O.H. Ivie trip

[Smithvillesteve]

Just got back from fishing O.H. Ivie lake in west Texas. The hottest big bass lake in the country. The week before we got there some dude caught a 17 lb bass. In the middle of a nasty cold front. We were blessed with great weather. Anywhere from the 60's to 80 degrees when we left. Mostly sunny days and little to no wind. Water temps were low 50's when we started on tuesday and saw 62 when we left sat. Beautiful lake. Table Rock clear. Lake is basically flooded brush. You cant cast to a bank. Flooded bushes out to 15 feet. A flippers paradise. My buddy's boat and he is a bank beater. I caught two fish casting into the flooded brush. One on a spinnerbait and one on a swimbait. My other fish came on the outside of the brush on a jig in 15 to 20 fow. My buddy had a 5 lber and several 3's to kick my butt! He loves throwing a weighted wacky. I talked to 3 young guys on the ramp thursday that had an 11, 9 and an 8. All on A-Rigs!! And about every boat we saw were throwing A rigs. An older guy on the ramp told me they throw A rigs at fish they locate on Livescope in the deep trees. I threw a Yum Umbrella Jr rig everyday for a little while. No luck. I'm 70 yrs old and i just cant throw that thing for very long. Its a beautiful lake out in the middle of nowhere!! The day we left i read where some dude had a 13 lber. I'll go back next year to chase that holy grail, a 10 lber!!

[Seth]

99% of those big fish are being caught by guys using forward facing sonar and A-rigs. If you don't have it or know how to use it then you will not come close to the results that those guys are having.

[Champ188]

I believe the day needs to come --- and soon --- that fisheries leaders in every state that profits from bass fishing sit down and discuss the effect this new sonar equipment is going to have on our resources. Seems we are constantly improving technology but not spending enough time/money improving our lakes and rivers. Can't keep taking more and more fish out without putting some back in. Does not compute. 

[Bill Babler]

Randall Tharp said the other day that guys just fishing or power fishing really don't have much of a chance in tournaments anymore. 

Interesting conversation. Yes, in a 5 fish derby maybe, but not so much in the current catch weigh release tournament. 

This last weekend on the Rock, the top finishing teams were all looking at them. 

A rigs and tree tops. 

[Quillback]

I'm not a serious tourney fisherman, but if I was, I would have FFS and would learn how to use it.  Having it does not guarantee success in a tourney, but if you don't have it, you are competing against guys that have it and know how to use it.  

[Bill Babler]

Jeff, what it has done to its barest basic extent has changed the fishing world from thinking the fish are there to knowing the fish are there.

You still have to make them bite, but fishing where fish are instead of just fishing is the game changer. 

There are always fish on the bank, but for every one in the bank there are 100's off shore.  Some of us here have had the great fortunes of fishing for theses for years. Now with these tools it has changed the game. 

With the further refinement, and it is for sure coming to be able to pick not only fish, but size of fish out while their in structure or for that matter 7' deep in a grass clump is insane. 

[Quillback]

I was talking to a guide at Jigfest who uses it for crappie fishing.  He told me about coming across a school of crappie on some structure and he could tell which one of them was the biggest.  He verified it by catching it on his first cast.  Lee Livesay claimed he could size them last year when he won on Fork using jerk baits.  Those fish were relatively shallow too.  

Would not surprise me at all to see additional functionality where it will size the fish for you.  Little arrow pointing at the fish with an estimated length and weight.  

I agree that it won't make them bite, but now you can watch how they react to a lure and if they don't react, you can change it out.  It is going to make people a lot more efficient.

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I'm watching the Classic (which is 4 hours of fishing that @Sethruined for me😂) and more than one guy has said he knew the size of the fish he was looking at.  On the last day Christie went back to his "get a limit" honey hole and the fish were gone.  And so he left.  I think without FFS he might have stayed or at least stayed longer fishing for fish that aren't there anymore.   All of them talk about how fish that are in groups bite more often than loners.   They definitely have it dialed in.

[DADAKOTA]

Anytime you can see the fish and how it reacts to your bait and presentation is a huge advantage.  Not only have you verified the presence of the fish, but you are also able to change presentations and/or lures to make it bite.  Deepwater sight fishing that technology will make even easier.  Takes a lot of uncertainties out of catching a fish.  Will make tourneys even more of a rich man's game.  Most non-pro derbies are fueled by ego and a need to gamble/compete as the vast majority of these folks do nothing but lose money.    

[abkeenan]

I hate pretty much everything about the point and look style of fishing. It's been called "video game fishing" for a while now when it was just 2D sonar and guys drop-shotting 20+ years ago. But now it truly is video game fishing glued to the screen 100% of the time and selecting a fish to target. Only looking up to make sure you aren't running someone over. Just go buy an Oculus for $400. It's cheaper than buying a boat, gear, tackle and gas.