Report Of Our Trip.

[Hunter53]

I want to thank those that offered any help for my wife and I's trip to bull shoals. It was very much appreciated!!

We followed some of the pros our first days there and went to the weigh-ins. That was a lot of fun.

As far as fishing goes I don't really have much to offer as we really struggled. We never got on any pattern so we only caught a few fish and most all of them were doing some thing different all the time.

We caught a handful of fish on warts shallow, 3 small buck bass sight fishing and a few on shaky heads about 30 feet deep. Just couldn't find a consistent bite to really stick with.

Our best fishing was in the cove where Christie caught his big bag on the schoolies. That cove was very close to where we were staying. We got out late the next morning after the Elite tourny was over as my wife did not want to fish in the rain. The fish were still schooling and we managed to catch a few before they quit. I did have a 7 1/2-8lb largemouth on a spook that got off right at the boat as I was reaching down to lip it. All the other fish we caught were 2lbs or less. The front moved in and the wind changed directions and we never saw the fish school in that cove again while we there. Tried finding them doing other things and never could figure them out there.

Even though the fishing wasn't great for us we still had an absolutely great time and are planning on coming back next year!!

Thanks again for the help!!

[Ham]

Thanks for the report. Trust me NOBODY catches them EVERYTIME. You guys didn't zero and that was a HUGE bass for BSL that you got boat side. it's a shame you didn't get to release her after a quick photo, but I remember the ones that got away more than the ones I catch.

Every fishing report helps others trying to put stuff together for their next trip. I try to include water temps, general area of the lake, water color, and a few other details. I usually only fish the lakes in Spring and Fall so water temp is huge for me.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Glad you had a good time. BS was a premium bass lake before TR filled, then it fell off, not in quality, just popularity.

[Hunter53]

Water color was from crystal clear up towards the dam to very dirty in some coves a ways up past Diamond City. Water temps were all over the place due to the front and rain.

I did talk with Bret Myers while he was fishing on the last day of the tourny and he mentioned the smallies were spawing in 18-22ft of water. He was quite a ways up towards the dam from the 125 ferry crossing.

I would have loved to lay my hands on that bass that I lost. It would have been either the second or third biggest bass of my life. I have caught tons of 5-7lb fish out of farm ponds up here. I also caught a 9lb 7oz out of a farm pond up here last year. That is my biggest with a 7lb 14oz being the second biggest I have ever caught. I know the one I had on was somewhere in that higher 7's to low 8 range.

Here is a pic of the 9-7.........

[abbfish]

Very nice. I love fishing farm ponds, especially after Bull Shoals kicks my butt. I have a few 6 pounders from farm ponds and a couple from Bull Shoals (all released), but I've get to top that.

[Hunter53]

Yeah farm ponds are great but I love to be in the bass boat instead of a jon boat. I have released all my fish as well including the one pictured above. I did get some measurements and had a replica made though.