Phil Lilley

I thought about waiting and reporting today's trip in my next fishing report, which I may write tomorrow, but I thought no, I better at least post something for the guys fishing tomorrow. Hope this helps... I had a couple of guys from CA today for a 6 hour trip set up by Bill Babler. My first paid trip of the year... I thought they were going to ask me to take them back to the dock when I told them that. They thought they drew a rookie. I always fret over guide trips. I worry I can't get them in fish, that they might not be able to catch fish although they're biting- whatever. I just get all up tight. I guess it's the money thing. Picked them up at the Landing and headed up. I rigged up 4 7-foot spinning rods with a jig and float, using 6x tippet, an olive micro jig and a Zebra Midge below it. I was ready. But when I picked them up, I thought may be they were experienced fishermen and could handle a bit more than watching a float. I asked and they confirmed my gut feeling so I stopped at the dock and picked up 3 6-foot spinning rods for throwing a jig straight. I planned on going all the way to the cable. I boated to Lookout and saw the water was very, very low although they were running some water. I went for it, buzzing up through to Trophy Run, the boat ramp and to Big Hole. No problem. But Rebar looked too tough, too shallow so we started there and drifted down past Trophy Run. Curt caught some nice rainbows including 3 pushing 19 inches. But Ken was having trouble with slack although he did catch fish. Second time up I saw where Brett Rader had made his way through Rebar and to the cable so I said, "I can get up there if he can!" And I did. First time down, Curt again nailed some nice rainbows and Ken caught a couple. I knew I had to do something so I tied on a while 1/50th ounce white jig on the 7-foot rod with the float and threw it out. Float was down almost immediately- it was on! Ken caught up in number and size, landing the biggest rainbow of the day- about 20 inches. Of course Curt started throwing a white jig and float and did very well too. These fish weren't just long- that were thick and fat and full of color. Long story cut short- we fished till 2 p.m.. They caught in access of 90 trout, one brown landed about 15 inches, one brown lost about 24 inches (below boat ramp) but at least 20 of the rainbows caught were over 17 inches. What I saw in the water though is the story here. I saw dozens and dozens of rainbows in the 17-19 inch range from the cable down to Trophy Run. The upper lake at least is lousy with trophy rainbows, thick shoulders and colored up. And they like white! Quite a few guys fishing from the bank, wading out as far as they could. Hear me! Fish a white jig under a float! You don't have to get it out that far to catch good fish! Spin fishermen, throw an 1/8th ounce jig and work it back. I don't know if these fish are still seeing shad. All I know they are keying in on white and fat as pigs. They took some pics with their phones which they're supposed to text me. I'll probably post them with my next fishing report.

I'm way past the point of mounting anything anymore. Use to. I have a 8.5 lb largemouth caught on Bull Shoals back in the 80's. Mounted several browns but none of them lasted 10 years- fell apart. Even pictures now seem pointless... except to show the beauty of some of the trout caught here on Taney. I think it comes with old age- and accomplishing so much more than I ever dreamed I could. If I don't ever catch another fish, I'd be grateful. But unless the Lord takes me in my sleep tonight or in the pew tomorrow at church, I'll catch another trout tomorrow afternoon off our dock while working!

I get that a lot...

Thanks for all the kind words... we love what we do and look forward to many years of hosting people here. http://www.lilleyslanding.com/history This is the history page on our site. Not sure I could add much to it. Hard to believe I was only 24, but I jumped in and never looked back. Have never thought about doing anything else except maybe buying a second lodge in Alaska which Marsha nixed (thankfully). The forum has been such a blessing. Can't believe how many good people I've met through it. Thanks, guys.

35 here this morning. No frost.

I think you guys are arguing over semantics. Everybody has an opinion and has the right to express it. And we have the right to disagree. So I think you guys need to agree to disagree and get on with fishing...

Thanks for posting. We have an excellent staff! We are blessed with wonder people.

Today is our 31st anniversary. I signed the papers and started moving in 31 years ago today. Can't believe it's been that long.

6x Rio

Thanks for posting!

Bottom of the boat is wet and very cold... my feet cramp. I keep forgetting this every time I go out and take off my shoes!!

You can go trout fishing!

I think it's sheer numbers... I can't get individual page counts on the forum but I bet if I could we'd see that ppl looking at the TR forum verses the Stockton forum is vastly different. Plus the TR forum took off from the very beginning and it took Stockton years to develop into the forum it is today. Its' the #2 most visited forum, at least by members posting on it. And both will only get better with time.

MDC Creel Study Attached. 2006-2007 Table Rock Lake Creel Summary.pdf

There are many opinions and experiences out there and this debate will always exist as different folks have different main reasons they fish… i.e. food or fun, or a combination of both. Here are the facts. MDC manages each fishery with the knowledge (based on both surveys and angler creel information) of what species are in there, how they interact with each other, how fast they grow, what the food availability is, year class strength (spawn success), etc. The creel limits are set based on what the lake can support being harvested and still maintain a quality fishery. There is a portion of the population that harvest black bass for consumption, and current regulations allow for that while maintaining a quality fishery. And as is commonly known, the environmental conditions of a given year are far more important to the size of a black bass year class than the number of spawning individuals. It is hard to deny the fact that if all the keeper bass that are caught were kept, the population size structure would suffer and a notable decline would be observed in catch rates. BUT, we know from angler creels that this is not the situation. According to past creel surveys conducted on both Stockton and Table Rock, anglers released approximately 70-75% of the legal bass they caught. In addition, of the 25% of bass that were harvested on Table Rock, 79% of those were harvested during a tournament, which means they were likely released later. I haven’t got all of the last 2 years of Table Rock creel data analyzed yet, but my suspicion is that this percentage of released fish probably increased. Just look at some of the data from 1995 and 1996, anglers only released about 35-40% and the fishery did well then. With these numbers, we are not at all concerned that too many bass are harvested on Table Rock or Stockton. Stockton is scheduled for another creel survey next year, so we should be able to get some more updated information then. Shane Bush, Table Rock Adam Boman, Stockton MDC Fisheries Biologists Emailed to me today.

I actually increased the volume when editing it. The mic is in the camera which is 12 feet from me. And then there's competing noises. I can hear it when I play it back. Try turning up the volume and see if it helps.

You think? I've always admired the Stockton forum for it's loyal following and sharing of info. Yea I think the TR forum gets more into technique and tackle (Ned Rig to name one) but you can take that info and use it on Stockton just the same. Plus I think you have to look at the size and use of the two lakes - and the popularity. I don't think a lot of Stockton anglers want TR's traffic! Same for the forum. Keep it on the down low...

Actually 9LB, I thought this thread has been a good discussion. People has expressed their opinions on keeping bass, big and small. No one has bashed anyone. It's been a good discussion. Now if this were over on the Table Rock forum... well now!

I'm not a fisheries biologist but I play one on TV Youtube... Wouldn't you think (I would think so) that poor water levels adversely affect a fish's spawn rather than harvesting. Note: I said harvesting and not over harvesting. In the evolution of bass fishing the past 30 years, there are more keeper bass caught and released today. That bodes well for any fishery - for bass. If water levels rise and fall at the wrong time, it could knock populations down way more than harvesting fish, even off the beds. Oh, did I say that! All I'm saying is that MDC fisheries biologists manage our fisheries with harvest in mind. If zero large fish are taken out, I'd think it would stunt the growth overall, just like in a farm pond. Now if everyone did it, it would hurt. But in this day and age, it won't happen. Too many anglers releasing, or am I wrong. Note 2: I'm NOT a bass fisherman but I am around a lot of biologists.

There are many types of people in the world. There are many types of fishermen in the angling world. As long as it's legal, it's legal to keep a limit of fish. As long as it's legal to express your opinion, it's ok to express your opinion. Thanks for not taking offense to the criticism. That's shows maturity on your part. And I have no problem with criticism either- it's all part of the conversation. Would prefer it to be respectful- and I think it has been that. I will say this- and I thought of it when walleye and crappie was mentioned. Everybody here would love to catch a mess of either and have a fish fry. But not everyone can do that, including me, when we want to. Catching good eating fish like crappie and walleye is a chore, at least for me.

Do you know where I can find circle hooks as small as #8's or #10's? That's been our problem- can't find them small enough to use for trout.

A little over $20 with insurance for shipping. Doesn't matter if it's 1 or more.

I've pinned this topic because it's a good, basic topic for the Eleven Point and fishing/floating. Good information given by the guys who are authorities on the river. I would also add there is more information and maps on this site - http://www.ozarkanglers.com/eleven-point