Bill Babler

Been on Taney the last few, but have been in contact with the boys and it is still more than dreadful. Good color up the river system with water in the 63 degree range. Main lake and upper White River section is very clear and 64 degree about where ever you are. Point 9 area, you can easily see the white or silver spoon at 20 plus. Best Bite for bass lake wide is in the 18 to 26 ft. range on either a shot or a drag bait. Had 3 nice jaws day before yesterday in the dam area at those depths, and the boys guiding for Big Cedar and working that range most of the time. If you can get some wind a blade is neither a bad or good choice, and you can get a bite or two up close. Series 5 cranker is probably a better bait and it covers the same ammount of water as the blade and works the depth range far better. Beck had the same 20 plus foot bite up the James yesterday and did on a spoon catch a dozen nice whites. Good Luck

Tim Paige had a client last year that threw two fins 30 ft. up and was mad at him when Tim pulled out farther from the bank so he could no longer reach the bank with a cast. Go Figure. I need to write a book on the stuff I have seen. Completely unbelieveable.

I think you wade guys are going to like this, but from speaking to two boat guides that are running jets, and have been up there all 3 days, they said it is a complete disaster for boat traffic and navigation on the upperend. Rock placements are to far from the bank and to big to even drift over at 4 generators. Have not been up so I cannot say this to be a fact, but it seems that navigation is going to be extremely restricted. Really for the life of me I cannot understand this. There are X number of fish in this area, and the adding of rocks will not add numbers, and the Conservation boys agree with this. It will add a deture from the current when it is running, and concentrate fish there. Here is the question. At 3 or 4 generators with the structure so far off the bank how can the wade guys fish it? And if it is so big how can the boat guys get near it? Somewhat similar to the debris fields they put in Table Rock. Totally unfishable, and put in places that already held congreations of fish. All they did was make a huge mess. I'm on both places 300 plus days a year, and really don't understand this. It really seems this plan has only one purpose and that is to eliminate boat traffic from the upperend. That inturn may produce a better fishery.

Great job edwin. The proof is in the pic. I bet Brian Snowden would have loved that fish, since he blanked on Saturday. Robbie had only 1. Leader did find a deal and catch them. Another 8 guides on Saturday 4 different so I pretty much used up the Table Rock Guide List. 42 fish to the guide boats on Saturday with 8 keeps. Best fish was a Redfin fish in the Fog by Tim Paige's group. 3.5 pounder After the fog lifted and the light hit the water, that was pretty much it. Makes a long 8 hr. day when the bite shuts off after the 1st. hour. I fished my guys till 5 Pm and we only had 8 fish and one keeper in 10 hours. I have no explanation for this. My records show we are usually catchin them with water temps at 68 this time of the year. Yes I struggle in September as does everyone, but it is just hanging on and hanging on. Realy no concentrations of fish. One here on the bank and on over there. Buster caught some early on the bank and then had a client catch a keeper K at 60 ft. on the bottom dragging a football jig on a midlake hump. The most fish on any single location was 2 on a drop shot spot or so. Good Luck

You would absolutely never know it from the BassMaster Derby that is going on, that it is getting better. 22 pounds for a two day lead?. That just about sucks as bad as it could. Brian Snowden today with 8 pounds for the day in second. Robbie Dotson with 4.4 pounds for the day. Who ever says they are catching them might want to take a poly graph, cause its BS, Big Time. I had 8 or the best not only guiides, but fishermen on Table Rock working for me today and I don't believe them or their clients could have weighed in 8 pounds. Absolute no sence Candy Coating this. It is FLAT MISERABLE. If they don't have Pic's to prove it, better keep their flappers closed. Good Luck.

With the depth of Table Rock, it is more a stradification or a compression, rather than a turn. Yes, you will see it up the river arms to some extent, but TR for the most part does not do this. That is why we are able to have a trout fishery below the dams, in the tailraces. The colder heaver water compresses deep. Bottom here does not come to the top or visa/versa. Good Luck

No charge it is just on the other side of the bridge. I would just fish around there, up to Peach Tree and down to Bear's Den.

Good Golly, what a disaster for me yesterday. 9 fish and 2 keeps. Everything caught early. Was showing Steve how I wanted him to present the Shakey Head and of course caught the best fish of the day, 3.5 pound LM. That was it for the Head. We would catch one or none on each location, never had a multiple on any spot. Caught all the rest on a dropshot. Saw lots of fish suspended and also on the bottom, they were not havin it. Just about as poor as a Church House Mouse. Water in Aunts Creek and the Point 9 area is really getting clear. White Spoon test to 20 plus feet easy. Buster caught a few yesterday. He had a dozen with 5 keeps he thought would have gone 14 pounds. 2 big brown fish early on a blade in the dam area and the rest on a dropshot. Said he fished 8 1/2 hours for the bites and never had more than one bite on a location. Hope the weather change will get something done. Cold Nights and High Purssure days are for sure not working. Beck and I leave for Lake O. on Monday hope its better up there.

Pat, your boat will be fine at Cape Fair. Have a great time. I would probably put in up at Bridgeport, about 3 miles up the James from CF.

I cannot access this link, can anyone else?

Mid-Week Report Thursday October 13th. Boys that were out today, said it is just unbelieveable bad. 3 of Table Rocks best guides fished today with clients and from what I'm hearing, had 1 keeper for the 3 of them and all their clients. Fish schooled all day today off and on but they were midgets. Best fish reported was a skinny 15 LM that weighed about a pound. In all my years here, even the fish kill years I have not seen it this tough. Fish are scattered from 1 ft. to 70 ft. and I don't believe there is a handful of keepers in any one spot on the lake. If you get really lucky you will catch one here on one bait and another there on a completely different bait. This has to break soon, It is very frustrating. Usually right now those big brown ones are starting to get on the jig. NaDa!! Could be anyday now, hope its tomorrow. Good Luck

You know, we probably need a spot on the forum for antique or vintage fishing gear. May have to address that. Might also post on our Buy-Sell-Trade location. Good Luck

I think they currently have 4 or 5 stores, and I believe they have several more in design. They also have retail outlets and Phil is now carrying their batteries in his store, for folks that have a problem while on Taneycomo. This is not like WalMart or the Tire Store, batteries is all they do. They match the battery to the piece of equipment and the application. I will try this Winter, to get an interview with Lane and just talk batteries with him It will be interesting and informative. Batteries are so important to us, they are just flat our lifes blood on the water. Very lucky to have this local company.

I agree without a doubt. Have a friend that drives a big rig, and the same things apply. You got an overhead cab light out or any light on the trailer they will use it as a reason to stop you. He said some of the trailers have at least 40 bulbs on them. They all have to work. Seems pretty silly.

Yes its a very busy month. Heard from Pete Weeners today and the bite was still slow. I guided trout. Pete did say the fish were schooling most of the day, with the overcast. When they went down, it got tough. It should be hard right now, but not this hard. Only one player in the Everstart derby had a limit for 3 consecutive days, unbelieveable.

Skeeter, I missed the Friday deal, sounds like the fish handling was a bad as Thursday. What a shame. Thank you for taking time to try and get some answers.

Ya Champ, I kind of agree with Martin on this one. KC police are very pro-fisherman. Barry, Stone or Taney county along with the MSHP however would grab you in a New York minute with no plates on the trailer. Bet that is what it was. As you know the team boats are sometimes behind on this deal. Took me 2 months on the new Phoenix for lic. I was very fidgety the entire time. Ii will also tell any of you all to make sure your lights on the trailer are working. They will all get you for this. It has gotten to be a major deal with law enforcement. We went over this a year or so ago, but to refresh. Every light on your trailer must work if its on the trailer. Not just the brake, turnsignal and tail lights. All lights. If you have additional lighting, don't matter it has to work if its there. YOu will get a ticket in Stone, Barry or Taney County if any light on the trailer is out, no excuses. Good Luck

Woody, go over to Golden and talk to Lane Shumaker and the boys at Battery Outfitters..(ProGuide/ Trojan) This is a local company that supports locals. Probably one of the best friends we have for any of our commercial needs. Fantastic Christian Company and people. Have the boys go over with you the proper way to charge and handle your new batteries. You will be suprised the things they can tell you to make your batteries last longer. Take your boat over and they will change them out for you and give you a trade in on your old cores. They will also be able to tell you the exact battery you need for your boating and fishing application. They house so many different products for different fishing applications. They are for sure Pro's. 417-271-3801 Battery Outfitters Golden, Mo. Lane Shumaker Ask if Lane's in and tell him we sent you over from Ozarks Anglers Forum. and Bill Babler It will probably cost you a couple of extra bucks for telling him that, but you will more than make up for it in the batteries you receive. If Lane is busy or not there, his staff is very knowledable and you for sure will get the right stuff at the best possible price. Buy Local/ Support Local Good Luck

Fantastic Read. If I could write like that, I would do it for a living. Thanks very much. Earlier I had questioned the baits, as I knew Robbie had Square Billed a few. I believe a custom painted bait by Tim Hughes. Again thanks for the post we very much appreciate it. Moderator

Excellent Report. Be nice to know what fishermen really got bit on. Thanks very much

Probably my biggest September and October. I have been on the water, since coming back from Alaska everyday but two. Except for the stint that Beck and I made up to lake O. Got a pretty good handle of whats going on and it is not real pretty. Yes you can catch some fish if you put your thinking caps on, and really bear down. Longcreek area from 86 bridge up the Creek. Deep runouts and channel swing points are holding some K's. You can find these by working out the points with a dropshot or you may wish to use a crawler if the plastic is not working. Most all our fish are on the bottom. Really had very few out in the open suspenders this year. Start looking at 25 ft. and work out to 45. Good Sonar is a real asset. Longcreek up past Cricket Creek Marina clear to Youkum Split. Topwater early your choice of splasher. Up tight and around some cover, square bill cranks and if you get a breeze a SB will get a bite or two. Your not going to find gold but there are some bites. Big Cedar to Point 9 at the James White River Split. Sorry for this much water, but its all about the same. Early and I mean early there is still a pretty good Zara Spook bite off the bluffends and the main lake deep docks. Also the docks are a very good place to either dropshot or spoon a few. Look for deep docks with a open stall or so. Pitch your 1/2 spoon or your dropshot back in the stall and let it fall on a tightline and swim back to you. If your not worried about your boat you can ease into the stalls and fish the spoon or dropshot in the 30 ft. range. These are mainly for suspended under dock fish. Quite a bit of money won this last week in the Stren tournament doing this. I did not say lots of fish caught, I just said lots of money won. Spinnerbait or crankbait the cedars in this area also. They have flat been hammered, but right now you are fishing for bites not so much fish. Very few fish in this area on a jig, but I always have one on and throw it anyway. Chunk rock banks with breeze have also been a place for the blade and series 5. Point 9 to Shell Knob Bridge. Meaner than a Bride stood up on Wedding Day. You can catch fish in this area from 2ft. to 50 ft. and not but one or two on each spot. These fish are scattered and just picking up a couple chasing if your lucky is about as good as any. Shaky head on windy banks is something to try and I am catching some on it. Green Pumpkin is the culprit, of a 3/8th Chompers Head. Shell Knob to Viola on the Kings and Point 21 to Big M on the White River sems to be all the same. Decent bite here if you adapt. Good start is topwater junk off the main lake point and bluffends. Very Poor Quality of Fish, but bites. Dropshot the gravel in the 30 to 40 ft. range off the flats from the Knob to Big M for K's but very few keeps. You can also use a series 5 cranker or a fat free shad cranking the rock banks with a little wind for LM. Not very good quality, but one day last week, I had a couple of dozen of them. Only a keep here and there. Yesterday, finally got a dose of the dropshot and had the guys start throwing jigs. They were long time clients of over 15 years and I usually fish with them some. Picked a windy chunk rock transition and started flinging. 1st. throw with the 3/8th. PigSticker and the green pumpkin craw. Nice and I mean NICE 3.5 pound Jaw. I put down my rod, just had a feeling the boys could get a good one or two here. Next throw by Mark very nice keeper K. Couple of casts later Ivan had a very weak hook set and the 4 Pound LM jumped up and simply spat the jig back to the boat. I thew back in and caught another 3 pound Jaw. 5 minutes later Ivan hooked another bass and it again with me screeming in his ear, Wind, Wind, Wind. Jumped on a slack line and threw the bait back at us. We were on a spot. " Big Time. " Madgin one of the derby boys, would have paid big money for it, cause before we were done we had 5 keeps and lost 6 others on a location about 200 yrds. long. The 5 we got to the boat weighed 13.5 and if we would have caught two LM that jumped off we would have been at 17 pounds. There was no reason to lose any of the fish that got off. We let them. Yes, they were hot and very jumpy, but by following a few principles, we could have put them in the boat. On a tough day you got to bow your neck and don't let fish once you hook them,"Play You." You play them, and don't mess with them. Put them in the boat and get their picture. You let a Table Rock Lake bass jump on a slack line and I will tell you (YOU BAD) He will whip you everytime. You fish behind yourself and don't get the trigger pulled, its on you. The fish didn't turn it loose, you screwed it up Always fish infront of yourself and don't get out of shape with the rod in a position of zero power. You get that bite get the rod tip over the line and be firm on a tight line. Once the fish is hooked fish the rod over the line and keep it tight. When you see that fish coming up, Wind in your string and as he clears the water pull him to you 4 ft. Don't be jabbing the tip of the rod under water or trying to back reel a spinning rod. KVD may do it but I will tell you now, YOU CAN'T. On my spinning gear, I want that fish pulling drag. If he is pulling drag on that Stradic, I know he is on tight, and he is pretty much caught. That drag is smooth as silk. On my baitcasters I want it tight to the fish, but if he dives at the boat the drag will slip, not allowing the hook to cut out. I am using 12 pound Seaugar. Grab the line in front of the baitcaster and test it. It should pull off the spool even and smooth with good resistance. Not be locked completely down, or come off to easy. There are a few bites out there. What you do when you get them determines what kind of a day your going to have. I love it even If I don't get bit. But, If I do, I want to get my paws on them and give them a smooch or two. Can't do that if they jump off. Good Luck

Duck, I already posted on the Sloan deal. Watson's won it, with 13.64 pouns or something like that. Robbie Dotson won the Stren. Just glad they caught so few fish and did not have to haul so many over the scales. From what I heard the fish handling was not much better the second day. They were carrying the fish to a release boat clear down on the water. Release boat should have been on the trailer right next to the weigh-in with pumps running. Pretty much just how not to do things or run a derby if we want to keep having them.

Robbie Dotson in the lead with 15 pounds, and it get worse after that. I believe only about 1/2 dozen limits, from the 83 pros. Watched the weighin on the internet at Beck's house. WAY to much fish handling and keeping these fish out of the water. Probably the worst fish care I have ever seen, in any derby bar none. Ridiculas. Way to many Children marched up on stage with their dads, for God only know what reason. The idiot anouncer is talking to the kids and the fish are gasping. Both Beck and I were furious at the handling. None of our local derby's handle fish in that kind of a carless manner. They need to stop all this Bull -----. Weigh the fish and get it moving. I could give a flip about TV. FLW sucks so bad they almost need to cancel the TV anyway. Just a horrible production. Take care of those fish on a HOT day. I've a mind to go down there tomorrow and just throw a friggin fit at the way they handled the fish. Those guys need to have their head held under water and see how long they can hold their breath. Locals and local guides sturggled as did they all. It is very hard to put keepers in the boat.

Blue, proud as punch for you boys, you all did great. Just wonder what cove you were refering to as Cedar Cove. You had better keep your hiddy hole to yourself, and let us other galoots just try and find it. Although I appreciate that very much, that is a very nice offer. Great luck in the future and again thanks for the wonderful report and pic's. Good Luck