Very much for your advice! I just looked over your comments again today.

Although you can usually always catch fish on Bull Shoals, I think it’s still a bit early. The white bass usually do not start until the latter part of March. We’re not quite there yet. I fish the very area that you were describing and I have not yet pulled my boat out of storage. It will be at least the end of the month before I will do so.

If it weren’t so early in the season, I would put my little boat in at the Forsyth bridge and slowly troll from there up to the Taneycomo Dam. I use a deep diving Berkeley Flicker Shad in purple and gold. However, your question was how to catch fish right now. My “non-expert” answer is that I am not sure you can catch fish right now. I do wish you the best of luck and maybe we’ll see each other on the water one day. Beavertooth

Oh my goodness! Yes indeed, you are truly a fisherman! I have met people like you but I have never fished with anyone like you. I’m sure that your knowledge of catching fish is phenomenal and your love for the sport is obvious by these beautiful trophies that you have in your home. They are a constant reminder of some of the best days that God has given you. I applaud you for your wonderful success.

I am a very average fisherman who enjoys the delight of being out on the water. Being in a boat, cruising an Ozark lake is now one of my most enjoyable experiences. It takes me about 20 minutes to get to Taneycomo and about 30 minutes to arrive at the Forsyth bridge over Bull Shoals. These places are where I spend most of my fishing days.

For two decades, I lived in South Africa. My passion for hunting is like unto your passion for fishing and my success translated into many Rowland Ward size trophies. Since you were so kind to show me your success I will share a couple of my hunting victories here with you.

Wow! I want to go fishing with you! That was outstanding information. You sound like a professional fishing guide. I live in Branson so I might check out the Arkansas side one of these days. Thanks again for being so kind as to offer such an excellent rundown on how this fellow fisherman can enjoy his time at Bull Shoals in Arkansas. Beavertooth

I think my favorite boat is the one I just bought in September of last year. It is a 2021 model Lowe 1240 Jonboat, with a 2021 Mercury 9.9. It is the smallest boat I have ever owned, but everything was purchased brand new. I am now slowly building it the way I want it. Whenever I go out in this boat, I never have to worry about breaking down because everything is brand new. Paid cash. No debt. No problems. Its simple and easy!

Prior to this jonboat, I owned a 1989 Hydrasport, 20 foot bass boat with a Johnson 200 HP motor. The outboard gave me fits and was broke down most of the time costing me a fortune to repair.

In response to your question, I built my decks completely from Wood because I did not have the expertise to work with aluminum. I used 2X2 for my support structure in my 12 foot Lowe John boat. I will attach photos.

I used 1/2” marine grade plywood that I bought at Menards. The plywood was extremely expensive costing $100 per sheet. I have found a half inch to be plenty strong enough to support my weight, but I only weigh between 160-165 pounds. The front elevated deck makes no noise and does not show any signs of shifting or bowing under my body weight. You can also see that I cut a hole right in the middle of it and installed an access hatch.

I then installed a subfloor between my second and third bench seat and simply laid a piece of half inch plywood directly on top of 1.25” styrofoam. It supports my weight along with that of my grown daughter without any problem. Unless you’re a really big guy, I think you can get by with half inch plywood and save yourself some additional weight as compared to 3/4” plywood.

I sealed all of my wood with a deck paint that I used on my home. I then covered my plywood with EVA camo foam.

I wish you the very best as you build your decks. I’m not very handy with any type of construction so I worked very slowly and just took my time. I know someone else could’ve done a better job but I am extremely satisfied. BeaverTooth

Having spent 23 years living in South Africa my favorite red meat is South African lamb or now that I’m living in America, New Zealand lamb.

A close second would be South African ostrich. Not American ostrich… It does not taste the same as South African ostrich.

I prefer to cook the meat myself on a grill outdoors with good friends.

I suppose I would have to go with the fish that I have spent the most time pursuing and that would be the largemouth bass.

If I could add another comment… I think the most fun I’ve ever had fishing inland lakes was for striped bass and the fish that I am now learning to enjoy pursuing at Bull Shoals Lake, in MO, is the walleye.

It is right smack dab in the middle of Rockaway Beach. All you have to do is drive down the main street in Rockaway (its about a block or two long) and you can’t help but see the public access point and ramp and bathrooms. I don’t think you could drive through Rockaway Beach and miss it. They launch much larger boats than yours from this ramp so you won’t have any problem whatsoever. It is at the same location as the public fishing access point that floats on the lake.

I am including a photograph of my kayak sitting at the Rockaway boat ramp.

Bring a Branson resident, I have fished Taneycomo more times then I can count, but I usually target largemouth bass. On occasion, when I’m in the mood I will trout fish. All of my fishing has been from Rockaway Beach to Powersite dam. I never fish north of Rockaway and I am not a fly fisherman. I have a friend who has a 17 foot deep V, Tracker boat who slow trolls for trout on Taneycomo using Berkley Flicker Shads. He catches his limit every time he goes out. He and his wife really know how to fish.

For whatever reason, I have used a bait caster much more than a spinning reel. For that reason, I much prefer a bait casting set up.

I have never enjoyed the process of flipping the bail with one hand and holding the line pinched against the rod grip with the other hand, in order to make a cast with a spinning reel. I also don’t like having to flip the bail back after making the cast. There just seems to be a lot of extra steps that become necessary when using a spinning reel.

I do currently own both. I live in Branson, Missouri and fish lake Taneycomo for trout/bass, and lake Bull Shoals for largemouth bass, yellow perch and walleye. Are use my spinning set ups for trout, Crappie, and panfish. I use my bait casting set up for everything else. Therefore, I use a bait casting rod and reel most of the time.

I agree with the other fisherman who have indicated that you will tend to fish the most effectively with the set up that you use the most frequently. That makes sense to me.

For the last three years I have kayak fished! You know that kyacks are incredibly susceptable to the wakes caused by boaters. I now have a little 12 foot johnboat with a 9.9 hp Mercury. They too can get shoved around by boaters who can’t resist throwing down the hammer.

I get it, because I used to own a 20 foot bass boat with a 200 horse motor, but for whatever reason… Maybe just good common sense… I would always slow down when passing by other smaller fishing boats.

I think there is a huge gulf that lies between the kind consideration of others and rude indifference to others. It is seen when people are behind the wheel of a car as well as the helm of a boat. Some people are by nature kind and considerate and thoughtful of others. Other people could care less and give no thought to others, so their rude behavior can become dangerous.

At the very least, their poor behavior is annoying. I was nearly swamped at a boat ramp while trying to load my little boat back on my trailer, as a high horsepower bass boat decided he would start up and speed off at full throttle right in front of the ramp. My daughter was nearly injured as she tried to hang onto the boat, pitching in the waves, as I was backing the trailer into the water. That was rude… Thoughtless… Uncaring… And dangerous!!! It seems however, that these instances cannot be remedied. Some people are simply distasteful and and ugly and I’m not sure how to go about fixing that problem.

So, one of my solutions is to completely avoid the biggest lake in our area which enjoys a lot of pleasure boats and jet skis. I instead fish the waters that are only visited by fisherman. In this way, I stand a much better chance of having an enjoyable day on the water without incident. And that’s my two cents from BeaverTooth…

I bought one single lure from Amazon with the thought that I would give it a try. I used the lure three or four times fishing for bass without any luck. I did catch a very nice Pike on the lure in Wisconsin. I used The lure just as it came out of the package. I did not like the lure enough to purchase additional lures of this type.

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I saw your post and was inspired to respond. I too fish alone at least half the time. I find however that I do not enjoy it near as much as I use to. I would prefer to fish with someone else...their boat or mine...their kyack or mine...whatever.

If I want to go fishing, I can quickly agree with myself on a time and a place, but if I make plans to go with someone else, then I must take their likes and dislikes, schedule and availability into account. It complicates the issue! If I waited around for my elder daughter, who lives with us and loves to fish, to agree to go with me, then I would spend most of my time waiting. She has limited availability, but I would rather fish with her than anybody else.

At this stage in my life...I am 71...and sorta semi--retired...I don't have to work full-time...I want to go fishing when I want to go fishing, and I don't want to have to talk someone into going with me. I am however a bit more anxious (uneasy) about going out in the boat on my own without any backup. I like the security of having someone else with me. I feel safer when boating with a partner. This uneasy feeling is so intense, that sometimes I have to force myself to go. I have to talk myself into it and then make myself hook up the jonboat and head out on the water. Once I get on the water, I love it!!! I never regret going and I am always so happy and satisfied with myself for making the decision to go.

So, that is my story. I fish alone 50%-60% of the time, but I prefer to fish with a buddy. Right now, I don't have any fishing buddies in my area...well, I actually do, but they have their own boats and they do their own thing. They don't need me to invite them to go fishing. IDEA---Maybe my NewYears resolution should be to find a Fishing Buddy?!? Good Idea!!!

I have been using medium to budget priced baitcasters for many years now. I’ve got to the point where I don’t even like to pick up a spinning rod and reel. I don’t like how they feel in my hand and I’ve always been frustrated with the way that a spinning reel will twist the line. I’ve never been able to figure out how to deal with line twist as it relates to casting and retrieving lures on a Spinning set up. In answer to your question, the only time I use a spinning rod is when I go fishing for trout on Lake Taneycomo in Branson. Other than that, you will always see me with a bait caster. Nothing expensive… Usually a Kastking reel and a Lews Speed Stick from Walmart.