Table Rocks decline.

[Ketchup]

I sold my electronics to a guy in Ohio recently. During our talks he asked if Mo. was the same as Ohio in that tournament permits are issued by the total number of tournament boats on a body of water that day. So if the lake can comfortably handle 100 tournament boats this Saturday, and there is a tournament that has 100 boats, that’s the only permit issued. If there are 3 clubs with 33 boats each, then 3 tournaments will be going on that day. 
 

The good and the bad: Great to limit the amount of boats. 

He said the bad is, because this is a new concept for Ohio, is that several clubs have said they would have 75 boats, when in reality they only have 10, to have the lake to themselves that day. He said there is lots of talk from those that issue permits on how to handle that issue. 
 
Could this be done here? You bet. The permits issuers would need to grow a set of nuts first. 
 

IM ALL FOR IT. 

[Mitch f]

If there was ever an instrument tailor made for Table Rock it would be forward looking live scope.

[willyfish]

5 hours ago, Mitch f said:

Back in the 80’s and 90’s

I don’t doubt there are some Smallies swimming around that big, I guess the word commonplace is what threw me off. 

[Wesley]

The walleys have nothing to do with the bass population.  I see 10s of thousands of shad on the lake now.  39 years ago I saw the same amount of shad.   I believe the fish are  hammered with the same lures and that is why you do not see as many big ones. They get used to the same lures.  I am a lazy fisherman don t fish that hard.  I got one 3 years ago 8.5.   Get 4/5 a year over 5.   But I use BIG lures so I don t catch as many. But bigger.    

[dtrs5kprs]

5 hours ago, Mitch f said:

Up compared to when? I spoke with Bo over the years before he passed about this very subject. He seemed to believe the big ones could mostly be caught at night, which is why he always fished at night. 
You would think someone would weigh in a 6 pounder in a tournament down there but it ain’t happening anymore…so sad

Compared to across the last 26 years, basically. I'm a daytime guy, except for the odd summer run.

The number of brown fish available was ridiculous, say 5-10 years ago. But that was with a ton of short fish being caught. You might go through 50-75 to get to 8-9 legals then.

Now, I fish differently than most folks, no question. Weirder than most of you know. Not just slow and small, but a zagging instead of zigging type of thing. And I fish intentionally for smallmouth, every time I float it. Blacks and K's are the bonus fish in my boat.

As to brown fish in derbies...my guess is a lot of folks are just scared silly of trying to catch smallmouth to weigh for a check. Still talk with folks who assign a certain mysticism to brown fish behavior. They're actually pretty simple critters.