Hey Tim Rippa

[GABoy]

Hey Tim -

You fish that tourney at Lake O the Pines is it????

[Tim The Lippa Rippa Mon]

GABoy, Just hadn't had time to post anything on it yet today. Man, 1,000 miles one way plain wore me out this go 'round! BTW, the Crappie moved off of the pattern we discussed, so we had to abandon that plan. Water temp hit 53 in the AMs. Depths were still on target though.

Bart & I took 5th in the tournament with a weight of 16.10lbs. We had terrible prefishing for only about 5 hrs the day before the tourny with wind gusts up to 40MPH. But when game time came around, we managed to hang some hogs! The only bummers to the trip besides the gas prices was that a #%@ thug (catfish for those less informed) cost us a monster on a double hook up(huge mess), and Bart lost another hog over the side trying to put her in the back live well.

Special thanks goes out to our Sponsors: Gotcha Gear, Crappie Magic, Out Law Crappie Poles, and Fish formula.

Our biggest fish was 2.38lb followed by her sister 2.34lb. Winning weight for tourney was right at the 22lb mark from standing timber out on the main lake's river channel. Top Sacalaite was a 2.85lb slabzilla. Them TX cowboys road the waves in the main lake to top the field as did 2 of the other 3 top finishers.

The water temp of 59 - 61 degrees never fully rebounded from the earlier in the week's cold front passage. Weigh day topped off at 57 degrees around scale time. The pattern we chose to work for these conditions was to slow vertical dip and troll creek channel intersections and ledge brush piles to catch our mixed bag of fish.

Thanks again Ed for creating this wonderful site which has enabled me to meet so many fine people throught the fishing nation. Wild Bill from the Texas board... a very special thanks for all that you did for this fat guy - buuuurp!! His minnows caught us fish, or died tryin! 410 man, sorry we missed each other, my phone went belly up down there. Magician, I looked for you too, but we never got in to try your spot.

Had a chance to stop and fish with Crappie Chatt on the way home In KS. We managed to catch some decent fish, and discuss different methods and strategies over a wind swept, late Winter's day on the lake. Thanks for the trip & goodies Chatt! We will have to do it again soon. Doubt that Pizza buffet will let me back in the doors though. :p

Thats it for now. Big bites, and full baskets to all. On to Millwood, AR this weekend! <,"}/>{ Rippa

[410MAN]

Rippa, sorry I missed ya, work had me a tangled up. I went to the weigh in, really Impressed with the size fishes, just amazes me how ya never been on lake and come do that good, I just need to learn and practice more, I would have fished excatly where the big one were caught. may we meet up another time. I would have liked to see some of your sponser stuff/

[Tim The Lippa Rippa Mon]

just amazes me how ya never been on lake and come do that good

I would have liked to see some of your sponser stuff/

I will be at Millwood, AR next week, and then Eufaula, OK the following week. That is the closest I will come to your area again this year. Let me know if you want to meet up fer either of those two.

As far as going to strange waters, experience is the best teacher, but doing research will help a lot too. Learn where the big fish want to be under any given weather conditions and water temperatures on local, but similar types of waterways. Then, when you go to strange waters, just look for similar features to try 1st. Eliminating 90% of the water to fish before wetting a line will help you tons!! Take care Monnie, and don't be a stranger! <,"}/>{ Tim

[Big George]

[QUOTE=Tim The Lippa Rippa Mon]I will be at Millwood, AR next week, and then Eufaula, OK the following week. That is the closest I will come to your area again this year. Let me know if you want to meet up fer either of those two.

As far as going to strange waters, experience is the best teacher, but doing research will help a lot too. Learn where the big fish want to be under any given weather conditions and water temperatures on local, but similar types of waterways. Then, when you go to strange waters, just look for similar features to try 1st. Eliminating 90% of the water to fish before wetting a line will help you tons!! Take care Monnie, and don't be a stranger! <,"}/>{ Tim[/QUOTE Hey Rippa I will be at Eufalala fishing that one my good friends team watters are leaving up your way coming here tomorrow look for me I am in a red 520 Ranger you should know when ya see me I am a big Ugly Guy would like to meet ya

[GABoy]

Hey Rippa -

That sounds like you had some gooduns'......I am glad to hear y'all did so well down there....I thought the pattern would have held depth wise...the only difference was when the water temp shot down you sure did have to adjust and good thinking on your part for doing that!!!

NICE WORK!!!!

Glad to hear from you!!!

- GABoy

[Tim The Lippa Rippa Mon]

Big George will do! I assume you are reffering to Dennis & Tamie? They are good people, and some tough competitors to boot too. Watch out for the Gators!!! I'm serious!!! I'll get there some time Thursday. Maybe we can go put a hurtin on the local buffet! :p

Thanks GABoy. You were right on about the key depth. A one foot drop from it, followed by a 3' rise of a hump nearby was our sweetest spot. Not gonna put any exact depths here though since thats sacred, and you know them anyway.
Looking forward to wetting lines with you when the good Lord permits. Sorry to hear bout your last tourny. Too many creeks, not enough time. But with every failed attempt, comes important lessons that only experience and time can teach. Heres to bigger bites next time, instead of only numbers for you my friend! Just don't go beat'n me at the Classics! <,"}/>{ Rippa

[GABoy]

Thanks GABoy. You were right on about the key depth. A one foot drop from it, followed by a 3' rise of a hump nearby was our sweetest spot. Not gonna put any exact depths here though since thats sacred, and you know them anyway.
Looking forward to wetting lines with you when the good Lord permits. Sorry to hear bout your last tourny. Too many creeks, not enough time. But with every failed attempt, comes important lessons that only experience and time can teach. Heres to bigger bites next time, instead of only numbers for you my friend! Just don't go beat'n me at the Classics! <,"}/>{ Rippa

Sounds like it worked out great for you!!! Don't worry one bit, I tell you by any standards around, if there wasn't a tournament involved we had a fantastic day of fishing.....I thoroughly enjoyed myself regardless of the standings. I would really enjoy that when we can get together and fish somewhere.....Seriously, I am not sorry about our performance at the last tourney, we caught over 120 fish, we just couldn't keep the babies off long enough to find some mamas....and there isn't much we can do about that....trust me, every fishing trip for me is a lesson learned regardless of what happens.....

I am not sure about the Classic thing now.....we are talking about a new Ranger boat....hee hee :D

[DENNIS BOWERS]

tim & ga boy---bet ya dont hear pro bass fishermen tradin secrets an being buddys! thats what sets "us" apart from :THEM"!! GOOD JOB FELLAS!!! GOOD FISHIN TO YA BOTH!!!!!DENNIS

[GABoy]

tim & ga boy---bet ya dont hear pro bass fishermen tradin secrets an being buddys! thats what sets "us" apart from :THEM"!! GOOD JOB FELLAS!!! GOOD FISHIN TO YA BOTH!!!!!DENNIS

Amen...isn't that that the truth??

Thanks Dennis!!