Drew03cmc

100%. Around the docks, a wacky rig, a finesse jig is deadly on Truman, etc.

@Mike L You are the man. Thank you!

Definitely. Anything that can be done to prevent issue is a must. I just think it'd be a blast to get out on the water in these events.

@Mike L Thank you. I will definitely not be bringing more than 6 and, given the lakes, a frog wouldn't be among them. Probably 2 spin, 4 cast, and a bag that would hold 4 3600 and some soft baits. Nothing silly. I plan to pay for gas, often pretty substantially. I know what it costs. I'm more than willing to be flexible as long as they don't completely back-boat me all day, cutting me off, not allowing me to even fish. I've heard the horror stories and that's my primary concern. Is there any way to avoid becoming another one of the recipients of back-boating?

Absolutely yay. I love a jig in winter.

Thanks guys. This might be how I attack this coming season. Any guidelines for tackle selection and things I may not be thinking of?

I'm really considering it this coming season. Just want to expand my knowledge while working with and picking up what I can from anglers with more experience.

God forbid science doesn't align with your views. If you also notice, they included most other species of black bass too. States will do that to simplify regulations. Missouri and Kansas include smallmouth when most lakes don't include them.

I have been a kayak tournament guy for several years, preferring to paddle and fish rivers, but my shoulders don't agree any longer and as such, I am strongly considering entering the BFL Ozark Division (Table Rock, LOZ, Truman) as a co-angler this year and was wondering what to expect or be wary of. Also, how does the whole thing work? I'm aware of customary stuff like bring lunch, drinks, $100 per day for fuel, whatever, but unsure of the positives or negatives.

Reading your answer here says you are young without you saying you're young. How do you figure all freshwater fish being c&r to solve anything? It'll create more problems. Harvest is necessary or they stunt. People keeping fish makes you mad? Honestly, the fish aren't there solely for you. The law allows them to be kept, but harvest limits are for sustainability, not trophy fishing. If you struggle to catch fish without FFS, perhaps you should spend more time worrying about how fish behave and their patterns vs worrying about tech and sonar.

Shoal Creek, Spring River, Center Creek, Kellogg, Bushwacker...these are just off the top of my head.

Wrong species there. Toledo Bend has spotted bass, not Alabama bass. So, you don't like what one of the foremost fisheries biologists, and one who is intimately familiar with Alabama Bass, has to say about it? He is correct. The one piece of the puzzle that we do not know about Alabama bass is their water temperature threshold. How low can they survive? Toledo Bend has spotted bass, just like the Mississippi basin from Illinois south. They're native to that watershed and native on native intergression isn't highly common.

For some reason, I think they might be on the take from Shimano, but with regards to Megabass jerkbait rods, I have the Orochi XX Jerkbait Special and it's nice on bigger baits, but also makes a great fluke rod. I also have an Orochi X4 Rattle Viper Technical Game and it's a spectacular jerkbait rod up to a 110. I also use the RVTG for weightless soft baits, topwaters, etc. It's currently running 10lb P-Line CX on it.

They can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.

The squeal of a well-worn buzzbait as it gurgles purposefully against a lay down in shallow water while I anticipate the slurp of a big fish has to be my favorite. I would put, as a close second, the swishy rattle of a walking bait as it saunters seductively downstream with the current offering an easy meal to a big, angry smallie.

Obviously most of these guys saying danglers are wrong don't fish from a kayak. I have 4 rod holders on my crate, 2 Yakattack Omegas and only carry 6 rods at the most. When fishing though, I will leave a weightless fluke dangling as a follow up for a buzzbait or if I'm trying something else while getting bit on the primary technique that day.

That range of baits is problematic. I think, with the exception of the lighter tubes, I would take my Orochi XX Jerkbait Special with Tatula 80 on it. I run 12# Seaguar R18 fluorocarbon and have no issue with anything over 5/16 true weight.

My jerkbait setups are also something I fish a lot of other techniques on. 1- Megabass Orochi X4 Rattle Viper F3-68X4. I have a PX68 and 10# Seaguar R18 on this one. This gets everything from an X-Nanahan to a Vision Oneten. I also use this rod for weightless plastics. 2- Daiwa Tatula Elite 6'9" ML. I run a TD Sol on this rod with 10lb copolymer as it doubles for smaller wake baits and cranks. 3- Megabass Orochi XX Jerkbait Special F4.5-611XX. I use a Tatula 80 and 12# Seaguar R18 on this with bigger jerkbaits up to a Max LBO and soft jerkbaits like a Super Fluke or Sakamata Shad.

In a river, I absolutely love either a Tackle HD 1/2oz black with gold blade or a Crock o Gator Headknocker triple black. They get SMASHED.

Yes. I have used Super Flukes, Caffeine Shads, Houdini Shads and the Big Bite version. They all do something differently. I just got in 6 bags of Deps Sakamata Shads to work with. I run them on an Owner Twistlock 4/0 hook weightless. Colors? All of them, but these have worked for me. For Zoom- pearl, bubblegum, watermelon red SK- baby bass, pearl BBB- pearl Yum- pearl I got 2 colors in the Deps. White and the champagne pepper neon pearl. I can't wait to try these.

I've got a Pikupiku as well and I must say, that thing is crazy. It's a slow way of fishing, but it gets crushed.

Daiwa Alphas SV TW 800S can be had all day for under $200.

Holy hell. That's massive.

Isn't Fish the Moment the one that Blaukat is associated with? Tackle Shop Live is my other weekly listen. Mike and George Acord are fantastic.

Definitely. These guys have piqued my inner nerd about this stuff.