Post Something You Learned From The Pro's Last Week

[Bill Babler]

I really think that in all the years here and with all the tournaments we have had, more lake and bait and fishing knowledge was learned this past week, than any previous event.

Guys and gals, take a minute and please share a thought on something you picked up and are going to try to make you a better fisherman.

[Quillback]

Well I learned from reading the posts about the pros, and what I learned is that I'm probably not working a bank or area where I find fish thoroughly enough. I'll usually go down a bank, pick up some fish and then go somewhere else. Sounds like the pros, when they find fish, really work that bank when they find them.

[dtrs5kprs]

These fish will get shallow, and will stay that way, even when we thnk they should not be up there. Ned started me down that path, and this week's results reinforced it. Now, you may need 80' of water two casts away, but some will be up there. Not just bank rats either. Flies in the face of a lot of what we "know" about Table Rock.

As you mentioned in another thread,they also reinforced the idea that your best shot at average quality fish- say 16" to 19"- is from Big Creek to the dam, and up the James to Jackson or so. Big fish can be had all over, my best was out of Viola, but the average size is not there. Goes for all 3 of the critters.

[dtrs5kprs]

Well I learned from reading the posts about the pros, and what I learned is that I'm probably not working a bank or area where I find fish thoroughly enough. I'll usually go down a bank, pick up some fish and then go somewhere else. Sounds like the pros, when they find fish, really work that bank when they find them.

Yep. Can't begin to tell you how many times I see guys leave fish.

If I fished places any slower or more thoroughly I would have to start paying Stone Co taxes.

[Jerry Rapp]

I sort of knew this from posts on other boards, but was confirmed with the excellent marshal posts. They drive likes bats out of hell and could care less about their equipment, because they know it will get fixed at the end of the day if they damage something. Someone is going to get killed. Ike got very lucky last year at the Sabine River. There either has to be a reduction in horsepower limits or just a strictly enforced speed limit of 55 or 60 mph. When several marshals said they wished they had seat belts, it just became more obvious.

[motoman]

I LOVE that the super long cast topic is brought up. I started 2 handed casting with my spinning rods years ago. Split grips help me hang onto them. And every cast, my rod actually makes a "whoosh" sound when I whip it. The guys I've fished with have made fun of me for years because of it; while they use one hand and just lazily 'lob' their bait in the water. Guess I can tell them now......."told yah":-)

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And too, the working over a particular spot with multiple baits was VERY interesting to me.

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(Stone county taxes.........too funny Dave!:-)

[OldMillRoad]

Speaking of thorough. I watched Hackney dissect a dock for 20 minutes. He even leaned in between the boat lift and walk way to pitch back in behind it. I usually fish docks pretty good on LOZ, but get lazy down here. Guess I should concentrate on the floatilla's a little more. I just wish more folks would sink brush down here.

[countryred]

hmmmm,,,an interesting question.

1. The multiple patterns, a lot of different baits and locations. Deep, shallow, pockets, bluffs, chunk rock...suspended fish in deep trees. Upper lake, mid lake, dam area, Long creek.

2. Talent...these guys are studs,,On day 1...90th place had a limit , 10 pounds or so...Last time I fished Table rock was in the late 90's after the LMBV hit the lake. so those numbers of limits seem awesome.

3. The pros go nuts over old warts..I will have to admit, there might be something to the old warts being a good prespawn crankbait on the Ozarks lakes...Myself , I have 100's of hours cranking warts with little to show for it. Now give me a bagley killer b2 and .............

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[dtrs5kprs]

I sort of knew this from posts on other boards, but was confirmed with the excellent marshal posts. They drive likes bats out of hell and could care less about their equipment, because they know it will get fixed at the end of the day if they damage something. Someone is going to get killed. Ike got very lucky last year at the Sabine River. There either has to be a reduction in horsepower limits or just a strictly enforced speed limit of 55 or 60 mph. When several marshals said they wished they had seat belts, it just became more obvious.

It's a tournament disorder even at the lowest levels. I feel fortunate to have survived many rides in club tournaments, especially on Truman and the Mississippi. Actually crawled under a console once running barge wakes on the river.

[Jerry Rapp]

those barge wakes are huge for sure. Been there, done that.