Kvd Big Bass Classic May 17/18

[merc1997 Bo]

interesting reading the different thoughts about the stage the spawn might be in. just from what i have caught, i do not believe the big spawn has happened. might be some smaller ones that have, and some in the rivers where there was early mud. i have not caught one skinny bass, and none with any wear and tear on them. all have been fat and slick. all of my bigger bass, even at night are coming from 15 to 20 ft. with the water clear as it is, i would expect the bigger ones to be spawning out that deep. the surface temp might be 65 to 67, but it is not that temp at 15 to 20 feet. i have not read any results of the tournament, but my guess, and i might wrong, but i am guessing that there was not a whole bunch of 6 lbers. weighed. i have caught some at night, but those bass are non-existent during the day given their fondness of just suspending doing nothing during the day.

bo

[Quillback]

I saw only 3 over 5lbs. in the results, big bass was roughly 6.25. I'd have expected more, lots of boats out there with good fishermen. Guess the bigguns are all vampires now.

[abkeenan]

It was a tough weekend for the biggun's no doubt. Thought I could stay on a location and "weed" through the little squirts (1-2lb'ers) and finally get a better bite from a 3 or 4+....that never materialized. Tried bigger baits (10" MightEE Worm and A-Rig in the wind) and still caught the same quality of fish on those. I think the weather had a little bit of an influence as that front that rolled through over the weekend was a strange one. Both Sat and Sun mornings it was actually warmer at 6AM than it was at 8-10AM and then warmed back up again when the Sun started poking through a litlle bit. Very strange weather indeed.

[Sprint21fter]

Moon phase, cool fronts slowed this thing down for the day fisherman I believe. Early morning til the sun gets up is your best bet to catch a fish over 4lbs right now. They are pulled out hanging out and don't want to do nothing but suspend right now. My dad fishes more at night now and him and his buddy are catching them real good from 11pm-1:30am. It isnt a problem for to catch keepers but for tournament fisherman that 4lber is gold right now. After this warm week it will be topwater extravaganza and the fish will do their thing and go to eating.

[abkeenan]

Will also add that is the most fisherman I have EVER seen on Table Rock. Between the BFL, local small tournaments, KVD OBBT and weekend fun fisherman it was just insane. Pretty sure every square inch of water of the dam to Long Creek was covered by someone. On Sunday ran to a secondary point in Beardsley close to our house that I know holds fish year round and I counted 9 boat's just from what I could see and I am sure twice that amount that I couldn't back further in the creek. Just insane.

[Old plug]

Anytime hours out there in tournament hours. Your not out in the prime bite period. It tales a lot of skill and deep concentration to catch fish consistently in those times. No matter what size they are.

[Jason Essary]

Have been in or helped in 5 derby's in the last two weeks. Have not seen one sow full of eggs. Believe they are done. No I'm sure there are always some late blummers as always but saw a lot of fish to not see any bulging bellies. Just my obersvations.

[abkeenan]

Have been in or helped in 5 derby's in the last two weeks. Have not seen one sow full of eggs. Believe they are done. No I'm sure there are always some late blummers as always but saw a lot of fish to not see any bulging bellies. Just my obersvations.

Most are done from what I caught. Uncle's caught a few full of bass full of eggs in the dam area and crappie in the Brushy Creek area and down further into Long Creek some still had eggs.

[Quillback]

That's right, the BFL was going on also. Here's a link for the story. Winner was 15lbs. and change, then it drops off.

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/bassfishing/bfl/tournament/2014/7268/table-rock-lake-press-release/156045/jones-fished-beds-for-title-on-table-rock/#.U3s5KH4o6Uk

[denjac]

Have been in or helped in 5 derby's in the last two weeks. Have not seen one sow full of eggs. Believe they are done. No I'm sure there are always some late blummers as always but saw a lot of fish to not see any bulging bellies. Just my obersvations.

Your spot on Jason, the majority of them are done. Without sounding like a windy fish story I slaughtered the smallmouth in the dam area Thursday, Sat, and sunday. Caught plenty in the 3 to 4 pound range and all were thin and spawned out. Didnt have much trouble with the tournament guys. Most spots had it all to myself. I was blind in the front of the boat as evidently the Lowrance gen 2 cant get wet in the rain, it quit working the day after fishing it in the rain all day, just a gray screen . The smallies are on there way back out to the briny deep, still shallow now but have there noses pointed to deeper water.