scaleface

I know this is an old post but I just saw it. Yes I fish it often. A few years back it was hot for smallmouths. The problem is it is below Mark Twain lake which is a flood control reservoir. Several years of extreme flooding has severely hurt the fishery. The corp raises the water unpredictably. If the water is high you will not be able to fish at all. If the water is low , paddle upstream to fish. If you go down stream and they raise the water you will not make it back to the ramp .Absolutely take a life jacket.The PFD is not needed when the water is low but its a dangerous river when they raise it . Texas rigged crawfish such as Guido bugs are good baits. Just go fishing , ripples , deep holes , logs ...

I fish in Northern missouri where the water is always stained to muddy. Bluegill patterns have been my most effective color for the past three years. Old Rapala Fat Raps in perch and gold foil have been consistent catchers in the 6 to 8 foot range . The 6 to 8 foot range , it appears to me , is a comfort zone for bass in the lakes I frequent .

Lucky dog.

I use my electronics because I'm a better fisherman with them. Highly pressured bass dont bite as well as unpressured fish. This I believe is fact. My opinion is the stealthier the angler is , the more success he will have. I think that slamming tackle boxes, scooting coolers , fish flopping on the bottom of the boat , trolling motors and DEPTH FINDERS ... all contribute to the fish knowing you are there. Should you not use trolling motors and depth finders? Of course not. But dont think for a second that bass cant hear sonar. Ive been lucky enough to have several times fished for bass that have never seen a lure . Big smallmouths have followed me around like a pack of dogs. Dont dare let a lure dangle in the water or you will lose your combo. Introduce bass fishermen and the game changes. Saying that "sonar does not scare bass behavior is a myth" is an opinion not a fact. I do not share that opinion when it comes to bass that have been bombarded.

The wheel does not need reinventing.But Bass lures should be tinkered with often to do what I want them to do. For example Ive pegged bullet weights on the line in front of Strike King Mini Spins to catch fish in heavy current. It worked just like I envisioned and caught several big fish that day . If I'm not thinking outside the box then I am just doing what everybody else is doing. I may even rig a Thin Fin on a Carolina rig. I have never done it but no doubt in my mind it would work.

Definitely get a water craft if you dont have one.Where I live ,there are many small public lakes that have great bass fishing but little fishing pressure within 50 miles. All one needs is a small boat to experience bass fishing the way it use to be. .A kayak would work great.

This is an excellent photo by the way.You did not hold the fish out to make it appear bigger.

I dont fish the big water anymore because I dont have a big enough boat. I mostly fish smaller public lakes where the bass are eager to bite. I use a small boat, electric motor, and sonar. There is not much competition and those who do try for bass usually dont know how to catch them. Pressured bass and unpressured bass are like two different species.

My local large reservoir receives a lot of pressure and the fish have learned to shun lures and bass boats.I believe depth finders are the biggest warning signal too bass.

The C-rig with a heavy weight, gets the bait to the bottom quickly .Bankbeaters usually dont need them.But for deep open water anglers , its perhaps the number 1 search bait. A lot of fishermen never get the hang of it.

I have never used Yo Zuri hybrid.It may be the best line in the world I dont know.The floro I used before was very stiff ,I hated the way it handled and ''impossible'' to tie a nice neat Trlene knot with..I used it once then re-spooled Thats why I still use and recommend mono.

last fish pictured is a genetic freak.

Put the fish in a plastic grocery bag. I think I got that tip from RoadWarrior.

You have to make your own 1/4 ounce Beetle Spins with components because the large ones are no longer made. These lures are deadly in the hands of eight year olds,Skilled anglers can mop up with them but most wont be caught dead throwing one.LOL .Not me, Im not too proud to utilize them.

The lowly BeetleSpin works well for me in cold shallow water,

I dont think Bomber has ever made a bad bait.

It helps to know the kind of water youre fishing.

Everybody is different. I recommend 12 lb Suffix Elite.Its a great line.

Ive had crappie tisherman pull right into a tree i was fishing and tie off to it..LOL Crappie fishermen are a little bit off.

i have some old gear and lures . Im not a collector I accumulate it. Id like to find a collector and sell it. Heres a very old Spalding with baseball logo.

Back in the days when pork ruled,I use to match black jigs with brown Uncle Josh pork frogs or vice versa. No other colors were used.

My story. Fishing a tournament, my first spot didnt work out so I went to plan B. I had an underwater drop off located in the middle of nowhere. It was 9 o'clock, two hours had past and nobody fishing there. The lake was fairly new and people just did not know about this spot..I marked it with a pair of marker buoys about 50 yards apart, then proceeded to fish it. Caught two keepers right off. A competitors boat comes along and starts fishing right on top of one buoy. Shortly another competitors boat spots the other buoy and started fishing it. These boats didnt plan on fishing there , they spotted me and the buoys and just moved in. Similar events happened to me often. Im an open water specialist and people would recognize my boat and move in..

Nice.I bet rod building is fun.

^^I hold the rod the same way 100 % of the time. Its the reason I cant fish with braid.I dont let go on the hookset and braid slices my index finger. During the cast, the rod is laid in the left had before the lure hits the water.There is no faster way to do it . I will not change unless forced to.I have great sensitivity , can feel taps with mono 20 foot deep with a bow blowed on the line.

two days post surgery. so far so good. NO complications or nerve damage. I should remain a rightie.