Doc-Drew

I'm out. I will try to make one of the Saturday tourneys one of these days.

I grew up fishing for smallmouth in South Dakota. One thing I learned is that smallmouth can very a ton in color and markings. Some that we would catch would have little to no markings and a yellow hue to them while 5 minutes later we would catch one in the same spot that was tiger striped and dark brown to almost black.

Don't forget about Mondo Tackle!

The wife and I got out to Lonestar as well Sunday morning. A little tough to get her to get up very early so we go there probably about the time you left. I can't remember how many we caught but it was probably around 25. She caught all hers on the Ned. Nothing bigger than about 2.5lbs but it was still great to get out. This weekend I am heading north to South Dakota to visit family. Hopefully we will get some fishing in.

I may get out Saturday morning for the first time since May. I have been thinking about Clinton. I would love to tag into some nice wipers or smallies. Any suggestions on where to start?

Looks like the same fish my wife caught out of there a few years ago. Her's was just under 5# but unfortunately I don't have a picture. My wife is only 4'11 so when she holds up a 5# fish, it looks enormous...Just like yours

I made this recipe this spring and my wife (not real keen on fish) and I really liked it. She hates picking fish off the skin so I just filleted them like you would a panfish. We also left out the Lemon Butter Sauce to keep it lighter. http://www.recipesecrets.net/forums/recipe-exchange/25703-bonefish-grill-pistachio-parmesan-crusted-trout.html

I won't be able to make the meeting at Johnny's. Thursdays are my late nights. Let me know what you guys decide though. One thing to consider for the "weigh-ins," is the outing going to be a two day combined, two individual days or best 5 from either day? Just trying to see if it's possible for the one-dayers to compete.

I lived in South Dakota all my childhood. Regualarly fished Kampeska and Pickerel most of the time until my parents bought a place on Pickerel. Then for years it was only Pickerel. If you are looking for numbers, Pickerel is hard to beat. I can show you on a map spots as well as lures. If you are looking for size, jwharding is right on with Roy and Clear. Another lake, Horseshoe can be really good for smallmouth as well. About 10 years ago, my father and I went on a fishing trip to Lake Louise for some Largemouth. Everyone he talked to said to catch bass there we would have to go in the spring before the weeds hit. Well, August is close to spring right? Hah. Turned out to be the best fishing of my life. All the fish caught on top of the weeds using frogs. We averaged 4lbs (except for small bass that would hit our lures when fly fishing for bluegill) for 4 days including a 7lber that my father caught. I have only been there a few times since and it was never as good. I see that your fav. lake is Pickerel. Chances are, that you have run into my father or me. If you want any help with that lake or other lakes around there, feel free to PM me.

I'd be up for this. How is camping down there? I have been wanting to go there ever since I moved to KC but have never gotten aroud to it. Chris you mentioned you are taking a bass boat down there. Do most of the pits not have a good ramp? Another thing, since there are a billion pits down there, would we be limited to a certain area or would all be fair game?

Lol! We could always do a one day on a close lake and for those that want to do a two day have it another day another lake. If we are only doing one get together, I vote for either something close or a one day since I'm in the same boat as pbrussell and superfluke

Looking at what is being said, I think it is safe to assume that this will be another multi-day outing?

I had that happen at Coffey this late winter. Fishing the hot water, a fish annihilated a spinnerbait. After 15 minutes of a fight and a very boring two minute long video of that fight, the fish started coming up. It came up to the surface and rolled... Huge blue cat! It made one roll and the spinnerbait just fell out of its mouth. I was happy and sad I didn't have to get it in the boat. Getting it in the boat would have been a much better video than the fight. That I am sure of!

I may know of a good chiropractor...ehemm

Welcome! As I am sure almost everyone can attest to, the Ned is pretty much a vacuum. I've caught largemouth, smallmouth, spots, catfish, drum, carp, walleye, perch, crappie, sunfish, whites, wipers, and northern pike on it. So when using the Ned, I wouldn't really say it's "bass" fishing... More like "whatever is in the vicinity" fishing.

I didn't bring my boat but as I was leaving, a couple of guys launched a 17' tracker.

My father in law is coming into town this weekend (hence why I cannot go on the trip to grande). My wife wants to take him fishing for a few hours. Anyone have some suggestions for lakes or ponds? He said he likes using top water frogs but other than Miami, I don't know of anywhere to use them. On that note, I visited Miami this week... The whole lake looked like this Very think and very dense

Speaking of the Ned, had anyone ever tried a longer hook and keeping it 5"? Just wondering if it might weed out some smaller fish or if it would just be like a normal senko.

You and me both!

My wife and I went camping/fishing at Wabaunsee Saturday and Sunday. It was a strange couple of days at that lake. I don't ever remember catching so many small bass. Typically, for me, I never really caught a ton but they were nicer quality when I would go there. The last two days, it was a bunch of dinks with a 3lber mixed in occasionally. Here are a couple of the bigger ones.

It will catch its fair share of dinks but it also catches some bigger bass. Both were caught this year at Melvern. My father and I got 2nd place in the Melvern get together a month ago with 5 best smallmouth going 16lbs+ All caught on the Ned rig.

The great thing about them is you can catch 20+ fish on half of a zinker.

Our best luck was just west of the peninsula that sticks out. The algae was annoying but we just swam the Neds pretty quickly over the tops of it

You can google it for pictures but basically it's a 3/32 oz mushroom head with a zman zinker cut in half and glued to the head.

I don't know the water temp. My cranking battery was low on charge and I never turned the sonar on since I needed the battery for the outboard. Everything we caught was on the ned though.