rangerjockey

Things happen. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it, tie on another plopper and get back to fishing. I personally throw the W/P and bigger top waters in general on braid . Really no reason not to. For me anyway.

Kistler quit using the made in the U.S NFC blanks this past year. I guess to try to keep the cost down. The old NFC Z Bone , Helium and KLX were great rods. I've not fished the new blanks so I can't offer an opinion there but I find it odd that they would use the same blank on the Helium and Z bone. Of course the Z bone has a more expensive guide train. As far as I know they are still assembled in Magnolia TX.

The survival rate from tournaments where care is taken with them will be much better than from a fillet knife. Table Rock has taken a load of pressure this year and having the BPS open was the capper. I'm amazed at the bags Rayburn and Fork continue to put out ,it seems those lakes have a tremendous amount of pressure on them.

What percentage of your recreational fisherman practice catch and release vs those with a fillet knife in their hand ?

I guess your talking about bed fishing ? I'm not a big fan of it but if I see a nice one on the bed she's going to get a pitch or 6. One thing for sure there are a lot more folks trying it than are are actually good at it. You have to be able to read the fishes behavior and have a lot more patience than I do. There's something about looking at them that drives people nuts. Fish get caught off the bed just by casting to the bank and dragging something through the bed without actually knowing it's there.

Kistler has quit using the NFC blanks. At least they are assembled in Texas if that's what your looking for.

The Big Bite swimmer head is the best I've found. You can get them up to a 3/8 head that still has a short enough hook that won't kill the action of the smaller baits. Great keeper also.

One of the reasons they won't be duplicated because the plastic that was used in the pre Rapala warts had a cancer causing ingredient that can no longer be used. They also used lead for the rattles instead of the steel that's used now. The combination of that plastic and that lead rattles is unique. The lead rattles would eventually stick together and the only way to get them unstuck was to slap the bait on a hard surface and hope you don't crack it. Even if someone could duplicate the action they will never get one to the sound the same. The only bait that's close in my mind is the RK Crawler. It's a bigger and deeper bait than the wart but when they get a little further off the bank it's the way to go rather than going to 6 or 8lb. line like we did in the day to get the wart deeper.

I've seen the Virtus but never fished one. They look and feel just like a Falcon and even share a lot of the models. Maybe made by Ark rod ? They made the Falcons before the move overseas.

Another thing to mention. .Del Colvin guides out of Bull Shoals Boat dock. He puts up some you tube fishing reports on Bull Shoals also. The guy is really good and you will pick up some tips.

Is it one of the older green blanks ? It would make a good Scrounger head/ smaller swimbait rod.

Depends on the time of year but right now... A spinning for the Ned and 2.9 Keitechs A jig rod or 2 Crank bait rod for warts and RKcrawlers Topwater rod It will be time for the A rig in the not too distant future. Then drop one of the jig rods.

I've never bent one on a fish either. I personally like the Katsuage hooks and replace them if needed.

Yeah, I don't bother with it.. After a day the line get scuffed up from boat lifts and rubbing on dock cables ect. I just cut it back and start fresh.

I always cut the swivels off of my slab spoons if they come with one. You go through more line but flipping docks I'll just cut back 25 or 30 feet of line a day until I need to respool. I think line twist can be a good thing spooning docks , they like to see 'em spin.

I throw War Eagle 90% of the time .Color varies with the water color but the Sceamin' Eagle in Mouse is probably my fav. The TBC Ozark flash is a great dirty water spinnerbait and reminds me of the old War Eagles.

Traditionally TR has a late August/early September funk. I personally have not seen much of a jig bite yet and the big worm deal never got really going other than in the brush piles but it should be coming. So. .You can run the brush piles and pick up a few but you'll look at 10 to find one with a few on it. For me anyway I've had better luck on moving baits. Topwater and squarebills , maybe a swimbait also. I'd get at least halfway back in the creeks and throw a buzzbait or the plopper until they proved they didn't want it. If its sunny and slick I would get the ol' James Watson spoon out and pitch docks.

I think the Houston made All Stars are older than the 90's . I believe Morgan McCain was the original owner along was Billy Kistler if memory serves. Of course it got sold and ruined by Shakespeare but the name goes on. If you can find the charcoal colored blanks with maroon wraps with " made in Houston Texas " on the label those are the ones to pick up. I have a BCM6 and a Zell Rowland TWS. It's crazy what the TWS would bring these days . I fish it with 30lb. braid now and it's still the best topwater rod I've ever owned.

Bull Shoals in finally dropping. It's been 30 ft. up forever it seems the last I looked it's about 14ft.high. I'll stay on Table Rock but they fish pretty close to the same. I'm sure there's a drop shot bite going on but there is always some shallow fish also. There is a topwater bite up the rivers on the plopper or buzzbait but they are super tight to the bank. Of course with the hot weather we are having it could push them out . Right now ,if the topwater deal failed me I'd fish the brush piles with a worm or jig. Last August/ September is traditionally is about the toughest time in the Ozarks. I would bring the spinning rods.

I have no problem leaving for someone in a derby and I've had guys leave for me. If everybody's in the derby it's time to negotiate.

Cutting the bail wire off those old Abu Cardinal 3's and 4's was the way to go.. As I recall you couldn't shut the bail by hand and had to close it with the handle which led to loops like crazy. Once you got the hang of holding the line until the roller came around and caught it it was really easy and faster than using the handle. I have a pristine Cardinal 3 with the bail untouched that I've thought about cutting and using but when I see the prices they are bringing to collectors and in Japan I think I'll leave this one alone.

5 fish has a web site. Also Bait-Wrx in Springfield has them at the store and online. The best tackle store I've been in for the Ozark lakes and really anywhere for that matter. If your traveling anywhere close to it ,it's a unbelievable place and been open a few months now. I'll let Blue speak to his favorite colors.. For me it's Plum ,Red shad and Watermelon Candy.

I throw the smaller sizes when it's slick and the bigger sizes with some wind or chop. Same with the Shower Blow.

I've been using the 5 fish lures in the 1/2 oz. for a 2 years now. They were really designed here for the Ozark lakes and have a unique head shape that's really good in the brush piles and a good stout hook. Magnum Trick worm or the old monster. I would think September ,especially later in the month would be on the back side of that bite.

Depends on the time of year of course but right now on Table Rock. 2 jig rods A big worm rod 2 Topwater rods, Popper and Plopper. A spinning rod with a shakey head. Used to be a ned rig but I don't think they bite it as good as they did a few years ago. Once the sun gets over the mountains the spoon rod will usually make it's appearance.