Happy New Year TFF and its followers. Hope for many limits of fish for you all this coming year.

There are a few things I have learned over the last couple weeks on the fishing front. Lakes go hot and cold on the bite,watch what is going on and try to apply to the lake you fish, if it doesnt work find another lake. I fish Lake Altus and many of you may have read some of my posts with me griping about no water. Trying to dead stick in max lake depths of 18-19ft wont work guys, I have tried dead sticking this lake the last few years...there are a few trips of picking at a few and even some nice fish but you need some water. Made the drive up to Foss Lake it has hybrids it has deeper water. I have fished it about a half dozen times over the past 6 years, with hit miss results. Got a tip the hybrids were biting in deep water, and knew a general area. So my group of 3 made the trip last Friday managed 52 with hybrids from 17 to 23.5inches fat as can be. Caught them in 46ft-57 ft of water, on flukes (Striped Bass Tackle & Moes) and Sidewinder slabs by Sooner Slabs. Bad thing is we must have had over 150 bites each trip just such a challenge catching them as I am pretty new to that technique,but I think it is funner than most types of fishing, just my opinion. Water temp was 43.7 degrees, so yes they bite when it is fairly cool.

Went again today. Our goal was 18 fish after the northern front blew in Saturday evening. Didnt change air temps too bad though, water temp was the same. We caught them the same pulled 38 hybrids and a few sandies.

Next thing I learned take a camera...using a droid phone doesnt work well, when service is shaky eats batteries. So both trips no pics of our best fish.... Our biggest today was 26.5inches, all very fat. Fluke caught the bigger fish, but the Sidewinder slab was very good.

The thing I have taken from this forum is the ability to learn a great deal from others. Time on the water plus reading reports can give you an upper hand. Just reading Lakeguide and Trents reports for Tawak gave me confidence to try it out up here again at Foss. Also I like to give credit where its due. If I use a bait I am gonna talk it up...it is just the way it should be I dont make a damn dime off any of this, and the next newbie that says that I do will get an earful via pm...the last guy really ticked me off as he doesnt know me and and that still doesnt set well.

Flukes I used Moes stuff everyone knows that they are priced right,tested out by folks fishing the same types of waters,easy to get. Also used Striped Bass Tackles hand poured flukes, I sure wish I had bought more before he closed shop, I like his stuff as well. Both last a long time, good quality. Also the dip juice Moes is selling seems to be some stout smelling stuff, you could smell that stuff from 20 ft away, not sure if it makes a difference but I am a believer... Slabs...you know I read on here about folks deadsticking with them. Guys I have caught an awful lot of fish on slabs, I love them, I will use them any chance I get, they are my go to bait. But I think there are better options for deadsticking on these hybrids, I am not a guide but personal opinion here... flukes have gotten lots of bites and better quality fish, but at times the sidewinder kicked it up. The sidewinder was designed by Dee Hines of Sooner Slabs. Dee has been slab fishing probably longer then I have been alive, a very knowledgeable and able fisherman. Hands down makes some of the best Quality slabs I have ever used. Yes his stuff costs more than $2.00, so many wont try his stuff out... This is for folks that want to try some different stuff. I am not looking to hurt anyones business...Heck I could lie and say that the TNT 180 did the best today...but I will say what works. I use a two hook version of the sidewinder, they are dangerous but very good. Find them at http://www.okiefish.com/SoonerSlabs1.htm

Lastly there was another bait that rocked today, not in my boat but in another boat fishing next to me, those fellas caught 3 to our 1. I have used the bait before and for deadsticking it is also deadly. I just didnt have any in the boat before we went out on the trip...I did after. It is called a wiggle jig also made in oklahoma pm me if you want its info as it doesnt have a website. See it in my pic as well it is a round ball jig head with a dressed treble as shown 1oz...The OU holographic sidewinder did well too,but it is my own custom version of a redone sidewinder.

I thought for being fairly new on that lake we did well, I look forward to fishing it in the future years to come and not try to make a lake that cant support that type of bite because of lack of water. Missed way to many bites but will get there in time, these kind of fishing is way cool. If you cant get it or want to try it out. I would suggest hooking up with one of the guides on here, look at the folks that are talking up the deadsticking and getting results, might be a good place to start if you looking to have someone show you.

Here are some pics sorry to have taken up half your evening being long winded. Good fishing to you all. Man I love getting back to going fishing. 2012 is gonna kick tail...

Cig is opitonal

Good reading and Happy New Year Bryon!! Your buddy in the pic had a "Good Year" as well, lol. That double hooked slab and lure look very interesting for deadsticking! Glad you like deadstick. This is only my third year doing it and my opinion on the technique is mixed. The technique is boring and sometimes frustrating with many misses than catches. But the results and quality of the fish is amazing!!

I think that you could line up 100 pictures of your uncle from over the past 10 years and every one will look exactly the same. Beard, cig, hat, shirt, coat and all

Good read and nice faties

had those wiggle eyes for years always laugh when they work...nice job glad you getting to fish and i agree w holtzer about the uncle pics but he did create a cool color slab

nice post. enjoyed reading it. OU on the other hand...

nice to see you getting out & making reports, Bryon.
I guess all those lead fumes didn't hurt your hookset!
happy new year!

Man I got to get over there

Thanks for the replys guys also a few guys via pm ty for wanting to try the baits out I mentioned be cause I would like to hear how you guys do with them down in the texas lakes.

SeaProTodd, yes I know what you mean about mixing results and opinions. My biggest challenge has been getting to a lake that had water, and back when making baits never had the time to anyway. It takes a great deal of patience and reading the graph is crucial,but its not like they eat all the time either,but when the dinner bell starts ringing the bite is a challenge but the reward is worth the wait. Slab fishing as has gotten a lot easier over the years, I need to learn the sassy shad approach and this deadsticking stuff, so the challenge for me makes it fun, as long as there is some catching being rewarded

Holzer been awhile sorry hadnt been in touch been busy life is settling in now, all is good. Your right same cig, jacket, face,beard, non smile, and still gripes when I dont put him in some fish He is the fella that got me started though, so I cant give him to much grief, and I dont think he has ever said no to me when I ask if he wants to go. He is a die hard fisherman. Funny quick story...He told me on Foss the other day he wished he was one of those Loons, he was serious as could be too, we laughed like heck, had some good points though....

Chris, I figured you may have used them before with all the lures you have. They are a funny bait,but have had some unreal days with them, and it makes you shake your head when they work. Your right that one color combo my uncle came up with is pretty tough....glad you stocked up awhile back, and hope it serves you well.

fob bob, beats the heck out of UT...

lite liner, I have a few lures yet to make still for a couple folks and have made a few over the months, but to this day, remind myself how many fish I should have caught over the past 5 years, I figure I am at least 15,000 behind.

RonH, you got my PM hope you make it over there. Water temps were 43.5, a few guys I visit with told me that the first good hard northern that pattern will be over as I am sure the water temps will push into the 30's. We managed a walleye and a saugeye as well both on flukes in 50+ft...dont know much about where they are biting good at. Let me know if you make it over there. I have two buddies that are going Friday and Saturday, I can let you know how they do if your still thinking bout it. I may try weekend after next if the wind is down. After that supposed to be a front that might kill, it but its a ways out so who knows, will help you out any way I can if you make that trip though, just a phone call away to...580-318-1391. Take care.