Table Rock: late june/ early july

[mo4packer]

Let's just say I don't have the luxury of fishing at night (wife and I annivers.) I will have a couple of hours in the AM and maybe one afternoon. I have never tried drop-shotting, let alone seeing my bait on my graphs. Topwater? C-rig? Shakey-head? I use the large sammy's on Truman? Do you use the big or small one's. Will a football jig work? Just won't have alot of time to get prepared, all help is appreciated!

[rps]

First, I'll confess I've never bought a Lucky Craft bait. Something about $20 a bait bothers me. I do know many who swear by them. Oh well, when a boat fill up costs $50, maybe $20 a bait isn't so bad.

I think you are on the right track to fish early if you only can go for a couple of hours. Very early, almost every day in June and July, there will be a top water bite. Walking baits, buzz baits, and chug bugs are what I tie on before I go out.

To answer the question about size of the walkers, the last several years during June I've had more luck with the full size spook. The junior seems to be more of a Spring and Fall bait for me. One fairly consistent thing I believe - feathers on the tail of the walking baits seem to help. Silvers, pearl, and clear are my best producers.

Beware the Rock though. I swear, some days they all decide to be different.

Best of luck.

[Bill Babler]

Don't know what boat your filling up for 50 bucks, but I'd pay that. Just packed the rice burner full for this weeks trips, to the tune of $172.89 not counting oil.

Guide trips are averaging between 10 and 20 gallons of gas, depending on the cooperation of the fish. If they are stingy and I have to run it hurts, but no fish can hide reguardless of the gas price.

Good luck out there.

[rps]

Bill:

I run a much smaller rig than you. My ride is an 18' Xpress pushed by a 90 Yamaha. I also have the luxury of fishing only the best parts of the day - I don't have to produce for clients. As a result, a two day weekend might cost me 10 or 12 gallons.

Frankly, I don't understand how guide trip economics don't breakdown when gas prices climb so high so fast. Best of luck to you.

[skeeter]

Baxter's gas hit $4/gal. last weekend for 89 octane so hope you're not filling up on the water. $175.00 sounds about right for 91 octane for the twin 25 gal. tanks on my rig filling it up on land. Wonder if the boat traffic will be so heavy this coming weekend with ga$ price$ and wet forecast ?

[techo]

It cost $109.00 to fill up my little Skeeter with a 90 horse Yamaha and my pickup. I can almost get four trips out of it if I am careful. I ride my motorcycle to work and only use the pickup for necesary stuff like pulling the boat. I wonder if they have a solar paneled boat?

[Bill Babler]

Techo, since you don't eat anything, you can put that money toward boat gas.

Did you win the skinny race? Give me a shout sometime and tell me what there bitin on.

I'm suspose to have a 54 gallon tank on my Rice Rocket. I got almost 52 gallons in it yesterday at $3.35 for 87 O.