4/4/15

[Brian]

We fished all afternoon. Marked some fish on sonar, had baits freak out a few times, but never had one get touched.

Bait was easy. First another board member gave us some very nice mongos and ales right after we put in. Then we loaded the tank with about 40 gizzard shad in 2 throws of the net in about two feet of water. The shad were mixed size from 8" to monsters that redefine the term "mongo" I referred to the biggest as "Buford".

Buford did a trick that I hadn't seen before. He outran his planer board, wrapped the line somehow that changed it from a planer board to a dipsy diver and slammed the board into the bottom in 40' of water... Very innovative technique.

We pulled 3 creeks above Hales Ford bridge and 2 creeks below it... Just could not make it happen.

I need to apologize to the nice guy in a kayak. My buddy and I were flapping our gums and looking back at the boards and didn't notice that there was a kayak in the creek ahead of us. I didn't even notice him until he was almost even with the boards. With our spread almost covering the whole creek, we basically ran him off to the side so he didn't get clotheslined. He didn't seem upset at all, but it was just not right, I need to pay more attention to where the boat is heading!

[mwardncsu]

Good to see you out there Brian - and those were far from Mongos Sorry the bite didn't cooperate..... pressure was rising till mid-day..... probably did not help when it finally hit it's peak and steadied out at a high.....

[Brian]

Whatever they were classified as, they were much appreciated, especially the ales since all we could catch in the mud were big gizzards!

[mwardncsu]

Apr 4, 2015 22:06:00 GMT -5 Brian said:

Whatever they were classified as, they were much appreciated, especially the ales since all we could catch in the mud were big gizzards!

If we could all have such problems I told Tyler we should have given 10 min there to load the big tank.....

[Deleted]

So... How many inches is a Buford?

I like it... Say 14"? Do we need approval from Mwuuuurd?

I used to call them sharks cause they can swim very fast and they look stealthy in the water. But when you look at them on the bottom of your boat, they look like a dumb, fat offspring of a carp. And they never look at you when you hold them.

Buford is perfect!

[21 Elite]

I need a tank of bufords.... ;-)
How deep is the bait holding right now ? Or better yet the bufords? Will be fishing tomorrow evening above the bridge. Will post the outcome.

[mwardncsu]

Seems to depend on the moment - at times its in 2' to 30' of water depending on the weather. Some warm, less windy days will likely have it shallow

[Brian]

I think Buford was about 18" long. I thought I had a carp when I pulled in the cast net. Trying to get him out of the tank with my little dip net was funny

[Deleted]

Okay...so a lot of chatter but no official rule. I say a "Buford" is greater than 14".

MWard...you are the keeper of the "Official Taxonomy Guide". Can we add "Buford?"

Maybe a measurement is not the correct way of doing this. Perhaps it's a feeling. For example,

• When you look at your mongo and he looks like a dumb carp or some type of mutated goldfish, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you look at your mongo and you get the sense that he was looking at you but is clearly looking away now, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you drop your mongo in the water and the splash hits you in your face, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you look back at your spread and your outside board is being pulled forward by the bait faster than you are traveling, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you pull your bait for 4 hours or more and your mongo looks better than he did when you put him out, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you pull your mongo in and he is eating a tortilla chip, he might be a "Buford!"

[mwardncsu]

14" is not all that exceptional - I'm with Brian - a "Buford" should be 18"+ or at least 16"+

[Deleted]

Apr 6, 2015 9:45:05 GMT -5 mwardncsu said:

14" is not all that exceptional - I'm with Brian - a "Buford" should be 18"+ or at least 16"+

True...14" is not rare. Over 15" is pretty rare though! At least it was in the winter as I was analyzing nets full of 100s of shad.

I don't think i have ever seen a 16".

15"  Maybe?

[johnr]

Back in 2013 we got a net full of certified 16-18" gizzards from a main channel light. It was early May. They resulted in a 'few' citations in 2 consecutive days of fishing. The biggest was 26# on an 18" gizzard. No stinger..

We called them slabs.

[gbart]

Hey Brian I was the one on the green yak. No worries there was plenty of room. I had a14inch gizzard taken from the mouth of the cove Sunday night. That would have been a good fight on the kayak. Maybe next time. Tight lines greg

[Happy Camper]

Apr 6, 2015 9:42:36 GMT -5 Yam said:

Okay...so a lot of chatter but no official rule. I say a "Buford" is greater than 14".

MWard...you are the keeper of the "Official Taxonomy Guide". Can we add "Buford?"

Maybe a measurement is not the correct way of doing this. Perhaps it's a feeling. For example,

• When you look at your mongo and he looks like a dumb carp or some type of mutated goldfish, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you look at your mongo and you get the sense that he was looking at you but is clearly looking away now, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you drop your mongo in the water and the splash hits you in your face, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you look back at your spread and your outside board is being pulled forward by the bait faster than you are traveling, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you pull your bait for 4 hours or more and your mongo looks better than he did when you put him out, he might be a "Buford!"
• If you pull your mongo in and he is eating a tortilla chip, he might be a "Buford!"

[Happy Camper]

Yam we need to get you some sponsors and start you a fishin show,you make me laugh,entertainment at its finest!