Public Apology.......

[techo]

There was a time this spring where my wife and I bumped into Mike in one of my favorite fishing spots. I was a bit miffed for a second as we were pre-fishing for the tournament. Mike waved us over and told us exactly what he was catching them on and showed us his tackle. Conditions were not what I would call ideal for that particular bait ( i prefer a bit more wind.)

My wife started doing as Mike said and started catching fish. He used the same techniques to weigh a good bag the tourney day. It snowed, hailed and rained that day.

He is another fine example of a fisher of men. I automatically smile every time we bump into him. Plus we both drive the smallest boats in the tourney!

Thanks brother.

[gitnby]

Great post about fishing the bridge! I've fished it for 30+ years and this gives me another tactic.

I've often fished crawlers , spoons, grubs and drop shots straight down next to the piers with great success. Sometimes a weighted white fluke will work, too. I just clamp a split shot about a third of the way down the hook shank and leave the hook slightly exposed at the top. Or you can poke a length of solder wire into the nose to give it the extra weight. Just cast it out and let it flutter down. I've caught some nice fish that took it in less than 10' when the graph shows them holding in 30' or more.

Tried the fluke on the drop shot, but the action just isn't the same!

I often use a drop shot with a watermelon candy Zoom worm , put my boat right next to the pier, and cast it out the same distance as the depth they are holding. The just let the bait "pendulum" back to the boat.

Sometimes a small jig crawled or stair-stepped down the North bluff is a good deal!

I can see the bridge from my deck, so I'll have the binos on you! I'm on the West side, so please face East when nature calls!

Pic below was taken from the end of my dock.

[Jason Essary]

S & M, a report like that really brings respect. Work involved with no worry about giving up the info. Not many would do either, especially both.

[CaptainJoe]

S&M,

Again, like I said, great post.....but could you lose the beach video. My mouse gets "hard" to move everytime I scroll over your posts.

Joe

[crazy4fishin]

S&M - thanks for the info.

As a person that gets the chance to fish TableRock once a year for one week I want to make the most out of the trip. I really appreciate your insight and the same goes for Bill and Captain Joe - I make it a point to read the posts and take notes, print out techniques etc.....I know kinda wierd but I do have the fever

[et84]

Loved your post, S&M. You set a great example for all fishermen.

[S&M]

Post deleted for the betterment of the members.

As well as my membership on this website.

[CaptainJoe]

S&M,

I don't know for sure....maybe I need to check to see if my mouse is a Minnie Mouse or Micky Mouse.

[crazy4fishin]

Thanks S&M for the offer........I also noticed that you race? And if memory serves you race a 'cuda.....is that a 69?

[ozark trout fisher]

Doesn't bother me in the least letting others know how and where to catch bass on this website. I can't tell you how many times I've been on the water and get on a honey hole with a soild pattern and wave down other anglers close by to come over and get in on the action.

Catching fish is a TON of fun, and when I have the opportunity to share "catching" with another angler, I do so.

Now I'm no saint, when I'm getting ready for a tournament I don't reveal what I'm doing to the world.

This year I broke that rule and provided a competitor a soild pattern with locations that I had prefished so he could "catch". I did this because I felt he really applies himself to the sport of bass fishing and I wanted to see him do well in the up coming tournament.

I truely love the sport of bass fishing. I'm still green so to speak, and have a ton of things yet to learn. But up to this point, I have applied myself and it's paying off. Within the last two years of fishing I have placed within the top 10 for the division point standings for the season, an 8th and 9th place to qualify for the Championship.

8th and 9th place for the season might not seem like a big deal to a lot of folks, but considering I did this by myself against two man teams, has to say something for my abilities as a bass fisherman.

The more I learn, the more I share

....and as Eric has already said, bass on the pilings, who'da thought !

Thanks for the informative post. I don't personally fish table rock, but it will be helpful to those who do.