And off I go to melvern. I don't think the late start will hurt me since it's so cold (comparatively speaking) and it's supposed to be cloudy all day.

I pretty much plan to run and gun all day. Gonna be staying on the north side of the lake today since 10-15 mph winds are coming out of the north.

Plan of attack is to hit primary/secondary points, coves, and I may let the wind push me down the dam.

And off I go to melvern. I don't think the late start will hurt me since it's so cold (comparatively speaking) and it's supposed to be cloudy all day.

I pretty much plan to run and gun all day. Gonna be staying on the north side of the lake today since 10-15 mph winds are coming out of the north.

Plan of attack is to hit primary/secondary points, coves, and I may let the wind push me down the dam.

It looks like you should have clouds most of the day and about perfect winds. Don't be afraid to toss the topwater/spinnerbaits even with this cold front. The water temps shouldn't have dropped much despite this cold snap and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they'll hit those baits most of the day. Remember to check your line often!!

Well we need all kinds of stuff, burgers (pre made patties are easiest to deal with but doesn't really matter) hotdogs, buns, chips, sides, drinks, whatever. I've got a ton of Solo cups I'll bring for drinks if anyone is drinking anything that doesn't come in a can . Need some ketchup and mustard and whatever anyone wants on their food. I'm not going to assign anyone stuff to bring, just let me know what everyone wants to/can bring and we'll figure it out from there because I don't know how to cook "whatever"

I can bring a couple packs of hotdogs and buns.

Is there anyone that's going that I could hitch a ride in the boat with. I will not know till Friday afternoon if I have to work or not so its got to be tentative deal for me. I'd be driving up from the Wichita area so if anyone else is going from around these parts we could carpool as well.

I've been fishing forever but just recently started really hitting the bass hard this summer. So with that being said, I'm no expert, so if you take me on your boat I hope you know what your doing lol.

Got back from melvern. Had trouble figuring things out until the afternoon. It isn't that I didn't have bites through the day either, but couldn't capitalize. Lost a giant smallie by the dam.

Caught a couple on a lipless through the day, lost a bunch on a jig, and started whacking em good on a spinnerbait at the end of the day. I had plenty of followers which led me to keep fine tuning my color/retrieve until it came together at the end.

Here was the "big" fish of the day. Not a giant by any means, but it's my best smallmouth so far so I can't complain.

Hey guys, lets figure out a start time for this thing. I have ARCA tickets for Friday night but if we are going to start at daylight I need to know so I can back out of going to the race.

It makes no difference to me what time we start but the fishing may be the best first thing in the morning.

Got back from melvern. Had trouble figuring things out until the afternoon. It isn't that I didn't have bites through the day either, but couldn't capitalize. Lost a giant smallie by the dam.

Caught a couple on a lipless through the day, lost a bunch on a jig, and started whacking em good on a spinnerbait at the end of the day. I had plenty of followers which led me to keep fine tuning my color/retrieve until it came together at the end.

Here was the "big" fish of the day. Not a giant by any means, but it's my best smallmouth so far so I can't complain.

What was the water temp?

Hey guys, lets figure out a start time for this thing. I have ARCA tickets for Friday night but if we are going to start at daylight I need to know so I can back out of going to the race.

It makes no difference to me what time we start but the fishing may be the best first thing in the morning.

If I can get the last 4 of my shift off I think it would be best to start early also. Even if you guys want to start early and I can't get the time off I'll just get the weigh in sheets to someone else and Chris and I will get down there as soon as we can after I get off work. I don't want anyone to miss out on fishing just to wait for us.

Sooooo, boats in the water and ready to fish at 7?

That should be about right by then. I'm just starting to see light coming through the windows about 6:30 and it's just going to be getting light later until daylight savings time ends so 7 should be good.

If there is no weigh in, and we are measuring the fish, how are we doing that? By way of photographing them with our phone on a board/tape? I ask because I'm pretty sure my aerator is on the fritz and I don't know if I'll be able to get it fixed before the tourny.

If there is no weigh in, and we are measuring the fish, how are we doing that? By way of photographing them with our phone on a board/tape? I ask because I'm pretty sure my aerator is on the fritz and I don't know if I'll be able to get it fixed before the tourny.

A photo will be fine but not mandatory. this is for fun, so we have no reason to lie to one another.

But you know if you have 5- 20''+ smallies and no pics of them...... well

I have a golden rule I'd use to photograph the length of my fish on if I was lucky enough to get one over 13'' lol.

Just remember to measure mouth closed and tail pinched together.

BTW, Thats a HAWWWWG in your Avatar. CONGRATS!

A photo will be fine but not mandatory. this is for fun, so we have no reason to lie to one another.

But you know if you have 5- 20''+ smallies and no pics of them...... well

I have a golden rule I'd use to photograph the length of my fish on if I was lucky enough to get one over 13'' lol.

Just remember to measure mouth closed and tail pinched together.

BTW, Thats a HAWWWWG in your Avatar. CONGRATS!

Well thanks.

Tail pinched together on measuring? never heard of that one...

Hopefully someone (by someone I mean me) can get into that toad of a smallie I lost yesterday.

Well thanks.

Tail pinched together on measuring? never heard of that one...

Hopefully someone (by someone I mean me) can get into that toad of a smallie I lost yesterday.

That's typical tournament measuring rules, mouth closed and pushed against the front of the board with the tail pinched. We're going by the honor system like Hi Salenity said it's a for fun tournament so there isn't any reason for anyone to fib about their fish. However, if you come in with anything over 18" on you're paper we're probably all going to expect to see a picture Measuring to the closest quarter inch because I'm not converting a bunch of fractions in the parking lot.

So are you in for sure now so I can put you down? I've got one non-boater without a boat still so that would work great.

I'm in. I'm just not looking forward to having to wake up at 4:00 or so that morning. Oh well hah.

I'm looking forward to getting my butt kicked by the rest of you guys

7 sounds good to me. We will have to leave pretty early to make it on time!!

Put us down for 3 or 4 bags of chips and maybe some type of dessert.

I'm in. I'm just not looking forward to having to wake up at 4:00 or so that morning. Oh well hah.

I'm looking forward to getting my butt kicked by the rest of you guys

Alright, I'll put you down and you'll be paired up with CCC Drew. He'll have some good spots he can point you guys towards after fishing with me last week, including one of my "secret" up the lake spots if he can remember exactly where it's at, maybe I should have blindfolded him

7 sounds good to me. We will have to leave pretty early to make it on time!!

Put us down for 3 or 4 bags of chips and maybe some type of dessert.

Yeah, you guys were one of my main concerns about starting that early but I'm banking on the fish making it worth you guys getting up that early. I'll put you down for some bags of chips.

Alright, I'll put you down and you'll be paired up with CCC Drew. He'll have some good spots he can point you guys towards after fishing with me last week, including one of my "secret" up the lake spots if he can remember exactly where it's at, maybe I should have blindfolded him

Yeah, you guys were one of my main concerns about starting that early but I'm banking on the fish making it worth you guys getting up that early. I'll put you down for some bags of chips.

Your secret is safe with me

Is there a list of what people are bringing? I can bring something but I can wait and see what would be needed.

Of course I'll bring some beverages for myself and a bottle opener

I don' t have the tackle you all do but I do have a few things I'm going to try based off of what this thread says and my personal confidence lures.

At the moment I'm thinking:

white w/ pink tail grubs on bettle spins, crappie spins, or crappie jig heads

white 4-5" senkos

silver bellied cranks up to 9'

of course I have my regular tackle besides this to try and get to work as well

With all the talk on starting early for a topwater bite I don't know what I should pick up but am planning on running to cabelas before the trip

what I have for topwater I would mainly consider to be "dusk" baits... any recomendations?

I dont know much about smallmouth but I'm planning to fish for them like crappie depending on where retro puts the boat

cant wait to meet everyone and try to learn a thing or two!!!

Alright, I'll put you down and you'll be paired up with CCC Drew. He'll have some good spots he can point you guys towards after fishing with me last week, including one of my "secret" up the lake spots if he can remember exactly where it's at, maybe I should have blindfolded him

Yeah, you guys were one of my main concerns about starting that early but I'm banking on the fish making it worth you guys getting up that early. I'll put you down for some bags of chips.

Ya, it is going to be a little over 2 hours for us, but unless the weather is going to be bad we will be there. Just have to mapquest the directions to the state park.

Your secret is safe with me

I doubt he'd have a hard time pointing you back to the spot, it's where he caught his biggest smallmouth of the day

Is there a list of what people are bringing? I can bring something but I can wait and see what would be needed.

Of course I'll bring some beverages for myself and a bottle opener

I don' t have the tackle you all do but I do have a few things I'm going to try based off of what this thread says and my personal confidence lures.

At the moment I'm thinking:

white w/ pink tail grubs on bettle spins, crappie spins, or crappie jig heads

white 4-5" senkos

silver bellied cranks up to 9'

of course I have my regular tackle besides this to try and get to work as well

With all the talk on starting early for a topwater bite I don't know what I should pick up but am planning on running to cabelas before the trip

what I have for topwater I would mainly consider to be "dusk" baits... any recomendations?

I dont know much about smallmouth but I'm planning to fish for them like crappie depending on where retro puts the boat

cant wait to meet everyone and try to learn a thing or two!!!

I know roadrunners catch a bunch of fish and the crappie guys are always whining about "them dang brown fish eating all their crappie baits" Haven't ever fished for them with beetle spins or anything but I'm sure they'd eat them. Senkos will catch fish but depending on the wind it's possible they may not be an option. I've never fished them much either but I have a feeling that a wacky rigged senko might catch some pretty good ones, just wouldn't get many bites I'm guessing. As far as topwaters I'm a fan of walking baits because I can cover a lot of water but Drew was doing really well with a full sized torpedo last time and poppers can be good at times. Never had much luck with a buzzbait for some reason, and I've tried them a lot. I have a food list on the 5th page, I'll move it to the first post so it's easier to find.

Ya, it is going to be a little over 2 hours for us, but unless the weather is going to be bad we will be there. Just have to mapquest the directions to the state park.

It's easy to get too, I35 to Highway 75, go north, to Highway 278/W 293rd st, go west. The turn for the state park is on the left (south) and is the last turn on the left before the road changes to gravel.

First post over here, recently moved to the Columbia Mo area from southern Ill for work. Man you all get into the smallies! Can't make this get together but will set aside a weekend when spring rolls around.

Kylek, I wasnt able to make it down to LOZ for the bass bash, how'd it treat ya? Talked to a buddy of mine early this afternoon and at that point 6.57 took the 60k. Lots ofnice fish despite widespread lake turnover and a wicked cold front that moved through just before the weekend.

Alright, I'll put you down and you'll be paired up with CCC Drew. He'll have some good spots he can point you guys towards after fishing with me last week, including one of my "secret" up the lake spots if he can remember exactly where it's at, maybe I should have blindfolded him

You mean the spot you gave me a shower on the way to? Now I get why you took that way to get there haha.

are you guys sure you want to put in at the state park? that puts the slower boats at one end/side of the lake.

btw wish i could attend. ive got the races and Deftones that weekend.

You mean the spot you gave me a shower on the way to? Now I get why you took that way to get there haha.

Yeah, my boat isn't the driest ride around I do what I can but nothing like a cold spray of water in the face to help wake you up a little.

Thanks blue I have some larger size roadrunners I should be able to use.

I'm getting around to rigging up and I found a few old blades I didn't know I had and that if it got really windy I'd run something like this:

although Ive never tried it before...