Last minute change of plans works out for the good....1/6

[Steve McBasser]

Its amazing sometimes how plans change. I have been trying to get together with my buddy Ron and help him break in the new electronics we put on his boat. I finally got a couple days off but then he was scheduled to work. Well, ok. So... I asked if I could borrow the boat and then would take my buddy Andy down to Bull Shoals and fish some of the same water Ron always fishes. But.... my buddy Andy couldn't get away 'cause he's taking care of his mom now. So, I called my buddy Gary and he said he was tied up with doctors appointments all day...... Dang... Now I guess I'm staying home because my wife doesn't like me to go by myself anymore.....Now the good news..... late Sunday night I get a call back from my buddy Gary saying he was wrong about his doctor appoinments, they are on Tuesday..... Woo-hoo! When Gary and I met at his house at 5:20am it was 26* and pretty frosty out. As we headed down the last hill on Hwy 39 going into Shell Knob, we could see a thick "ice fog" hang right on top of Table Rock Lake. It was beautiful. Heading down to the ramp at Campbell Point the frost on the campground was so thick it looked like it had snowed over night. The lake was socked in pretty good with the fog but the sun was trying to burn it off. We launched the boat and headed toward the bank where Gary caught his best fish last trip. First cast, Bam! Gary caught a real nice brownie on his ned rig and that set the tone for the day. We caught fish all day long anywhere from 5' to 51' deep. In fact, on one stretch I caught fish on 3 consecutive casts. We caught 'em on the ned, a spoon, an ice jig, and a hula grub. I threw a jerk bait and a crank bait too but never got bit on them....That evening the lake with flat calm. I've heard people say that, "the lake was like a mirror". Well it was amazing. I wish I had a better camera on my phone but I did take a couple snap shots of it. Hope ya'll are getting to go some too. Its a bonus to get to fish in January. One of my best birthday trips ever.....

[Steve McBasser]

[Steve McBasser]

[Bill Babler]

Nice trip and pictures Steve, looks like you all just did super.  Thanks for posting

[Bluecollarfishin]

Way to go Steve looked like a beautiful day on the water with some nice winter bass too!!! 

[Steve McBasser]

It was awesome bluecollar. It was my best January trip ever. I have been trying to do a birthday trip every year for several years now but with a January 5th birthday, sometimes its just not possible due to frigid weather. Last year I went with my neighbor Paul who also has a January birthday and only caught 1 fish. The year before I was working on Ron's boat motor out in my driveway.... This year Gary and I caught them very good. Three fish in three casts was pretty cool for January....I really wanted to go with Ron down to his Bull Shoals hangouts but it just doesn't seem to work out. I can't wait to get him in on the deep bite with that big new graph. It is going to be so much fun watching the fish hit on the 10" screen....(I have lots of green gitzits).....Hopefully before the end of the month we can make it happen. I used an old Fish Mark 320 on Monday with about a 3 1/2" screen and it worked great. I can't imagine what that big 1199ci HD is going to be like......

[Steve McBasser]

11 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Nice trip and pictures Steve, looks like you all just did super.  Thanks for posting

It was awesome Bill. Anytime I get to go the lake during the winter months its always special. Then, to catch quantity and quality fish made it a dream come true. It was just like you imagine it will be when you're day dreaming about it the night before when you're trying to fall asleep..... We are so blessed to get to live in the Ozarks around all these quality lakes...