fishfordollars

Exactly why i posted this. I preach wearing the PFD and watching the things you can control. Got in a hurry, decided to leave the PFD in the rod box. What the heck, it was just going to be a quick half mile run down and back. Could have been a lot worse. Bruises on the right arm and thigh, not to mention ribs up under my right armpit.

Not likely. It was a two fisted driving job to begin with. Not one of my smarter moves, no life jacket on either. Even dumber move.

Man, i need to think how to put that into words. For me they do fish differently. I'll go back through my notes and get back with you with some examples. Toledo is a deeper, more river dominated lake in my opinion. Rayburn is a lot shallower with miles of grass flats. Severe cold front: The bass on Rayburn will bury up in the grass and for me it is tough to get bit the first bluebird day. I can go the same day 30 miles to Toledo and those fish will be suspended over a creek out in the mouths of pockets in the 12-15' of water instead of burying up in the grass and bite a crankbait all day long. Who knows why, maybe it's my style of fishing. Those Toledo fish seem to be the least effected and the first to bounce back. I catch more fish on a jig on Rayburn than Toledo, but the jig fish I catch on Toledo will outweigh the Rayburn fish on average. I think the river ledge fishing on Toledo is a lot more consistant and dependable than Rayburn. Probably due to the depts of the humps and ledges and I personally know a lot more humps and ledges out on toledo than Rayburn. Points are much more consistant on Rayburn for me and the flats on Rayburn always outproduce Toledo's for me. When I fish Toledo i tend to concentrate on the mouths of creeks and the main lake humps and ridges with grass, but when I hit Rayburn i stick with the flats and points. The areas i fish on Rayburn tend to be dominated by large grass infested flats with underwater points, creeks, and ditches running through them and main lake barren points. I seldom fish upriver on Toledo, but won't hesitate to run miles to the north end of Rayburn. Toledo is a challenge to run, but Rayburn is not. You are not tied to the bouys like you are over there. Actually, Rayburn has no bouys. If you are in the back of a pocket on the west side just aim the boat east and you can usually run a straight line to the other side without having to run the creeks and river channels. There are exceptions though. Toledo can fish small. By that , I mean the fish can be locked to certain areas and you can get covered up with thirty boats. Rayburn on the other hand can have the same thirty boats in one area, but they will be scattered over a huge flat and no one is crowding the other. Plastics are about the same on either lake for me. The Toledo fish tend to bunch up tighter and require a little more effort to locate. They tend to spook easier to. They require lure changes, retrieve and angle changes much more than my Rayburn fish. At least for me it seems so. I have set on schools on Rayburn and just wear them out cast after cast without ever changing a lure or retrieve. Rayburn fish are so consistant. I'm still catching fish out of areas I caught them thirty years ago. Sorry, I didn't do a very good job of putting this together. Just typed it as it came to mind. I'll try to condense and send you a pm with a little more direction.

Man, booger88, I admire you for the positive attitude. With that thinking you just might be in the right place at the right time.

Go get you one of the after market spare tire holders for the trailer. the one with the all thread bolt and the big wing nut. drill a hole in each end of the wing nut and mount it to the floor. Screw the bolt into the mounted wing nut, slide the prop down over the bolt and use another wing nut to tighten it up. Or you can go purchase one of the mounts from one of the boat dealers and mount it up. Works the same way but will cost you a lot more.

It will show just about anything suspended in the water column as a fish. Personally, i turn that function off. Use it to locate scattered grass, drop offs, humps, ridges, stumps, trees, and brushpiles.

On the San Jacinto river this afternoon running a new prop. Never should have been there. Water was rolling due to all the rain and not safe. Up on the pad, driving through some chine walk, fighting the rolling currents and what do i do? Twist in the seat to relocate and pulled the kill-switch lanyard. Can you say "Go Left?" I don't recommend it. It's hard on the pants.

Rayburn was good. Dodged a few thunder boomers, got wet a couple of times, but we caught fish.

I would like your comments after everything is up and running and you have a little time with it. Getting ready to make the investment and would like your feedback.

HMMMMM, Prop 300-400, lower unit 2,000. Don't run it until you get it checked. Good luck.

First it will suck the bait out of the backs of the pockets and position them on the creeks out in the middle of the bays, off the main lake points, and the mouths of the pockets. I noticed this last weekend on Rayburn. It will create current. The bass will set up closeby on the creek bends, outside grass relating to the creeks and points. If i were on the bend this weekend I would start with the main lake points, fish the outer grass with plastics and watch for schoolers working out off the end of the points and the mouth of any pocket that had a creek close by. **Do not pass up a bare main lake point. I've seen these be the ticket at this time of year.*** That being said i am not sure how much rain the lake had. If it got a good dose I would not rule out the shallower depths up on and off to each side of the points. If they are pulling a lot of water i would concentrate on the down current side of the point throwing crankbaits, jigs, and worms. I would set up on the lower side of the point, throw the crank as far as possible up above the point and run it up over the top and off the other side. Better fish should be off the deeper edges, but that could change due to current and amount of rain received. If I were struggling after all of this i would back out with a c-rig (UGH) and start covering the deeper creeks out close to where they intersect the larger creeks and the river. Concentrating on the humps out near the river would have to be checked. Good luck.

I would like the 30th myself.

How about the following: Saturday October 30 or November 6. Give me your feedback and let's make a date. We can pick a site after we decide on the weekend. I am open for either. Jack

Hell yes you can come. Most here are unknowns.

Well ya'll can cut and stack all you want. If I'm lucky I might burn a half a cord during the winter in the little ole fireplace. One of fall's traditions is going with the wife to buy the firewood. The little old lady that we buy from has ONE tooth in her head, right up front. We expect every year that we'll hear she passed on but so far she is still out there collecting our money.

i just opened a new thread.

Ok all you light weights. Let's do it. I'm officially opening this thread. When and where is all up for discussion. I would like late October or early November, but let me know what fits everyone's thoughts. Disclaimer: This get to gather is in no way sponsored or endorsed by the website www.bassresource.com, or any of their employees. The site is not responsible for any liability due to participation in this non sponsored event. Glenn, feel free to add any other disclaimer you feel is warranted. Let's get the ball rolling. Jack

First get you a fork boat lane chip from Lance vick. fished the Skeeter Owner's tournament in july and there were lots of boats damaged from underwater objects. If you don't know how to run the lake watch out and have your insurance up to date. Let me know how you feel when you boat a 7lb 10oz. and can't weigh it because it's too short. Everything 16-24" must be immediately released. Launch at the ramp in williams creek. fish the right side going out. Lots of docks, pads, and grass with deeper water nearby. Go out to the mouth and turn right. fish the pockets to the right. Has a good roadbed running across it and there should be lots of nice fish stacked in that area. There will be lots of boats in the area. Just get in among them and get after it. Everyone will be catching fish. Good luck.

Spent three days on the lake this weekend. Lake is down 5 1/2 feet. We caught some fish, size was up to five pounds. Found the fish out in the center of the bays relating to the creek channels and off the main lake points. ***With the lake level dropping be very careful. Lots of things (Stumps, humps, ridges) beginning to show that normally do not come into play.*** Thirty two thursday up to 4 1/2. Twenty two friday up to 4 1/4. Thursday the fish were out on the creeks and points in the deeper water and out off the clean main lake points. Most were caught on plastics (Senkos, Baby Brushhogs, and 10" worms). Best colors were watermellon/red, pumpkin, and watermellon/candy. Best bites Friday were in the 2-5' water on a buzzbait and frog fishing the pads and grass. Had the great fortune to have an eleven year old catch his first fish ever out of the boat. It was not large (2lbs+), but was huge in his eyes. The father took some pictures and promised to forward them to me when he got home. i will post them up when I get them. Will give a more detailed report when I get time.

I was at the first out of harborlight. We all decided to do it again. i'm ready to get the next one started. willing to help put it together.

Everyone have a safe holiday. I'm headed out tonight to Rayburn for a few days. Good luck to all. Jack

I use it and have had zero issues. For once they got something right (So far).

Heck RW, I would be out of Cigs in an hour.

PM sent.

I'll be on Rayburn Thur-Sat. Putting in at Caney Creek. fishing mid lake area. Black Forrest, Veach, Coleman. Fish the outside grass lines out close to the creek. Fish the bare clay main lake points. Back of Veach, fish the two points on the left in the back and the creek on the left in the back. Move out from both points and fish the ditches out in the 18-25' of water after the grass lines play out. If you have a Si unit you can find the brush tops. Fish the deeper grass lines in Coleman and the edges of the road beds. Watch the timber and you can see several that run out of the woods into the lake.