Tried out OH Ivie with rod and reel for the first time friday evening/saturday morning. Had a really fun trip, especially friday with all the overcast, the fish were ready to play boys!!. White bass were extremely easy to find in very predictable locations (i will include a map screenshot for example of the type of structure they liked). Within 10-15 minutes we were on our first school hammering them with the MAL lure and a little 1/2 ounce blade bait called The Death Stalker on Amazon. Both are incredible lures and I find when they want a smaller presentation the Death Stalker is incredible back up lure to the MAL, but I generally never lay down my rod with the MAL lure on it. I find many people make too much out of what lure to use, what color to use, what size to use. Just tie on a MAL lure and stop thinking about it anymore and carry a death stalker or other small blade bait in that 1/2 ounce size for a little variety. As Bob Maindelle taught me a long time ago, "the fish has a pea size brain, stop trying to trick it so hard or over think it" lol.

Tried out the MAL barbless hook lure and I (and the fish) are in love! Never tried barbless before but I am a big fan now! Easy hook removal for the fish and myself. I rarely had to grab my pliers or hemastats to remove the hook unless hooked too deep for me to grab. Hook popped right out with minimal trauma to fish. Lost the same very few fish I would have lost with the traditional barb hooks so I see nothing but advantage to this more conservative hook set up for the fish's sake and more quickly getting your lure back in the water to catch another one quicker.

If new to this lake like I was, I found fish in SO many places unlike any other lake I have fished. They literally were on any moderate sloping underwater point in the 20-30 foot range in the lower half of the lake. You could spend all your trip within eye's sight of the dam and have a great trip.

Please remember and be mindful that this is a largemouth bass lake and be respectful of the rightful owners of the lake....the Bassholes.

Also be advised there are game wardens on this lake. Haven't seen game wardens in years to be honest but these guys like to check everything just shy of your prostate so have your ducks in a row if you go.

Clay

I was one of the Bassholes out there this morning, thank you very much. Saw you about 7 am this morning and soon as you pulled off that spot I moved in and caught a 7#.

I’m just kidding about the basshole thing and you just because someone fishes for a certain species doesn’t make them one thing or another. A lot of bass anglers are good and respectful but anytime I have run ends with anyone it’s always been bass anglers for some reason. I’ve had bass anglers literally fish the boat ramp and get mad that I or someone else launched or loaded a boat at 1100 am. This apparently has happened so much there are memes and T-shirt’s saying “don’t be a basshole”. It’s a sad and all to often too true stereotype for whatever reason

My partner and I were respectful to you this morning. We were pulling up and you were on the spot we planned on fishing, so we stayed a few hundred yards off of you. Recognized your boat from the pics you posted. We figured you were white bass fishing. You were quite a bit further south than that pic of the map you posted.

Oh for sure y’all were awesome. And we respected each other’s space like it should be done 👍🏼

Glad you caught a nice bass. That lake must be full of them huh? We hooked into a few 6-8 pound class ones during our outing and I have seen several big ones while out bow fishing in years past.