straw hat

That is a good point you made boobie about the water patrol. Last I heard there were only two of them for the whole lake. I saw them a lot this spring but not much since. This spring they were driving small v-bottom boats with what looked like 30 horse motors (or there abouts). They are going to need something bigger than that to handle those jet skis. Is there anyway to contact them directly on the lake? rps - There you go again... OTL... WTHIT (What the heck is that) lol I need a dictonary of these terms.

Holy Cow!! I called myself 'old foggie' and just saw on your user page that you are 91 and still going strong. Congratulations! There is still hope for us all. My best to you sir and keep on trucking!

Old foggie here. Got to add fwiw to my list of abbreviations I will probably never use. And FishinCricket, was there really a band called Buffalo Springfield or were you just pulling my leg?

Old foggie here. What is a FWIW? Just curious.

snagged in outlet 3... I would love to hear the story behind that name! I bet it is a good one. Tell your kids for me that they are lucky to have a father like you.

Thunderin Gobbler I am impressed. Impressed is not a word I use often. Your postings are those of a much older and wiser person who has been around. Be proud of yourself and don't forget to pass on what you have learned to others. With 28 year-olds like you maybe there is hope.

I might as well put in my two cents worth. When I went to school (a very long time ago) all the schools I went to taught a class called citizenship. In these classes the teachers taught us the importance of voting, the workings of a democracy, serving in the military etc… They also taught us our obligation to society. This included things like walking on the right side of a hall or sidewalk, taking your hat off when talking to a lady; letting the elderly, handicap or women have your seat on a crowded bus; saying please and thank you as well as the proper use of sir, ma’am and other titles. Just like other classes such as math, science, English and art or parents had taken these classes as well. And just like math, science, English and art our parents had the responsibility to re-enforced what we had been taught in school by helping us with homework and showing by example. I know these classes have long went by the wayside but that is a shame. Sometimes when my wife and I go shopping teenagers get frustrated at the way the elderly move slowly or easily get confused. They often make a comment to the elderly that is rude and suggests that we are nothing but in the way. A lot of times the parents just laugh and think it is cute. Where did we all go wrong?

It depresses me to think what the lake will be like in 20 years. Be careful guys. Idiots like those are why we need to wear your life jackets.

Well done. You sure caugfht a basket load of fish. I figured that the cats would be real active by now with this hot weather but after last weekends troubles I have had to spend the week fixing my trailor. I hope to be out there Saturday. We couldn't pick up any keeper crappie last weekend of the brushpiles either. Wound up catching them suspended in open water. I thought they might be chasing new schools of young shad. Congrats on the walleye and see you on the water soon.

Bob, you are 100% right. Well said. You explained that perfectly. I always respect your attitude toward regulations and safety. Good fishing to you sir.

Sounds like you had a good trip except for the walleye. I don't know how you could drop a keeper fish in the lake! In all my years I have never dropped a keeper back in the lake (And if you believe that I have some swamp land in Arizona for sale) lol

I know how you feel Zac. The wife and I have learned a long time ago that if you want to keep catching fish in a spot you have to hide your things as much as possible. Keep you rod tip below water when reeling in the fish, drop the fish in a bucket right away so no one sees you unhook the fish and don't put hte fish on the stringer until you think you can do it unnoticed. If you don't then you get exactly the situation you mentioned. Thats a heck of a way to fish. They have a boat and could go anywhere on the lake but they have to set right on your lap instead. Like you say, they just need to move move down a little ways.

What website you looking at fishbait3? I always use; http://maps.modot.mo.gov/timi/ and it has now been completely removed from the listing. The 18th makes sense though because they hadn't even poured concrete last Saturday.

Right now with the high water it would be around 17' deep. There is a little brush located about 10 to 15 feet off of the end of the dock. I have never fished there this time of year so I can't really give you any advice on what would be there or how to catch them. Good Luck.

Good to hear from you Thunderin'. Is it the picture or is that walleye really that skinny? It looks like it is starving. Glad those crappie were still hitting well when you got there. We got there to take out right after that party pontoon had tied to the dock. They tied length wise to it and we couldn't get in to tie up. My wife dropped me off on the bank to get the truck backed down. When I finally got in line to back down I was watching them at the dock. Now this was nearly an hour after my wife had dropped me off to get the truck. The pontoon was still tied to the dock and several kids were there swimming. There were several bass boats wanting to tie to the dock and couldn't. The boaters, swimmers and pontoon owner were all having a heated discussion. Finally the pontoon took off but the kids remained there swimming with the boats coming in and out to tie up. That was a rude bunch, glad I wasn't involved in that exchange.

I did Gilly. Don't know if anything will come of it, we will see. Also turned in the lisence plate number of the car that ran us off the road. With multiple witnesses and damage to vehicles I had a feeling it would be addressed. As far as the dark cloud, well I am not complaining it was hot yesterday and it helped keep the sun off me. haha Well, time to go work on the boat trailor. You guys need to go get some of those crappie while they are still hitting well. Good luck.

Well guys, my wife and I started out early this AM to put in at CC and fish up around Shaws Bluff. Yup, first trip of the year with the old boat. I read the MoDOT website on Friday night and they said that the bridge on 245 had been "completed as promised". Guess what... WRONG!!! They haven't even poured the concrete!! It took us forever to turn that pontoon around and go about 20 miles out of the way. I was suprised when I got to the launch. We were the 7th vehicle in line to launch. The last couple weekends it was pretty slow down there but not this time. After 45 minutes we finally got on the water. First four stops someone was already there. Finally found a little side cove to fish. After about 20 minutes a bass boat came in over our lines, full speed, got our lines tangled around his prop and then he got really mad? He blamed me and then threatened to beat me to ^#$*(. I called the Highway Patrol (they are now over the Water Patrol) They said that this was not a violation of safe boating laws and there was nothing they could do. My wife and I left. We found another cove about a mile down the lake. About 15 minutes later here came the same bass boat, they buzzed us twice within 10 feet each time. sprayed his rooster tail all over us, ran over our lines (again). I call HP again and they were concerned for our safety and suggested that WE leave the lake. What did we do? We went back past the CC bridge to the south. Fished around a small underwater hump in the lake. We had caught about 6 keepers when here came a v-bottom boat up to us. Yup you got it, they putt putted right over our lines right up to the boat. They asked if we were anchored. I said yes. They said they did not have an anchor and asked if they could tie up to our boat (which they had already done) and fish with us. After the kind of day we had had I was sort of looking forward to being left alone. I told them we were about to move anyway and wished them luck. We moved down the bank aways and started fishing again. Water is getting pretty green but visibility is still fairly decent, around 2 feet. We caught 29 keepers by the end of the day!! They were running 7 to 12 feet deep in 20 to 25 feet of water. My brand new water thermometer said the water temperature was 92, the one on my transducer said 72. I guess the new thermometer gets returned. Ran out of minnows one short of the limit. Not complaining though. Went back to take out and there must have been a jillion boats in line to take out and put in. None of the vehicles in line were willing to let any of the us back out of our parking places so we could get in line. There were three of us that had to wait over an hour to back out. Finally one guy coming down put a stop to all that. He pulled at an angle across the road blocking traffic so no further cars could come down. The three of us finally got to back out and get in line. It is nice to know there are a few good people out there. After nearly 2 hours to get the boat out of the lake we were on our way home. That air conditioner in the truck sure felt good. On the way home a truck came up behind us. I think he was drunk. He was constantly going over the yellow line and off onto the shoulder. I was behind 3 other vehicles doing about 55 but I guess that wasn't fast enough for him. He started to pass all of us on top a hill. As an oncoming car popped over the hill he suddenly cut back over and forced two of us off the road into the ditch. Luckily no one was hurt. It bent some of the suspension on my trailor and broke the running lights at least that is all I have found so far. We gave the HP the lisence plate number and they said they would be on the look-out for him. It took us about 30 minutes to work our way out of the ditch. Then I parked my truck and went back to help the other car out of the ditch. Do you think the story ends there? Shot no. When I got home my neigbor's kids were having a party. Two of the party goers had parked in my drive way. When my neighbor went to find the kids so they could move there vehicle he found that the two had left the party with some freinds. Now I am an easy going person but I am hot tired and just a little irritable by now. Luckily several of the guys in the party came out and were able to move the cars one at a time by thifted first one end and then the other and moving them on to the grass on my yard. I just finished cleaning the fish and when this post is done I am not evening going to eat dinner. Just turn off the lights and go to sleep. Wake me in the fall! lol

OH BOY!!! I am in for it now. Before you guys give me fits about the multiple entries.... Yes I know I should have had those tremors in my right hand fixed... No my wife didn't distract me (although that would have been nice)... I guess it is just the heat getting to me. lol

I noticed today thgat the Corp has increased the rate at which they are releasing water. Right now the lake is dropping 6" per day!! I usually don't do as well when the lake is dropping that fast, especially for the shallow crappie and cats. I would think you guys who fish the main lake probably wouldn't be affected that much. Anyway,just thought I would pass this along, it might help you decide where to fish before you get to the lake. See you on the water then. Be careful it will be a hot one.

Interesting process on the drum and white bass. I have used the same prosess on white bass except I use lemon juice instead of vinegar. This may shock some of you but believe it or not my wife and I don't like to eat fish. I probably eat 2 or three pieces of fish a year. All of our catches go to the church fish fry, church members or freinds. That is very interesting about the Kentucky bass in Oklahoma. I take it the number of Kentucks were a lot less and the size of the largemouths were improved as well? I sure can't say I am against the idea, even crappie fishing we catch so many small Kentucks it can drive us crazy. Good luck on the water Walcrabass.

Well, I do wear a straw hat (especially in hot weather like this). Sorry I didn't get to meet you but I was near Springfield Landing. Maybe next time. Sounds like you did a lot better than me. The water was warmer where you were. They are probably going to start spawning there within a couple days so keep trying that rock riprap it shouldn't be long. Nice stringer of cats!!! Congratulations!!

Went to a cove where I can usually catch some prespawn cats. I hadn't been able to catch any spawners yet on the rock riprap. I managed to catch a couple around 15' deep. I was suprised the water temp was 68. Usually by this time of year it is around 73 or 74. I really start getting excited about the cats in the rocks at that temp. I also managed to pick up 8 keeper crappie and an 18" walleye. All came at 7' while it was still cloudy this morning. When the sun popped out it came to a screeching halt. I tried as deep as 24' and didn't catch any more keepers. I also managed to catch 4 drum between 3 and 7 pounds. I was disappointed they were drum but they did fight well. I swung by CC on the way home and talked to a couple catfishermen but neither had a keeper. The water temp there was 69 so it probably still has a week or so to go. I guess it really was cooler than normal this spring. Good luck everyone and we will see you on the water. It is really getting hot and humid out so watch out for dehydrqtion and heat exhaustion.

Bill, for three weeks now I have been pounding the rock riprap. No more than 1 cat (if that many) per trip. All teh other catmen I have talked to are having the same type of luck. Those cats that have been caught are nearly all 2 or 3 lb males. As you know the males come up first. They have GOT to be close now with the water running around 70 to 72 degrees. I am going to try again in the next two or 3 days and will post. Get your hooks sharpened it will be real soon!!

I just caught the long-term forecast by the National Weather Service. They are talking about 3 to 5 inches of rain betweeen now and the end of Thursday. If you are a bank fisherman that is real bad news. Most of my favorite spots are inaccessible as it is. I would hate to see the lake come up another 3 or 4 feet.

A little trouble finding a place to fish today but wound up on the riprap at the CC bridge. As usual for this time of year thee were 5 or 6 people there all day long. Not much happening with the cats yet. Most of the other cat fisherman there have been having the same luck as me.. One or two cats in the last two weeks. Thats not very good. I did not see any cats caught today except for the one I caught (3 lbs). We also managed to catch 3 keeper crappie as well. The bite was poor. I was suprised by the clarity of the water. I would say you could see down about 3'. I expected some dinginess after that rain. A fair number of boats there as well. I noticed that the Corp has posted a sign by the launch telling people that it is a "no wake" zone, but of course no one pays any attention to that. They just go flying by even if a boat is launching or landing. Beautiful day on the lake.