Red River Bass Fishing Reports

[Ron Fogelson]

LA has a the Lunker share program for bass over 13lbs, an article in Louisiana outdoors said a few were donated last year and if memory serves me none spawned.

It is a shame if they take it to another BPS.  As far as being in a tank, well it just as well could be on the butchers table to get fried up or at a taxidermist to get stuffed.  At least in the tank its still alive.  Thats my 2 cents

[Hawgwild]

I see no reason the fish couldn't be shared with the LA. Game and Fish people...It would have to remain in our local BPS store though..or at least shared with the Game and Fish wherrever it goes...

Personally I am glad the fish will be in a protected invironment...Lots of things can happen in natural invironment...This fish could have perhaps as easily broke off someone elses line and died with a hook stuck in it gullet....But of course i would prefer to see it pretected locally..

There will be others so perhaps we'll know what to do next time..  

Scottie

[Hawgwild]

segleskirq....If I remember corectly there were three 16+ pound stringers and the next was 13+ lbs...

Don't remember big bass but sure wasn't no 13 pounder..

Scottie

[FIREMAG6969]

FISH RIVER TODAY. COUGHT TWO, ONE ON TRAP AND ONE ON SPINNER BAIT. FINALLY FOUND SOME FISH, BUT IT WAS LATE AND MY BUDDY HAD TO LEAVE. FOUND FISH IN 6FT OF WATER IN GRASS BED. WATER TEMP WAS 50 EARLY AND 56 WHEN WE LEFT AT 2:00.

[bass11.11]

"SEND THAT FISH OFF TO ANOTHER STATE"  MAKES ME FREAKIN SICK!

[whatcam]

"SEND THAT FISH OFF TO ANOTHER STATE"  MAKES ME FREAKIN SICK!

I agree totally, I think if I was that guy I would want my dang fish back if they are just gonna ship it off to some other store where I will never see it again. I can buy my own dang replica!

BTW how big does a bass have to be before BPS will take it??

[Hawgwild]

Rus is also on the Pro Staff with BPS...Perhaps he was obligated to take the fish to theim.....

I'm sure it may help his guide service...
redriverfishing.com

Perhaps if enough of us wrote corporate and voiced our displeasure of this perhaps they may reconsider moving the fish..

Scottie

[J10B]

I know Russ pretty well and he would NEVER do something to hurt anything.  His old job requires that he pay close attention to the ecosystems.  Say what you want about BPS but please don't drag Russ down.

[whatcam]

Hey guys, I know I saw somebody talking about it one day but I am at work and dont have time to search for 30 mins, but what do yall use to get the dang water stain from the river off a white fiberglass boat hull!!! I have washed it like 3 times and even tried simple green. I am about to have to break out the polish and wax.

[JBlack]

Try a mixture of half vinegar and half water.  See if that takes it off.

JB

[Ron Fogelson]

I know Russ pretty well and he would NEVER do something to hurt anything.  His old job requires that he pay close attention to the ecosystems.  Say what you want about BPS but please don't drag Russ down.

You are right he is a great guy, easy to get along with a good friend and neighbor.  I don't think anyone was trying to put him down that wouldn't be how we do business around here. 

[whatcam]

Try a mixture of half vinegar and half water.  See if that takes it off.

JB

Thnx man I will try that today.

I know I wasnt being negative towards him, hes my hero!!!

[whatcam]

Well JB it didnt even fade it. I tried scrubbing it for about 30 mins, let it sit for 15 mins then scrubbed it again and nuthing. Seems like I used some kinda marine cleaner one time that would take off old stains like that. I will go to bass pro tomm I am sure they have something I can use.

Good reason to go anyway.

Oh and I need one of these, oh and one of those. Aww man I have been looking for that too. Humm I allready have one of these but I need a back up just in case.
Ha is that just me or does anybody elses trip for a $5 part become a $100 shopping cart just about everytime. I now have a Plantium BPS rewards card!!!

[Hawgwild]

Couldn't stand it knowing we would have an 80+ day so took a vacation day and heading to the Red....

What a day....Got on the water a little after light and the fish were ready to bite....

Probably caught around 25 fish....just quit counting...Size tended to be on the small side but still some good fish...Largest around 15" with many solid keepers and some little ones....

Met a couple of friends from work in another boat and they did pretty much the same as me...They did have one good 3.5 lb bass and many good keepers..

Don't leave home without a series 100 and 200 crafish/orange Bandit.. super baits..

Also caught a few on black/blue lizard...and.... black neon jig...

Water temp was mid 50's early and 60-62 by mid afternoon...

Met DrJay on the water also....I saw him have a good tug with a good fish, but the fish won...  

Anyway..caught a good bunch or fish AND got my first sunburn of the year....Talk about a Redneck...

Life is good...

Scottie

[Ron Fogelson]

Well JB it didnt even fade it. I tried scrubbing it for about 30 mins, let it sit for 15 mins then scrubbed it again and nuthing. Seems like I used some kinda marine cleaner one time that would take off old stains like that. I will go to bass pro tomm I am sure they have something I can use.

Good reason to go anyway.

Oh and I need one of these, oh and one of those. Aww man I have been looking for that too. Humm I allready have one of these but I need a back up just in case.
Ha is that just me or does anybody elses trip for a $5 part become a $100 shopping cart just about everytime. I now have a Plantium BPS rewards card!!!

I talked to the guys back in the Maint section after I picked my boat up when they worked on it.  They cleaned it right up and when I asked what to use was told dish soap.  Was told dawn would help take the grease off and does well with most everything else.  Thing is that it also strips the wax so after a good clean you need to re-wax everything, and for that well there is a group on the market but I can tell you out of everyone in the club I fish with Mike Nobles boat time and time again is the cleanest & he uses Dry Wash.

[whatcam]

  Scottie, WTG man!!! Awsome day fishing. Gonna have to get me some of those 100-200 Crawfish.

Drywash huh? Mike care to elaborate on boat care?

Clint

[bass11.11]

I emailed Rus and he got back real quick.  He wrtoe that the fish would be back to bps in a short while to live a good life in the aquarium in town.  He seemed to agree with all the concerns about bringing the fish back home. .  He seems like a real nice fellow and by no means am I bringing someone down I havnt meet personally.  By the way #400 was caught today in Texas sharelunker program. 

[Ron Fogelson]

I told you guys he was a great guy, easy to get along with a good friend and neighbor.
Here is a stament asked by Russ for me to post here to rest anyones concerns about Nitro!

As I said before any other angler could hve taken it to a taxadurmest or god for bid eat it up.  Another ting to concider is what if the next person to hook her broke off, or what if she got gut hooked?  I for one aplode Russ's desision so we can all enjoy seeing this magnificent bass!

Fogy



I too was concerned at first about "Nitro" the 13.63 lb bass I caught.  Where she would end up and what would happen to her.  Here are the details as I know them today March 1, 2006.  Being on the Bass Pro Shops Pro Staff I have donated "Nitro" to Bass Pro Shops.  She has been sent to the BPS in Springfield MO for a quarantine period of 30 days.  During this time they will find out if "Nitro" is a 100 Florida or a mixed with the native bass.  They will make sure she has no viruses, parasites ect.  BPS just cannot take the chance of a fish infecting there aquariums and harming the rest of the exhibit.  After this period I have been ASSURED "NITRO" will return to the BPS in Bossier City.  BPS Springfield just has the best facility in the country to maintain a Bass of this size during the 30 day period.  Yes the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries have a program like the Texas's Share a Lunker program.  However; you may not know that once a fish is donated, it becomes there property.  They will use it to do research, harvest the eggs, and then IF the fish survives this entire ordeal, they put it in an aquarium in Central Louisiana.  So in order for us as North Louisiana anglers to see "Nitro" we would have to drive to Central La. to the fish hatchery.  Yes, they do give the angler a replica, but so does Bass Pro Shop.  So the choice I had to make was to donate "Nitro" to BPS where she will not have to go through the trauma mentioned above, or the harvesting of the eggs. She just has to make it through the 30 day period and the transporting back to Bossier City.  Here she will live out her life her in our part of the state, so we as North La. anglers will be able to enjoy "Nitro's" beauty at our very own local BPS. Where she will be living the high life, all the Bluegill bream and Shiners she could ever want. She will be the Queen of the Tank at Bass Pro Shops in Bossier City.

I hope this answers everyone's questions and please tell everybody hopefully she will be back in Bossier near the end of March, and yes we are going to celebrate.

Tight Lines
Russ

[Ron Fogelson]

and here is the very latest.

Fogy,
I did receive word today that Nitro made it to Springfield fine. There was no trauma.  She is doing well.
I will be glad when she is swimmin in the tank at Bossier City.
Rally the anglers. I can grant you when she returns ,we will have a LARGE adult beverage party and everybody is going to be invited.

Tight Lines,

Russ

[whatcam]

and here is the very latest.

Fogy,
I did receive word today that Nitro made it to Springfield fine. There was no trauma.  She is doing well.
I will be glad when she is swimmin in the tank at Bossier City.
Rally the anglers. I can grant you when she returns ,we will have a LARGE adult beverage party and everybody is going to be invited.

Tight Lines,

Russ

Man I cant wait to see her. I am glad everything turned out for the better. Time for a party

[Ron Fogelson]

whatcam you are right it will be a greatr time for those of you that on't know Russ to see 1st hand he is a great guy.  I have faith in what he did and can't wait to see her 1st hand 

[drjayhow]

Got on the Red yesterday.  Got a chance to meet and chat with rattlinscottie, nice fella except he  apparently caught all the fish in Pool 5, because I caught squat  .  Got out there right at noon. 

Water on main river was fairly muddy.  It was quite windy.  Found a nice place on main river near port and tried to see if any fish in shallow cover.  Pitched jig for a bit, no bites.  Decided to explore some.

Went to Port Lake and messed around in there.  Caught a 2.5# fish on suspending jerkbait on the back side of the lake.  Saw some posted signs on trees out in the water.  Thought that was interesting. 

Then I wanted to find the White House oxbow and looked around in there for a bit.   No bites on windy bank with white spinnerbait.

Went to Caspiana and saw Scottie.  He had some good fish.  Pitched a jig and tube around various wood cover with no bites.  Called it a day around 5pm. 

Kind of frustrating day, but spent more time looking at new areas and learning my way around, since the wind was such a pain.  All in all, tons better than a day at the office.   And I got sunburned  .

[Bassman]

Everything sounds great!  It is awesome news to know that "Nitro" will be returned to BPS here in Bossier City.  If possible, will it be made public of her release date?  Maybe a nice gathering of some anglers at BPS to welcome her home?

[Ron Fogelson]

Everything sounds great!  It is awesome news to know that "Nitro" will be returned to BPS here in Bossier City.  If possible, will it be made public of her release date?  Maybe a nice gathering of some anglers at BPS to welcome her home?

Yes that is the plan 

[BHenke]

Launched from Clark's at safe light and fished until 1500. Good news is I caught 11 bass, bad news is only 4 were over 12".  Water temp was 53 where I started and found some 62 degree water in a spot or two by the time I quit.  Caught 4 fish on a Bandit 200 in hot chocolate that included one keeper that went 12.5". Caught 3 on a chrome/blue bleeding shad rattle trap with two of those being keepers, one 14" and one 13".  Caught 2 on a Bandit 200 spring craw/yellow with one keeper that went 15".  Caught one 11" on a black ruby baby brush hog and another short one on a Rapala husky jerk in clown.  Also missed one on the rattle trap and missed one on a pumpkin/pearl horny toad thrown next to some water hyacinths in some back water. Wish I could have caught some better ones but you know what they say, wish in one hand and  in the other and see which one gets full the fastest.