Bill Babler

Duck, they say it takes the 5th. year for a LM on Table Rock to hit the 15 inch mark and the 6th.or 7th. year for a Jaw and a K to get there. I am going to say in 2012 or 13, we will be seeing a very nice boom of quality fish, that should last for another 5 yrs. after that. The Flood was 07, so hang on. Surface temps today in the 81 to 85 range. Still bath water like. Yesterday afternoon at Shell Knob at 4 Pm I had water at the Knob, at 86.7.

Going to run thru my last 6 days since I've been home from Alasky. Lost two guide trips because of the plane malfartion. Starting with a double on Friday. Morning trip out of Baxter, even with all my contacts I struggled about a dozen fish with 1 keeper, all on a 3/8 oz watermellon candy jig and twin tail of the same species. Friday Afternoon Williams Electric corp Group. 20 fish with 3 solid keeps all on Crawlers in the 30' range in the Baxter area. Saturday same group Full day trip with 30 fish and 5 keepers. Was really slow till about 1 Pm and then started catching them on a drop shot. Same 30ft. depth with a PBJ Chompers drop shot worm. Sunday afternoon 30 fish with 3 keepers, all on Crawlers out of the Knob, 26 to 32 ft. on the flats. Monday, could not put a fish in the boat and did not till 9:30 after starting at 6:30. Fished these folks some extra and ended up with 17 bass with 5 keepers and 2 keeper walleye. All 31 ft. in the Baxter area on Crawlers. Tuesday took a BLF fisherman out of Eagle Rock and Fished a Full day plus. Fished to Baxter and put 50+ fish in the boat with 11 keepers. Had one 3 pounder and the rest were just keepers. Caught fish on a jig, dropshot, and topwater. Two keeps on top, 1 on a the shot and the others on the Watermellon Candy jig. Fished today with a great guy Scott Driher out of St Louie. First two jig spots zelch. Next jig spot we caught 5 shorts. Saw some topwater fish breaking and caught 10 and 2 whites, all the bass were short. Moved to the next jig spot and caught 3 shorts, and again saw fish breaking. another 10 and 2 on a dropshot, again all shorts. Motor shot craps on me and had to get off the lake. Took it in and they replaced all 6 coils. Hope that was it, they say it was. I have about a dozen days in a row remaining and I hope I can get into some quality fish. There are tons of topwater fish, but they are just not the right kind. Fun, mind you, but just a little to short between their nose and tail. The lake is showing the spawn from the flood. From Big M to Baxter there are litterly thousands of topwater fish. These fish are very evenly mixed with K's, LM, and Jaw's. They are chasing fingerling shad which there are also millions. These shad are about the size of a nickle. I saw in one group of chasers yesterday, I'm going to say there were several hundred on the surface up near Big M. They stayed up forever. Biggest are the LM. they are about 13 inches, the K's and Jaws are in the 11to12 inch varity and are just thick. I weighed two 14 plus in K's yesterday that were so fat I could not believe it. They were dribbling shad out the butt and had there mouths and guts full. The two I weighed were both right at 2 pounds. I saw these blowups the last two days both above the Knob, and in the Baxer area this morning. Hope these translate to some nice keeper size fish in the next 5 yrs. Good Luck

Trying to put the gear together for this trip has been pretty much a full time job. After selling most of my Commercial Camp to Jim Johnson, I have put together a very nice smaller unit for two to 3 persons. At one time there was a rental place in Kotzebue to rent the entire camp, but the owner sold out, so we pretty much have to take all we will need for a 7 day float. Most other distinations in Alaska, you can rent gear. Usually about $150 a day for two people, not including the raft, which is another $100 plus per day, depending on the raft. For this trip I purchased a new Coleman 2 burner 20,000 BTU stove, a complete kitchen from REI, and of course we already had a 4 man Alaskan Guide Series tent with 2 ZERO degree bags. I purchased two heavy sleeping pads that are really quite large and would not do to pack. They are 8 pounds each and are 3 1/2 inch thick foam. Compression pillows and dry sacks complete the hotel. 3 new camp lights from Rayban with 380 candle power on 4 D batteries for the light. We packed our gear in two Cabelas Boundry Bags, 3 Plano totes, 1 Rubbermaid Action Packer. Price for those items alone just to transport the gear was $300.00 plus. We each purchased a Orvis rod and reel protection box that houses 4 rods each plus the reels and terminal tackle. New waders and boots, and more beads and flys and leaders than we will probably use in a life time. We are taking 2 5wts. 1 6wt. 3 7wts. We have also sent up dry food items for the trip, and will purchase stove gas, and any other food items before take off. Trip cost at this point is about $4,000.00 not including new equipment we purchased. Let me state at this point, this is for about 16 days, and multiple destinations. About $250.00 each per day with the bush flights, lodging and rentals on Kodiak,and all the plane tickets. Not bad, YET.

Have not been on much in the last 3 weeks. Really a monster busy schedule with more guide trips than I have ever taken. All but a couple on Taney. They have been great, and it has fished as well as my memory serves. Good luck to you all till Mid-September. Phil and I are headed to Alasky next weekend, and I will not be on the Rock till my return on the 17th. Yesterday in our part of Alaska, it was slightly cloudy with a 15 mph breeze out of the west and 62 degrees. It is 52 this morning. I have already got 84 here at the lodge. Good Luck and God Bless for the next several weeks. I will be ready to crank it up when I get home Sincerely Bill B.

This back to school deal is getting more out of hand year by year. My best buddy's kids start back day after tomorrow, the 12th. They have already told them they will be on a heat schedule. As long as they go till 1PM the day counts. I believe some of these districts know this and get started early just to get out the 1st. of May.

There are at least 14 Rock Solid pieces of important fishing information in that post. It really does not get any better than that.

Fishrman just gave you'all so much information, it is unbelieveable. That was a fantastic White River Report, and I'm going to say it is pretty close to a pattern most of us guide types whould have ran, if we would have had throwers, instead of dunkers. This is one of the most detailed reports I have ever read on the rock. There are at least 6 huge pointers in this report. Some of you guys take a stab at breaking this report down and telling us what you think of it. It is a great report, chucked absolutely full of knowledge. Fish, that was above and beyond the call. Very much to the point and a very good trip. "I don't care who you are." Thanks Bill

As Phil blogged, we are pretty much on our put together phase of the Alaska Float Fishing Trip. One note of caution here, we are kind of going to be a primer, but before you think of trying something like this reguardless of your physical conditioning, it would be a good idea to have some very exact information, and be aware this is pretty wild country you about to visit. I guided raft trips for a couple of years in Alaska, and had most of our Alaska River Float Gear, but sold quite a bit of it to our friend Jim Johnson, at Naknek River Camp. So, I am regearing to a lesser extent, not so much the commercial equipment, but just way upper end extended camping gear. I am a research fanatic when it comes to stuff like this and will usually as you should dig up every available scrap of information on any adventure like this you would like to do or our planning. There are extended stay raft trips all over Alaska, and before renting a raft, or doing one on your own, it is always a good idea to take a float trip with a professional, not only to see their gear and setup, but to learn as much as you can about the rivers. Phil and I are taking a very easy Class I river this year, with fishing being the key. We will be fishing one of the rivers out of Kotzebue this year in the Noatak drainage. We are fishing for Andromous or Sea Run Char. The fish get to the largest size here and in the Tree River in Canada. The Alaska State Record comes from the Wulik River at 27.8. Most all these Northern Alaska Rivers, above the Arctic Circle, have Char visit them in the 5 to 25 pound range. We are also looking at the Kelly River. We are leaving the river to our Bush Pilot that flys the area on a daily basis to provide the best fish and float conditions, for the river of his choice. To tell you the truth, most all the floatable Arctic rivers have Huge Char, and it really does not matter to us, which one we float. I'll lay out the gear equipment and how we plan on going about getting it all there commin up.

One of our guest here at the lodge, knowing that Phil and Marsha are our friends brought us the KC Star with Phil on the front page of the fishing section. Night Fishing on Taney. Excellent article and fantastic pic. of Phil with a honest to gosh trophy rainbow. Congrats Buddy. On an even bigger note, Phil has the State Record Brown Trout now on display in the Office. It is worth a drive from anywhere just to look at this trophy mount. This fish was mounted by Don Frank, and I will tell you this period. You have never seen its equal. He is one of the best artist in the world bar none. It is perhaps the best trophy mount that has ever been created. From the texture of the fish to the eye's to the mouth to the tail this mount is without a doubt the best I have ever seen of any fish that I have seen mounted. The only thing that surpasses the mount is the story behind the fish, from the catching to the loosing to the refinding. This is a story for the ages. Don had to create a mold and then use all his skills to recreate this masterpiece. It without a doubt is Magnificent. I got started with Don close to 20 years ago. I would intrust no one with a trophy fish, other than he. Thank you so much to the entire crew at Lilleys' for giving us the pleasure to view it on a dalily basis.

That is probably as good a possibility as any. Still yet, even the Federal fish that are usually stocked in December are a mite bigger than that. I'll have to put my thinking cap on this time to get it figured out. Could be they had a pen that was just not doing any good, or just had to make room, and needed the pen space. Those youngens were aways apart, if your's were at coony and they caught the others at cedar. Be interested to see if the boys at the hatchery know what is going on. They have just been stocking fantastic fish this past year. Thanks for the heads up and good luck

Big K, what are your thoughts on this? I can tell you for a fact, those fish, if they are trout, are not stocked fish. MDC to my knowledge has never or will never stock such fish. This is just not their farming practice. I have been as hard on these folks as anyone, but have never suggested they are stocking 5 to 6 inch trout. In your opinion, is this some natural recruitment from some of the feeder streams? Phil and I fished Bull Creek this Winter and it was in certain locations just loaded with fish. Not to say they are reproducing in large numbers up there, but they are present during the breeding season in these feeder streams. They remain there in large numbers until the water warms to the extent to make them uncomfortable. Very interested to know what you think is going on. Thanks Bill

TRock, didn't mean to give any secrets away, hope I didn't. Guys still have to find them. Thanks for posting what you boys are up to. One other note, the jig I saw on one of their rods, was not a football. It was a big brush jig, and I MEAN big, 1 Oz. at the very least. Huge profile black with blue strands. Looked like it was not an expensive jig, it was not a thing of beauty. Really, closer in size to a black/blue CHIPMUNK. Do not have the least idea who makes it. These boys I suspect have a source, or pour their own. Skirt was just a plain black/blue vinal. It did not looked to be cut down, and it was a really full skirt, extending an inch below the hook bend. I will bet you the farm they are slapping at the very least, a No. 11 Origional Pork Frog on it. Maybe an eel. That frog is 2.1/2 inches long. You slap that frog on that big jig and it is a mouthful. He didn't tell me what the trailer was, he only said it was pork. I'm not going to say you won't catch a K on this type of rig, but for the most part, you are more than weeding them out. Matter of fact, I have measured K's that looked to be about the size of that jig. You got the NADS to throw this type of gear on those big rigs, there is no question what you are after. If your doing this at night on Table Rock Lake, you are not fishing for bites. You are fishing for Big Largemouth Bass. While most of us are just lookin to get bit, these boys are zoned in and after big fish. TRock, thanks for the great intel. Good Luck

Don't think I could get that small gear down deep enough, and it is very Rough and Narly down there. Believe it would break on every cast. I'm sure they would eat that sculpin jig, but the places I'm catching them, you need "Well Rope" to get in and out of. I believe for some reason most of us are having a very hard time getting the hook set on these bass. Beck says they are just not putting it away. Don't seem to really want to eat it for some reason. Have not had a single one have it back in the craw, between the crunchers. Catching lots of them by the bottom lip and the side of the jaw. Have had several fish in the last week, hooked on the outside of the mouth, either in the eye, or by the gill plate. How goofy is that? I believe we are feeling them bite it. They then spit it out and we swing on them, catching them on the outside of the head. You know when they are on it, it will either be in the top lip, or better yet, in the roof of their mouth. That is not happening for the most part right now. The only saving grace, is that they are at least biting it.

Yes they were and it looked like they had their weights pegged. I could be completely off base, but it would not suprise me it those boys were not throwing that big worm in the cedar trees, and climbing it thru the branches, along with fishng those steep timbered points. I bet those boys take a good hour to fish a point and just work the devil out of it. Probably know every tree on every point they fish. Would be suprised if they didn't. I will tell you this. There are not many of those type guys still fishing here. I'm not quite in that catagory yet, but will be in 10 years or so. Hope I know 1/2 of what they do by then.

Boy's this night fishing deal, has not been any of my business, but I did speak to a couple of locals at the gas station yesterday. It was 8:30 PM and they were getting ready to head to the lake. Very nice guys, and everything they were rigged up with was exposed and sitting on their boat deck. They pretty much told me how they were fishing and what they were doing, and from the looks of their rigs, that was that. They told me they were catching them best from about 10:30 PM till 2:30 AM and the full moon had slowed the bite. They were catchen them much better on a dark moon. Said on the full moon that is going on now, the lake is completely full of boats, and the competition for a point is unreal. Dark of the moon, and they have the lake to themselves. Deep chunk rock pole timbered points are producing best. All LM, with a very seldom caught SMJ. No K's what so ever. One guy said, "the same places they are always on." On the dark of the moon, they are catching 15 to 25 fish a night, with about 1/2 being quality keepers. Just about everynight, they are catching a fish over 5 pounds and up to 8 pounds. On the full moon about 1/2 that, but also catching a big'en or two everynight. One guy said," we caught only 8 fish last night, but we had 3 over 5 pounds." They had big black/blue 10" ribbon tail worms on, and it looked like a 3/4 oz black bullet weight. Also looked to me like a 1oz. black/blue Jig. I noticed there was not a trailer on the jig, and the guy told me he simply hated the plastic, and always used pork at night. Seeing the jig without a trailer on it, I had already figured as much. Line looked like 30 pound blue stren, rigged on the big ambassators. This was not a high tech operation. Looked exactly like the same gear I used everyday in the 70's and 80's. I'm sure it was. I asked depth twice in a round about way, and got no answer, so I didn't push it. They were being more than friendly. Said the big worm was the deal, but the one dude just loved to throw a jig. He said it will get a bite or two more than the big worm, but most of the biggins over 6 Pounds are coming on the big worm. These boys were in their early to mid 60's and had bib overalls on. And I am guessing you could have bought their old astroglass, for a grand. One said he had fished the river as he called it for 50 yrs. They only night fished. I am pretty much guessing they know their stuff, and are straight shooters. Did not seem in anyway to be slinging an BS. Quite the oppsite. They were launching at Gage's. I will also guarantee you they are not spending a lot of gas money, they are hunkering down and fishing local. I would bet, no further than maybe Beardsley, or they would have launched at "Old 86." They may not be getting out of Long Creek. Who Knows. Really suprised how much info I got from these two good ole boys. I bet it is the real deal. REally made me want to go. Good Luck

Thank you very much, that rig, looks pretty much as I thought it would. I understand the alignment of the bouncer also. Just a thought here. Have you all ever inflated the crawlers as we do for trout on taney? Gives them a bit more of a bouyancy lift. I also wonder about the Gill's driving you crazy. Is that a problem, or does the movement trolling the bait, keep the bluegills at bay? Also those are fantastic results for a late afternoon. I wonder if the fish are getting into position better later in the day, or if those results can be had early? I am just going to guess that was an exceptional afternoon. Sometimes on dropshot bass, early is not better, especially if there is cloud cover, as the fish can be anywhere in the water column. RPS, this is very nice of you to share this type of hard earned information. It is cutting edge for Table Rock Lake. That is what makes this one of the best how-to fishing forums in the country. We here express our many thanks not only to you but a big hardy "Thank You" to your very knowledgeable fishing associate. Good Luck Bill

On a very good morning, I would have thought, the the bite for me was extrenely tough. Hit the water out of Baxter at 5:15 yesterday morning with good friend and client John Dickerson and son Andrew. All we could scratch up was 13 bass 1 gill and 1 walleye, with only 1 keeper. Everything on the jig. Very little boat or fishing traffic yesterday, we pretty much had it to ourselves. I am going to say we lost at least as many as we caught."Me Included." These fish are just not putting the jig away. You have to feed it to them and then just tighten completely down and BLAST THEM. Every fish is going to jump reguardless of where your rod tips is. Stick it two feet underwater, I don't care, you will not keep them down. When these fish jump, pull the fish to you, do not under any circumstances let it jump on a slack line, or it will spit that football right back in your face. Have been fishing 8 pound maxi on the spinning outfits and 10 on the casters. I am moving up to 12 on the caster, and putting braid on the spinners, to try and get a better hook set. I am really tired of seeing 3 pound fish getting off. "Going to let them go anyway, but like to kiss them, and take their picture."

Would it be possible to see a pic. of that rig? Don't want to "Spill all the Beans," but am not asking for locations or tecniques, only to view the harness. Don't really understand the 100% bend out on the bottom bouncer. Also how close are you allowing your floats to slide toward the baited hook? are they pegged back away, or right up against the hook. If you are allowing the floats to be near the hook, is there a color preference? ie charturse? Also, I noticed you did not mention any spinners on the trailer. I would have thought that you would have caught a ton of K's with this tecnique, fishing at that depth. Very interesting. If that is to much info, I understand. Thanks Bill

Flippin, that is a great question, and I any going to have to apologize here. The bite is so tough for the most of us, I am going to have to let you all figure that out on your own. I intentionally didn't post the depth. As you know 99.9 percent of the time, what I know is what you know. There are so many guys out there right now, that we are having to take a number to just get on a point. As soon as you find the depth, keep it to yourself. I will guarantee you that every point we caught fish on Yesterday had already been fished that morning. That is a pretty good hint. Good Luck

Camera and Computer are still Jamed, so no pic's. Started out yesterday at 5:40 out of Indian Hills Resort with a couple of Saint Louey'ens. We threw the 3/8th. oz football on most of the major long chunk rock points from Point 17 to Point 21. Had some very nice SM and one just flat PIG K. Not alot of fish on any one location, catch one,two or three and you had best move on. 9AM the bite was over. Looked high and low for deep fish for the next hour and a half, and could spot a single or so, but these were small and not worth the time to mess with. Ended with 6 solid keepers, with the big K and one very nice 3 pound jaw thrown in. Even the shorts on the jig were very nice Jaw's, with most 13 to just being shy of 15. Jewels Watermellon Candy was our best jig color, I slapped a Yamamoto, WMC twin tail on it and it seemed to be the deal. Most of the guys fishing the dam area are really working hard for "Not Fish," but bites. There has been a White Bass bite early and then this end pretty much goes to heck in a hand basket. Spoke to both Sainato and Loving along with Paige, and they say it is a pretty big chore just to get bit. Singles and a few coming from deep docks and deep trees, or just suspended off the main lake points. Sainato told me yesterday he was catching a few just gong out the points and seeing them suspended. He was in 120 ft. and the fish were in 45. He said you will catch everyone you see, but you don't see very many. This is a great way to learn to use your electronics, just looking for these deep suspended fish. If you are by yourself, you can catch them.. IT is hard to guide on them. It is almost like bed fishing in the aspect, it is a one person game. When I quit yeserday morning at Baxter, surface temp was 90.7. It is now less that 35 days till Phil and I head for Alaska. I am counting them off.

That is a Fantastic Fish Tapout. I bet I know what you caught it on and where you caught it. Just Say'in. Mum's the word. That kind of a fish turns a slow day into a life remembering day. Congrats,Great Job.

You are not only a Frayed Knot, but also a "Knot Head." I just have a very hard time with tying that Stupid Blood knot and having it all pull together and getting the tagins in the hole. I know it is probably the strongest knot for joining two lines other than the Albright. On a other note, I proudly had on my Missouri Bass Fishing Shirt today, that my buddy gave me. It not only look marvelious, but was. Thanks Denny. PS, you are still do not have permission to fish above the Kimberling City Bridge. Champ and Donna have drawn the line on you. Next time you and Jacky are down, we will get James and Donna and have a HOOT-IN-NANNY. See you in a week or so. BB

Gavin, I believe like that guide in Alaska, that you always want that mono to break first. It is not a big deal with us here as it would be with a salt guide, fearing to get spooled, but you sure don't want to lose a bunch in the water, with a break off. I really am late getting into the stuff. I burned two trolling motors up, just picking it up in the hubs, without ever using it or knowing where it came from. Kind of soured me on it for the last few years. We need to keep this stuff out of the lake, it is bad news, on lower units and trolling motor hubs. I am a bit of a newby, and am enjoying this thread, as you long time users are way ahead of me. I have a question, what is the life expectancy of braid for a guy like me with the rods on the deck 300 plus days a year? As you know, I am changing mono. on a reel or two every other day it seems to keep it fresh. Do you think it will last a year? I have about a 50 rod-reel rotation, for bass and about a 30 rod-reel rotation, for trout. I buy mono in 3000 to 5000 yrd. spools. Stump: That J knot, is almost like a double or triple surgon, only you just start with a loop with the surgons and an overhand knot for the J Knot. Looks good to me. I believe it would be easy for us more experenced fishermen with not quite as good an eye or as steady a hand. Good Luck If you guys are doing UNI'S or Blood knots, you are wasting your valuable fishing time and adding way to many curse words to the atmosphere. Thanks so much for the fun info. here.

Alberto's knot is pretty much a modified Albright. Either one is great. I have never when tied properly had either a double or triple surgons knot fail. It is also less than half the profile of either the Alberto, or the Albright. All three being very good knots for joining line.