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Well, not for catching a lot of fish or the heat, but for the company on the water. My grandson, (Tripp) had a great morning after hitting the water at 5:30. I think he's got the fishing story's figured out already!!! First, how big it was. And then the actual fish. ?

Just got back home from a weekend at LOZ. I was hosting 6 other guys for a golf weekend so my buddy and I were only able to fish on Thursday night before the rest of the guys showed up. I hadn't been down since the very beginning of June so my expectations weren't high on being able to locate fish. Somehow we stumbled on to some nice fish! First point we tried I lost a 3-4 lber right away on a magnum shakey head.... Fished a bluff pocket near that point next and my buddy caught a 5.2 on a 10" worm. Moved to a secondary point just inside from the main lake and I caught a 16" that was so thick and fat that it went 3.2 also on a 10" worm. Jumped across the cove to another main lake point. Hooked a big one on the big worm in a 20-25' brush pile. Just kept tension until she swam out of the pile... She rocketed to the surface and jumped before bulldogging under the boat. Finally lipped her and knew she'd challenge my personal best. She went 6.7 and like my 6.6 last spring she was only just over 20"... Fat as can be! We were pumped to say the least by this point. Got a few pics and released her. Next cast, my buddy hooks a 3.8 off the same point. Had I not lost that first fish, we would've had a 21-22 lb limit. The bite slowed down considerably after that with only one more short and a 5.8 flathead that had me really excited for another moment. Didn't catch many numbers, but the size was outstanding! A night I'll never forget!

Went to the rock in search of walleye, but all I found was a bunch of these guys, they were in 20 feet of water on a flat, it was fun. The best part was meeting RPS, a heck of a nice guy, with a really nice boat ! He didn't have any trouble catching the fish that I was looking for. This video should have had him in it. I was proud to have met him.

Quick weigh-in on the topic. Never feel responsible to give a guide a tip. A tip is a very subjective thing. It is really not how well you do or how well he does but just how you feel about the day. Guides use guides. We use them where ever we go, from Alaska to Colorado to Florida to Louisiana to Texas. My criteria is preparation. How well does this guy or gal know the body of water and how much information and in what manor do they give it to you. How does he present him or herself and what is the quality of their equipment weather it be new or old including boat and gear. Is the guide punctual and has a plan in mind? I want to learn more than just about fishing, I want to know about the area and a bit about the guide. I want to ask their opinion about seasonal patterns not just at the moment we are fishing. If you are quiet, most often the guide will be quiet right with you. Ask questions and you will 99% of the time get quality answers. I don't have very many trips as a guide that I don't pick up a tip or two from a client. You should pick up a bushel from the guide. 99% of the time trout or fly fishing guides do not fish. They are either on the oars or positioning you in the right locations. 90% of the time pan fishing guides or saltwater guides will fish. Some at the invitation of the client, most thru necessity to correct changing patterns and baits throughout your trip. On the White River system it is almost impossible to get front ended by a guide. Yes under some circumstances it can happen, but most often this is not target fishing, it is open water fishing. I only know of a couple of guides here that will take some advantage and fish hard. Every fish you catch, I catch, so for me it works great if you catch them all. It is also a big joke and a laughing point to tell the buddies that the guide caught 1 and you caught a dozen. Not a trip goes by that I will have a client say "No one ever told me or showed me that before." In a lot of situations you can tell and tell and tell, but if you show someone it gets their attention. It is never and I mean never any one thing big, it is a multitude of very small little things that make us more successful. Most of us want to teach you one more little thing or 1/2 dozen if that's possible. On the Rock, it is not only what we use but how we use it. Technique is important in everything we do as is our equipment. Only a certain percentage of my clients will fish live bait. Most want to learn how to present and use artificial bait on Table Rock. In the past week, I have had trips that I got zero tip and I have had trips that I got enormous tips. Two different trips out of our Lodge. I took a couple fly fishing this past week. The wife caught 20 and her husband caught 27 all rainbows. Probably one of the nicest best trips I've had in 2016. I cleaned 8 rainbow trout for them that were simply magnificent. The other also out of the Lodge. I preformed way above my pay grade and the fish more than helped me as on this 3 person trip we caught and released 40 rainbows and these folks had never fished much before. All on artificial. No tip on either trip. Last Monday I took a bass trip with 3 guys from Florida. We had a decent trip, but nothing to write home about. I think they had 7 or 8 each, all on artificial. Decent day, but they gave me $200.00 each, tip over the guide trip price. One of them saying there was no way I could make a decent living with the equipment I had and what I was charging for a 1/2 day trip. Said the same trip in Florida was twice the price. I have other folks ask why we charge so much to take them fishing. It is all perspective. The guides here on the Rock are not getting rich in comparison to our brothers and sisters elsewhere in the country. Most are just hoping for a great life meeting super fantastic folks and guiding them to the best day they can on the water. Most of us have investments in equipment ranging in the mid-six figures and it really has to be that way to be competitive in todays market. Everyone wants to fish with the biggest baddest and best. Hardly a bass trip I take from a new client that he or she wants to know what boat I drive and what kind of gear I have. Most even want to know the tow truck. Lots goes into being a fishing guide, and doing it the right way. If you feel your guide did it the right way regardless of the total number of fish on the trip and you feel he qualifies I will guarantee you that he or she will appreciate that 10% or what ever you deem is right for the day. Our slogan is we never expect it and always appreciate it. Good Luck

Even with temperatures expected to exceed 100 degrees today, I was set on getting out to my favorite smallmouth water to see if I could catch more top water fish than mid or bottom baits. I got to the access point at 9:30 this morning. Air temp was probably close to 88-90 degrees. The water seemed to be around 80-85 degrees. There is a long hole right at the access. This area gets fished a lot. I put on the Perch pattern Whopper Plopper and had two blow ups and one 10" largemouth on the line. Several more blow ups while casting toward a rock pile downstream from me. There was shade above the rocks and it extended well over the water. Caught one more largemouth a little smaller than the first one. With all of the blow ups there seemed to be fish around that pile and I switched to the 1/8 oz PBJ Ned rig and hooked up with another small largemouth on the first cast. Several cast later and nothing to show for my efforts except lots of small fish pecking at the Ned. The river narrows above this hole and most stretches don't hold a lot of water. Cast the Ned to some deeper water behind a laydown tree and get a strike by a smallmouth that comes undone next to me. Same on the next cast a little further upstream. Both fish probably weren't much longer than 8". Next hole and still fishing the Ned I lose two more smallmouth one was over 12" in length. Catch two smallmouth, both about 9-10" in length and a 9" largemouth. The bottom is getting more large rocks and boulders, which in this system means more smallmouth and also more potential snags with the Ned. Switch back to the WP and have a couple of smallmouth hits and land a 12" fish. I am headed up to several boulder filled runs that are below a large long and deep hole. Although I haven't fished this section for a couple of years, I know this stretch well having caught a bunch of smallmouth every time I fish this section. I have twice caught my personal Missouri best smallmouth at the head of this deep hole, two fish a few years apart with both fish measuring 17.75". Headed up to this section of water and spooked a juvenile bald eagle off the bank. Fishing the WP I land two more largemouth, two really fat green sunfish, and three more smallmouth. I didn't catch any more fish on the WP, mainly because I felt that the bait might be spooking the fish when it hits the water. With too many boulders for the Ned. I put on a fluke. The first cast was just upstream of a large boulder and the fish must have been watching it, because it took the bait just as it hit the water. A couple of cast later, I caught my largest smallmouth, a 14" fish, and that fish pushed a 10 foot wake to get the fluke. I caught a couple of more smallmouth and a couple of largemouth. I switched to a super-fluke and only got a gar interested, but could not get the gar on the line. I kept seeing a large bass swimming in the hole. I put on a Excaliber Spit'n Image WTD bait. I did not catch the big one, but caught two largemouth and two green sunfish in this hole. It was now about 1:15 pm and the temp must have been close to 98 degrees. I fished the next hole upstream and that was about as far upstream as I got today. Just getting two hot for me. I caught another largemouth and smallmouth on the Spit'n image in that hole. Stopped in the shade above that short hole and saw a madtom go up under a rock just below me. I switched to my microfishing line and hooks. Didn't see the madtom again. Tried to catch some juvenile hog suckers, but could not do to too many mosquitofish and bleeding shiners. I did land this big female mosquitofish. Caught several shiners and a studfish. Done microfishing and headed back down stream back to the large hole. Kept seeing two large bass, but between my offerings today and the foot prints in the gravel from a previous fisherman these bass would get to within a couple of inches and never take my baits. Did get another gar to chew on my fluke, but could not get a hook set on this fish. Ended with this 8" smallmouth. Total tally was 12 fish with the Ned and fluke versus 15 fish on the WP and Spit'n image top water baits. So even with the heat the top water bite was not bad for nearly 100 degrees (on the way home, the local bank registered 101 degrees).

What you are gonna get. Too bad I don't have a stamp.

Some frozen Brussels sprouts and some plain store-made shrimp kabobs. Did a marinade of ketchup, oil, lemon pepper, hot sauce, brown sugar and worstershire; tossed them in a dry skillet. Fire department not involved this time.

Some background: This summer is the first time I've really chased Smallmouth with any determination. I've gotten pretty good at finding those 13 and 14 inch fish which keeps my enjoyment level high during floats. I live near Shelvin and Delaware, so I've floated that stretch a lot. I've also made it down to Hootentown a couple times, weaving in and out of recreational canoes and rafts like a slalom skier. Because I fancy myself a goal-oriented individual, I proclaimed this "The Summer of The James" meaning I would float from Springfield Lake to Galena in sections this summer (spoiler alert: I'm not gonna make it this summer). Your reports of 18+ inch fish have me salivating and working harder to land one of those big boys (or girls). Before today I had pulled in several 16 inch fish but nothing bigger. I grew up fishing farm ponds, small lakes and muddy creeks in North Missouri, so this clear water river fishing stuff is different. Learning is fun. With all that in mind, today I floated from Hootentown to Ponce and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I'd say it is my favorite stretch I've been on thus far. I hit the water about 6 am, and the topwater bite was on. The river is wide, current is good and obstacles are few. I was trying to meet a ride at Ponce at 1, so I didn't dally during the first few miles. Pulled in plenty of fish, size was good. As I went through a deep fast run, I hooked into a fish that took some drag and turned the kayak. I was sure my 18 inch goal had been reached. After fighting, beaching, landing and measuring, the tale of the tape said 17 inches. No disappointment - it is still my largest yet. 5 casts later in the same run, I hooked into something with shoulders. A couple minutes (it seemed like) of singing drag, current runs and then came the breach. The football sized brown beauty was noticeably bigger than the 17 inch puny minnow I had just landed. Bronze back glistened in the morning sun as the beast cleared the water. Ferocious head shake, splash down and SNAP. My lucky crankbait swam off in the mouth of a picture worthy Smallmouth. Still no disappointment. It was an awesome day. I got to Ponce at noon. 6 hours to float 6.5 miles with a couple fishing stops. If I wasn't under a time crunch I could have stretched the float to 8. Boaz gauge said 300 cfs. Of course all the fish I caught were released. Best Wishes.

Got out this morning from 6 til 830. Water temp 89, clear down about 6 or 8 foot I'd say. Fishing was very good. Two of us fishing caught 2 keeper spots as well as about 30 shorts and 6 giant bluegil. Best bait was a whole nightcrawler with a 16th Oz split shot and a #4 bait holder hook. Also caught an 6 or 8 # flat head catfish. Caught nothing on a jig, and 6 or 7 on a spoon. Spoon bite is best with a 2 to 3 foot aggressive hop. Lots of fish spitting up 2 inch shad. Both keepers came on the live bait today. No walleye.

I should have taken a photo of my supper, by far the best looking I have had in a while. Since it was my anniversary and birthday today some good friends took my wife and I to Springfield to eat at Nakatos Japan's steakhouse, one of my favorite places. Sushi, scallops, shrimp, beef fillets etc. But I was eating too fast to take a pic. Tomorrow is grandson watching day, will be back to string cheese, Wal Mart rotisserie chicken, which I like by the way.

Don't have pictures. Tonight was grilled chicken thighs that were marinated with a fig balsamic vinegar, oil, and spices. Also had grilled cauliflower, chanterelles, onion, and yellow squash. Dessert was a couple of spiced peaches that we had canned a couple of weeks ago.

My grandson used a Zig Jig for his first time . I think this look said it all....he was hooked . All he wanted to do after this was cast and jig....

Had a fun time on the Current last week. Never had been to the area before. Floated Thursday-Saturday, Cedargrove-Pulltite. Stayed at Reeds in the state park. More of a fun float with several other couples, but took the fishing poles Thurs and Fri. Several SM and a few trout in the usual river hangouts. Assume fishing would be great early in the week and maybe even further down river. How far down before you deal with powerboat traffic?? The crowds were building as the weekend approached. Similar to the country fair on water by Saturday. Got lots of new tattoo ideas and learned some new colorful language.

Out here in Montana, I have a rather large (and heavy) raft that fishes two people plus rower easily, and will hold about as many people as you want to cram onto it if you're so inclined. I have my little Water Master personal raft for when I'm floating by myself. And I have two kayaks for when Mary and I just want to paddle ourselves down the river without doing much fishing. What I was missing, however, was a smallish boat that Mary and I could use whenever it was just the two of us but she didn't want to paddle but instead ride with me--or when I wanted to fish with one other person. The big raft is heavy enough that it's a real job for one person, or even two people if one of them isn't real strong, to load back onto the trailer. So I decided I "needed" a small drift boat. I started looking through all the drift boat makers, and there are almost no small drift boats--nearly all of them are built to handle two anglers and rower, and are as heavy as the raft is if not heavier. Except...Hyde makes one called a "Sportsman's Drifter". It's 13 feet, 63 inch beam at widest point. Has one seat in front and the rowing seat, so is built for two people total. And it weighs only 130 pounds. I decided last summer that it could be pretty much what I was looking for. Coincidentally, the son of the guy who owns the company contacted us about that time. He wanted to know if I could produce four trout designs that they could use as decals on their boats. I thought for a while that we would be able to make a deal with them for the Drifter and trailer in return for the rights to use the designs, but after negotiating back and forth for much of last summer, the deal fell through, and I still didn't have my little drift boat. When we got out here this summer, Mary said, "why don't you just order it? Just because we couldn't make a deal with them doesn't mean you shouldn't get the boat!" So I did. We went to pick up the boat last Thursday at their place in Idaho Falls, about a four hour drive from our place. I had sent them the design I'd done originally for them of a cutthroat so that they could make a decal from it to put on my boat for no extra charge because of the time I'd spent trying to make the deal with them (and maybe see how great it would look on all their boats as an add-on feature). Friday, Mary and I took the boat on its maiden voyage, a float on the Yellowstone from Pine Creek to Carter's Bridge, one of the prettiest stretches of the whole river. The boat was everything I'd expected, easy to row, very maneuverable, and light enough to easily load and unload off the trailer in the less than optimal conditions of both accesses--just sloping rocky paths that ended in a few inches of water so that you had to push the boat off the trailer and lift it back onto the trailer far enough to be able to winch it the rest of the way. The fishing was poor, but that wasn't the reason we went, it was mainly just to try out the new toy.

This always cracked me up.

no one can say it better than Bill Babler

Good luck on your blood test rps and wellness...

I admit to wearing the "Face Burqa". I wear it all the time when I am out on the water and the sun is over the trees. I also use sun screen. Had a few pre-cancerous growths removed a couple of years ago, so I am not taking any chances. Sun screen works, except it doesn't do a good job on your lips. It is hard to find a buff that has the same logos as my jersey. My many sponsors insist that if I have one of their logos on my jersey, then I must have it on the buff.

I bought a one pound package of ground chuck at the store this afternoon. I had a plan for dinner and boat lunches (assuming the thunderstorms clear long enough to fish this week). I sauteed small diced onion, mushroom, celery, and sweet peppers and let them cool. I combined the chuck, a quarter cup of panko, 2 Tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, a Tablespoon of Greek seasoning, and the vegetables and made a baby meat loaf that I painted with Brooks ketchup. I tucked 4 or 5 fingerling potatoes around the loaf and put it in the oven. I have a small cucumber/tomato salad made as well. The best part will be the cold meatloaf sandwiches. Should I use mustard, ketchup, or barbecue sauce?

Glad you guys think about me. It's flattering.

Looks like his chest is gonna bust the straps on that life jacket. Great fish Tripp and great job Grandpa!

Wow....forgot to mention....main lake gravel points, 15 to 20 feet down in 15 to 45 fow very close to 100+fow.

On the water armed with 10" worms, a full moon, and moving water and you spanked 'em! Well done!! Bet it was worth the heat and humidity.. Mike

Assuming the big black tailed fish was a carp!

Very nice! This lake is fishing large this year. I'm lovin' it. Can't wait to see what the Fall bite is like.

I only live about 20 miles from Cape Fair and i stay home in this heat

Exactly. Wakes crashing into each other from all angles creates a giant washing machine effect. Driving through it is one thing.... Fishing in it is a whole 'nother thing. Used to be you could duck inside a cove and escape it, but now it's so rough on the main channel that everybody has to do their tubing and skiing in the coves, so they aren't much better. Fishermen just keep allowing themselves to be pushed further and further up the creeks, or into tiny coves too small to do anything else in. The guides from the mid-lake area claim to be booked solid, and it makes me wonder....Where the hell are y'all taking these people to fish ? LOL

Very cool Paul! Well done!!

Whatever the cheap whites ones are, they are junk. They coil up and get stiff in cool weather....and get sticky/gummy in warm weather. The best "cheap" line I have ever used is Cortland 333. I still use it on my 9wt. Bass rod because I punish it pretty hard and it doesn't hurt my feelings to drag it over logs, rocks, ect. Or to step on it. It gets the job done just fine in all kinds of weather, and it only costs about 30 bucks.

My best loved food critic has traveled to visit her 94 year old mother before the school year starts. Without an audience I feel like B.B. King's signature song - the thrill is gone. I took some frozen tomato mac and cheese out of the freezer and added a bit of half and half to it. I will nuke it to very warm and blend it. I will slice some roast chicken from the left over bird from Thursday. One of my tasks for while she is gone is to ruthlessly cull the refrigerator and freezer. I must teach myself to cook in small portions. How does one do that? Look at the recipes I post - they will feed 4 to 6 people. How do you cook a vegetable tian for two?

I made a Low Country boil for my wife's Chinese friends. They thought it was great but they ate only the shrimp, crabs, and mussels. Had way too many baby potatoes and half ears of corn left. If Only I could've secretly recorded the conversation/noises when they all started in on the food...?

Beautiful country. It shows God's awesome handiwork.

Poor buzzbaits. Shunted aside and neglected. (Don't worry. Your time will come again).

Was up there early this week. Caught fish schooling late on a buzz bait. When the sun was high mid day shade was the key docks and a jig. Fishing was pretty tough 4 keepers and 15 shorts.. Going to be out of there early tomorrow morning little club tournament so I'll post more after. Good luck hope this helped.

fished Thursday and Friday night. Thursday, we went out to do a little filming and try out a new camera and sound equipment. the bite was not too bad once we figured out where and what to be doing. most bites were in the 15 ft. range and the bass were found out on flat gravel banks. three lures accounted for the catching, a 1/2 jig, a 1/2 SpinJig, and a senko fished on a 3/8 jig head. the SpinJig caught more of them because the added vibration was better at triggering a bit, and more water could be covered. thursday's tally was 8 keeps with 3 being in the 3 lb. range. Friday's trip was with linda and we fished a different area of the lake, but started out fishing out on flatter areas, and it worked just as the previous night. we caught them in that same 15 ft. range. we did catch them on a whole host of baits though. here is the list - 7" ringer on a 3/8 Blitz head, senko on a 3/8 Blitz head, beaver type bait on a 1/4 NuJig with a 1/4 slip sinker, and a 1/2 Elite with small chunk type trailer. ended up with 10 keeps with 5 of them being really nice ones in the 3 lb. range. kind of like cookie cutters, all pretty close to the same. bo

Fished yesterday and today from OSP/Hawker to the dam. The heat was all but unbearable from 2p-5p. Did manage to catch a few nice bass in 15-25' of water on points/swings with wind (thank GOD for the breeze... geesh!!!). Also found a couple brush piles that had a few fish in them. Baits of choice were worm, jig, and swimbait. Good luck and great fishing...

I check into another site/forum occupied by the yacht/powerboat crowd and even THEY complain about the rough water conditions and overcrowding. The folks inside coves are complaining because people in oversized boats are going in circles pulling tubes and tearing up their docks. The WP has started pulling over big boats and asking them not to "plow" any more than necessary. People riding in 26-30' boats get knocked out of their seats and injured every day. Finally it has gotten bad enough that EVERYONE realizes that it is rediculis, so maybe in another 5-10 years something will be done to settle the seas a bit. Tri-toon sales were up several years ago, but even they can't handle the "normal" everyday water here now.

The thing is, it would take all day to determine which one is the best one for that day, and by then..... it's another day !

It's great from November thru March and so is the fishing ?

If it's a Duckett or Daiwa brand that would be a D-Bag kit.

Well if ya gona fish in the buff then i guess you gona have to get some tattoos of your sponsors on you...

Ya. Gotta watch the tops of the feet for sure. Also the tops of the thighs right above the knee where the shorts end. I'm not the quickest learner but in both those cases it only took one lesson. Sunscreen is applied liberally. On a similar subject, does anyone actually use those hip new "buffs" that have become so popular the last couple of years? I understand sun protection but man I just don't think I would ever want to wear cloth or fabric over my head and face like a friggin' burka. Not knocking those that do wear/use them but I would 1000% rather put on some sun block on my face/ears/nose/neck vs "buff".

Glad you caught some. Stockton really cranks out 15 to 18 inch fish. The 20+ you caught is considered a monster there. Well done!

This is why during the summer months I wear board shorts and flip flops out in the boat. When I get hot just jump in for a minute then get back to fishing.

I have fished with Pete a few times and he is great. Phil Stone is a great guy who I have also fished with and is very good also! One day I will have to go out with Beck and Babler

I saw a Honda 3 wheeler with a yard cart attached to the rear hitch, in it was a goat and some other crap. There was a Menard's cart guy standing there attending to the goat whilst the owner of the 3 wheeler did some shopping. I really should have snapped a pic, but was laughing at the cart guy too hard. Real life story from the Cape Girardeau Menard's store about 6pm this evening. I met the 3 wheeler and the cart pulling out of a c store on the way there, did not even notice the goat. All that I noticed was a vintage 80's model Honda 3 wheeler. And some hick slurping a 44 oz soda. I came out of the store and heard the goat all the way across the parking lot. God only knows what county that one came from.

caught a few last summer around the kimberling area using jigging spoons and trolling crankbaits, youll be fighting off bass the whole time though. If your really interested at some quality walleye fishing stockton lake is your best bet. Good numbers of quality eaters. This time of year main lake points with jigs and crawlers and trolled crankbaits on stockton, on table rock, bass and bluegill will steal ur worms too often...use spoons. Concentrate on areas where the shallow flat areas drop down into the main river channel..all the better if that drop is near the thermocline depths with some junk to get snagged on. If you pick one up on a trolled crank, mark that spot and go drop a jigging spoon down there...there will usually be more than one hanging out. I know that walleye are known to suspend...but in my experience if your not within a few feet of the bottom...your out on walleye and will be bass fishing. I start with very small 2-3 inch hops with the spoon, to make it look like a rubber pencil. If no strikes ill use 1-2 foot short fast jerks and let the spoon flutter...this works but often will hang the line on the treble hook. Lastly ill do a very long and steady pull by putting my rod tip at the water and steadily raising the tip well over my head, this moves the bait 8-10 feet through the water column. Then letting it fall back on controlled slack...90% of bites or more will come on the fall...hence the controlled slack. The spoon will either stop sinking, or your line will "flinch" youll need to set the hook immediately and keep steady constant pressure, as a heavy jigging spoon is essentially a lure retriever as well...its very easy for fish to sling the dense bait. (more tips...bang the spoon off the rocks on the bottom to get attention, then work the lure normally. Cast the spoon parallel to the bank, count it down, then "yo yo" it back through the strike zone.) My 2 cents.

Won a GoPro at the kayak tournament and started putting it to use. The weed mats are starting to set up nicely for throwing a hollow body frog over them. I had to get warmed up as I had missed a few fish before finally hooking one. Here's a clip of that fish. https://youtu.be/v7uSBUIWkas

I think The White would be easiest.

For 25 years, until I grew tired, I made my living as a trial lawyer. I represented people who felt wronged and put upon - whether it was car wreck victims or banks holding bad paper. Based upon this experience, let me assure you, on the scales that measure stupid, entitled, and self centered, there are no maximums.