really like to find is about 10 # of babbit.

Tie a metal stringer to a good nylon line. Open all the hooks and drag with it. I have done this more than once and gotten the rods back.

Try a piece of a round toothpick. It will work instead of the fiberguard. You will have to pull it out and drill the hole out after painting. If you have a drill press it isn't too bad. A short finish nail would also work if you can find the right size. Just anything to keep the hole while the lead sets up.

I have never had success with that operation. I bought the pins for my molds and use them. I glue the fiberguard in after the jig is completely done. That way I don't have to work around it when tying the skirt on. There is also a fluid bed which you can construct but I don't know how it is done. You can probably go to www.tackleunderground.com and do some reading. I am sure there will be a set of directions posted somewhere on that site. Another place to look is bass resource.

I use the Boga Grip and it does a nice job for me. It is a little pricey but I shouldn't ever have to buy another set of scales.

I have fished it without much success. It is supposed to have a bunch of Guadeloupe bass in it.

I have always found toys to be really high whether they be golf clubs, quality rifles, or boating stuff. I'm just glad that I have all I need and don't have to look at the high priced stuff on the market right now.

I was told that in 2001 there were about 40,000 put in at Beaver Creek. It's too bad that they didn't weigh, measure, take pics and release them instead of killing them and having them stuffed.

They have also been showing up in Long and Cricket according to the stories I have heard. A bud of mine had 60 keepers at Stockton one day this week.

Yes I have heard the same thing but Stockton is also hot right now.

That all depends on what type of mold you have. If your mold has a place for the weed guard to be inserted, you can pour the head with the weed guard in the mold with the hook. If it has pins, I'd suggest that you put them in the mold, pour the head then take the pins out. If you don't have a weed guard slot in the mold, you may have to drill the heads to make a hole for the weedguard. Here is how I do it: I put pins and hooks in my mold, pour the heads, take the pins out and trim the heads. I use powder paint so I reheat the heads then paint them. Some of the paint gets into the holes so I use a drill and clean out the holes. Next I put on the skirting material. I do this because I tie my jigs and don't want the weed guard in the way. When the skirt is finished I move to the last step. Put a drop of super glue gel into the hole and insert the weed guard. Press it into place, lay it down and do another one. In a very few minutes it is ready to go. You could use epoxy but it would take hours to dry. Be sure you get the right size weed guard they come in fg9, fg12, fg30, fg40 and probably some others sizes I haven't used.

You guys who use wire might want to consider the coated stainless from Cabela's. I buy it in 90# and super glue it to small jig heads and tube inserts. However on bass jigs I still want my fiber guard weed guards.

Nice report. BTW the bass were biting today 15 keepers.

Jans Barlows Stamina Do-It Ztackle or the Fin and Feather shop on Campbell in Springfield