Cold Weekend

[roy_eros]

Just got home from several days on the Rock. The fishing sure did change over the course of the past 5 days. I went from shorts and flipflops on Wednesday and Thursday to layering up whatever i could find and not feeling my hands all day saturday and sunday. We came up to fish the KVD Big Bass this weekend out of big cedar. Me and Hog Caller paid our entry early to get the free rods so there was no turning back once the weather forcast got nasty.

We located several groups of fish in different pockets and creeks from around Big Cedar back towards Cricket practicing on Thursday. All these fish came in the back 1/4 of the pocket or creek and seemed to have followed shad to the shallow water. Water temps reached 60 degrees in some areas but most averaged 56-58. We caught good numbers of short fish and small keepers up to 3 pounds.Many of the small fish were kentuckys. We noticed the productive areas were pockets that had a flatter contour towards the back and no defined channel. We didnt get any of the good bites we were looking for but this gave us an idea of what the fish were doing and where they were at. We felt there were quality fish near these concentrations of shad they just needed to be coaxed into biting.

Went to register at BPS friday and got to meet KVD!! Got some advice and hoped some good luck rubbed off! HAHA

Tournament morning saturday brought high winds, heavy rain, intense lightening, rough water, and sporatic hail showers. Not to mention the brisk lower 40s temperatures. Tournament start was delayed til 7:30. We backed the boat in at 8:10. We had no doubt our shallow fish were going to be moving out or have lock jaw in these conditions so we headed to the dam area to try some bluff/standing cedar banks. 50degree water at the start of the day. We started working our jerkbaits in a small pocket just off a bluffend and Hog Caller hooked up with a nice little keeper smallmouth in less than 5 minutes of fishing. While he was unhooking and getting the livewells operating I hook up with another chunky brownie but loose him at the side of the boat. After fishing the area a few more minutes heavy rain and lightening are back so we decided to pack up and seek shelter at Big Cedar. When we arrive at 8:56 we are surprised to see only one boat by the weigh in and get news that only 3 fish have crossed the scales. Hog Caller ran his fish to the scale just before the hour ended and wound up cashing a 4th place check with his 1.88lb brownie. Not a bad start to the morning!! The weather lihgtens up a bit and we work our way south tossing jerkbaits at anything that looks good. No luck with this other than a handful of short Blacks and KYs. We decide to try and work some of the pockets we had caught fish in on Thursday. We struck out on the first couple throwing a combination of Warts, Jigs, Grubs, Spinnerbaits, and Jerkbaits. Still nothing but a short fish here and there. At this point we are getting pretty wet from the off and on rain/hail showers and starting to ware down a bit from the runnning and gunning. I decided to slow down and drag a lizard on a c-rig along the deeper edge of a flat we had caught fish off of in the past. I started dragging and covering the pocket in 15 foot or so and worked my way shallower. After about 20 minutes with no bites i cast to some stumps sitting in 10 feet and about the time the rig hit the bottom it took off swimming. I set the hook and a big girl came up to the top and gave us a good look. We were both pumped when we got her in the net. Continued this technique for the rest of the day and Hog Caller caught another nice keeper that wasnt quite check worthy. The big fish weighed in at 5.38 and finished 2nd in the 12-1 hour.

After a good nights sleep and the confidence from our 2 checks on day one we headed out to see what we could do on Day 2. Started with the jerkbaits again and threw in a grub here and there without much luck. We had a painfully slow morning with very few bites to be had. Hog Caller was able to scratch out a couple small ones on the c-rig again. Decided to pick up the Wart and give it another try. Picked up a solid chunk on a shallow rock bank about 11:30. We were a pretty good ways from big cedar and she looked happy and ready to spawn where she was so we left her swimming. Got a text a little after 12 and found out that fish probably would have got us a 3rd place check. Disappointing. Only hour it took less than a 4 to get a check on sunday i believe. Continued chunking and winding the wart and hooked up with a 4.56 in less than 5 FOW that finished 4th in the 1-2 hour. That was our last bite for the day.

These were some tough conditions this weekend but the fish were still biting pretty well. Those who were sucessful had to brave the elements and stay focused on what they were doing. 8.70 was the winning fish and many very nice TR bass crossed the scales. Really shows how many nice fish live in the lake and how many good anglers we have in this area. Congratulations to everyone who did well and thank you to the staff, this tournament is a blast. The free food and beer at weigh in were a welcome site to cold and hungry anglers. HAHA Hope you have this tourny again next year.

Thanks for being such an awesome partner Hog Caller and teaching me so much during our time on the water.

[Bass XL]

Right on man, good to hear you guys made it with a check! I was fishing all of Long Creek and Cricket Creek wed-sat, what kind of boat were you in?

Saturday didnt have much luck, caught about 8 shorts on a jerk bait and one short on a spinner bait. All came from one spot. Today we switched it up a bit and ran up to Indian Point. Although it was a slower day, I did manage 2 keepers, 1 spot and 1 black within 3 casts. Picked those guys up fishing a 3/8 oz. jig in about 16 food of water near stumps. Funny story actually, the cast in between the fish, I saw the spot swipe my jig as I reeled it quickly to the boat. Flipped back at the same stump and bam! He was 2.44, I think like an ounce out of the money for the 12-1 today. Lots of fun, but so cold.

[MstStudent10]

Despite the RIDICULOUS weather, the fishing was ON FIRE on Saturday. There was basically a Lake Wide Wigglewart bite. Catches of 20+ bass from the James, Kimberling to the Dam, and in Long Creek. The winning 8.70, as well as a couple of the 7's were caught on the wigglewart.

What also worked on Saturday, (which is what I did), was dragging a 1/2 oz jig on pea gravel banks that were very close to DEEP water. Best 5 on Saturday for me would of went about 17.5 lbs, with a 5.5 and a 4.5. Had a 6.5 pre fishing in the same areas, pea gravel bank next to 80 ft water. Once this weather stables back out, I'm sure they'll get right back on it.

...I couldn't believe the first weigh in on Saturday. I'll bet a ton of people threw back "money fish" during that first hour, I know I talked to a lot of guys who did just that. I had two 2.5 pounders in the first 30 minutes I threw back into the lake without thinking twice. With them only paying out 5 places every hour, I almost KNEW that it would take at least a 3.5 or something bigger...I guess that's what everyone else thought too!! At the LOZ BigBassBash you just never see weights that low at the weigh ins so that really surprised me. It changed as the day went on though..

Sunday fishing seemed a lot tougher. The pea gravel jig dragging fish JUST WOULDN'T BITE!!! I know there were still some nice ones brought in Sunday, but definitely not like Saturday.

All in all, the wigglewart is hard to beat right now. And as the weather stabilizes, those bass will get back to being active on those pea gravel banks and you should be able to break out the rig and fish doctor and TEAR EM UP!!

Long Creek temps ranged from 52 to 61 as you went from Gages Marina back to Yocum (During the week last week). Temps were down to 49.5-51 this past weekend closer to Gages, and I'm not sure what they were past Cricket cuz I never went that far back.

[abkeenan]

Thanks for the reports and pics guys. Awesome for you roy_eros! Meeting KVD and cashing some checks is pretty sweet. I hope they put it on again next year as I really want to give this event a shot as it sounds like a blast. Sorry about the weather but thats Table Rock and Missouri in general, especially this year.

[magicwormman]

Great reports guys!!!! It had to be hard to stay focused with the tough weather conditions. Congrates to all who fished this weekend, you're a lot tougher than me.

[roy_eros]

Bass XL: we were in a red and black Nitro with a 150 Merc.

[Hog Caller]

Thanks to roy_eros, I swear that guy could catch a 3 pounder in the fountain inside Battlefield Mall! It is hard to stay focused that cold and wet, but thats what you do. The fish we caught seem to be as healthy as ever on TR, years past I remember catching several fish with fungus, and in poor health (thin) A huge tip of the hat to the staff at Big Cedar!! The lunch both days was awesome! Looking forward to next year.

[roy_eros]

Thanks for the complement Hog Caller, I'd rather wet a line in the waterfall at BPS as long as its not the one with the Gator!!

[jwood]

Despite the RIDICULOUS weather, the fishing was ON FIRE on Saturday. There was basically a Lake Wide Wigglewart bite. Catches of 20+ bass from the James, Kimberling to the Dam, and in Long Creek. The winning 8.70, as well as a couple of the 7's were caught on the wigglewart.

What also worked on Saturday, (which is what I did), was dragging a 1/2 oz jig on pea gravel banks that were very close to DEEP water. Best 5 on Saturday for me would of went about 17.5 lbs, with a 5.5 and a 4.5. Had a 6.5 pre fishing in the same areas, pea gravel bank next to 80 ft water. Once this weather stables back out, I'm sure they'll get right back on it.

...I couldn't believe the first weigh in on Saturday. I'll bet a ton of people threw back "money fish" during that first hour, I know I talked to a lot of guys who did just that. I had two 2.5 pounders in the first 30 minutes I threw back into the lake without thinking twice. With them only paying out 5 places every hour, I almost KNEW that it would take at least a 3.5 or something bigger...I guess that's what everyone else thought too!! At the LOZ BigBassBash you just never see weights that low at the weigh ins so that really surprised me. It changed as the day went on though..

Sunday fishing seemed a lot tougher. The pea gravel jig dragging fish JUST WOULDN'T BITE!!! I know there were still some nice ones brought in Sunday, but definitely not like Saturday.

All in all, the wigglewart is hard to beat right now. And as the weather stabilizes, those bass will get back to being active on those pea gravel banks and you should be able to break out the rig and fish doctor and TEAR EM UP!!

Long Creek temps ranged from 52 to 61 as you went from Gages Marina back to Yocum (During the week last week). Temps were down to 49.5-51 this past weekend closer to Gages, and I'm not sure what they were past Cricket cuz I never went that far back.

Got a question on the warts-- how do u attach it to the line; I used a leader just like all lures but the front hooks were catching on the line; What am I doing wrong? Also, do u put anything else on the wart hooks? Thanks. Joe

[roy_eros]

I always rig my warts on either 10 or 12lb monofilament or flurocarbon and always use the clip that comes with them. I keep a few extra clips incase i lose one or bend one. I also like to change out the stock hooks with #6 trebles. I have had success with a variety of styles but i think the gamakatsu EWG are my favorites.