Smallmouth 1994

[waterpossum]

Planned to go to Stockton yesterday, but when I saw the whitecaps on the birdbath I changed my mind. Anyway, recently I had a friend that caught a really big smallmouth bass (3oz shy of a state record) in Kansas, their record is 6-6. That brought back an interesting memory from 1995. I was at a boat show here in Joplin. At that time I was obsessed with bass fishing. Normally I wouldn't remember a date that far in the past, but in Dec. 1994 the state record smallmoth bass (the record still stands ) had been set on Stockton Lake at 7-2 , and I was talking to one of the few guides on Stockton at the show. I may be wrong here, but I think his last name was Flippo. I read everything I could get my hands on about bass fishing and had to have the newest equipment and baits mentioned. Thats why my shed is still filled with old lures and rods and reels. The guide had recently had an article published about bass fishing, particularly about smallmouth. He, to his credit had told of his method of catching really big fish. Channel breaks, especially around main lake points spoon fishing and he was trying to find out if the record holder had read the article and used that method. I never really heard anymore. Of course my next trip included a sack full of spoons. After an hour or two of half hearted attempts my quest ended. Now days with the advancement of electronics I thought it might be something someone that has the time and patience might try. When I have had the opportunity to be with someone in a really nice rig the suggestion is usually met with a groan.