Bill Babler

4 great fish, very good. The rest maybe fine, but not on the same page. Now, the Best. Don Frank, www.donstaxidermy.com Smithville Missouri. Not only a State or National Champion, but a World Champion. Probably one of the 5 best in the World, right here in Missouri. Don does fish and only fish, you can read a news paper thru the fins of his replicas they are perfect. I have spoken to Taxidermist from Florida to Texas to Montana to Alaska and all if they know their stuff will tell you if they had to bet their life on winning a competition, whould they do it or let Don. All will answer the same. Had a Guy at Lake Fork Taxidermy the leader in Peacock Bass Replicas tell me, Yea, we do the most and the best when it comes to Peacocks, one of the hardest fish to paint. I said yes they are as I looked at dozens of mounted fish on the wall. I said I have only seen their equal in one place. He said where are you from. I said Missouri. He got quiet and said, I will bet you have not seen their equal, you have seen the best in the World. You have been to see Don Frank. Had a Montana Taxidermist tell me That the Lord Made the Brown Trout, and Don Frank showed him the colors and where the spots should go. The taxidermist that is doing the 25 pounder was bringing a mount into lilleys' office to display, and I introduced myself to him, he said he really would like to do my clients or my work, who did I use. I said Don Frank. He said Nevermind, I'm not ready to be compaired to him. www.donstaxidermy.com Ask your taxidermist about him. If he dosent know him, he dosent know fish.

RP, you and T. had me laughing so hard about the bait companies that I almost Split-a-Stitch. I gotta thinking about this Spring when all the clients wanted to fish the high water in the bushes. That one group that Sang all their War Eagle Spinner Bugs 40 ft. up in every oak tree in Big Creek. At one point during the day I fell on the front deck and laughed so hard I couldn't stand. I hope they knew I was not laughing at them, but with them. They both thought it was sort of funny also. That is until they had to replace those pricy suckers. Glad they weren't mine. Another trip I had these guys and we were catching them really good about 20 ft. on a cenipede. They kept on bugging me about the "Bushes this and the Bushes That." "We want to try and catch some big ones in those bushes". We read on the Table Rock report that they were catchin the big-ens in the bushes. I said boy's you are flat slaying them out here. "Do you really want to do that?" "Oh yes we do." I told them to throw the blade just past the bushes, run it by and if they wanted to just kill the blade even or just past the bush, and then start it up and fish it back to the boat. That might really get a vicious snap. About an hour later, one of these Pro's said, I believe we would do better with the split-shot-rig. "I don't think they are in the Bushes." I thought for a second, and kind of let my tongue speak before the grey matter had time to activate. I said, "It's for sure there not in the green leafy parts that are sticking out of the water, We have covered that very throughly." " Still don't know about the parts that are underwater there might just be one or two hiding there." They really didn't think that was as funny as I did. During the entire hour with both men flinging, I can guarantee you there was not one presentation that would have caught a fish with a brain as big as a pencil lead. I for the life of me didn't see one presentation that I thought, "OH BOY WE HAVE A CHANCE." About the same time, the other ole boy said,"Were not really that good at fishing tight locations." I thought to myself, Why in the H E double Heck have we been in here for an hour, when you were catching quality fish on a rig. Never let a Client dictate what they want to do. It only gets you in trouble. Should have learned my lesson, from Trav, he told me that. My Mistake. All of us this year have had clients that want to fish the bushes. For the most part, it can't be done. People that only fish 4 or 5 days a year, cannot make the presentations needed to catch ambushing bass in tight locations. Even those of us that fish everyday, get hung up. Next time you get hung up, time it to see how long it takes to untangle and then manuver your boat into position to fish proberly again. NOt counting if you are hung up in the front and your brother, throws out the back and hangs up there while you are getting the first hang loose. 5 minutes minium. Take this by 2 dozen hangs and you pretty much take care of a 4 hr. guide trip. This is why we stay away from the bushes. RP, no offense taken, on your post. Always love to hear from the fishy side of the lake, keep her commin.

RP, I believe the river fish are still pretty good on the pbj, thats what Steven and I caught them on Sat. It just seems the fish in the Kimberling to the dam area are on the WMC a bit better. May be the number of guys jerking all the baits around, or maybe I'm nuts, and a jig is a jig. I will tell you the water color is very different at the dam, from up the White. Maybe worth trying up there. Tetrick however has not been getting bit on the PBJ, while his clients have been catchin them on the Candy. I tried the same thing, and for SURE the candy was better at the dam. Worth a try, you know we have to keep all these bait companies in business.

DJ, I for the life of me have not found or even seen any Whites in numbers. I believe a few boys are catching a couple in the Knob to Big M area, but don't know of anyone getting rich. I have never seen fish with such an attitude as the Jaw's we were catching yesterday. As Eric said, these durn things would just flat try and hurt ya. Threw 2 in the box running full air and Ice to take a photo of, and they never stopped hitting the roof of the livewell. Really didn't have to get them out, just opened the box and they jumped out on the deck. They would take every opportunity to try and bite or fin ya. Both of my thumbs are devoid of any hide and it looks like I ground them on a sanding wheel. While trying to release them, I dropped almost everyone, as I just could not hold them, and they for sure were not going to make it easy on me. They were MEAN with a capitol EAN. Had several throw the jig, and that happens to us all. Lots of arieal displays, which is a bit strange for SJ's here on the Rock. Of course they would make their pattented dive at the boat when you thought you had them beat. Broke a "Whopper" off at the boat along with the other miscues. Just could not have been a better day, with all the fish, and all the fun at the dock, during the storm.

Before, between and after the Electric Fireworks, yesterday John and Andrew Dickerson and yours truely Had one of those dream days on the Rock. Very overcast and waves lapping at the hull of the boat, and better yet spanking some of the best SJ banks on Table Rock Lake. Fished 7 locations throughout the mornings storm dodging process and caught mulitple fish on every location, with some that just defy the size barriers of what we usually gather up. Nothing I did, by any means, just one of those days when its not work, its laughing,head shaking, back slapping and high 5 ing. From the 5:15 launch at State Park till the 8:30 gathering of the guides at Paridise Points Dock, we were on Fire. Almost were, on fire at the dock, big time. Eric Prey, Chris Tetrick and Myself, with clients scampering everywhere were pinned. After the first birage, it started to clear, and then it happened. LIGHTNING HIT THE DURN DOCK WE WERE ALL HIDING UNDER. It struck the North East Corner and it looked like a Roman Candle went off, traveling down the post to the water. NO ONE WAS HURT, ONLY WOKEN UP. Lots of stories to tell thats for sure. Morning continued even after the storm with really surprised me. I believe we caught 29 SJ's and 2 K's. Boat in 25 throwing at the bushes. Jewell Spider Jig and FB in WaterMellon Candy and WaterMellon flash with Chompers Watermellon Candy trailer was the ticket. They wanted nothing to do with PBJ, they are full of peanut butter for me right now. Tetrick discovered this last week and it is holding true. I believe they would have just eaten a WC Cenepide on a rig, but we were catching them so good on the jigs it didn't matter. GReat morning with lots of excitement, I know I won't forget it and I will bet you those 3 sets of clients won't either.

One of Lilleys' resort guests caught a 25 and change pound brown drifting orange and chartruse powerbait below the conservation ramp, at Cooper Creek, last evening. Megan, Phil's daughter, emailed me the pic's to post, but I couldn't get them to come up at the proper size to post. I will try and get one of the office girls to post name and pics. Unfortunatly fish this size, seem not to make it back to the water after a fatal mistake. ie Eating Powerbait. Megan reports the guest is going to "Get it Stuffed". Apparently didn't know about replicas. Said he wished he had known. I'm sure more details to follow. In 35 years on Taney, I can count on both hands the number of Browns I have caught on Powerbait. This is truely a miricle, if it is.

Don't know what it is, but the Aunt's Creek area is heads and shoulders above the rest of the lake for extremely poor boat operation. Shell Knob is second, just due to the narrowness of the river up there, and the size of the boats they run at Shell Knob. Shell Knob, is billed as the quiet side of the lake, and as you all know, I just love the area, however it is far from the quite side. The size of the boats and the numbers are by far the worst on the lake. Lots of boats from point 9 to Long Creek and some big waves, but you can get away from them. Not so much at Shell Knob, or Aunt's Creek. Get out at 5:30 and give her to the skiers later and you got her made.

My Man Cub and I hit the drink at about a quarter after 5 this AM to a bright Moon, flat water and very heavy air. The Boy loves that topwater bite, and I told him we wouldn't have it as it is just to flat. Wrong, as usual!!! About 20 minutes in, he had a nice K, get all over the chrome fin. and 1 cast later a 4 pound SJ nearly took my rod away hitting right smack dab at the boat. I caught that fish on 6 ft. of string, it was a miricle he didn't burst me off like a bubble. Steve then caught another K and I picked up the jig, so I wouldn't spoil his thunder. I wanged one the first cast on the FB and then again on the next cast. He put down the topstuff and caught 2 more each on the FB. Wanted to hit another potential Top Spot, so we motored away from the bottom feeders. Don't ask why, ignorance I guess. Worked out well as he caught 2 nice LM on the Fin, one about 3.5, so my dumb hunch paid off. We each caught 4 more jig fish all keepers, 3 of which were LM, with Steve catching another 3 pounder. Quality of the White River fish was very good, with all our fish being keepers you would not have had to measure except for 3 of the Jig fish and 1 on the fin. Unlike Sk, the Big M area was full of boats with skiers and wake boarders going by at 6:30 on the calm flat water. First time ever, we got a bit of harrasment from some wake boarders in a fancy tow boat, calling us names as they flashed by. I believe they were already drinking at 7AM. Lots of fisherman out too, we kind of had to hunt a spot to fish. Great day on the water with my boy that I would not trade for anything.

Hit the water out of Aunt's creek today at 5:25 AM with a good young fisherman, Michael Smith and his mom and dad. Dad didn't fish, but mom did and caught the most. Decided to lay off the lower James, and hit some stuff up the White. Major mistake probably on my part. Day dawned clear as a bell and as flat as a mirror. I guess it dawned, but with the full moon, even I could have read a newspaper at 4 AM. My jig and hula grub bite just flat went as flat as the water, 1 swimmer, and this is ashame as this kid could really throw and fish. We worked it as hard as we could and that was it. Mommy on the other hand was just plain speading the butter on the bread in the back seat with a crawler. 8 solid keepers up to 3.5. The shame of this was her dropshot fish came out of about 18 to 22 feet, while we hammered the bank. Move out and fish that 22 ft. range you say??? Did that and a big goose egg on anything but a yummy crawler. Right before we went in, we did catch 6 with 3 pretty good keeps on the purple lam. DSW. All were at 18 suspended off the bottom at 25. Momma would have caught those also, but I had her dragging her worm on the bottom and Mike was able to just drop on the suspenders using the soft-plastics. About the same number of fish I had on Tuesday, but not at all the same kind of day. Yes we had some nice keepers today, but catching those Big fish on a FB is night and day ahead of DS worm dangling. I know Chris had a great day on the hula grub, and I will let him post on it. I must just have been in the wrong lake section. Don't guess I should fuss about that many fish, with most of them keepers of pretty fair quality in mid-july, but I sure wanted this young man to catch some mean old Table Rock SJ's on that football jig. I am taking this weekend off, although I have had a dozen calls for Saturday and Sunday. My son is coming in, and we are going to fish. Going to start at Viney on Saturday Morning and fish the Big M. area till 8 AM and then go into the Marina Cafe for Breakfast. He always beats me. I just love it.

Freaky, not giving any of your secret junk away, the fish are right where you told me you caught them. Not your exact spots but similar spots all over that area. Little wind makes a huge difference. This bite however is a very early bite, unless we have clouds and wind. ABSOLUTELY DONE BY 8 AM. I really don't believe they move out, cause i sure can't find them very deep. I believe they just quit biting after the hot sun beats down on the water, and the jet skis start. This Spring I would have bought stock in the Pac a Chunks. I can't get bit on them now. I love Chompers and am a huge fan of both them and their products. 99.9 percent of the time they are one of the best soft-plastics out there. Those guys do more for us than they need to for sure. Wonderful products. I am getting bit better on the Yam stuff, right now, no question. Softer more supple and lots more vibration and wiggle, no doubt. A better fisherman is probably doing the same on the Chomper's, but I'm not right now. T. I sent you a PM I am catching lots of fish, but it is early. I am getting off the water if I can, before 9 AM. Just no use in beating a dead horse for me. I know lots of guys are doing better, but I'm not, nor are the majority of my cohorts. As Tetrick, said, "Even the deep fish are shallow." Good Luck

Had to guide out of Aunts again today, and stopped by the guard shack on the way out to see what the park Superintendent knew of the group that fished there. Yes, he told me there was a big night tournament. The rigs started rolling in after 6 PM and he thought there were probably over 20 and under 30 rigs. He checked the parking lot around 10 PM and It was full of trucks and bass boat trailers, all was quiet. I told him I picked up 16 floaters at 5:30 AM on Sunday and all the rigs were gone. He said,"You didn't get all the dead ones. There were about a dozen more floating around the privy and up the beach just past the ramp, back in the trees. He said they have been floating there and stinking ever since. Whom ever did this should be banned from Table Rock or any other lake in Missouri. I just wonder if any of the fish lived. That is close to 30 dead ones. I guess if it was a thirty boat tournament, that would only be 1 per boat, but when you see that many floating and stinking, its way to many. It would be nice if these guys had to present a permit to the park supers to be able to put on the derby. The Superintendent said he would also like to know who is in the park at night. On a brighter note, My Sunday and todays morning trips in the James have been fantastic. Bite is from daylight till about 8 AM. Big Smallmouth, LM, and K's are just inhaling that FB jig in PBJ. 1/2 oncers are working the best. Don't know what it is and you may have to prove me wrong, but that Yamamoto twin tail seems to be the best bet. If anything worked better or as good, I would not spend the bucks on em. Close second is Chompers new PBJ. It is a bit thicker and the legs are somewhat heaver. The Ya. legs are very long and they really twitch, this may be the answer. Perch will just ruin your day, eating off these soft salt filled tails. Bring lots. I believe the bite maybe the best I have see all year, and thats saying something. Sunday, we had 5 over 4 pounds and today we had 2LM, 1K and 2 SM over 4 pounds. I catch lots of K's, and only get a couple a year that big. He jumped 4 times and I really worked him to get him going again. Fishin Freak put me onto this bite a week or so ago, and it has stayed strong. Sunday, with the wind, rain and clouds, till 9:30 AM, kept the bite strong all morning. Since, as soon as the sun hits the water really strong, it ends. You can still find a bite a little later than 8, if you can find some wind on a bank. It's hard, as its been foggy and flat in the mornings. Had over 30 fish Sunday, and 15 today, with 10 very strong keeper size fish today, and at least 15 keepers on Sunday. Table Rock is really fishing great for this time of the year. Not so much for me on the deep fish, but realtime bass fishing with a jig is fantastic. Go from 5:30 till 9 AM and then let the skiers have it. I have been told, there is also a very strong evening bite, starting around 8 PM and going till dark. After dark you have a hr. or so delay, and then around 10 they get busy again for the rest of the night.

All tournament fisherman and tournament directors need to read the difinitive article on how to keep tournament fish alive. Keeping Bass Alive - Leggetts Creek Bass Masters This how to information can be found on the internet and is Extremely valuable. This is a 20 page article covering everything from pre-tournament to release boats, not only telling you to do certain things, but giving you the reason for the action, and the reaction. Fantastic piece and should be a primer for all tournaments either night or day. This is a great read. If you can't find it let me know. You can google search, keeping bass alive and it will be the 6th piece down the page. I have read everything I can find on the subject and this is the Bomb. Best piece I have ever read. Bottom line, 3 fish limits, water at 70 degrees or under small doses of salt, duel continuious areation, short stays in the livewell, no longer than 4 hrs. if possible. Quick cool handling at weigh-in, with fish cooled and rejuvinated before being released. Any dead fish to be disposed of properly. ie Eaten. Nothing left on the ramp, but the waves. At 80 degree water temps in your livewell, the fish really don't stand a change even with two pumps running full tilt. It has to be cool and not over crowded. Eric said 25 ft. on the fizzing, but most articles, will say 18, to be on the safe side. As Phil stated professionals need to be at the release and gather tanks to take care of any problems before the fish are released. This is not 10 or even 5 years ago. If we kill dozens of fish and let them float and it is viewed by the non-fishing public, or for that matter any PETA people, you can bet it will be on the news and then some. This is a very worthy topic and should be taken very seriously on this and any other bass fishing forum. You want our right to go away, there is no better way than to leave a mess like I found for someone to photograph, or video tape and put on the news. I will guarantee you any of the networks in Springfield would have ran pic's of those floaters. Give that article a quick read.

Predator, love your passion. Please, edit the post and remove the cursing, your points are very good without it. This is a family forum and we need to keep it as clean as we can. Lots of youngsters look at it. I don't want to bleep you, and love your post, so take care of it for me, so everyone will be able to read your words and feel your passion. Thanks. Something to remember about TR. Lots of these fish are not being caught in the 82 degree surface water shallow, they are coming from below the thermocline out to 35 ft. where the water is much cooler. You throw those fish into surface bath water with little air running into it, and they just can't make it. This makes TAble Rock and the White River Chain very different than most other lakes, where bass are taken from warm water, rather than cooler deeper water.

Extremely good information on the subject. I have a couple of buddies that are on BP's national team. They recieve several thousand dollars in vouchers for new BP equipment every year when their new boat deals come in. The vouchers have to be used for the purchase of BP fishing equipment of current models, only. These are professional fisherman, and I have fished tournaments with them and guided with them. For the most part, they sell the BP, either to their clients or on ebay, and buy Shimano. Yes, they will have some on hand, for clients and to keep up appearances, but when the cash is on the line, the BP is in the rodbox, and either Sustains, Stradics, or Chronarchs are in their hands. When I first started I used entirely BP ie pfluger equipment. It was alright if I fished it myself, but putting it into the hands of clients that would bend the bail the wrong way, jerk the snot out of it and engage the reel while the lure was in the air, soon destroyed all the pfluger and BP stuff I had bought. The clients do this everyday to the Shimano stuff, and I have reels that are 10 years old and as good as new. If guides are not getting a deal or money off on equipment, for the most part they are using Shimano. I can't speak for any of them, but I have lots of guys that help me, and most of them fish either diawa or shimano. On one of the first trips I ever guided for Big Cedar, and this was in the day when a dozen guides were full time there. I pulled into the dock with all my BP equipment lined up on the deck and rigged. I had a smile on my face from ear to ear, thinking, I am now "One of the Boys". Every guide boat parked at the dock other than mine, displayed a deck full of Chronarchs and Stadics. Nothing else. Took me about 6 months to wear out the pflugers and my deck was full of Shimano, and has been ever since.

Den, This is not the first time for this kind of a thing on the Rock. The old Wednesday nighters out of Shell Knob, used to be a blood bath after the middle of June. Guys would show up in rigs, I swear they had to use a stringer, cause their boats livewells were about as good as spitting in the water. Can't even tell you how many fish I have hauled off the Shell KNob Ramp, after those tournaments. This was a big topic several years ago, on the old forum. After one of the wednesday nighters, I measured a bunch of floaters, and found 8 or 10 K's that were not legal. I guess they shrunk an inch after they died. Some of the boats in these tournaments just cannot maintain lights and pumps for the duration of the length of the fishing time. The pumps have to be run continusly, and med. Ice and salt have to be applied to the water. Fill your livewells, put in a block of Ice and rejuvinate and some sea-salt, and run both pumps on recirculate for the duration of the event. Weigh in no more than a 3 fish limit, and the problems will be cut down to non-existant. If I were directing the derbys, you would have to show me that your boat was capiable of that or you would not fish. I agree on the fish care penilties you wish to access. I am as careful as anyone, and I am killing fish by accident as this hot water makes them extremely sensitive. If they fight you hard and are hooked deep, in the least, you will have trouble. If you are dropshotting K's from the thermocline and try and weigh them even with phising them, they start to turn white as soon as they hit the livewell. Water is hot, and it is going to get hotter.

T. First thing I did was look for regatta permits. With all the ramps closed, its hard to tell where these guys came from. I just hope they were not left and refloated in from a Friday night affair. As many as we picked up, I could just imagin how many more there would have been if it had been two days ago. Did anyone happen to launch at Aunts on Saturday? if so were there any fish floating? How about this morning, before 5:30? Just can't understand the killing and wasting. Only lazyness and lack of caring caused this. No, this was not every fish in the lake, but it was more than all my fingers and part of my toes. Several really nice LM. I will bet most all these fish were dead after 15 minutes in the boats. Guys were running warm water on timers. This many fish just could not have been hooked deep. If you know they are dead, clean them, just don't throw them to float at the ramp.

I very seldon say this, and this may be the first time, but today, I was embarrased to be a fisherman. Got to the ramp at Aunts Creek around 5:30 the AM and when I went to back the boat in, the ramp was covered with dead floating BASS. Largemouth, and Spotted. Our actions are viewed in these public places by hundreds if not thousands of non-fisherpersons, and fisherman alike. This was a true abomination. Whom ever is responsible for the Night Tournament that went out of Aunts Creek, last night, SHAME!!! SHAME!!! ON YOU. That camp ground is completely full of non-fisherman, the mess you left in the dark is visible for all to see when they come to put their ski boats in. I am 100 percent catch and release, but those fish should have been filleted and used, instead of left bloated and floating on a public ramp. Unexcusable!!! IF you are a fisherman that particitpated in this derby, you are as guilty as SIN. It is everyones responsibility even if the fish were not yours, to have not let this happen, or to have properly taken care of it afterwards. I am notifiying Bryant Ward about this wanton waste of wildlife. My client and I scooped them up and took them across the lake and dumped them away from public view. I am still sick. Both he and I wanted to throw-up, this just cannot happen. Table Rock water temperature is over 80 degrees and I don't care if you are night fishing, you mess with these fish and they are going to die. Livewells should have been iced, and medications should have been added to the water with salt, to keep your catch alive. We profess catch and release here, and support local events, but if this is the way its going to be handled, you can bet your last buck I will be on board to try and STOP ANY DERBYS AFTER THE FIRST OF JUNE. I hope I never have to look at a mess like this again.

George, try some gravel pockets in the 12 to 20 ft. range. Try using a slip-cork with 4 pound test and a cricket, redwiggler, or 1/3 of a nightcrawler. You can also try the docks at Schooner creek, around the ends and the house boats with the same rig. Fish Schooner Creek and go down stream toward the dam fishng the pockets from Gobblers to White Oak, and around the docks in the flat coves in Schooner and the flat coves before White Oak. If you are only catching small fish, drop the float and dropshot the baits deeper till you find the size you want. I know the guys were really catching some pigs 3 weeks ago. You should still be able to find them. Maybe someone else has some ideas. Point 7 can also be good, finding the correct depth in the pockets and on the points is the key. For the most part, most of us are trying like heck to stay away from those bait stealers. Good Luck

Don't know what has gotten into MDC, but there are some very nice trout in the Lake. We are not catching huge numbers and in a 4 hr. trip, you have to kind of work at it, but the fish you do catch are really nice pink meaters. I am convinced the Gulp Powerbait is by far superior to regurlar Powerbaits. I have been experimenting abit, and my clients with the Gulp, will out-fish the regular, in similar colors. All the other guides are reporting similar results. The Gulp is about twice as high, so it had better be worth it. I believe it is. Orange and Charturse the usual culprits are the best. Nice fish can be found from Lilleys' thru the Landing. Make the entire drift and you will catch a dozen to 15, and 10 of-em will be over a pound and a quarter up to a pound and a half. Great eating size. Lots of jumping and cavorting around for these pink-meated rainbows. I brought home some the other night, and Becky thought they were the best fish she had ever eaten bar-none. This includes Walleye, Halibut, Salmon and Sea Bass. Thats a mouth full and I had to agree. I ate 2 of them they were so good and got a belly ache. Lots of boats and fishing prussure, but the fish are there. Recipt; 4 Taneycomo Rainbows, Gilled and Gutted, with cavity cleaned and washed in fresh water Chop fine 1/2 red onion, and small bunch of tops green onion. Chop fine small handfull fresh basil leaves, 2 cloves garlic and zest 1 large lemon. Purchase 1/2 pound small salad shrimp, and combine with mixture, adding 1 stick of melted salted butter. Leave the trout whole with skin on. Dust the cavity with Tony Chasheries Cagin Seasoning and put 3 Table Spoons of mixture into cavity. Roast on a nice hot steak grill rolled in Tin Foil for 7 minutes per side. When you remove the trout from the aluminum foil, the skin will stick to the foil. Unroll and gently take your fork and remove meat from the topside of the trout. Grab the head and lift. All the bones will come out with the head, leaving the stuffing and the trout sides. Sprinkle lightly with lemon and enjoy. Good Luck

Of Course that is per person. Flights to Kodiak round trip from St. Louis are running $850.00 and flights to King Salmon are costing in the $1,100 per ticket range. Very reasonable. A similar trip to Branson with 5 days of guided fishing and a Top Flight Lodge stay, meals and just area fuel getting from your location and running around here for a week, is going to come out about $1,800 to $2,400 per person. This makes Alaska very reasonable if you do the Kodiak trip or you go to Naknek River Camp. I know that had some cancellations at Naknek for August and Early September, and they might have available Space. The majority of the Lodges at King Salmon, or most on Bristol Bay, are running about a Grand per day per person, and they are full all Summer, and booking a year in advance. That makes the two I have given you a real value. When I was guiding in Alaska full time in the Late 90's we were charging $3,700 per person per week, and were full. This is not counting airfare. Great deals on Kodiak or thru the NNRC, at King Salmon

You know I'm dying here in the 90 degree heat. What is the price of gas at King Salmon? Get us some pic's from inside the Pink Palace. Give us an idea of the fishing at camp and some photo's of sockeye. How are the Kings going and is anyone catching any? Your previous photo's were great. Give us some client photo's. How are Jim Phyllis and the Kids doing? How are the boats doing, and what is the standard daily plan that the camp is doing each day with the clients? Are the Sockeye running very thick, after last years record runs? How are the Brooks trips? ie to many bears and slow, or great? You dry fly fishing was very impressive. Did you find my waders and 7 wt. TFO? if not who cares. REally miss you all and can't wait to see ya. I'll probably call later in the week. Are there any opening at the camp in either late Aug. all of September, or early October? There seems to be some late interest. Don't go on anymore camping trips, it takes to long for us to get information. We need an Alaska Fish Fix, almost everyday. Are you going to be able to catch some Sockeye and send some home? I have a hankeren for fresh Naknek River Sockeye. This is all I can think of now, but I will think of more. Miss Ya.

I'll give you two trips. First is a late summer, Mid-August trip to Kodiak, to do it yourself fish the road system. It is marvelious. Chums and Pinks on every cast in the Olds, Russian Chiniak, Pasagak, and American and other river that cross the 110 mile road system. Throw in two days of Halibut, Ling Cod, Sea Bass and King Salmon on a Charter and you have a whale of a vacation that can be booked for about as low a price as you can ever hope for. I'm talking under $2000.00 for everything including your flights, lodging, fishing and meals. This is true Alaska, and not an Anchorage area trip, this is Kodiak. Better yet, even with the fire is Naknek River Camp. King Salmon Alaska There may be openings for September Rainbows and Arctic Char. Massive Fish on Big Water with probably the finest people to ever host an Alaska Trip. With Air Fare, about $3,500 for the kit-en-kbotle. Send me a personal message on either of the trips and I will give you more info.

Trav, might have mentioned the best one. How about when that stickbait just starts swimming off. You gotta Love it.

Order me two of the rods you are using with the 1/2 oz. Your favorites. Let me know if you need a check or just get them. Had 2 high school girls today, and we just had a real hard time getting bit deep, till the wind came. When it started to blow, the dropshot fish were under 25 and we caught 15 with 4 nice keepers. Throwing anything, was out of the question. You know what I mean. While I was waiting on the girls, I caught two big keeper K's off the boat ramp on the FB. They are wanting to eat daddy's really bad. Loved the girls, and would not have traded them, but good fisherman could have caught fish today. Beck had close to 20 keepers today, on a hula grub and the jig. 4 or 5 huge SJ's 8 to 20 ft. Had couple of guys at the lodge this weekend that caught them pretty good on a blade right down here in the bushes. These fish are up close. 12 guide boats at the ramp this morning. By 7 AM, there was not a point open from Long Creek bouy point to point 5 with guides and just folks out flinging. Got to get out early. Great reports Donnie, glad you are getting hit hard.

BRAVO to the both of you. Ouick thinking and great work.