Phil Lilley

Yea- without a flashlight it was interesting. But we made it. Boats are meant to be scratched!

They're charging spectators to watch the weigh-ins now... take some of that money and hire people to take the fish and spread them around the lake instead of putting them back at the weigh in site. May help, may not. The boat-side release sounds real good to me. But they would scream... but what if every state that hosts big tourneys do the same thing. Then they would threaten to boycott a state for changing the rules. Pie in the sky. The other side of the coin... fishing is AWFULLY good on the Rock right now... even after so many tournaments during spawning events in past years. So may be they don't affect the spawn or the overall health of bass. Fishing for spawning bass on beds - sounds bad. Taking them off the bed and moving them to another part of the lake - sounds terrible. Lots and lots of pressure on the bass especially during a spawn - couldn't be good. But is there proof that it depletes the overall population? Or is this just an attack on the dreadful tournaments!

Oh no- I think it's going to be a great crappie spawn- just have to be patient.

It's starting to drop here. Not sure if the gates are closed or not but if not, they have to be closing them a bit.

I would think it'd be water temp that would trigger most fish to spawn. Look at crappie and even whites this year. Crappie are still deep and holding off the banks because our winter was so cold and this spring has been cool, not warm. Surface temps will yo-yo up and down but the water below is still pretty cold. But with the temps the way they are, I think it'll be a long and drawn out spawn for both crappie and bass- and whites... they are still spawning. What do you say Don.

Sorry Trav- had to delete that one. Make points without the #$&*.

Vince and I put in across from Walleye Haven this evening and boated up Powersite. Fished the Forsyth side in the big eddie and caught 6 whites, 2 keeper crappie and a keeper walleye on white jigs. Water was about 12-18 feet deep and we picked them off the bottom. I think it was a slow evening- I think there's alot more fish than what we saw there. Be careful of the current- it's really wild getting up there.

Was quoting Richard Dawkins from the movie... he's not a scientist. He's a "Darwinist". I respect your answer. Thanks.

Yea- I know. I'm sure they're pulling their hair out and can't make anyone happy. As of 1 pm they have TR down to 930.89 but if they shut it back to just generators I'd think it would shoot back up over 931. It's amazing how much rain the area got- what- 4-5 days ago and they're still moving it thru.

Interesting... the saying "it takes more faith to believe in the big bang theory than in a intelligent designer" lends itself to theological thinking BUT there are those who think that intelligent design, if there is such a thing, came from other beings from another place and/or time. Is it possible for science to conclude "scientifically" that "life" had to have been started by a designer, whatever it or he may have been, or is this impossible? I know no one can predict what may be found in these smallest of living building blocks, but I'd think that at some point this answer could or would be discovered someday by someone, seeing the advances man is making today.

Knew that was coming... Crooked is known for its great small mouth. Someone did way they were going to fish the upper White.

I've heard they will shut the gates when TR's level reaches 931. It's 931.22. http://www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil/WCDS/Repo...ata/Tabrock.htm If they do shut it down at 931 I'd think it would shoot back up. My head hurts.

Dang... posted in general discussion and don't mention where. Is this one of those - "guess where this is" games? Looks like James River. Am I close? Seriously- that's a real nice small mouth. Most people don't get one of those in their entire fishing career.

Did you notice and google ads for this topic... interesting sites to visit.

Guides caught alot of goggleyes today. Did ok on bass but not as good as yesterday. Still swimming a grub.

Man- I'm not going to post anymore of the Corps reports... I think the only thing you can count on is that they are going to be wrong. They are still running 28k cfs.

Lamar... that means ALOT more water for us! Blessings!!

We've seen this same thing in the past in a tough economy... people will stay closer to home and take shorter, less expensive trips. We get most of our people from within a 500 mile radius and this is what we hear, from say people in KC, taking a trip to Branson instead of Orlando because of gas or other higher costs.

Yea - I've never gotten my lisc simply because I've never really guided "officially". I've taken a few paid trips of out necessity. I know of at least one guy who let his expire and he had to go thru the process again.

They lied to us again. Still Running as I type. Same level. I don't repeat rumors but what I hear the Corp say on the radio. They also said they are going to TRY to drop Table Rock 8 feet by Memorial Day... where are they going to send the water? Here it come Arkansas!! I'll believe that one when I see it. For the businesses on TR it would be a great thing.

Not sure in AR but in MO you can net them but can't use a gill net.

For me personally... this debate is way down my list of things I defend as truth. I think it's interesting but I wouldn't trade a friendship over it, nor would I let it keep me from fishing with someone who has a differing opinion on this or any other subject I may see eye to eye on. Life is about more than that.

Now in saying this- I am not taking on the science world and trying to over throw the system. I think as science advances, the truth will come out but what I hope for is that all scientist will have a honest and open mind on BOTH sides of this issue and admit they are wrong- because one side is wrong and the side is not.. in a nutshell.. kind of. I don't think it will change our personal beliefs about life and God... I will not even try to do that on a forum. It's not the place because it is impersonal and not based on friendship and relationship and only if you know someone would you want to live like his example. Sorry for rambling... just don't want this to become a bash session on each other's belief cause that won't accomplish a thing.

Sorry Al, I kinda set you up. I visited this site you're referring to in 1978 during a retreat while attending college in Dallas. One of the human prints was inside the heal print of a 3 toed "something", can't remember the name of the beast, but it was a large print about 30 inches from tip to heal. The human print was kinda buried and sunken into the mud to where you could make it out as a print but you couldn't see the toes or the print itself clearly. BUT I took my foot and wiggled it into the print and it fit- perfectly. I could feel the toe prints and heel and arch. There were other prints... small ones and large ones. Some were kids and one was about 14 inches long. That one was on top of the mud and clear as can be. There were some that were questionable but many that were not. So, it doesn't make any difference to me what any scientist says about these human prints... I have seen and touched them and they are human- no doubt.

Bill fished the dam area on Table Rock today. His clients caught 19 bass with 5 keepers which isn't the greatest day on the Rock but it's better than the previous week or so. Other guides called Bill and said they had the same kind of day... may be a bit better. Tim Paige has 20+ bass with 11 keepers and I heard Pete Weeners had a very good day up in the James Arm on crank baits - probably Wiggle Warts. Babler's fish, and most of the other guides, caught their fish swimming a grub in 4 to 12 feet of water. "Any place you could get to the bank without having a bunch of trees keeping you from the magical depth of 4 to 12 feet, you'd catch fish," Babler said. His fish were all smallmouth but Wenner's fish were largemouth. Babler spotted spots and largemouth on beds in Big Indian Creek Arm today too. Water temps are in the mid 60's and the water is clearing in the dam area, 6 - 8 feet of visibility. Grubs: 4-inch Chompers in salt-n-pepper and watermellon and 4-inch XPS Copper Flake on a 1/4 ounce jig head. James River is clearing but the White Arm is still very stained and not fishing well. Long Creek is clearing and of course, is warming up nicely. No reports from Long but I bet the catfish are full of worms back in the back of Yocum and the white bass are about done spawning in Long, Cricket and Blair. But they still should be around on points for weeks to come. Crappie: Absolutely no reports at all. We usually hear rumors at least from our tight-lipped crappie fisherpeople but nothing! They should be going great guns on the banks but this high water has baffled anglers. I'm sure they're deeper than normal but they still should be able to be found... by someone! I'm going out the first of the week and give it a good try- will report back.