Bankbeater

This year its been close to 50/50.

Nice write up!

Knit cap for my head, layers for my torso, long johns and sweats for my legs. The rain suit goes over the top of all that to block the wind.

I got back into fishing back in 2002 after not fishing for 15 years. Work, family, and a new house kept me busy.

Nice going and congrats!

I'll be reading the responses and not looking at the profile pic, and I'll think that is what happens to me. Then I look at the profile and realize that I wrote it.

I still use a round Ambassadeur reel for punching and catfishing.

I have a few vintage older reels that I will take out and look at from time to time. It has been years since some of them have been uesd on the water.

For a stocked channel cat lake you could probably get away with using a heavy action bass rig. For fishing water that has channel , flathead, and blue cats in it we always used saltwater rigs.

Looks to be about 1-3/4" long x about 3/4" wide x 1/4" thick. Hope this helps.

The first trip in I don't know how long when a Texas rig and weightless worm didn't catch bass. The bass were in chase mode. I got these two on the outside of a small drop off. Now if I can just find the bigger ones.

I would rather see guides, or local anglers, talk about techniques, or the bodies of water they are familiar with.

My spook is the middle of the road.

10# or 15# Big Game depending on the weight of your bait, and the cover you are casting around.

That's a nice bass you caught!

For bottom contact baits I tie direct to the hook, but for all moving baits I use a snap. I use a little of everything. I can't really say I like one brand better than the other.

Sorry to hear about your mom. It's good to get out on the water and let your mind clear, if only for a few hours.

I do most of my business with BPS, or online. We have one small bait and tackle store about 14 or so miles away that sells bait, tackle rods, and reels. When I am out that way I always swing by to see what they have. I can get a better selection online, but the information I can pick up there is priceless.

The first thing I would do is to make sure the lake you are fishing has a good crappie population. A lot of the pressured lakes around me have a very low population due to over fishing.

Start fishing with them now. You can use crankbaits all year long.

Around here the weather won't stay stable. It's hot for a few days then cool for a few days. Usually the fronts come through the day before I hit the water.

Dang, sorry to hear that.

I still break out the Humpback Rebel from time to time.

Take it back and get a Shimano SLX 150 for the same price.

We were down near Pontiac some years ago and the lake was something like 20' high. The place we were staying had to cut a new road down to their boat dock. The resort owner told us that Bull Shoals was a flood control lake. When Beaver, Taneycomo, and Table Rock got too full, the excess water got dumped into Bull Shoals.