Kenny's Great Outdoors - Well Earned Fish Fry!

After the wonderful day fishing at Truman Lake, we had some fish to fry up , and Come rain or sun or snow , there is no way , we are not going to have a nice fish fry! We worked hard for these fish , Saturday, and earned the right to pig out and have a good fish fry!

I yanked out my "beer batter recipe" and I added all my secret spices that makes the beer batter recipe perfect. If you want to try this beer batter recipe, then please refer back to the article, by clicking on this Beer Batter Recipe Link, try it , I think you will agree , it is awesome!


My wife sliced up some home fries, or better known as potato wedges with their own batter! We sliced up some good red onions, just right sweet and not hot. The wife also made up a batch of some jalapeno hush puppies, and we were set!

I stripped up the bass and white bass fillets, and turned on the cooker and waited for the oil to get to about 360 degrees and then proceeded to start cooking fish, french fries and hush puppies.

By the time we were finished cooking , we were starving of course and by the time we finished eating , well, there was hardly a crumb left! We are all big fish eaters and we pigged out, and then we lay on the couch all afternoon and moaned and groaned , but it was definitely worth the effort. To top off the fish we had some Coke and Pepsi, which always helps to cut the grease or oil, and is always a compliment to the fish fry. What an awesome fish fry!


If I had to say so myself, I did a good job on the cooking end of the day and everyone gave me the thumbs up! That is always nice to know when you are cooking for a lot of people , we had bass, white bass, crappy, and catfish. What a treat!

So until next time, keep your fillets golden brown, and try not to follow me and eat too much. If you follow me you might end up hungry! ;-) See you guys and gals out on the water. If you do happen to catch too many , I am always in the mood for a good fish fry or two, so stop by and I will cook em up for you and will even consider , sharing a few fillets with you also!

Cold Fronts, Put A Damper on Missouri Bass Fishing

Spent a beautiful day bass fishing at "Truman Lake!" The weather has been relatively warm, with several northern fronts, one after another, hitting us here in Missouri, every 2 or 3 days. The bite really starts getting good, and then another cold front. Makes it tough to consistently catch a significant amount of any kind of fish.

Started out the day trolling and caught a nice striper of about 23 lb range. We also caught 11 white bass trolling, till about noon. We then proceeded to pursue Mr. Line side after lunch and we started off , pretty good on the jig n pig, had 3 , three lb bass in an hour.

About 2 pm, I tied on a suspending rogue caught an 8 pounder, right off the bat. Thought that was the ticket but it was a slow ticket. I stuck it out and fished the rogue hard on the windy points in about 10 - 15 feet of water. I practically had to stop it and let it sit for a long time before the bass would take it. Then they would just suck it in and sit there. This actually is a norm for bass that are in a cold front situation!

I would raise the tip of the rod till I felt resistance. Then I would set the hook. The water temp was down from last week , 45- 50 degrees with the warmer water in the coves where a creek or river was running in. We did a lot of run n gun, and the afternoon bite was the best between 1 - 3 pm, after that it was done as far as the rogue bite and then we went back to the jig n pig. In summary, we caught 1 nice striper 23 pounder, 11 white bass, 7 bass, with the biggest one weighing about 8 pounds!

The day was about 68 degrees for a high, with a pretty hard wind from the north! We didn't try the whites after the bass bite stopped about 3 pm. We just headed for the truck and then back to the house. We did have a wonderful day, though! A little windy and the wind out of the north was pretty nippy , but we had the clothes for it so all went well. If the weather will stay warm and stabilize. the fishing can only get better. The bass can't make up their minds , to spawn yet, and that is a good thing. During the spawn they tend to get lock jawed until post spawn, and then It will only get better again!

So hang in there and keep plugging away, for the best spring fishing is still YET to come! Take care, and good luck , keep your hooks wet and lines tight. We will see you out there, and remember to boat safe, and enjoy the "Great Outdoors!'

If you enjoyed this article, make sure and check out the archives, and to ensure you don't miss the latest updates you can subscribe and stay up to date with the latest fishing here in the Missouri lake region! See Ya!

Is The Outdoors, Calling You Out?

It's that time of the year, when everything starts coming to life. Trees are budding, grass and such are starting to green up a little, You know what I mean. The last few days have been warm and the tree frogs are singing, and song birds and other birds of spring, start to show up, and somewhere, deep down inside, a little voice yells " let me out of here!" Yes, that part of you that enjoys getting out in the good ole outdoors, whether its camping, or fishing or hunting, or maybe even a good hike in to the deep woods or something!

It's just that time of year where a lot of outdoor people get out and enjoy their days off, not confined to a dirty old , stale aired, office somewhere! Like they say," a bad day fishing, is better than a good day at work! " I don't remember a bad day a fishing, let alone a good day at work. I just never understood that comment!

A beautiful sunrise on the lake, or a excellent sunset at dark, or a good old campfire outside, these are things that are in us and for whatever reason, draws us to the outdoors, to enjoy all we can!

I just love the smell of a campfire in the outdoors! What is there about a fire? Everyone I ever saw, or spent some time in the outdoors, just loves to build a fire and watch it burn, and it smells so good. You know, where you build a fire, and it gets dark, and the TALL hunting and fishing tales start to flow? I know that never happens at YOUR campfires! Right? That's what I thought!

Just something about being out in the outdoors, kind of , like makes a connection! It just seems natural and you start seeing and enjoying the outdoors for what I believe, was created for all of us, and with each and every one of us , in its own way. Every one seems to see the outdoors, in a different light or something , and when we share the experiences, it just enriches each and every moment with satisfying inner peace.

Sometimes I like a one on one experience , in the outdoors! Just me, the outdoors, and my passion for it , keeps me hungry for the experience when ever I get the opportunity! Sometimes when I am fishing , I lose all of the stress, and just become tranquil , and quiet , just taking in all of the noises and pictures , going on around me.

So enjoy the "Great Outdoors!" I hope to see ya out there soon! Catch a big bunch of fish! Boat safely!

Basic Lure Inventory , Will Put You On Top Of Your Game Plan!

Here is a general inventory that all bass fishermen should have in their tackle box. Even if you are a novice or an advanced fisherman, it is important to not only have these lures in your inventory, but you should learn how to use each category effectively.

Now, you can start off with the basics or you can go all out and try to buy every size, shape, or color, which to be quite honest will max out your credit cards and probably cause a serious strain on your marriage. This is not a good thing, Because both can cause you incredible debt!

Now I am not listing them in any particular order, so don't read into the list with any preferences or priorities! If you don't have these lures or the skill necessary to catch bass with these lures, then you should begin to acquire the lures and learn how to use them effectively. ASAP!

1. Jig and Pig
Jig and Pig - A jig and pig is one of the best big bass baits available to fishermen. Lots of tournaments are won with a jig and pig because they catch bigger bass. Resembling a crayfish when worked on the bottom, they attract bass looking for an easy meal and bass love crayfish. A very good and reliable, method to catching lots of big bass.

2. Spoons
Spoons - Jigging spoons catch a lot of bass but a weedless spoon with a trailer is an excellent bait in grass and heavy cover. In some cover a weedless spoon works better than any other bait. Also good in a vertical yo yo presentation!

3. Plastic Worms
Plastic Worm - Plastic worms have probably accounted for more bass than any other kind of bait. They are very versatile and can be fished from the top to the bottom. You can get any size needed from tiny three inch worms to monsters over 10 inches long. And the come in all colors of the rainbow - and hundreds more. Rig them Carolina style, Texas style, on a jig head, weightless and any other way you can imagine and they will catch bass. Slow , but very effective lure!

4. Crank baits
Crank bait - Crank baits look like bait fish or crayfish, two of the favorite foods of bass. Crank baits come in all sizes, shapes and colors. They are easy to cast and work in most kinds of water. You can fish fast and cover water to find active bass. Learn to fish a crank bait and it adds to your arsenal of effective lures. Presentation is unlimited, and you can cover lots of ground , good for locating fish!

5. Spinner baits
Spinner bait - Spinner baits catch lots of bass and they are a good bait for covering a lot of water fast to find fish. They tend to catch bigger bass, too. They come in a wide variety of sizes, colors and blade configuration to help match the hatch. They look like bait fish and bass eat a lot of bait fish. You can use several methods of retrieve, such as waking the surface, slow roll, or fish any depth you need to. Very reliable standby lures.

6. Top water Plugs
Top water Plugs - No bass bite is more exciting than what you get with top water lures. The smashing splash of a bass hitting on top will make your heart stop, but even the gentle hit of a big bass sucking a top water plug under as it eats it is thrilling. You can get a lot of colors, sizes and actions in top water baits and you can make them work in a huge number of ways.

Now I am not going to name lures or go into too much detail, except to tell you that these are the basic categories, from top to bottom , so to speak, which means simply that you have all the bases covered. You can spend as little as possible or as much as your financial situation, and spouse, will allow.

You will in time have more lures than you will know what to do with! I usually try to by 5-6 lures a month, and also replace any that I lose, and you will be surprised how many lures you can acquire in a short period of time. This method sure beats going out and buying all your lures at one time!

So until next time keep your hooks wet and your lines tight! See ya all out there , I hope! Good luck , and remember to keep only what you can eat and practise catch and release!

Laughter Is The Best Medicine!

In a funeral, there lay a fishing rod, a reel and a fishing basket upon the coffin.

Two men in the gathering are whispering with each other.

The whispers...

Man #1 He must have been a very keen fisherman?

Man #2 He still is! He's going straight to a fishing match after they've buried his wife.
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A man was sitting reading his papers when his wife hit him round the Head with a frying pan.

“What was that for?” the man asked.

The wife replied “That was for the piece of paper with the name Julie on it that I found in your pants pocket”.

The man then said “When I was at the races last week Julie was the name of the horse I bet on”

The wife apologized and went on with the housework.

Three days later the man is watching TV when his wife bashes him on the head with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him unconscious.

Upon re-gaining consciousness the man asked why she had hit again.

Wife replied. “Your horse called !

How Do You Determine What Color Lure To Use?

During the past week or so, I have received several emails in regards to " determining what colors of lure to use at any given time!" So I hope today we can help all fishermen and women, learn how to determine, what colors, for what conditions?

There are many factors, in determining color! Here are a few to mull over, and consider!

1 Depth your fishing
2 Water Clarity
3 Sky conditions, color, etc
4 Weather

Fish biologists know, that bass can see colors! They will even tell you that bass probably, see red and green better than a human! A bass can see better than us during the day and a lot better than us at night with no light.

All colors start changing at deeper depths, some becoming invisible, and some becoming more visible. The clarity of the water is a key factor in determining what color lure to use.
The changing conditions of the sky dictate what color you should be using.

Here is a general, rule of thumb!

In general, you'll want to use lighter, brighter colors in clearer water and sunny conditions, and darker lures for darker days and stained water. Now, this is a general rule, but it works pretty darn good!

Everybody has worn sunglasses sometime in their life. Did you ever notice when you wear blue glasses, things look different than they do when you wear glasses with green or yellow lenses? The different colored lenses does the same as , how the water filters the light at different water depths. This is the same way a bass' eye works, to some degree of accuracy!

Accomplished anglers also consider the weather in selecting the most effective lure color. If the sky is dark and cloudy, then choose a color that, once again, presents a prominent silhouette as the bass looks at it from below. Lures in black, brown and purple are an excellent choice for a dark, cloudy day!

For bright sunny days, switch to lighter, more translucent lures that present a subtle silhouette to fish. Baits in shades of white, gray, yellow, silver, smoke or clear are recommended!

So I hope you guys, and gals, learned a, pretty good tip, I might add. Until next time, keep your lines tight and your hooks wet! See ya out there, I hope!

Bass Fishing On Bull Shoals Lake Is Heating Up!

Wow! What a weekend, on Bull Shoals Lake, white bass fishing was hot, and in full swing! A friend of mine called me Thursday and wanted to go to Bull Shoals on the 6th and 7th or last Fri and Sat. He heard from a friend , who heard it from a friend, you know that story I am sure!

He had made up his mind , and wasn't taking a "no" for any reason that would work. So reluctantly and having to force myself, I loaded up and We were Bull Shoals Bound!

We spent the day Friday, catching white bass until we wore out at noon. Then we bass fished the afternoon. White rooster tails, and shad raps were the ticket and we had a blast! We caught over a hundred whites and about 8 real good Line side bass in the after noon on the "rogue bait" , they were hitting them hard but were running small! We finally got in to the bigger bass around 3 - 6 lbs.

Saturday was another good day, even though we didn't catch as many big whites , we were still catching them. We caught 2 good walleye and 2 stripers! We caught the large mouth again, in the afternoon 2-4 pm. We caught 11 good keeper large mouths with the big one weighing in at 9.75 lbs!

So I guess you could say that Bull Shoals is hot right now and we're not talking the weather, we're talking, large mouth bass fishing, and RED hot white bass fishing! I think that the white bass fishing will get even better in a week or so if the weather holds up!

The weather here has become spring like and we have had temps of 60 and 70 for the past week. The water temp is between 50 and 55 . As the water temps get to rising the whites and bass are going to REALLY turn them on and It's time to start your engines and get out there.

Keep your hooks wet , and your lines tight! Boat safe and we will see you out there! Be sure to enjoy the "Great Outdoors!"

A Little Problem On The Subject Of "Comments?"

This is just a note to those who leave comments on the articles on this site. Now you all know that I encourage comments quite often. It gives me feedback and direction, and we all can make friends, etc. I encourage that very strongly! When leaving a comment, please contribute to the subject , Which most of you do!

Just recently I was considering removing all of signing in or whatever you have to do, such as capcha and you know! Then I caught a comment that had no comment. Just a link to a site. I deleted that form of a comment and that is the first time that I had to do this. You see I don't like to have any censorship, but this was a "plain as day" spam.

Now I once again will have to say honestly that I do in fact love 99.9% of your comments! But I have to draw a line in the sand! There will be no spamming here. You leave a comment in agreement or disagreement, that's fine! You can leave a link to your site, that's fine! If you are into animal rights , that's fine, Comments are necessary if your going to link up!

If the shoe fits wear it , if not then this does not apply to you! I love all of your comments and want to see them continue. I apologize for having to sound tough, but I want to keep this site spam free. So I hope you understand and don't take it personal! If you leave a link without a comment' it will be deleted! Sorry folks!

If you have something to say , then say it and add a link that is fine! All opinions are welcome, lets just keep it clean and play the game! I encourage linking, lets just do it right! I don't think this is an unreasonable request! Again, I encourage and love your comments, keep them coming but lets keep it clean! OK?

Thanks,

Kenny

So until next time, keep your hooks wet and your lines tight! Help us fight spam, and boat safely! See ya out there soon!