Wonderful Fishery

[Jeremy Rasnick]

Come on Jeremy... give us some details. I know it was a white slider. Did you limit? Were they on the channel drop offs? How deep?

We caught 1 Limit of very nice whites, no potato chip whites like we were catching. Yes, they were on a Slider, and yes, they were on the drop off of the flats. In this case it was best sitting in about 30' of water. Keep in mind on this roll off it was much more defined. They were acting crazy for January Whites. They were hitting it on the fall, hitting it on the bottom, you could reel it jig it, or whatever....just get it in the water was the key. The only problem with it was , it was a very big flat that was fishing very small. There could have been 20 boats on it and i'd imagine only a couple of the boats would have been catching fish. I had a couple of boats of buddies try it out today and they did do good at all.

We may need to start a new thread on this but is there enough food in bull shoals to support all of the 8 inch bass? We caught probably 30 of those rascals all through out the lake and they were litter mates.

[Bill Babler]

Jeremy, the last 3 times on the upper end, we have probably had over 100 small Largemouth to the boat, or 30 or so a trip. No SMJ's and only 1, K. all LM. Are you doing the same, all LM? These are two year old fish, running between 8 and 11 inches. I believe they had the time of there life last year with all the cover and last years crop of 4 to 8 inchers, I bet are everywhere.

If the derby weights have risen this year by 4 pounds per string, just think what it will be in about 3 to 5 years, with all these critter swimming around. Sounds good to me. I don't think that forage will be a problem, from what I am seeing in shad numbers.

[Sam]

"I love this area, and am willing to share."

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O.K., Bill - I understand what you're saying, completely. I wouldn't want any controversy with a fella who has gone to the trouble of posting such good reports for so long, and who has done so much to help everyone enjoy our wonderful local lakes. Here's hoping for a great 2009 fishing season for all of us.

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Jeremy, if those whites are concentrated in spots like that - I'd think a good way to locate them would be to slow-troll a swimmin' minnow or something similar along the edge of the roll-offs. When you get bit, then stop and cast to them. What do you think?

I never have much luck scoping for white bass. They're so fast, they tend to move rather than let a boat (and transducer) go over them.

[Whack'emGood]

This fourm will continue to give information about our area lakes and maybe help that 12 yr. old and his dad catch a couple for dinner, or make them tell folks," Yes, we went to Bull Shoals and my son and I made memories we will never forget." For most of us, thats how we got started. It should not end with us. The old fishing crowd just doen't come anymore. They have gotten old and there children have found other interest. What a shame. When ever I'm on Bull Shoals and see an eagle soaring or the magnificent timbered bluffs and vast open areas, I am always thinking. I hope someone comes to enjoy this, this is spectacular, what a gift we have.

I love this area, and am willing to share.

That was beautiful Bill... You are right on (as usual) as far as I'm concerned.

Whack'em

[Forsythian]

First off (and for the most part) good posts all around.

I don't have a global-vision about this topic. Kdock is my home. And while I am not yet one of the 10% that catches 90% of the fish (Cotterboy), I still have an opinion. (Is it just me, or is there anyone else around here who would like, just once, to get through a 2+page thread without somebody dropping that tired "your opinion blows, you must not be one of the 10%" cliche's?)

Anyways, in the last 10 years I bet I've been skunked no less than 50 trips out of Kdock, and it's still my favorite launch. I know it's selfish, but there's a little voice in the back of my head tells me I've paid some measure of dues. The Kdock launch area isn't built for a big slice of humanity, and that same little voice in my head is going to be ticked off if, for the first time in these last 10 years, the lot is consistently full.

My worry is not a boat on my favorite bank, it's not having a place to park my rig.

I think that posts which say: "we caught some, (we caught many), this general area, this general pattern" are very useful and welcome and get the job done.

Posts that say: "this will be an epic year! hail call! come fill your stringer!" are gonna rankle some, and maybe for good reason.

Again, just one opinion, and not losing any sleep over it.

[Phil Lilley]

I believe most if not all boats ramps in the area will be very busy this spring, seeing that most of us have been waiting 24 months to get to fishable water. The prospect of good fishing only amplifies the call to fish.

If it's like most years, a few weekends in April will be packed and after the "spawn" is over, most of the weekenders will be gone for the season and the locals will have their waters back.

You're right not to lose sleep.

[taxidermist]

The yellow perch were shipped in from a grower in Indiana, to Bass Pro Shop holding tank in the warehouse and one of the former employees released them. AGFC ordered some fish from the same breeder for testing.

DNA test determined this.

So far the yellow perch seems to have filled a void in the eco system in Bull Shoals Lake.

Al Linder fished with a now decesed fellow several years ago and caught some huge fish, I watched the video tape back in the 1990s.

We already have all those people from up north, have you been around the towns of Bull Shoals, Lakeview and Mt HOME????? Many even bring leacvhes with them only to findout leaches dont work well here. Not a natural food source here.

Troll the main channel from K dock on up with a purple back chrome hot and tot or wiggle wart. Dont worry about speed, use nomore than 8 pound line and the lure can bump the bottom in 20 feet of water. I use the 90hp motor and any agreesive walleye will take the lure. Year before last we caught 35 walleye in three early evenings of trolling largest was 7 1/2 lbs then a 6 and a 5 several sveral shorts.

[Sam]

I agree with Forsythian, in that my main concern is launching/parking at K Dock if it turns into a real circus. With limited parking and that little single ramp, K Dock just can't handle many rigs.

But if it gets too bad I can put in at Beaver. Lots of parking there, I just don't like the shallow ramps. It's a longer drive, but I like to put in at Yocum Creek, too. There's no ramp there, just launching off a gravel beach - no problem with 4wd, but I wouldn't try it with a 2wd rig. I've even put in at that little park on the point straight across from K Dock Marina, but it's hard to get there by road.

One way or another, we'll get on the water.

[joefish]

I came down over the weekend and didnt catch a thing on BS, so dont worry to much. Unless every single person that uses this forum comes there to fish, i dont think the fishery is going to be overwhelmed. And by the way, BS is lucky cause Im the greatest angler that there ever was. If it does get overfished just make a rule that you have to throw everything back. Theres a name for my pain, and that name is Bull Shoals. Until next time.

[Sam]

And by the way, BS is lucky cause Im the greatest angler that there ever was.

Are ya one of the 10% that catch 90% of the fish? I keep hearing about that 10% and I want to be one of 'em. I've been working on that for about 50 years now and I'm not sure it's going well - I probably need to sew some patches on my jacket, or something. LOL