Bill Babler

Met Phil at Tucker yesterday morning at 0600 for a day of relax fishing on beautiful Bull Shoals Lake. Just needed to get my engine recharged it has been just a wonderful start off the guide season here, but it was time for me to do a little R&R and just go fishing, so I took a couple of days off. Started off with topwater on the flats and runnouts across from Tucker, but seemed to not be having it, so we started swimming a grub. Did not take us long to have 2 really nice SM on and lose them both at the boat side. Boat in about 15' of water, throwing between and in front of the bushes. Moved to Horseshoe Bend and started catching fish. We had 3 keeper Jaw's and 2 nice keeper LM in the boat in about 30 minutes. Phil also started catching catfish on the Ned Rig. He put two kitty's in the boat, one being close to 4 pounds and the other slightly smaller, but not much. We were kind of alternating between Ned and the grub swimming, but Ned put his head down and went to work. In the next 2.5 hrs. I'm not even gong to guess how many bass we caught. A very nice representation of all three black bass species, with probably the Jaw's edging out the LM. and the K's in third. Surface temps were 74 to 76 degree and it was hot with no wind. Did not seem to bother Ned. Fish were by far congregated on the points, both deep and shallow in front of the bushes, but I really believe they ran out to get the baits, but most often they were on it as you reeled up the slack to twitch the bait on the initial toss. Caught a couple of short Eye's and bass after bass and decided to run into Sugarloaf and get some crawlers to try on a bottom bouncer to see if we could catch a keeper eye. Nada on the worms but as soon as we put them up I caught a very nice Eye close to 20" on Ned. Was getting close to noon, and I had to take Phil back to the ramp at Tucker so that was the morning. I decided to stay and fish till about 0430, and just got drownded, by a huge rain storm. Just before the storm I switched to a spook as there was a very slight breeze blowing into the bushes and it was on. I'm going to say I had over 20 mostly LM on the spook with multiple follows, that were before and after the rain. Also caught another nice Eye about 19" swimming a grub on a flat windy point just before I quit. Let him swim, as the Catfish had a dinner date with the grill and I already had enough with the one nice eye. He and the rest of the catfish will be dinner again tonight. The grilled catfish last night were just fantastic. Bull is just teaming with healthy bass right now, it is kind of like fishing in your own private farm pond. All 3 bass types can be caught in excellent shape and size ranges all way fatter and healthier than the fish we are catching on the Rock. Did not catch a single fish with a hook mark in its mouth, and caught bigger and fatter Jaws than I have caught at anytime on the Rock so far this year. This is just due to fishing pressure. There is none on Bull. Good Luck

That is completely opposite of what we have been seeing the last couple of years. I have caught really about as many keeper K's as I have caught shorts. In particular not many of the 11" and under K's. In speaking with most of the Big Cedar Guides and they make their living catching Spotted bass, they are not catching the last 2 yrs. as many short fish as they think they need in the 10 to 13 inch range, that for clients are just as fun as 15 and 16 inch fish. Most of the K's we are catching from Baxter to LC are in the 13 to 18 inch range and not nearly as many as in past years. Catching suspended SM in traditional Spotted Bass locations is also somewhat of a bother. It has been posted that we may be running behind and they may still be on the beds and that does happen. Especially up the White River. I have caught bedding K's as late as early June. Not time to panic by any means, but there does seem to be a changing of the guard from the 08 and 11 floods that have somewhat changed the populations, increasing the Jaw's and LM and to an extent either changing or decreasing the Spotted bass populations. It has for sure knocked out at least 2 yr. classes of these fish, 08 and 11,which I believe put to much water over their traditional spawning range and created 2 short year classes. I'll know in June, as it is not uncommon for the guides to have 40 to 100 days on K's post spawn. These fish move to main lake locations where entire lake sections gather to rebound and gain weight after the spawn. We will see if they are on the locations they have been since I started chasing them in the 1970's I'm going to go with magicwormman on this and see. I am hoping this is the case and we see our usual numbers post spawn in June.

Guys and Gals, we are just finishing up the spawn here and usually this is early morning topwater time and also easing into dropshot fishing. All my redfin fish have been Jaw's and LM. I have been on the Rock many, many days since the first of the year, and have visited with both guides and clients that have and are fishing here. Most are saying the same thing, Where are the Spotted Bass? On three trips in the dam area last week and one out of Baxter, with over 120 fish caught and released we only had one K. I fished three days here at the dam that did not produce a single K. All Brown and all pretty young, from the spawns of 08 and 11. Did my early season stuff of topwater at first light then swimming a grub deep to try and catch them. The boys are reporting some, dragging a fish dr. in 30 ft. but not many. Mostly Jaw's. I have about a 1/2 dozen different bluffends in front of huge spawning coves that this time of the year I can set the boat out and swim that grub in the 20' range to suspended fish. This has worked for me for 25 yrs. All I'm catching now is SM. The SM are out where the K's used to be. Normally I would not complain about catching Jaw's, but I'm concerned about my K's. I sat off Sawmill Slide the other day with the boat in 80' swimming a grub to suspended fish that were in 20 over 40. 99% of the time these are K's. We caught 12 keeper SM all 15" stuff and skinny and about that many shorts in the hour and a 1/2 we spent there. I have never caught a jaw there before and it always holds K's. From Campbell Point to Long Creek, keep a count and see how many and if you are catching the K's where you always have and in the same numbers. We should know something soon as the dropshot is the way to catch them. Let us know. Good Luck

Very nice thanks. I have been able to especially on tubes to reverse the hook like this thru the mouth as my fingers are long enough to for the most part even on SM and K's to reach in. I will tell you my index finger is a mess most of the Summer. I believe this will save me some pain. Thanks for posting this.

Balsa, that looks like the deal. Blast your hide for showing it. Tacklewarehouse here I come. The only bait of any kind that BPS sells that I have is a single tail grub that is a copper with green fleck. Do they make any bait that is not a knock off of a major brand that they can make for cheaper and sell for less. I don't think so. Still to this day I try and try and have found nothing they make that is not a replica of a better bait or is not junk, including rods and reels. BP and I do not fault them make everything that is just not quite as good and sell it for a little less. Strictly a marketing stradigity and it works for them, just not for me. Plenty of folks catch fish on their junk, but people depend on me and I just will not use it. Don't know many that do that are not being paid for it.

I drove down to that Emerald beach ramp that you speak of Champ, that is a pretty knarley drive thru the entire subdivision. As you know sometimes locals there just leave their trailers hooked up and in the water on the ramp. I only launch on the back ramp at viney any way. That front ramp you need two people or you are going to get your tooties wet.

Champ, I was fishing a Heartland up on Lake O back in the 90's and my amateur drug a buzz bait on the bottom all day. It was white with chartruse strands and had a silver blade. He had a 5 inch white worm as a trailer on it. I believe he weighed in close to 16 pounds and won the deal on the amateur side. I had two on a jig. As close as I came to caving in was I went to a whit/char SB with a white trailer worked really slow just above the bottom, but never had a bite on it while he wrestled fish after fish over the back of the boat. He would hook them on one side and fight them back and forth over the motor to both sides of the boat. His rod at all time when he was hooked up had yards of slack in it. He would get them tangled in the motor and even from the back of the boat got one tangled in the trolling motor. He never lost a fish all day. I believe he put about a dozen in the boat. Seemed like a hundred. He had some kind of a short stiff pistol grip rod with a old red ambassador with what looked like about 50 yrds of 30 pound white mono that came off the reel in curls. He more just let line off the reel as he was casting rather than try and throw that mess. Smoked about 2 packs of cigs and caught at least 3 of those fish while he was firing up with the rod tucked under his arm pit. He would brace his feet and set the hook at least 4 times on each fish. It would have made America's funniest, but the joke was really on me. About 1 pm he offered me his bait. That is a pretty stand up guy. I refused it as I told him to keep going as he had a chance to win the deal. Just simply kicked my tail. I still have Nightmares. Makes u think.

James, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the money goes into the Federal Government General Fund. That is what they told us at the Viney Creek meeting, but I might have misunderstood. If the State is charging for the launch I am assuming they will mow the grass and perhaps have a dumpster and the Outhouses open. That is worth it for me and my clients. I'm ok with this. Thanks guys.

Plus 1

The wobble is still really working. One of my friends fished the BFL this last weekend and his non-boater put a limit in the boat on it in about an hour while he was trying to catch topwater fish. He said the guy was just using a Chompers twin-tail hula grub with a Chompers wobblehead 7/16 and crawl-swimming it on main lake flat gravel that he was throwing topwater on. Lots of different ways to catch them now, but the wobbler is still slamming fish. Good luck

Snake, if they have to charge to help defray the cost of keeping it open, I'm not fussing. We need that ramp open. If it goes to state just like Longcreek went private I'm guessing there will be a charge. I bet the state however will let you buy a multi-day use pass or yearly. At any rate, I'm "Pickled Tink/"

Thanks Buddy, that should pretty much be the Kit and Kabottle.

Balsa wherever you found that old fin pick, repost it here and lets just get this over with.

You of course realize that he meant a split-shot rig, not putting split shot on the Ned Rig. Thanks, just wanted to make sure you were clear on this. Good Luck

I'VE BEEN SLANDERED!!!!!. You Ding-Dongs, beating up on poor old Bill down here in Branson on beautiful Table Rock Lake. This has got to be the biggest Stockton Lake tread that has ever been. Did not think you could elude me for long did ya? First let me say this about that. Cannot remember who wrote it but saying those were 2 pound fish that got the grease bath for granny, has not been fishin in a spell. Those were quality LM looks like most were brimming with eggs. My guess however is the lake is not going to miss them from the latest electro fishing reports and if you like bass no-bless-no-blez. Who cares about killing 15,000 bass fry? Granny probably does not like Halibut, Salmon, Grouper, Red Snapper or Tilapia from the store that is about the same price per pound as a day on the lake. As Shane eluded to in his blog, Bass harvests on Missouri lakes take into consideration that the majority of bass fishermen are catch and release, especially when just about anyone can catch them during the spawn. He also stated that if anglers decided to harvest keeper size bass in a larger percentage it would quickly effect the population. After our fish kill here on the Rock our biologist at that time told me that just the guides harvesting 15 inch fish for our clients would be extremely detrimental to the fishery. The shear pursuit of the black bass species completely overshadows all other species combined and produces a huge burden on any of our Midwestern lakes, to sustain a population. Especially on Corps of Engineer lakes that do not provide a stable spawning platform and also were the bass population is not supplemented by stocking. The black bass species is not stocked in Table Rock lake and contrary to what the young man said they are not stocked on an annual basis in Stockton As a matter of fact the last Stockton LM bass stocking I could find was in 1973. I'm sure there have been others, but I could not find them on the MDC site. As far as the high water events in 2008 and 2011 they have had a two fold effect. First they have helped to enhance very low LM bass numbers on Table Rock and have really helped enhance the Smallmouth numbers with lots of year class fish now being caught that are sub-legal and from those classes. Wonderful deal for the Jaws. Not so good for the Spotted bass. Spotted bass thrive in clear water conditions where they can spawn very deep at times. On the Rock I have seen beds with good light penetration in the 20 plus foot levels. Conditions were off color high water in 8 and 11 and this did not bode well for the K's. We are seeing it the last two years. with very few if any 8 to 12 inch Kentucky's coming to the boat. Most of the K's now are 14 to 18 in fish. All my colleges have noticed this. Not near the numbers but much larger fish. You all know me, I'm really not a fish killer of any species, I just love to see them in the pond and see the joy folks get from catching them. I turn loose 100 legal size walleye for everyone I keep. I don't kill bass, and I usually will eat a mess or two of crappie a year, usually that a friend gives me. No more than 1/2 dozen fish or so. Trout on the other hand that are stocked, I will have on a monthly basis. With the majority of us doing this it allows a meal or two for Granny, and that is what it is all about. Thinking there is an unlimited supply however is very short sighted and irresponsible. Comes from youth and really just not knowing. Good Luck up on beautiful Stockton lake and leave a few for us old guys. Sincerely BB

The megabass hooks are impossible to get out with the reverse barb. Regular hooks can easily be removed with the reverse pressure on the eye, string method, unless there multiple hooks that have been implanted. The hooks on that bait as you all know are Death Traps, and they are "Bad MA-MAW JAMMARS."

That picture looks real familiar. Don't be postin stuff like that, it will get someone hurt or worse yet get their equipment all busted up I'm such an idiot I was looking at that picture, thinking "DANG" that guy really knows how to set-up a fin, what in the "Holy Leap Year" are they posting that kind of a pic of such a quality bait for. OK. You got me. On another note, and all take heed! you throw that bait with those hooks on that set-up you be as careful as if you are on this planet alone, as those hooks will get you hurt if your not on your best careful behavior. The hooks on that bait want you more than they want the fish. If they touch you they are in you they are extremely deadly and to tell you the truth, they scare the begeezers out of me every time I have to handle them. If white bass start schooling take this to even a higher level, as they will put you in the emergency room for sure if your not extremely respectful at all times. Balsa you ole Stinkweed for messing with me like that. Good LUck

All those fish looked really flat bellied. Pretty much what I'm seeing from Owl Creek to point 9. Got a feeling this deal is just about over and we are going to see schooling and drop-shop fish this next week. I have just now today started seeing them chasing off the bluffends and the long runouts. Good topwater times are a commin.

Have not set a hook on a topwater bait in the last 5 years. My hookups and my clients hookups have sky rocketed. As Snake said just keep windin. When you feel the weight of the fish move your rod to an upright attitude putting pressure on the mid to upper section of the rod keeping it at full bend and keep windin. If the fish jumps pull him 4' toward you and keep windin. I have just about zero jump-offs. Kind of funny how things change. The old days of trying to stick a 6' rod tip 2' under water to keep a fish from jumping on 30' of line are over. Not physically possible. Really kind of stupid to think that it would work. What it does is create slack when the fish does jump and you have a rod stuck down in the drink. Lots of stuff we used to do is out the window for better techniques. Constant pressure on the fish by not jerking and not letting slack be created by rod movement has changed this game. Good Luck

And the winner is for Table Rock Lake! Just got to add the Yamamoto cut tail Purple/Brown laminated as Balsabee said and you pretty much got it outside the Ned Rig and the Elastec family. Funny, but that is all I really ever use and have 10 times that in the box. The fish dr. or the centipede make fantastic baits for the shakey, so that covers that also. Great answers by all, very good info.

Yes the launching problems can be a stress, but always remember your loved ones are just doing the best they can, usually from frantic waving and hand signals that they have no idea what you are trying to communicate to them. Anytime you do something very infrequently it always becomes a chore. One solid rule to remember is before trailering your boat, run the trailer into the water far enough to wet the carpeted bunks, and then pull it out. to the point that about 1/3 to 1/2 of the bunks are out of the water. When you run up on this it will lock you in position and stabilize your boat at the correct attitude. Trim up the lower unit and then accelerate up the trailer. If you cannot gain the roller, ask the driver politely to come back an inch or two, until you gain the roller with the front eye on the boat. One of the main problems is getting the trailer in way to deep. I have launched at every ramp on this lake in the past 10 days and none of them require you to even get a shoe lace wet. If you have to have chest waders or scuba gear to launch or load your boat you are messing up. Another quickie is never put a person behind the truck when you are loading or launching. It is extremely dangerous as they can be both hit by the truck and the boat. Launching is really best done alone if you are physically able. Either procedure should take no longer than 3 minutes and this is an old man speaking. Good Luck on your vacation.

Sportsmans usually has most everything and all name brands. If you compare their prices, they are spot on.

On the subject. Pulled into Hoot Owl one day last week with my dentist clients. The second big dock on the left fork is a 24 slipper. All the boats on the lifts on the lake side had the motors prop-less. There were props on the engines on the cove side. Either half the dock owners removed their props for the Winter or someone took them off and they are all being cleaned and will be brought back in like new condition. Ya Right. The lake side of that dock is not visible to anything but the main channel. Got a feeling someone slipped in one night and helped themselves.

We have spoken with them about their merchandise several times, and they say that it is just a waste of shelf space. They can stock knick-knacks and items for the tourist and make more money. It is a small store and they must use their space wisely. With the overhead down there I really do not blame them. Better make it anyway you can. We as locals just know, not to go there. Springfield on the other hand has just about went out of the lure and soft plastic business except for house brands. Spoke to one of my good buddies there yesterday He has worked for them for almost 20 yrs. and he was telling me as little as 3 yrs. ago that 2/3 of the merchandise in the store was name brand and main-stream fishing brands. Now 2/3rd. are house brands and you can tell by the shelves. I was amazed yesterday at the open hangers on the name brands, that were sold out. Lots and lots of BPS brands on the shelf. I fuss at them a lot, but did like the ability of when I needed something that I was able to get a name brand at a competitive price from them. Now it is pretty much not happening. Had 14 items on a list and only came home with 3. The hangers were empty on everything else. Really, really needed some swivels. Now they only carry the BPS brand. I know better, but bought 2 bags anyway. Of course there were 4 in the bags that were no good. Just cannot buy their terminal tackle like swivels, snaps and split rings. It is just to bad that they would not use just a little quality control. Enough Said.

The odds of him finding anything he could possibly need at the Branson location would be somewhere between slim and none. Table Rock Tackle and Marine 417-339-6735