I just got a hawg trough with the intention to start fishing some tournaments. After looking at my pictures for the day I noticed this one is impossible to see the lip touching the board.
Does anybody have any tips for making the lip board easier to see if fish is touching it? I know now to use my body as shade, but would putting a sticker or painting the lip board black help?

LargeMouth by yakinjunkie, on Flickr

I put a sticker on mine and it fixed it for me.

A sticker works great. Please don't put a bungee to hold the bass in place. It's very bad on the fish removing the protective coating, and promotes a place for diseases to grow on the fish.

I thought the mouth had to be closed.

Anything to make the stop darker,Camera position and light angle are the biggest things to consider.
Catching bigger fish will also help.

readtrio
I am not sure on that. That is something I will make sure I know when its game time.

pelican
Lubbock is not known for huge fish or water for that matter. Here is a little better one I caught right next door to that 12 incher. All I can say is I try.

Fishing by yakinjunkie, on Flickr

We have gotten a little rain this past week out here. Lake Alan Henry went up 8ft this week.
Lake JB Thomas went up 22+ ft over the weekend!!!! I sure hope it holds water and people continue to conserve water.

It depends on the tournament. Some want closed and others allow open. If I were judging a tournament I would count his first fish as mouth closed.

JB Thomas.....Video

Here is another video taken today....not rising as fast but the video from the boat ramp shows how much it has come up.....the sign is gone and the tree is partially submerged.

Part two

Those links are not working for me.

That second pic looks really clean. The first one appears affected from the bright sun from your left and I think exaggerated by the white board. Maybe just some dark tape on the backside of the lip (not the fish side) may help or even hit it with a flat black. Btw, nice fish - #2 is on its way to football status.

He's a tip that might help a little. Besides a crank bait. Leave the hook in. If she flops out while your taking a picture you still have a chance.

Thanks! I will try the tape on the back side first. Only other thing I can think of is take a bunch of pictures just in case.


Very good idea. I will definitely do that.

Like I said I have never fished a tourny so I really appreciate the feedback. I am taking notes.

mark an X or whatever you wish on the lip board with a black sharpie...also the black will wear off the board itself in just a matter of a short time so be prepared to use the sharpie on the ruler marks as well. I have tied one of those salt water floats you get on fish stringers to keep my board afloat. They often fall out and sink like a stone. Once a few fish have been on the board it dosent take long before you loose that brightness and glare off the board.

Another tip for your Hawg Trough is go to Home Depot and get oak dowel rods and put them in the slots on the
backside and seal it up with silicon caulk. This will keep it floating if it ever gets knocked into the drink and it will make it a ton stronger. This will really help if your throwing big heavy fish on it or if you ever need to use you Hawg Trough as a emergency paddle (like me) or if you're just ruff on your gear. Be sure and get the oak ones for a few cents more, they are a lot stronger than the pine ones. There are several ways to keep it a float but this will make it Timex tuff!