2014 Spring Trip

[wdberkley]

Since it's -8 degrees today here in Chicago (huge warm up from -15 yesterday) I figured now'd be the time to start planning our annual spring trip to the Rock. I'd like to throw out the following questions to you fellas, since you spend a helluva lot more time chasin' fish around that lake than we do.

If you had one week of fishing in early April (we're looking at April 6 - 12 this year), where would you fish?

Our group stayed up Aunt's for 4 years and fished from Cape Fair to Kimberling City, down to Baxter - always caught good numbers, a lot of 4lb and a handful of 5+ lb fish.

Last year we moved down near the Dam hoping to stumble into some Brown ones, and spent a lot of time fishing from the Arkansas/Missouri Border to Kimberling City - and while we saw less numbers-wise, we did have two monsters in our group with a 6-7# and a 7-4#. We didn't find too many smallmouth either.

Obviously, planning a trip 3 months in advance is difficult, no one can predict what Mother Nature will throw at us in the spring, but we're always trying to find a good balance of quality/quantity.

Also, I've looked around online, and haven't been able to find anything showing a schedule of the Carp Tourney. We got down last year right after it ended. I'm sure it wouldn't be a huge issue, but I'm hoping it doesn't coincide with the dates were' looking at. We plan on arriving the last day of the Elite Series event, that'll cause enough chaos on the lake....

Any feedback, as always, is greatly appreciated.

[pavon azul]

Bass Pro Shops is proud to announce the 2014 U.S. Open Bowfishing Championship dates of May 3rd and 4th, from 7pm - 7am.
Table Rock Lake & Bull Shoals Lake

New for 2014, No Airboats or Fan Motors will be allowed.
Sorry to those of you that prefer shooting aboard Air-Powered boats, but to present our sport in a positive light we had to eliminate noise issues. Those of you that run a fan are still welcome to bring your boat if you have a secondary means of propulsion. I'd like to remind everyone, that last years tournament champions shot aboard a trolling motor boat. If you can't bring your airboat, then find a friend with a boat and come compete.

We listened to your feedback and are planning on making this years event bigger and better than last year. More money, More teams, More water, More fish, and the chance to be named the 2014 U.S. Open Champions.

Official Rules and more information will be coming soon.

[wdberkley]

Bass Pro Shops is proud to announce the 2014 U.S. Open Bowfishing Championship dates of May 3rd and 4th, from 7pm - 7am.

Table Rock Lake & Bull Shoals Lake

New for 2014, No Airboats or Fan Motors will be allowed.

Sorry to those of you that prefer shooting aboard Air-Powered boats, but to present our sport in a positive light we had to eliminate noise issues. Those of you that run a fan are still welcome to bring your boat if you have a secondary means of propulsion. I'd like to remind everyone, that last years tournament champions shot aboard a trolling motor boat. If you can't bring your airboat, then find a friend with a boat and come compete.

We listened to your feedback and are planning on making this years event bigger and better than last year. More money, More teams, More water, More fish, and the chance to be named the 2014 U.S. Open Champions.

Official Rules and more information will be coming soon.

Well that settles that! Thanks Pavon!

[abkeenan]

I am sure this makes a lot of the locals happy doing away with the air/fan boats. I know I was down there for last years weekend tournament unaware that was also the date of the bow fishing tournaments. At about midnight while I was sleeping (lake front house right on the water) I thought I was being abducted by aliens as I heard a super loud engine noise and ten billion lumens tractor beam light trying to get me. I guess the alien's were looking for quality fisherman to abduct as they passed me by about 6 times. Don't know how they missed Babler...unless he is one of them.

[wdberkley]

I am sure this makes a lot of the locals happy doing away with the air/fan boats. I know I was down there for last years weekend tournament unaware that was also the date of the bow fishing tournaments. At about midnight while I was sleeping (lake front house right on the water) I thought I was being abducted by aliens as I heard a super loud engine noise and ten billion lumens tractor beam light trying to get me. I guess the alien's were looking for quality fisherman to abduct as they passed me by about 6 times. Don't know how they missed Babler...unless he is one of them.

We lucked out, the only time we saw any of those spaceships they were headin' north up 65 as we rolled in, thank lord.

Glad they left BB behind, we needed some of his pointers that week to find some fish!

[Champ188]

I am sure this makes a lot of the locals happy doing away with the air/fan boats. I know I was down there for last years weekend tournament unaware that was also the date of the bow fishing tournaments. At about midnight while I was sleeping (lake front house right on the water) I thought I was being abducted by aliens as I heard a super loud engine noise and ten billion lumens tractor beam light trying to get me. I guess the alien's were looking for quality fisherman to abduct as they passed me by about 6 times. Don't know how they missed Babler...unless he is one of them.

Now that's funny I don't care who you are. Thanks for the chuckle, abk.

[merc1997 Bo]

Bass Pro Shops is proud to announce the 2014 U.S. Open Bowfishing Championship dates of May 3rd and 4th, from 7pm - 7am.

Table Rock Lake & Bull Shoals Lake

New for 2014, No Airboats or Fan Motors will be allowed.

Sorry to those of you that prefer shooting aboard Air-Powered boats, but to present our sport in a positive light we had to eliminate noise issues. Those of you that run a fan are still welcome to bring your boat if you have a secondary means of propulsion. I'd like to remind everyone, that last years tournament champions shot aboard a trolling motor boat. If you can't bring your airboat, then find a friend with a boat and come compete.

We listened to your feedback and are planning on making this years event bigger and better than last year. More money, More teams, More water, More fish, and the chance to be named the 2014 U.S. Open Champions.

Official Rules and more information will be coming soon.

thank you from eliminating the noise of the air boats.

bo

[Fishslayer88]

Air boats didn't bother me at all they are loud outside but not to bad in the house as long as the windows are closed.

I would probly stay at Aunts creek if the bass fishing gets slow you could run up the river and get on the whites.

[wdberkley]

Air boats didn't bother me at all they are loud outside but not to bad in the house as long as the windows are closed.

I would probly stay at Aunts creek if the bass fishing gets slow you could run up the river and get on the whites.

That was one big let down last year - no whites to speak of. In prior years we'd sit on a point at dusk and wait for em to come in. They'd be chasing shad and all you had to do was toss a spook at em and hold on. It was a blast! Not to mention, they're pretty tasty!

[Fishslayer88]

In April last year they were quite a ways up the james they made an early run we were catching them above Walnut Springs the first week of March. If the water temp in the river is 60-65° you'll need to run on up till you find all the combat fishermen.