Big M Area October 11

[Quillback]

Thought it would be a good morning for the topwater, tossed it around first thing in the morning, but no takers, not even one bite, never saw much in the way of topwater activity all day either, which has me scratching my head as I thought a cloudy day like today would be good for the TW.

Best bite was working breezy chunk rock banks with the spinner bait, nothing sizable however, 10 bass, biggest 2 lbs., a mix of spots, LM and a couple of SM.

Caught one spot on the Drop shot, my usual drop shot spots just weren't holding any fish. Got another spot and a short walleye on the FB jig, threw a crank for a bit and got nothing on it.

Water temp was 67.

[Bill Babler]

Your day sounds like mine, only better. This is totally brutal. What did I tell you all about 3 weeks ago was going to happen

[Quillback]

Yep you did predict this, I haven't fished TR in the fall so I've got to feel my way around, it was so easy this summer and it's, as you say, brutal now.

I had to work hard for the fish I got, threw that SB for about 5 hours, it is tough on my old shoulder, I'd rather drag plastics and jigs..

[Donna G]

Hard for us today, too, Quillback. Came over last Saturday and caught 25 or so total with 5 keepers for 12-13 lbs. However, only three keeper spots today and a dozen or so shorts. One brownie, one LM and the rest spots. We did pretty much the same thing as you - tried it all. Never caught enough on any one bait or type of area to have a clue what they are doing. No FB jig, but I did drag around a finesse jig and I caught most of my few pitiful fish on it. Had one swirl at a topwater, but that was it. Otherwise, we threw a blade, shaky head, Wiggle Wart and top waters. Got the hula grub and drop shot wet, but not enough to say we fished them. All with a stellar lack of success. Headed out for Reed's Pizza and back at it in the morning.

[Donna G]

Champ188 just corrected me on last Saturday's keeper total. It was only three, but they were chunky 2-3/4 to 3 lb fish. Regardless, the bite seemed better last weekend and we caught more numbers than today.

[Quillback]

Well Donna, I hope you and Champ get it figured out by tourney time. I'm thinkig if you folks get a limit of those 2.5-3 lb. fish you have a chance at winning.

[Donna G]

Thanks. I don't disagree. The way it is right now, I'd strut that little bag to the scales and be proud. Guess we're not hardcore anymore. Sitting in the room while it's storming. Champ says "My nice dry boat is sitting in a nice dry slip and my nice dry butt is sitting in my nice dry chair." lol I'm whining for him to take me to breakfast, at least. We had planned to play golf this afternoon at one of the Branson courses. We do most of our golfing at home and predominantly in the summer when it's 100 degrees+. I'm not a fan of July/August fishing. I'm also not a fan of playing golf in the rain. lol

[Quillback]

Raining like a son of a gun here in Bella Vista, hard rain for the last half hour, I think this will get the creeks flowing and maybe get the bass biting. If it clears up, I might go over to Windsor this afternoon.

[Donna G]

That sounds like a plan. We almost went to Windsor this past Sunday instead of golfing. Our golf scores suggested we should have gone to Windsor. Good luck.

[Bill Babler]

Yesterday I pulled onto a spot up at Baxter and the first two throws had a really nice keeper and one that might have squeeked. thought man I got this figured out fish were there and both that we caught had BIG Threadfin shad in their gullets. Never had another fish on the location. Will just about guarantee it was loaded, cause I could see them.

That was a big flat with a adjacent pocket, so might be good advice by Fin. There are lots of places like that on Table Rock.

If I had it to do over, I believe I might have thrown a Jerkbait some on these locations with fish present that just would not bite.