Bill Babler

That would not work. It is just to far up and this is a navigatable waterway. The channel needs to be clear, completely to the dam. Yes on flat water you need to watch both your wake and speed, but when they are turning 4 you need to be able to get where you are going. If we could get people to fish correctly 99.9%of the problem would be solved. Put your boat on the shallow side out of the channel, allowing the channel to be used by moving traffic. If fishermen are anchored in the main channel with rods poking out of both sides of the boat, the traffic simply has no where to run. While anchoed on the shallow side toss your tight line baits into the channel edge. Passing boats will not disturb the fish, and you are out of the way. On the jet ski issue if you are up there you need to be there to fish, not just plow around weaving in and out of the fishing boats at high and med-speeds. Gator is right, he is no problem as he runs the flats and on top his boat puts out less wake than a 16ft. V bottom. The big Deep V's are a huge problem as most fisherman think that they are being nice by going by at a plow instead of on top and on part throttle other than an idle, they are a disaster. We need no more rules for anyone to try and enforce, as we have none now. With the new system Missouri is just not capable of handling Taneycomo, on Holiday weekends.

On the 4th. of July weekend with your rig, it is a mite to far. Would be at least a 1/2 day round trip, with very little fishing. The Cobalts are out that time of year at Shell Knob, ie Twin Rivers, where the Kings meets the White, and in your rig, you doin't want any part of that deal. There is enough good fishing where you are to keep you busy. Your rig is more than fine where you are. When you get much above Big M however you will be pushing it. As far as other parts of the lake for your boat, on the 4th. I would stay where you are. It just gets bigger and bigger, past Big M and so do the boats. Look at past reports from RPS, Duck, Myself and Powerdrive about the Upper End of the Whtie River. Good luck

I'm with Fin and Feather on that one.

With most of the trout guides now running trout type boats, Phil you might have a great idea. I could just guide off a jet ski Would not have to move around to much and it would be fun. Only draw back is some of the older gents I take might think they need to wear Speedo's and that could be a problem.

Ya, frankly I would have had no chance against a pair like that. If 5 or 6 of us old gizzers that were waiting at the ramp would have attacked them, they would have killed the whole lot of us. Both of them were 30 yrs old, 6'5" plus and 250 lbs. with no fat They had burr haircuts were tatted up and looked like MMA Heavyweights. I will tell you they would not have had a problem pulling us apart and they knew it and worse yet. They wanted to. Whould not have bothered them in the least to fight 55 yr. old fat men. Did anyone see the State Patrol on Taney this weekend? The deal combining the water and hwy patrol was a huge mistake and has turned out to be a joke.

Taney is an excellent fishery. It is just the holiday weekends that seem to brting out the worst in people. Guided Thursday and Friday and did not even hardly see a boat. People just trying to cram to much into to little time and expecting the world. As you all know, I either guide or fish Alaska every year. Yes you will catch bigger fish, but the numbers of quality fish that taney and the rest of the White River has will rival anywhere. Sometimes we forget, me included how blessed we are to have a fishery like this in our own back yard. Another factor is that there are people that are completely clueless about ediquite on the water, They may not mean to be so, but they simple do not have a clue. They come out 3 times a yr. on the holidays and that for sure is a problem.

It just seems to keep getting more and more out of control. There are just so many people using these resources that we are at maximum capasity. We also now have moved into the era of it's all about me. The fishermen have gotten just as bad. Folks have no trouble crowding you or moving in front of you if you are catching fish and they are not. Another example of just plain "About Me." Yesterday at the Cooper Creek Ramp, I saw two guys pull 3/4 the way down the ramp, with an old grey ski boat. The boat was still locked totally down with all the straps and traveling supports and the tarp on. They took the right side of the ramp. What I presumed was they families pulled a van 3/4 of the way down the other side of the ramp and started to set lifejackets, coolers and water toys and fisihng grear out all over the ramp. This effectively took up the entire ramp. There were 2 boats waiting to put in and 3 waiting to take out. These were big, big guys and I still asked them about it. They said they would take as long as they cared to and they had the ramp now and people would just have to wait unless, I might want to try and do something about it. I just drove off and fished awhile. They were on the ramp for a good 20 to 30 minutes and I saw others approach and yell at them, but no one did a thing, and they bullied their way to do what they wished. Just plain Bull. But, is it any worse than the jet ski riders thru the fisherman or the guy that anchored right where I was casting after seeing me catching fish there. I don't know, but it is really out of hand, and terribly sad.

In the restricted zone there is no anchoring. You have the right away to the channel. you were speaking of. I really don't believe the current State Patrol has a single clue about how to handle Taneycomo. Since Gary Haupt retired and it switched to the Hwy. Patrol, it is a joke. Beck had a guy roll in on him on Table Rock this morning, after watching his clients catch fish. This guy just came over within 30' and threw down is trolling motor and started fishing. Beck just picked up his trolling motor and left. What a bunch of dim-brains out there this weekend.

Usually don't guide on holiday weekends, but let a friend talk me into taking some folks of his. On the water by 6:30 this morning and with the flat clear water, it was going to be hard. Boats just piled on top of boats. Some of these fools were trolling thru the very narrow upperend where people were anchored bait fishing. If a guy is setting anchored in shallow water with poles sticking out the side of his boat, do you think when you troll by dragging a spoon on the bottom, that you might catch every line of every boat you pass? For cripes sakes we are sitting in 2 ft. of water and you are trying to troll in 3 ft. of water. I'm setting at the Short creek ramp and am within 10 feet of the bank and have multiple boats pull in front of me and completely stop and want to fish within 10ft. Yes we were catching them and everyone saw it and wanted in on the action. They just kept getting closer and closer. One guy litterly dropped an anchor in front of me exactly where I was casting. I asked what he thought he was doing and he said he thought I was throwing the other way. I said: "Yes I can see that. My clients are facing you with their rods facing you. Did you think we were throwing it up on the bank behind our heads and then just looking out toward the middle?" He said, I'm going to move, but you don't own the lake. Even on Taney if I can throw it in your boat and I'm anchored you are getting to close to me. There was really plenty of room and people just wanted to fish were I was catching them. I could have moved to the locations they were fishing and caught them there it didn't matter. They were going to have no better luck on my location than on their own. Powerbait is but a tool that I would not bet a plug nickle on when its tough. It was tough this morning and most everybody had their bets hedged wrong. About 10 AM the jet ski's started. They were running crazy above Short Creek, throwing wakes and running way to fast thru anchored fishermen. Why-Why-Why-Why-Why-Why. What in the Wide World of Sports would a jet skier want from Lilleys' up to the dam on flat water with a 150 anchored boats trying to trick a trout. From the Landing down, it is wide open. Table Rock is built for Jet ski's. Why would you come into a very crowded fishing area and make a mess like that. Answer: Just because I can and it's all about me and the rest of you can go straight to. I just love Holiday weekends

Never expected. Always welcome and shows appreciation on a job well done. Newby's usually do not tip or tip minimal. Experenced clients that fish guides multiple days per year are usually at 20 to 30 percent. Have had many tips that are equal to the guide fee. The range is off the chart. Had a 90 year old retired railroad worker from Iowa, give me 4 dollars for cleaning his fish, which I do for as part of the guide fee. Said in complete sincerety to take the wife out for a little dinner, that he really appreciated me and the work I put in and just wanted to give me something a little extra. I appreciated him for the thought and the 4 bucks meant a lot to me him seeing that. His son had bought the trip, and I guarantee you if he knew what it cost he would not have gone. My boat truck and equipment easily tops $200,000.00 and is insured for more. You Read that Right. Average price for a trip for me with advertising and all the expense that I have and I have been doing it for over 20 years is a shade over $100.00 per trip. A 4 hr. trip for me is usually 7 hrs. and an 8 hr. trip is usually 11 hrs, These are real time figures with travel from site to site and preperation. My gross is usually pretty good, but my tax man and Becky think I let quite a bit of it slip away. I guide between 280 and 320 trips per year, if we do Alaska on the upperend. Lots of 2 per days, and some the hated 3 per day. Getting to old for that now. My expenses have risen every year I have guided, and we try the best we can to maintain the cost as reasonable as possible. I have not changed my rate in the last 5 yrs,. and my earnings have shown it, as I have made less each per trip those years. I have compensated by doing more and more trips. I am very luck I have that option. I take guided trips and here is what i expect Fully lic. and insured fishing guide On time and prepared Knowledge of the water we are fishing greater than the general public Respect for the resource including other fisherman and all our surroundings Top Flight Equipment and terminal tackle Clean personal appearance and equipment maintained in topflight order. Well spoken and no vulgarity of any kind or any use of alcohol during or before the trip Diligent worker with multiple locations and plans of action. Good knowledge of anything local, History, restaurants, lodging. Patients and respect for the ability of the anglers he or she are guiding and the ability to get bites for the clients reguardless of their ability. Be able to have a good time and enjoy his day on the water. Teach me a new trick, no matter how small. I want to see the guide fish some. I want to see his or her ability to catch the fish I'm expected to catch. I have learned more by simply watching others than I ever learned on my own. Don't get me wrong, this is not a fishing competition, it is a guide trip. The job of the guide is to make the clients day, not catch his own personal best, but by the guide catching a fish it shows they are there and with the correct presentation I should be successful. Kind of puts the ball in my court, where it should be and gives me confidnece that it can be done and how to properly do it. Things I could careless about; How many fish I catch I'll have a great time just being there. To tell you the truth, I like it when its tough. If he gets a little pattern figured out I feel we earned it. How big a fish I catch I've caught big fish, I don't need to catch one today. Puts to much prussure on myself and the guide. Not what I'm there for. Hearing how good a fisherman my guide is Hearing about past clients. "Kind of like hearing about past girlfriends. Shore Lunch. Biggest waste of time ever to come down the pike. I'm paying to fish, I can eat at the end of the day at a 5 star restaurant if I want. All in all I want a good guy that wants to be there as much as I do.

You locals just got it made.

RPS the spot in which you speak, can be a fantastic buzz bait location. I can see it in my mind. Enjoy that topwater nip and keep that spot to yourself. You have done more than enough. There is not 20 places like it on Table Rock. Good Luck

For one thing, this is not the water patrol anymore. 9 out of 10 of these guys now have not a lick of sense. They know nothing about fishing or ediquite,they are kids for the most part from the Hwy patrol that work the roads in the winter. They just don't understand and really have a lack of much to do. They will be helpful however if there is an emergency, just got to bear with their ignorance of anything water. On another point, you get over 100 yrds from your marker, and you are roping off a location. Not good either. If you mark a spot with either fish or structure, fish it. Don't mark it and try to expand your area, using your marker to hold the spot. Not right. There used to be an old guy up at Shell Knob, 20 yrs. ago that would rope off a football field. He used 4 markers. I saw another local roll in on him one day and he started yelling at this guy from 200 yrds off that he had the area marked and was going to fish it. The other local pulled out his fillet knife and cut the bouy's off two of his furtherst markers and yelled back. "It's not marked now, you fish hogging SO----." You mark it, fish it. It is marked to fish not to claim. Jerry I could not agree with you more. It has made a problem. Most of the guys fishing locations on tour, know each other and that usually is not a problem. If is when uninvited strangers roll up on a group that gets the blood pumping. Sometimes the guide boats will even tie together on the Rock. We are friends, but if someone else tries to pull in that is going to cause a problem.

What Fin Said. Also, if you can either read or see interference from the sonar signal of a guy that is already on a spot, you are to close. Lots of guys gang up on humps and points this time of year. Not a problem. Keep in mind if they are there together, it might be. Guides and derby fishermen have no more right to anything than you do. Most time they will stay away from you, so in turn stay away from them. PET PIEVE-- If you see boats working the deep cove mouths and everyone standing up throwing, keep away from them. Most times they are working schooling fish. I have had complete idiots just drive thru the middle of chasing fish. If you can throw it in my boat and you are on plane, you are to close. If I can hit you with a spook and you are driving by, you are to close. Gooid Luck

Duck I cannot get it either. Phil said something was wrong with my computer and I did not have it set correctly. Becky could not even get it to work, so I don't know. I started having trouble last week, and we cannot figure it out, Still cannot hear the report. It is pretty good, even if I say so, so I wish I could hear it.

Thnks guys, i forgot about SDC. Also to touch on another Restaurant or so. Rocky's this is an Italian Joint, but they serve up some really good Prime Rib. Don't get the big Cut. I'm a Carnavor, but I cannot handle it. Rocky's salad is also very good. Mr. G's. This place is off the hook for Ice Cold Adult Beverages if you like 2 inches of Crystal Ice on the top of your draft beer in a super frozen mug. Their pasta dishes and salads are without a doubt the best in Branson, everything homemade. The draw back is this is a smoking establishment. Also the lodge guest we have sent have named the service help the Pizza Nazi as the service can be very poor. Food and drinks are more than worth the wait, and you can giggle at the service. Pizza is fantastic. Weekend, Try the Coyote Grill at Port of Kimberling, for fun, dining on the lake. Everything I have eaten in this dockside restaurant was yummy. For that special night however. Steak Inn Shell Knob Missouri. If it is really special have their Steak and Lobster. words cannot discribe how good it is. Everything over a charcoal grill. Salad Bar will be the freshest and best you have ever had. Steak will come exactly at the temperature you order it and will be choice. Good Luck

i cannot believe anyone would say Branson is over priced then reccommend a cabin at Big Cedar? BC cabins are very pricy, but not overly so and they are very nice. That was not the question, as he has lodging. There is a ton of stuff to do and in my opinion, nothing is over priced one little bit. The drives around the lake are wonderful and you can visit small communities. Around Branson, evenings in addition to the Show's in which SIX is one of the best and a must see, there is the Branson Landing for its night life. There is an IMAX, and there is one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world to walk around at College of the Ozarks. The new Dewey Short Visitors Center at the dam is something else and from there you have one of the largest Trout Hatcheries in the world to look at, at Shepard of the hill. For Hiking and just a wonderful evening walk there is a 5 mile trail along Table Rock Lake near the Dam and visitors center. Better yet, visit Dogwood Canyon Nature park. 10,000 acres of magnificent scenery and animals with waterfalls, covered bridges and nature tours. On your day of non-fishing, there is the Branson Zipline, or a tour of Shepard of the Hill, or better yet a hop over to the eclectic mountain town of Eureka Springs Ark. About a 40 minute drive from Kimberling City. For your Steak take the drive from Kimberling City to Shell Knob and wonderful little Lake Community nestled on the West End of the Lake, about a 40 minute drive from Kimberling City and have one of the best Steaks of your life at the Steak INN. It is an Ozark treasure. There are so many things I have not touched it is unreal. Come enjoy the magnificence of the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks. Good Luck

For one thing, when I started there was nothing as far as the information and the equipement that we have today. It was a totally different world. Yes I did have an excellent mentor in my Step-Dad, but to tell the truth, it was so easy then that just about what ever you did caught fish. Ozark Anglers is a great means of getting you most all the informantion on getting underway. Super how to articles, current fishing reports, bait and equipment information, maps that were marked by area pro's and guides and an archive that is simply priceless. Spend an hour or two a day reading past years reports and how to's. Always check and see what we are doing currently. Find a local to fish with or hire a guide for a 1/2 day and see what their equipment and teniques and locations are and what to look for. Lots of great people to show you the way and to give you tips. Good Luck

Tfish is right Ralph was completely against it and said it was a complete NO NO. the two culprits were dragging a carolina rig and dragging a jig. The football jig was just gettting started then. If you are just fishing, dragging a FB jig is more than a deadly tenique. Especially in the fall on the flat rolloffs. It is just a fantastic way to catch lots of fish. I caught a glimpse yesterday, were they dragging cranks? Was making breakfast for guests and did not see the entire deal.

The batteries are a crazy deal. Motoman. I had a starting battery burn our several years ago, an interstate and had to get a new one immediatly. No interstate around, just WalMart and exchanged it for an Everstart. It would not accept a charge. Wal-Mart gave me a new one plus $20.00 additional bucks as the price of the new one was on discount, so I got that extra savings. That battery lasted 90 days, and I did not take it back. Two bad ones in 90 days was to much for me even though they were nice with replacements. I only use either ProGuide now or Trogan. No problems in the last 9 yrs. Great points by Nitro on battery care. Another point is after every 10th. usage or so, give it a 50 AMP charge. You will notice the difference.

Thank you for posting this. This is what this forum is about.

Thought we were talking fishing the White River here. Enought about the safe or questionable boat operation. Jeb and Quill gave us some great info. on how they caught their fish. There are always holes in the fog to make small jumps on. between idleing the boat and I'm sure that is what they meant. I better than anyone can tell you that putting down in a post what you are trying to convey and what it reads like to the people you are targeting is two way, way different things Knew when I read the post it would get some attention. Lets move on to the fishin, no more on this thread about boat navigation. Thanks Moderator.

Duck, those fish that you were on have taken abit of a lickin. They did not come up yesterday either. I caught a load of topwater fish, but they were not chasing. We just finned them up. Saw no more than 10 chases. Put my thinking cap on and moved, as much as I could in the fog. Trick was just a bit of breeze. IF it was flat, you were not going to get bit. Once you found a bit of breeze, you would catch multiple fish. On the right locations of course. Move that bait slower than slow. They wanted it almost at rest. Deep crankbait bite was also very good. Depth was stated earlier. If you are fishing a derby on Sunday let me know and I may have a spot or two for ya. Good luck

Powerdrive, I may not have the year correct, but i believe it was 1998, My son got on a pattern from Big Creek up to Owl Creek for Monster Eye's. This was a July and August pattern and I think he boated close to 40 Eye's. I know one day he caught and released 13, with the smallest at about 3 pounds and the largest at 9 pounds. Bryant Ward was the game warden at Shell Knob at the time and saw Steve Catch and release 3 walleye that would have weighed over 20 pounds. Bryant came up to us and said in 20 yrs. of the game warden business he had never seen such a catch and release display. As a matter of fact he said he had never seen anyone ever release one that was legal, and on another point hardly never seen anyone release one that was illegal. I would never keep over 1 and usually don't keep any of them however I know how delicious they are. I will keep a couple on Bull Shoals at times in the Winter. The rest of you guys are great. You don't eat the bass, I don't mess with your walleye. Really prefer not to catch them, as they are a pain "literally to let loose." And they fight like a girl. I'm very glad they are here and give great joy to people not only trying to catch the wiley raschels, but as table fare. Good Luck

No algie bloom from Campbell Point to Beaver dam. Clear, clean and super beautiful. Poor water just did not get that high. Great report on the fishing.