A Little Late But Here It Is

[Flippin]

I went out of Cape Fair on 0912 first thing in the a.m. Caught 8 shorts largemouth/kentuckies combinations on topwater. I never totally abandoned the topwater bait because it keep producing. No surprises, the best time was the first part of the a.m. After that seems like when the wind stopped so did the catching (there was not much wind). I could not get a hook up on the jig, spinnerbait or crank. I thought I knew a few (must have been very few) thing about fishing the jig but I was humbled on Saturday. Bill/Techno you must have the touch on that jig.

The whites did come up at the mouth of a cove that I was fishing in but they only came up for about 5-15 seconds and then would come back up a few minutes later. You had to be ready and in the right spot when the window of opportunity opened. I was a lot of fun messing with them.

[Bill Babler]

Flippin, that jig bite is just like realestate, location, location, location. Thought I was on them pretty good until Sunday morning. Man! what a perfect morning, overcast, splatters of rain and a nice windy chop.

Could not get out until 8 AM and started on some windy banks at the dam. First 3 locations I went over with shallow topwater. ZIP Went back over them with a wart keeping the boat in about 18ft. a full bumpty, bumpty crankbait cast from the bank. ZIP.

New locations, similar windy bank with a 3/8 oz war eagle spinner bug. ZIP

Decided enough was enough, so took the jig to the kind of shelf stuff I have just been on fire on and fished 3 locations in about 2 hrs. ZIP.

Had one last idea, 3 locations, I knew no one had been on, as they are really just not fishable to the general public. Went this time with the rig, with a very small 4 inch watermellon candy lizzard. 4 fish, with 2 keepers, in about an hour.

These fish had just not been pestered 24 hrs. a day, but to tell you the truth, I usually can catch a dozen on each of the 3 private waters I was fishing.

Those fish are not eligable for derby's and I for sure cannot guide on them, but these locations have held fish my entire life. That is the end of that topic.

Beck reported he caught the fire out of the SMJ's on top until about daylight, and then it was over. He started at 5 Am. His best 5 weighed 20 pounds. All brown bass up the White River, on a jig, but I cannot give up the locations, or the methods. Not places we usually fish.

I guess what I'm saying is they nipped just a little if you were in the right location. Very poor if you were not as the general bass fishing population, of the Rock was on a fast.

[jeb]

Bill,

I'm not looking to have you divulge anything at all about your locations, but I'm curious about how there can be private water on TR? I live by Beaver and, as far as I know, there is no such thing as private water on the lake (could be wrong?). So the concept is strange to me. Can you explain how some areas of the lake are private? Again, not looking for specifics about where at all here, just how that's possible.

Thanks,

John

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'm curious also. Can you explain that without giving up the location?

[Sam]

John, that puzzled me too. At first I was imagining skid marks on a beach, where Bill ran his boat out of the lake, over a hump, and into a private pond.

Then I thought about it, and since Bill may not want to say any more on this subject, I'll make a good guess. Bill has fished that lake all his life, he runs a highly-respected guide service on it, and he knows lots of folks there.

Now, if I was running one of those big marinas I'd fish it from time to time, right in between and under the docks - and I'd let a few friends fish there too. A good guy like Bill would respect the situation of course - it wouldn't be right to count those bass in a tournament, or to take guide customers there, or to fish it right in front of marina customers. The marinas don't let the general public fish there.

There's nothing wrong with some personal fun catch-and-release fishing around the docks by a marina operator and his friends, and I bet'cha that's the answer. It's a good thing it's not me with such contacts - I'd be a lot more interested in those one-pound bluegills I see under there, and I'd be sorely tempted to put 'em in a frying pan!

[Flippin]

Bill,

Thanks for the info. I'll keep working at it. Half of the fun is playing the chess game with animal that has no legs and a little brain. I guess that is what home field advantage does for the fish.

[Whack'emGood]

I first thought Bill was talking about way offshore structure that everybody runs right past and doesn't know is there or doesn't know how to effectively fish it even if they did.

Although, after re-reading his post... I think John and Sam may have something there... these locations may well be off limits to public fishing.

Whack'em

[jeb]

Good points, Sam. With the great rep he no doubt enjoys on TR, that makes good sense.

[Bill Babler]

OH Contrare!! There is lots of PRIVATE waters on this lake that never sees a lure anymore. They litterly hold thousands of unprussured fish. You want to see the difference between water that gets fished everyday 365, over and over and some that never sees a lure or a nightcrawler, it is night and day.

I know lots of people here, and never take advantage. There are also other locations that are just a mite off the legal beaten path. I don't break the law, I know how to fish these locations and have the equipment to do so without being in a illegal position. Sometimes your longest cast and your boat being in just a bit of a compromising position, can get you bit. Don't ask for further info on the subject, I don't fish these locations except, for maybe a couple of hrs. a year. Never with clients and never in competition, or when I can be seen by anyone .

The point of my piece was the bite has really slowed down, even on unfished locations.

Did go out this morning and had two very nice LM in the 4 pound range, 2 small keeper SMJ's and 5 short SMJ's. Most of these fish have moved out to the 20 plus ft range and deeper for me.

Remember my post about breaking lots of the big Jaw's off. Cured the problem. Had respooled with XPS FC in 12 pound test on 4 rods. All the rest of the jig rods have 10 pound Seugar. Got to a lookin and only the rods I spooled with the BPS Fluracarbon XPS 12 pound test were breaking. Peeled all that S---, off and threw it in the trash. Did the same thing with the remainder of the 1000 Yd. spool. You would think after all these years, I would have the common sense to know that this line would be complete trash. Had spoken to both Beck and Buster about this line and both had said don't do it, but I'm stubborn, and wanted to give it another try. Just needed some FC as I had Seugar ordered and it has just not arrived. Never again.

The only product that BP makes that most all of us will use is their XPS single tail grub in copper fleck.

It is a complete shame about the quality of their fishing products. As guides most of us could get huge discounts on any of the BPS brand name products, but they are just so bad, we choise to buy other company products at full price. Of course this is nothing new, it has been going on for years.

Good Luck out there.

[techo]

When I tried the flourocarbon, I read a great deal and the Bass Pro stuff and it had the best reviews. I fished a few times and the line kept breaking. I finally threw it all away and went back to the Maxima the same as I always do.

The last time we fished, last weekend, the jig bite was the best for me. My partner didn't catch one fish. He would lift the rod a little and move the jig faster than I did. I was dragging slow and could fel every little bump or rock down there. I call it teasing the fish. My friend was getting a little frustrated and would try different baits as I caught them on the jig. Then he would switch to the jig, but still too fast.

What I am trying to say is....slow was what worked for me. That and the fact that I love the Eakins jig. I have great confidence in it.