fishfordollars

Well you can add me to the list of Rayburn cheaters. I have a dedicated milk run built entirely on brushtops that I have planted over the years. FYI, I don't put them out on the weekend OR during the daylight hours. Too many prying eyes. Jack

Let me know where you intend to fish Get the map out Call me at 281 224-8853 and I will help you Jack

Look directly across the from the boat ramp. there will be a set of five points going north(Up lake). . The first point is a big flat. Fish the second point(It has a deep creek that runs right up against it and turns north) The fourth and fifth points ar also good. Due west from the fifth point across ayish batou is a great point that has the bayou running up against it. Get on the T/M and go straight back toward the ramp 40 yards S.E. off the point and you will hit the drop. It should have about 15 ft. of water on the end and drop into 25-28 ft. Work your way back into the pocket and fish the first point(It will be the secondary point) It has a hard(Clay) bottom. fish it with a crankbait and a jig. The grass will be off the point at about 12 ft. If you want to go south come out of San Augustine Park and follow the eastern shore about 1 1/2 mile south and this will put you on the northern entrance to Buck Bay. Fish the willows and buck bursh with a worm and a jig. I reccommend a watermellon/red on the plastics and a 3/8 jig in brown with a pumpkin/green trailer. If you move out deeper go to a 1/2 jig in the same color or a Texas Smoke or Camo color. The points on the south side of Buck Bay are good also as well as the two pockets just south of buck Bay. The main creek running into Buck Bay splits about 100 yards off the south point and runs over into the two smaller pockets just south of Buck Bay. These two pockets and this creek do not get the pressure that Buck Bay receives and I have caught a ton of fish in this area on crankbaits, jigs, and worms. All of this is within two miles of the ramp. Good luck and good fishing. Jack

Back off Make long cast Keep the noise level down in the boat Walk softly No slamming of lids No radio No loud talking Shut the motor off at least 50 yds away Turn T/M down lower and use sparingly Remember, If you can see them, they can see you

Catt, I'll be on the road no later than 2:00am, will call Pat when I get close to the Six Mile Ramp

Actually, I will study the lake maps from the lakes that I fish a lot more so than the ones I am not familiar with. It keeps me from fishing memories and forces me to look for cover/structure that I have never fished. I find by tracing out the contour lines I develope a spot or two that I have overlooked or just did not take the time to check out. While treating an old familiar lake as a new one you increase your chances of success. Some produce, but many are just a waste. Several of the newer areas I have taken the time to check have replaced a few of the older ones I thought were the best. In fact, two new areas I checked the last 3-4 months have become my favorite starting points. Speaking of maps, I try to locate as many from different companies that I can. They all show different quirks and I will use them to locate a new area. You would be surprised how the different mapping companies will draw up an area.

Well, everything I've heard this year is that Indian Mounds has really been off. Why limit yourself? If you are fishing memories you are not getting your moneys worth. Different areas of the lake will be "Hot" at certain times due to situations that happen. Get a map and go see what is out there. Could make a difference in a lot of trips. Rayburn: I agree you are fishing some great areas on this lake. What happens when you show up and there are 40 boats due to several tournaments covering your areas? You will catch plenty of fish where you are fishing, but there are lots of tournaments won within site of the 147 bridge. The Black Forrest, Indian Creek, Harvey Creek, areas as well as Caney, Veach, & Coleman Bay areas are loaded also. There will come a time due to pressure, wind, etc. that you will wish you had taken the time to familiarize yourself with a few of these areas.

No need for apologies, this thread is intended to be a "go to" type of thread for anyone looking for prefishing pointers and strategies. I feel like if you're lucky enough to get practice time before a tournament, you should make the most of it. Hopefully this thread will help some members do that. Lots of good stuff here so far, let's keep it going. I started not to post all the things done even before hitting the water, but I feel it's as much a part of anyones success as actual time on the water. At least it is for me.

Clockwise. No I'm not saying not to run WOT. Just cut down on the time running it on the cuff in the driveway. Those things are not good if you just let it sit there and idle or run. they don't allow for enough water to correctly cool the engine. Not to mention it will wear out an impeller quickly.

X2

The first time you stick one in to you all the way to the bend you will be glad you are fishing the barbless.

Good start. The purpose of my questions was to make you look. The more you know and can carry on a conversation pertaining to subjects like these will stand you out from the others. I promise you eventually questions like these will come up and you need to know at least the basics. Good job!

LMBV: Largemouth Bass Virus If you don't know what effects (Good or Bad) grass carp can have on a fishery, it all depends on who you ask. The questions are important enough that BASS devotes an entire section of BASS Times to enviromental issues just like this. Pick up a copy or research it when you get time. Clean water issues, quagga mussels, water rights, land rights, ballast water, invasive species, etc. are all part of the equation. If you think it is unimportant, just read up on it and see.

What are your thoughts on the stocking of grass carp to control the aquatic vegation issues in our lakes. Give me the pros and cons dealing with the property owner associations versus the angling rights groups when it comes to these issues.

I have no idea about the motor; however, one thing that you posted concerns me. Motors are not designed to run on the cuff. It's hell on impellers and the heat will creep up. FYI, I never heard back from you on the Tilt/Trim shaft. We have it located. Let me know if you still need it.

Congratulations guys. Good job!

Catt, I, and others are fishing Wednesday and Thursday. Last Friday: I pulled out all past fishing reports Pulled out four different maps of Toledo Set up the Weather Channel for frequent reports on my Dish Made copies of the areas we are going to fish Traced in the contour lines on five different copies of areas. This always keys me in on spots that I may have over looked that I want to check out. Sunday: Stripped all the reels I am taking Rearranged Plano boxes for summertime(Offshore) fishing Checked water levels in all batteries Plugged in charger Hand traced another set of map copies Loaded accessories that may be needed in the boat. Picked up new set of plugs for the Mercury Two hours of map study Today(Monday) to do: Map study Check the weather Re spool all reels Wash the boat Put the wife on airplane Punch in the coordinates for Six Mile Boat ramp Load the chips I want in my GPS units Twiddle my thumbs and go over everything one more time. Call Catt and bi%&h about having to wait for 2:00am Wednesday morning to come. Tuesday: Check weather Map study Go over everything one more time FYI, if anyone thinks I am exaggerating about the map study you are wrong. It has saved my bacon so many times. First day of prefish: I will pick an area of the lake to concentrate on and start fishing areas taking in the prior week's weather, time of year, and any information I have received. I am not concerned with catching any fish, just getting bit. I never stick a fish on plastics and bend down the hooks on a crankbait. Spinnerbaits will have something to cover the hook point. I usually start in known areas but move through them quickly. If I have located any fish I will get the map out and see how many other areas within a reasonable distance I can locate and then I will move through most of them to check out the water condition and if they hold any possibility of producing. Many times this means just eliminating unproductive water. If the fish are on the main lake points I try to check as many as possible. If I can get bit on every third point this tells me I will have to cover at least 15 points during the day to get the five I need. I will always start out deeper on a point and fish the sides and work my way up to determine at what level the first bite will come. If it is between 8-12 feet I begin to concentrate at that level on each point. This cuts out a lot of water I do not have to fish and keeps me moving. I will pick out 3-5 creeks and try to fish them a quickly as possible and determine if the fish are in the outer third, middle third, etc. Somewhere along the creek I hope to locate them and when/if I do it cuts down the water I will check the rest of the day. Humps and ridges offshore are my favorite places to fish. If I can find any fish at all I will concentrate on them as they have very little pressure and with the deeper water nearby they are not affected by fronts as much as the shallower fish. Day two: Depends on day one. If I feel I have enough fish located I will go back and try to learn as much as possible about the areas and decide where to start and how to procede through the day. If day one was a bust I will pick another area and start over. It will be either up lake or down depending on water color, prior weather, time of year, etc. Sorry for the long post. Jack

Glad you are ok. I was not on the water yesterday and neither was Catt as far as I know. We are going to give it a shot Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully the weather will be a little better than the last time we tried it. If the winds top at 30 it will be an improvement.

It's normal. Motors are not supposed to be run for any length of time on a cuff.

I add a small amount of weight to drop the lure down a foot or so in the water column when that happens to me. It can be as simple as going up on the hook size to get the lure down. Be careful though, it will at times make you work the lure a little faster to keep the lure up and that can kill the bite altogether. You just have to experiment with it to see what will work.

It could be possible you bent the shaft on both motors either by hitting something or by the way you mounted it. Is it possible you bent the shaft?

I don't peg at all. If I'm fishing heavy grass or cover it is with a jig.

Keep them dry. If they get wet, empty the containers and lay everything so that it will dry. Keep them sharp. A rusty hook has a tendency to break off the point and cannot be sharpened back to factory specs.

Congratulations. Many fish all their lives without placing.

Happens all the time. Water is like alcohol to some people. The closer they get the dumber or more inconsiderate they get.