Lets Get Started

[Bill Babler]

Will all you guys that are talking about it, just go do it. I put in my time last weekend and got a whippin. It's time for some of you all Arm-Chair-Fisherman to put on the Carhartts and get out there and find me some fish.

Be glad when Don gets his boat show time put in and gets on the pond.

SKMO, has been working hard this Winter and has gone only a couple of times with about the same results as I had.

Thought this weather was going to break, but it acts like we have another week of it, then Katy Bar the door.

Good luck out there boy's and let us know the results, good or bad.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hey Bill

I live in the St. Louis area and went out yesterday to a local subdivision lake. For me it was a perfect winter set-up. Warm, sunny and a good wind. Not a bite, not a sniff. Threw cranks, spinnerbaits, flukes, worms and jigs.

The lake had ice on it till Wednesday but it's still the first time I've never caught a fish on it no matter the time of year. Interesting thing though. They may have salted the streets during the last snow storm but I'm not positive. If so, what do you think that would do to fishing? Anyway that's my report. Sorry it's not about the big impoundments.

SIO3

[denjac]

I am soooooo ready. Get through this week and hopefully the weather will break. Hopefully I can dodge the flu thats going around up here. Be just my luck, first 70 degree day and I get sick. Been a long winter for me.

[Bill Babler]

I don't think the salt would hurt, as most of the syrups you put in your live well like RejuveX are mainly salt.

Try a slip float with live bait at the deepest part of the pond, Fish it right off the bottom, where the fish have been wintering. Most cold water northern fish don't like to chase the artificial stuff and want a slow or non-moving meal.

good luck

[Gary Lange]

I was out yesterday for a Club Tourney and got a whipping too. I only caught two fish and both were too small. Still had fun though.

[carolina-rig-01]

fished the same tourney gary is talking about and it was brutal! i caught one fish at around 10:00 on a hair jig on a bluff end, on the next cast i had one hit my jig on the fall and i missed him. then later in the afternoon i had one crush a pointer but he pulled off (not a great hookset with the wind). most everyone had the same type of day. but everyday like this that we put up with, is one more day closer to spring.

[Don House]

Well Guys welcome to early spring on Table Rock Lake, like Bill said one more trip out of town on Tuesday and I get to put on my Carhartts and get out there myself.. Man I'm really jealous of you guys that have been able to get out, even if the fishing was not that great. See everyone at the end of the month.. Keep posting reports I will try to read them on the road.

Be Good

Capt. Don

[Trav]

I am planning on setting up the camper at Campbell Point for a week as soon as the dogwoods bloom. I use the dogwood bloom as an indicator of when the spring bite starts.

Just an old folk lore that my late Gramps passed on to me. He had a knack with with such indicators.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Thanks Bill. Funny you should mention live bait. While fishing this same lake back in the heat of summer a guy walked up with his kid and chucked in a piece of hotdog on a hook, no weight. I thought he was catfishing but boy was I wrong. He caught bass after bass.

I asked him if he was really targeting cats and he said "no, bass". I asked him about his unusual bait and he said his kid discovered it while originally trying to catch cats and bluegill. He said he's absolutely killed em at L of the O using them. I'll give it a go and let you know what happens. That is if the lakes don't freeze over again this week.

I've caught a lot of big bass well before the dogwoods bloom. I started fishing year round up here when I read a magazine called "The Pennsylvania Angler" years a o. It listed all the state records and believe it or not the record bass were caught right after ice-out. I think it was March in Pennsylvania.

I think pre-spawn is the best bass fishing of the year, followed by late fall.

SIO3

[Trav]

Other than maybe the redbud, dogwoods are the first trees to bloom. Usually in Mid March. Since we dont have ice on our lakes here, alot of the stimulus for fish to spawn has more to do with warm rainwater and warm nights than anything.

The dogwood indicator was just a little rule of thumb for my Gramps, For some reason I believe he had some validation in that theory.

Anyway, Its an old family measure that we like to have confidence in.

I for one catch big bass year round. I do agree, other than pre spawn, Late september- early october has been historically kind to me.