Skeeter6598

bassmaster, what is the deepest area of the pond you're referring to, and does it have much structure in those deeper waters. Those big girls may be up that shallow because they have to adapt to their enviorment. They may not have the necessary habitat that will allow them to be where most bass normally are. As for the one you caught chasing a crappie, here's my theory. What is the main forage in that pond. That bass was probably keying on smaller baitfish and crappie compete with bass and eat the same things. That could be the reason she was running him off. She may not have been keying on eating a 6inch crappie.

I'll add a 1/2 oz spinnerbait to this list also. I like to throw a spinnerbait as well in deep water. Just give it time to sink to the bottom and then start a slow steady retrieve on the bottom!

I like fishing spinnerbaits really slow most of the time. I'll throw them around cover, as everyone has said, and if possible I like a slow retrieve where you just barely feel the blades turning. You can fish them so many different ways it's unreal. Try all the techniques you read or here about. They all work.

Perfectly said! I built my confiedence in lures by going out and taking nothing but that particular bait with me. By doing that I wasn't tempted to switch baits just to catch fish. It made me learn how to present that bait in manners that will be productive.

Right now I favor 3 to 15 ft of water. I'm really trying to become more versitle and learning to fish 20 plus feet. I've caught a few big girls in 20 plus feet but not enough to have my confidence up. I know they are there I just have to figure out how to go about tackling deeper water better! Some of my biggest smallmouths came out of 35 and 40 ft of water while I was out striper fishing.

I've always heard Beaver was more of a big fish lake than it was a numbers lake. That's why I want to go there. I'm looking for that one bite to get a 25lb plus. As for numbers I'll just stay here on Texoma. They don't call it the Striper Capitol of the World for nothing. During late April thru early July you'll catch more fish before 8:00 a.m. than most people will catch all year. Literally will have a limit in the first 45 minutes and will catch and release til we run out of bait and we'll be back home before lunch! The rest of the summer it's great topwater action. So if you want numbers come to Texoma, if you want a big fish then don't come here because chances are you won't get one and a big striper here is 15 to 18 pounds with the occasional 20lber!

Right now here in Oklahoma the smallmouth bite is great! The fish are very active and are moving in and out of shallow water. Catching quite a few on crankbaits, and catching a lot on jigs and skirted grubs in deep water. I always target rock banks, deep rock ledges and points, or a transition from rock to sand.

I'll definitely talk with him. I'll try and make it a point to go down to the marina Saturday if he's working and talk with him. I know they've pull some huge stripers there. I think he fishes there after our fall run thru Jan. or Feb. Our fall run usually dies down about the 2nd weekend in November! Here's a link to his website! http://day-fishing.com/dayfishing/default.asp From the 2 picks of Beaver that I can see it looks like sometime other than winter!

Favortie lakes are Texoma, Eufaula (Oklahoma), McGee Creek! Possium Kingdom before the fish kill! (Texas) Hey Roadwarrior one of the guys that guides here on Texoma guides during the winter on Beaver for Huge stripers! His name is Chris Caldwell! I'm dying to go and stick a big striper up there!

UH no! Just a little to far to drive! LOL! Maybe they'll send ya down here to the one that's being built in Sherman Tx. Just found out 2 nights ago that Gander Mtn finialized a contract and are going to put a store in here. It'll be great because as of right now I have to order everything I need or drive two hours to a Bass Pro Shop! 89,000 acre lake, Not one single tackle shop that's worth a crap!

Sorry guys not trying to run ya'll down. I just know that here in OK in the lakes the bass will head deep in extreme heat and extreme cold. I can see where it may be different in a pond but that's a whole new issue. As for bass being different across the US I'm not all for that either! In my opinion a bass is a bass. There may be some tiny difference in their habits depending on location but to be a totally different fish I don't completely agree. Bass are all instinct! When it's cold they want warmer water, when it's hot they want cooler water and most importantly they are going to place themself where they can find a meal!

Right now I'm using a 2000 Ford F-250 Powerstroke. It's nice when you can pull a 21ft. boat and not even feel it back there.

If that's the truth I'd jump all over it! 20 footer with a 175 (I'm guessing a Johnson or Evinrude). If it's in like new shape then it's probably a good deal.

LOL! Yeah I probably would've jumped on that deal! That's not a bad price for a 96 model if it's in good shape and such! What's the length on it?

Really good boat but I would be a little cautious with it being a 99 model and only wanting $7500. Hey it might just be a heck of a deal! Javelins are really good boats. A buddy of mine had one and they are really nice.

I like to find laydowns are any visual cover. I'll start off throwing a spinnerbait or crankbait just to see if I can get on some active fish and cover a lot of water. If I pick up a fish or just have a gut feeling they are there then I'll turn around and fish the area again with a slow presentation such as a jig 'n' pig, creature, or worm, or even slowing down my spinnerbait retrieve. This is usually my starting point but I always keep an open mind and try to let the fish tell me what they want!

Depends on the situation for me whether or not color becomes a factor. I won't throw light colors in really muddy water. For example my favorite color spinnerbait is white and chartruse but if it's muddy I'm throwing a black spinnerbait with the biggest single Colorado blade I can find. In most case I just like to throw natural colors but this is just personal prefrence!

Bass on beds year round??? I totally disagree as far as the bass here in Southern Oklahoma. In the extreme heat of July and August you can't buy a big fish in shallow water here. You might pull a 4 pounder but if you're wanting one 6 to 7 or bigger you're going to have to go deep. Occansionally you might luck out and catch a crusier that's run bait fish up shallow but once they've caught them a meal back down deep they go!

In that price range you'll probably have to settle with an older style boat. Say early 90's. I've seen alot of early 90's Ranger boats, Nitros, Astros, and Pro Crafts in that price range. My dad had a 91 Astro and it was really a nice boat!

Best way to start is hook on to it with the pickup. Then drag it down to the local boat dealer. Con him into taking it as a down payment on a new bassboat.(or good used one!) And then you'll be set to hit the lakes in full stride! LOL! Hope this helps! ;D

Welcome aboard and enjoy. A lot of useful information on this board and a lot of good people!

LOL! I can really feel the love between Gobbledog and the tourist! LOL! I know what you mean!

What a topic!!! This is one of my biggest complaints about fisherman. I've had this happen many times but nothing compared to how often it happens to my dad while he's guiding for stripers. I've been out with dad and watched Tourist as he calls them, wait at the no wake bouys and as we leave out HERE THEY COME. Following him every where he goes. What really ticks us off is that these people will see us throw and anchor down on fish, then they will troll around us as sure as @#%$ they'll hook our anchor rope. Dad had a guy 2 years ago do this to him. The guy was in a brand new Triton bass boat. He got close and dad says, "Hey nice boat! Then he asked what kind of electronics he had. The guy says Lowarnce the best money can buy. Dad says good then learn to use them and go and find your own @#%$ fish. Well the guy left! This happens to dad every single day he is on the water. The people that do these things are the people that give the rest of us tournament fishermen a bad name. Most are guys new to the sport and don't care about others. They don't respect other people or other people's water. I've watched many people get DQ'd in tournaments because of this kind of behavior.

I started out as a youngster with a spinnerbait. Considering I used it all the time that was my confidence bait. As I got older dad kept telling me to throw jigs more, and that they are a big fish bait. It took me a long time to start liking them and learning how to fish them. Now they are my favorite go to bait. The only down fall it that even though I still fish everything with success, jig fishing I feel has hurt my worm fishing. My catch rate on T-rigged plastic worms has reduced and everyone I talked to says it's because I fish them to slow. I fish them slow like I do my jigs and that when fishing a worm you want to keep it moving more so than a jig. Just something I going to have to work on to start bringing my catch ratio, on a worm, back up

Them record smallies are hear. The biologist here, Paul Mauck, has shocked up some that would break the current record now! I know they're there I just have to KEEP them on when they bite. LOL! Always about the one that got away!