fishfordollars

Sounds like one of my better days. Yesterday was tough everywhere in this area. Second day after a front, cloudless skies, and wind. Most will struggle. If it's any consolation, 90% of the pros fishing the Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Lake Conroe just a 100 miles west of you had just about the same results.

Lake conroe kicked their bass on Saturday. Very few stringers of any size. Van Dam had a little over 4 pounds just to show how tough it was. Most stringers were under 8 lbs. Tommy biffle had a 19 pound stringer with a 7-7, to move from 35th place up to fifth and Sean Hoernke had a 9-8 in his stringer to move from 41st place up to 7th. Wife and I got to enter the Lunker Lodge where all the anglers eat and visit with their wives and family after the days fishing. Every one was very open to talking with you and we got to visit with Kevin, Steve Kennedy, Tim Horton, and a few others. Jason Quinn was a lot of fun to be around to. He was not fishing Saturday, but had his rig set up and stayed out with the crowd most of the day. Top ten that are fishing today and the two day weights: 1. Dave Lefebre 36.12 2. Todd Auten 31.40 3. Andy Motgomery 30.12 4. Chad Morgenthaler 30.00 5. Aaron Martens 29.00 5. Tommy biffle 29.00 6. Sean Hoernke 27.00 6. Jason Christie 27.00 6. Tim Horton 27.00 10. Clark Wendlandt 26.12 Big Bass: Sean Hoernke 9.80 Tommy Biffle 7.70 It will be televised on CBS on Nov. 10th if anyone would like to watch it. Sorry, I do not have the times. Jack

This post is worthless without the name, driving directions, permission, owners name, phone number, favorite brand of whiskey, and cordinates.

X2, and I'm still scared to death to leave home without the other 30 pounds of plastic even though I have not fished some in years.

X2, as usual Catt, you be right on.

I expected more from Russell Cecil. He is local and wins a ton on this lake. Another local favorite, Keith Caka, does well here on his home lake and he is nowhere to be found either. Maybe he will do better today, but I have no idea where he stands. The list I posted was all the paper announced this morning. Headed up there now so maybe I can get a more detailed report. Jack

1. Dave Lefebre 24-8 2. Tim Horton 21-0 3. Aaron Martens 20-0 4. Guy Eaker, Sr. 18-8 5. Takahiro Omori 18-4 6. Jason Christie 17-12 7. Fred Contaoi 17-8 8. Andy Montgomery 17-4 9. David Walker 17-0 10. Glenn Browne 15-12 11. Russ Lane 15-0 12. Brian Snowden 14-8 12. Duke Jenkel 14-8 14. Todd Auten 14-0 15. Chad Morgenthaler 13-8 16. Steve Kennedy 13-4 16. Russell Cecil 13-4 18. Jeff Kreit 13-0 19. Shaw Grigsby 12-12 20. Luke Clausen 12-4 20. Arnie Lane 12-4 Big Bass 1. Fred Contaoi 7-8 2. Aaron Martens 7-0 3. Dave Lefrebe 6-8 4. Andy Montgomery 6-0 4. David Walker 6-0 4. Sandy Melvin 6-0 Van Dam and some of the other notables are nowhere to be seen. High winds and bright bluebird skies made it tough on all the fishermen. At first light the wind is 15+ and expected to increase making for another tough day. Will post the Saturday weights in the morning. First place pays $250,000 with a total purse of $500,000. Field is cut to the top ten after todays weighin. All fish are weighed and measured in the boat by an observer and immediately released back into the lake. Only fish that are weighed on stage are the larger fish over 21" Jack

I've used it since it came out and have no problems. I apply it when I spool a reel. I change line after a days fishing if it is used much at all so I cannot speak to using it on a spool that has been on for weeks or months. Personally,other than braid, it would scare me to fish a reel that has had the line on it for a month. JMO.

Check your updates. Go to www.lowrance.com.

Exactly, and that is what causes most of the failures with those setups. Operator error.

I pull the hubs, repack, and reseal twice a year. Been doing this for years and have never had a bearing failure. I do not use bearing buddies. Just the standard dust cover. Biggest problem with the bearing buddies and bearing failure is that most put too much grease in them and ruin the inner seals. Several of my cohorts were having problems, and found that was what they were doing. Went with the standard dust covers and have had no problems since. They too reseal their bearings about once a year and have had no problems. I'm just comfortable with the twice a year check. I do keep a complete hub assembly ready to go under the rear seat of my pickup but have never had to use it.

Has not been cold enough for the weather to hurt the bite. It's high 60s this morning. The main issue will be the wind. If I was going Saturday I would put in at a ramp on the western side of the lake and concentrate on the northwestern areas that will have some protection. The fish will not move from the shallow grass they have been set up in for the last few weeks. The only thing I might do would be to move out and concentrate on the outer edges of the grass in the 8-12' of water and work the creek channels, secondary points and the main lake points with grass. You can put in at the Caney Creek ramp and fish the west side of the Black Forrest area concentrating on the points, ditches, and drains from the Mud Creek area on the north down the west side of the lake to the Sandy Creek area. If you want to fight the wind and cross the lake fish the grass lines, roadbed, and bridge in the Harvey Creek area and on into Veech Basin fishing the points and grasslines in that area. Low temps Sunday morning will be around low 40s. Again, it will be the wind that will hamper you. Good luck

Set oven on 400, coat them with a nice garlic sauce, cover with the cheese of your choice, light a fire, watch it snow, and enjoy. Sorry, I could not resist. It's 6:00pm and 92* here.

Can't say as I blame you. FYI, those fish are still there and I found two more places just like it that's holding good solid fish.

You want to make the run north? If so call me and I will tell you where and on what. Jack 281 224-8853

Just keep your spirits up. You are using some of the best doctors in the world. Good luck and prayers for a great diagnosis. Jack

I'm going Wednesday, will give you a report when I return.

I have 5-6 different Rayburn maps. It will probably be one that I have allready marked. Let me know and if it is the same I will fax or email my copy to you. Jack As far as the wife goes...I found out that diamonds tend to soothe the women down. Mine only goes in the hot summer months and does nothing but lay on the rear deck in a swimsuit with a book in her hand. She seldom says a word about my fishing unless she wants something. She travels every week and I found out long ago not to answer the phone on her travel days and be gone before she gets home.

Sorry to hear of your loss. Wish I had one laying around, I'd send it to you. Good luck, Jack

I'm sure the women need to run and hide. The place will never be the same. Oh well, at your(Our) age it makes no difference. Get yourself a front row seat at the basketball games and wear your Bass Resource shirt. Or go without one and paint it on your chest(Or Forehead). On second thought keep your shirt on, otherwise you'll have to shave all that grey chest hair. Seriously I hope everything works out great. The ball games can wait. Prayers and the best of luck. Good luck! Jack

One of my favorite series. Of course when you live in an area with the chance of twisters each time a storm pops up you need to be up on all the info. I've been lucky(?) enough to see a few up close in my lifetime and it is nothing like you see on TV. The noise and the wind pressure is something you just cannot duplicate.

I clear my cache, keep all my updates current, do a disc cleanup regularly, and never have a problem.

I premix my fuel.

I see no reason for those fish to move between now and then, even if the lake comes up a couple of feet. I think the reason it is so loaded with fish is it has not been fished. When you look at it it is probably the last place you would want to fish in that area. It looks like absolutely the last place they would be. But what do I know. They could set up over on the creek at anytime and if they do someone will find them and wear them out. If this happens hopefully they will relocate right back over the flat to get away from the pressure. Stay in touch and I will let you know if it is still producing then.

No reason for it that I can see. It's not covered with baitfish, they have just decided to set up in that area. I have yet to see another boat fishing that area. They all go in on the left following the creek and just don't pay any attention to that big broad flat. I guess it being so shallow the boaters just figure that it won't hold any fish. Hopefully everyone will keep thinking that because it is an area that anyone could go in and sack up a 20 pound stringer if they took the time to figure it out. I did find a two foot ditch that runs through the back of it just to the right of the point that was loaded with 2-3 pound fish. I did make a pass down the middle of the pocket located on the right side of that point and only caugh two small fish. I'm going back first of next week to do a little more on the water study and see if there is another ditch that accesses the area down the right side of the flat. I found some scattered grass out to the right (40 yards out) that was 4-5' deep but I did not fish it. You have to know it is there as the grass tops out about a foot from the surface. If these fish stay unfished there will be money to be won for the next six weeks or so. We have had a lot of rain the last couple of days and this may put another foot of water over those grass patches. If so it will probably not get any pressure since anyone coming through there will now have no idea the grass is actually there.