Bill Babler

If you have a hummingbird, I'm sure Rick would be glad to set ya up. If its a Lowrance give Mike Webb, a call, he mostly takes care of the rest of us. After he tuned my unit, I could see a BB drop from topside to 70 ft. I have not messed with it. The BB dropping looked like a flag pole as it fell to the bottom. Decent day out of Shell Knob, after the stormy start. We waited till 1PM and dropped shotted and wormed in the 26 ft. range on the bottom and came up with 22 total with about a dozen keeps, that were just barley that, 15 inchers. Real skinny and spawned out, looking for gurb. That was 3 clients, and it was funny, as two caught 7 apiece and one caught 8. Wish I could do that everytime as it is usually 1 guy catching the lot, of em. Of course Shell Knob fish don't count, cause anyone can catch them up there.

Spoke to 8 guides today fishing from Long Creek to Shell Knob. All pretty much reported the same thing, except one. Most thought they had good days with anywhere from a dozen fish to about 20 fish, most averaging 4 or 5 keepers. One guy told me it was as easy as it gets. His clients had 45 fish, on a drop shot. Don't know, but if they did they are twice as good as the rest. I fish somewhere every day and am usually very intune with what the fish are doing, but I just have not seen that kind of bite. Maby it is starting and the rest if us have just not found it. At least 4 other guides that have fished the lake for 30 plus years fished the same water and didn't come near these totals, or for that matter, even close. I know it only takes 1 good spot, on the drop to really produce, but we have just not caught fish as deep as what I was told, especially in those numbers. God bless him for such a great day, and I hope he really got a great tip for his efforts. That kind of report makes us all want to work harder and makes me feel that I am really missing something that I should know. I'll work the Shell Knob area tomorrow and see if I can come up with any numbers close to it. I guarantee you, I will tell you what it is straight up, good or bad.

Lower Restricted area to Short Creek still fishing extremely well on either Sculpin, Ginger or Pink micro Jigs in 256 oz or size 12. In 6 hrs. today we caught and released well over 100 fish. Lots of people in the bait area anchored and we caught fish in front of them until they just couldn't stand it, asking us what in the ---- we were using. I saw schools of 100 plus fish swimming everywhere from the ramp at Fall Creek, to Short Creek. Don't know, but I suspect they dumped them at the Short creek Ramp. Very quality federal fish in the 14 inch class.

Good Report. You see, it can be done. Table Rock is very seldom going to give a bounty, but a good day of fishin was for sure had. Early and Late, and being very observant will get ya bit. Great Job.

Twosets, your words are very wise. ie Been there done that! My Ole Pap once told me you never learn anything from someone else's advice, unless you are a very smart person. It usually has to cost you money or hurt ya. You always hope, not to much or not to bad. I have spend some money on upper taney, and I know you have too, Part of our on going educational process. Be careful in a boat up there, anywhere above Fall Creek. Things are not always what they appear to be. WATCH OUT FOR SHORT CREEK, IT IS A MOTOR KILLER IN THE FIRST DEGREE. In front of Fall Creek Dock is just as bad, as the delta created by Fall Creek is a monster. There is really on, flat water, no generation, only about 20 ft. of navigatable water on the far left flat bank. Start at Cooper. Gain knowledge and gradually work your way up to Lookout, and then maby Clay Banks. Once you are up there fish slowley, this is not usually going to be a great experience for first timers, you must learn the shoals, holes and Big, Big Rocks. This is not the fishing Valhaila, you have to work to gain their respect. Don't expect it to be teeming with keeper Browns and huge rainbow, it gall's my chaps that people call this the "Trophy Area". It is the RESTRICTED AREA, where fishing methods are governed more closely to promote a safer region and allow the fish to live longer periods after they have reached the 12 inch mark. On a whole, I can usually catch much bigger fish on average in the non-restricted area. If clients wish to keep a few eaters, you are always better from Cooper Creek Down. Once up there don't fish an hour and run back out, past all the people that had to get out of your way in the first place. Work slowley and carefully and have a great time. I know most of the guys in that area and don't hesitate to ask another boat that you see doing well the What, When and How, of it. most will be glad to share. Too me, the fish in this area have had to run a gauntlet to get there and once they have achieved that, they have my respect, and I'm going to be mighty careful with them. Good Luck.

FF, I did not get your PM. I am running around right now like a one legged man in a three leg sack race. Keep those reports coming. Guys, I am only able to look at the forum for maby a few minutes every other day or so right now. This is just really hectic, with the lodge and the guide work.

Unlike the night guys, us day guys are having a pretty slow time of it. 8 to 12 fish of a 1/2 day guide trip is pretty much where we are at,with 3 to 5 keepers. Most of the fish are coming off a splitshot in 10 to 30, quite a range. Lots of smalljaws, in the shallower end and the K's on the deep end. Still not finding pods of dropshot fish, one here and one there. Seems if you catch one, you might as well just move to another location. Whites are coming up about every other day. One day you get them and then they go two or three days and don't come up. Beck reported they stayed up in different locations, on Friday from daylight till after 9AM. Guide reporting the same thing on all lake and river sections.

Rolan, you are exactly right. I don't care if its Rio, Orvis or what, it seems like the last several feet of these tapered leaders will fail. Had it happen yesterday twice on a brand new 6X Mirage. Bite off the last two feet and tied 6X vanish on and the problem was solved. Trout fishing in the lower restricted area on Saturday was unbelieveable. The Guide Boats were catching and releasing 60 to 80 fish on 4 hr. trips. Yesterday was ok, but not that fantastic. 30 to 40 fish in 4 hrs. But I'll take that kind of fishing anyday. Lots of fish in the slot, and several Browns. There was flat no one in the zone all day on either day but the guide boats. I can't figure it. Yesterday I was at the Fall Creek Ramp for 6 hrs. and had only two boats come by me in that period, that were not guides. I have been on Taney since the 70's and that is the lowest ammount of traffic I have seen. Water Patrol was down there and doing a great job, but I think they were also suprised at the lack of boats. Did notice lots of floating alge and moss, that I had not seen this year. It was slick and very nasty. I wonder if it was related to the draw down? Hope they generate today and clean it out, as we had to clean our flys after every toss. Didn't seem to matter. Spoke to several people in the bait area, and all reported fishing just being so, so. Have a good friend staying at Lilleys' that has fished bait for years, and he only had 4 total all day. He also reported lots of guck in the water.

Thanks for the info boys. Don't be cheering for Phil yet. He may be in Alaska, but he is not doing much fishing. They have a building crew at the Naknek River Camp, building cabins, lodges and an attached living quarters to the Great Hall. This is a bunch of work. I'm going to try and go up when the fishing starts. He has probably made a cast or two, but they are really digging in trying to get all this work completed before the paying guests arrive. I'm way to busy guiding to have gone up early anyway. When it gets to 100 degrees here, I'm on my way up. Rumor has it there will be a record run of Sockeye in the Bristol Bay Watershed this year, and the Naknek gets over 4 million of em. Sounds yummy to me, about late June.

Two guide trips yesterday out of the dam area, the first our of the Village at Indian Point. Started early and fished too point 7. Saw no whites. Did catch 4 topwater fish. Let me rephrase that. Had 4 dandy smallmouth on, but they hopped off. Did get one to the boat a bit latter on the fin. Went to draggin and had 6 more on. 4 of them came to the top and pit-tueey, out went the french fry. Guess they only like Hardies. Next spot we dropshotted awhile and corralled 2 more, which, thank goodness didn't jump. Had one final drag spot and caught 4 more. Let me rephrase that. Hooked 3 more which all came to the top and jumped the fry off, did manage to get one in the boat for pic's. Man I was tired after that trip. Great folks, but just didn't know and really in such a short trip could not get what it takes to hold on to these fish. If you remember my gals I had out last week, they would have boated everyone of those jumper, no problem. The story those folks will have is we caught 6 fish. That trip should have read, we caught 14 fish with 10 quality keepers up to 4 pounds. That is the difference between a 18 pound bag and an 8 pound bag. Next trip was 1 PM out of Chateau, I was looking forward to that as much as a root canal. Again great folks, Mike and Christy from W. Virginia. They got on the ball and narry a one gained release thru, arobatics, and believe you me they tried. Jump after jump, and both of these guys, hung on like champs, keeping the line tight as a wire while the areial circus went on. 7 nice keepers and 1 gog, hit the boat in fine fashion. All the fish were on the splitshot. 8 to 26 ft. on the Dr. WE have gone from catchin-em too fishing for bites. You must take full advantage off every opportunity as there may not be a whole lot in a day, depending on conditions, and your location. When the fishing gets slow or tough, I can read my clients to the point you can see they start fidgeting around and talking and really not paying attention. This is when you really need to be alert. Just being strong and committed will gain you several fish per day, fishing for bites.

I have been on the rock the last couple of days. Has anyone fished the draw down? Where, when, and what was it like and what were you catchin em on?

Techo, since you don't eat anything, you can put that money toward boat gas. Did you win the skinny race? Give me a shout sometime and tell me what there bitin on. I'm suspose to have a 54 gallon tank on my Rice Rocket. I got almost 52 gallons in it yesterday at $3.35 for 87 O.

Don't know what boat your filling up for 50 bucks, but I'd pay that. Just packed the rice burner full for this weeks trips, to the tune of $172.89 not counting oil. Guide trips are averaging between 10 and 20 gallons of gas, depending on the cooperation of the fish. If they are stingy and I have to run it hurts, but no fish can hide reguardless of the gas price. Good luck out there.

Probably one of the best weekends I have had on taney in quite a few years. Virtually no traffic in the lower restricted area and the fish bit all day. 3 keeper browns in the two days, with the best at 6.6 pounds. We caught and released about 25 browns this weekend. Best bait was the new Xbait by Bass Pro, in Gold. Also had fish on a gold Pointer 78 and a Yourzi minnow. As for fly patterns, we took a 22 inch 4.7 pounder on a black and silver size 16 zebra, drifted below a beaded egg. Lots of browns on straight line sculpin jigs in the 1/32 oz size and lots of bows on sculpin micro's drifted under an indicator. Had reports of some of the guides seening at least two browns over the 20 pound mark and lots reported in the 10 pound range. I didn't see any of these big boys, but I did see several dozen browns in the 5 to 8 pound range. The clients jumped off several in the 7 pound range as they just cound not hold them on the stickbaits. We also had follows and looks by dozens in the 3 to 5 pound range. Fished from Clay Banks, thru Short Creek. Lots in the zone and just as many in the bait area. Don't ask me why they were so visible and active this weekend, I only thank higher powers that they were. It is not for me to ask, only enjoy.

Really good reports coming in from the guides today. Seemed the whites came up from daylight and stayed that way till past 9 AM. Hot spots seemed to be old 86 point. Kimberling area and Point 9. Pretty fair topwater action on bluffends and over deep trees from daylight till the whites arrived. Got reports of dropshot fishing working off the major flat points, and also dragging dr's and cenipedes in the same locations. Fishing this weekend was described as poor to marginal, depending on location. Some fish in the bushes, and others starting to move. Football jig is starting to grab a few, and when that happens, you know a drop shot will work. 14ft early to 28 ft. late. Been on taney the last few days, but moving to the big pond tomorrow.

Lots of fishin the last six days, a couple of em were Corporate trips with Vssi out of Carthage Mo. Great Group of folks. 13 guide boats for two days of catchen-em out of Indian Hills Resort at Shell Knob. Everyone is catching fish early and late, with mid-day being toughest. If the wind and clouds stay, you can get after them even mid-day. If it gets bright, your in trouble. Have really fished this pond from one end to the other in the last week, and the bite is just about the same everywhere. Windy banks are producing grub fish, smallies and k's. Shakey Head is really doing the most damage in either wind or calm Depth range, is from on the bank to about 20 ft. Best bite is on top, with lots of nice LM coming on top. 2 fish over 6.5 were caught during the Vssi trips and several in the 4.5 to 6 pound range. K's and smallies. Big party with Tim Paige frying up Delta Pride Cagin style to celebrate the end of the venture. Whites are where you find them, and if gas wasn't so high, I would just drive around looking for them. They seem to be bustin early in the AM and then again after 3 PM. Have not seen the huge pods we were seeing last week, and week before, but schools of a hundred or so. I am throwing a spook, a fin, a chug bug, and a spoon at them and the spoon is doing the best. They are just staying on top for a few minutes and then going down. I am just heaving the spoon, and then swimming it thru the whites. If you miss one, another will grab it. Wish I could tell you where they will come up, but they are movers and shakers and most of us are just out there so much we are getting lucky and seeing them. It's for sure we arn't going and finding them, they are finding us. On another note, I have never had this kind of a SJaw Spring, as I continue to catch and see 4 pounders caught everyday. Without a doubt, they are now your best chance to catch a big fish on Table Rock. Be nice to them.

Good Work Tight. 14th. out of 190 plus means you are doing it right. When you get there, you are just looking to get rid of a little-en and get a big bite. We needed the same thing Tuesday, and just didn't get it. That kicker is the different between the grand tammley and the bologna sandwich. These kind of charity events are very special, and I for one that do not usually fish tournament, love them. Good People, Good Fishing and Great Cause. Saturday and Sunday Report. Found the bite a little tough out of Shell Knob on Saturday with 4 good topwater keepers early and then a 2 hr. snooze. Saw some fish chasing off Viney Creek and thru the spook, catching a huge K, over 4 lbs. when she came to the boat, she had at least 30 more with her all as big. Pre-Spawn females at the mouth of the creek. Tried to catch another one of her running buddies, for over an hour, and got zip. Got pretty tough again in the wind, but was able to catch about 20 for the day, mostly on the shakey head. Our best 5 would have benn about like tights, in the 13-14 lb. range. Late start today, but I guess It didn't matter as Chris T. and Bill B. struggled big time. Both fished the dam area, and reported a flat nothing on top early and then just very marginal success swimming the grub, or shaken. We got out a 8 and Immediatly Roger had a great brownie at about 4lb. Son JD captured two more small brownies, with 1 being a 15 inch squeeker. Moved to Clevenger and JD hammered a great 3.5 SJ Swimming the 3" green pumpkin singletail. Moved to island in front of BC and JD again caught a twin to his other 3.5 on the grub. Got really tough for a couple of hours, and right before quitting time, off State Park, with the wind blowing in a gale, I saw shad just jumping everywhere. First throw was a nice keeper brownie's and it kept on keeping on with 6 sensational fish, 2 of them over 5 lbs. one on a GP.3 inch single tail and the other one a Chomper 4 inch smoke pepper. Not a lot of fish, but the quality was just about as good as it gets. Best 5 SJ's would have gone about 21 pounds, and I for one just don't catch that kind of fish. As a matter of fact, that is probably the best 5 single day catch of smallmouth in my life. Think about it, I guide 270 trips per year, and fish a bunch more, and I just had my best day ever for weight, on Smallmouth. I had 3 fisherman today, and we caught only 11 total fish in a little over 5 hrs. 10 keepers, all brown bass. The one that didn't measure, was very close. Instead of a 4 hr. half day trip, I kept the boys out to fish one last bank, because it had been slow. glad I did as the 6 Sj's we took off that bank in the last hour, were 20 plus pounds. No animals were harmed in the making of the story.

What a difference a day makes. Bright sun and flat water means no white bass. Started at 6 am on one of my favorite spots at the knob and topwater action, was outstanding for k's and Smallies. Not chasers or rising fish, we were bringing them up on a spook and a fin. We saw no chasers, even the whites we did catch, were not up. Did see some huge Smallmouth crusing the shore during first light. Did manage to catch 7 really big whites in conjunction with the Blacks. 22 topwater fish by 9 AM and that bite just died. Went to the Shakey head for another 7 fish all keeps, and then that was over by 10:30 and it really got tough for me. Fished till noon with only two more fish both shorts and went to the cafe. AS far as white vs smalljaws. I have yet to see a white jump or do anything other than straight line pull. If you have your drag set right, he is in the boat period. He is not a trickster and the only thing he will try and do is muscle up. Jaws on the other hand will jump, cartwheel. Run right as the boat, dive under it come up on the other side and jump. There favorite trick is to come in just when you think you have them whipped and then do a fast vicious dive at the boat, while you are on a short string. I have never seen a white do any of this and I have caught thousands. He is a brainless straight line bully. Great to catch and a fantastic puller. But come on. He is not in the same league as a SMJ. I believe someone said in a post if they were tied tail to tail the White would win the pulling contest. The way I see it, the Smallie would untie the knot or find a limb to wrap it around and break the line. Maby the same braun, but way more brain for the SJ.

Nice fish, Phil and the boys. Just noticed the hat. Thought maby it had gotten in the way of a heron. Go Tigers.

Can't catch enough crappie for more than a mess at a time, and am not much of a fish freezer. We do however really like the farm raised kitty's. With the price of gas they are cheaper anyway, and I don't have to clean-em. Any small crankbait shad size is great to troll, I am sure that others here would be better than I at tell you which. I just think anything that is about 3 inches long and looks like a shad. You want a depth range of no more than 10 feet. The zara-puppy in clear is fantastic, or a small sammy or the little fin is great on top, but these fish will eat anything. Check around Branson Belle, to point 5 and also in the mouth of clevenger. Beavertown and Devils Dive Resort are up the White River about 70 water miles from Beardsley. Good Luck

This has happened in the past. It seems that if there is a problem with the normal spawning pattern that about this time of year we start seeing acres and acres of white bass. If we have a normal spring and the whites dump their eggs, we may see moderate ammounts in the Late Spring and Summer, but nothing of this magnitude. I wish I knew. All reports are the same however. As soon as they hit the boat, eggs spew, and shad fecal matter dumps. I believe however that the thread fin shad are in such massive quanities that the whites have an infinite food supply and for the most part other than a couple of months a year are virtually untouched, unless someone sees them on the surface. What I do know, is this is a fantastic sport fishery for those that wish to really have their sting stretched. For the normal fisherman amd not the specialist, this is the time to be on the water. I guess the specialist are having a good go of it too. Enjoy these hard fighting fish. No telling how long they will continue to show themselves. Major lake flats and river channel swings seems to be the places for the eruptions.

After the MSWP derby and all the fish that were caught up the White River, I guided out of Eagle Rock today. AS usual I'm in touch with the boys all day. There were litterly White Bass from one end of this pond to the other. There must be millions and millions of em, cause over the 110 mile stretch of this lake everyone I talked to was having to beat them off the line. I was fishing the Beavertown area this AM, and from Devil's Dive Resort to the Arkansas line they were everywhere. If we had been trolling a shadrap, we could have caught 100's. These fish are 2 to 4 lbs. and just so aggresive it is unbelieveable. We were throwing spooks and floating worms in the pole timber and the flats and just could not keep them off. These fish were ripping drag, and my guys didn't want-em. Bass-0-holic's. When they would get one on, they would give an experlitive, and say get us out of here,and away from these SOB's, so we can catch some quality fish. I love to catch anything and just can't understand the bass mentality, of bass or bust. A LM or a K, can't even think of the fight these whites put up. Smallies are a different matter, as they will kick a whites butt. We went clear to Shell Knob, and at every stop not only did we catch black's but always a white or two. Beck said in front of Point 1 there were acres and acres of whites exploding. He thought there were millions. One of my guys threw in a pocket and hooked a really nice K and was bringing it in on a spook. When it got near the boat there were at least 100 whites swarming it trying to take the spook from it. We could have caught them till our arms were sore, but the guys wanted nothing to do with them. I kept two for dinner, as they didn't want em. I didn't know that Becky was having catfish. Delta Pride from Sam's Club. We cooked the whites with the delta pride. We still have some white fillets if anyone wants any. We ate all the delta pride. These fish are an absolute mess, full of shad and eggs. My boat looks like someone gutted a deer in it, and I tried to avoid them. Bass fishing was good, but we had to go too the shakey head to avoid the whites. Lots of nice smallies as has been the case for the last couple of weeks.

Mr. Most of us are using 6 lb. Maxi, or 6 lb. flora to swim the grubs. If we are derby fishing the Flora is out the window, as we just don't trust the lite carbon. Shots and shakey are being fished of 8lb. mono or 8 lb. flora. Dropshot on 8lb. mono, as we have tried every flora, and it is still horible about twisting. No need to fish 6 when 8 will get the same ammount of bites. Most all topwater is on 12 to 20 depending on what you are flinging. No floracarbon on topwater as it sinks and will drive the action of your topwater down. Rogue time is over. There are some nice jig and crankbait fish available up the James and perhaps long creek, and those guys are using 12 to 20 floracarbon, 15 being the most popular. Heard yesterday that the bush bite has been really strong on the little Jewell PBJ up the James. With more rain in the forcast, I believe it will continue. Even in the wind, the Spinner Bait bite has just not started so would probably stay with the soft plastics and the topwater junk. Good Luck

The Annual Table Rock Lake Law Enforcement Charity tournament was yesterday. What a great event. Three flights of 67 boats, per flight. went out starting at 7 AM. Tournament Head Quarters was What's Up Dock Marina out of Kimberling. Great to get to meet J.E. as the Water Patrol had him on the measuring board. He got to handle a ton of fish and really saw some be-Utes. Since I'm one of those old Water Bugs they let me fish. Bill Beck and I came in 11th. We had 15.51 lbs. of great smalljaws. Two of those jaws were 4.2. Total catch for us was 14 keepers mostly on topwater with a few on the shakey. WE stayed on the top looking for that big bite all day and just could not get one of those big green fish to nip. Mike Webb named our team of B. Babler and B. Beck the B Squared team. We were top guide combo with almost every Table Rock Guide fishing this derby. All of our buddies boo'ed us and gave us quite a razing as we went up to the podium. It was just a great day. For the right cause, wonderful job done by the MSWP, and all involved. The work that goes into this is just flat amazing. These guys are out making our lakes a great place to be, putting it on the line day in and day out and then throwing this shindig on top is quite remarkable. My first two casts of the day I put two in the livewell, and then we went about an hour before another goodie, however, we were catching whites on the bluffends as they are going to explode in the next couple of weeks on the main lake. Everyone reported lots and lots of whites. Sun and clouds and now wind were playing with our emotions all morning and at noon, we still had only 3, till Bill got us going with a good brownie on a shakey head. We then preceeded to cull the livewell 2 times, as the sun went away and the wind started to blow. Several bags in the 20 lb. range and the total number of teams that weighed in fish, let you know this lake is one of the best clear water fisheries in the country. All our small jaws were males and when you can catch 4 pounders that are bucks, you know there are big girls just waiting to play. I believe there was an 8.6, a 6.6, and several 5 pounder Largemouth brought to the scales. I believe all the big fish were caught on top. Lots of reports of huge blow-ups and follows from just about every boat. A couple of my guide buddies that were guiding and not fishing reported huge topwater days in the dam area for their clients, with 20 keepers, as they fished the top all day. Tim Paige said he had a customer ask him if they should do something else, after he had a huge smallie slam a topwater. Tim said he felt like asking the guy, what planet are you from? Fantastic sometimes is just not enough, I can't explain it. Cloud cover again today, I've got to get back out there and brace my feet.

Long Creek is probably not the best place to be after the bassess right now. Try moving out on the main lake and fishing featured points and bluffends early with topwater and then working the flats with either grubs or splitshot rigs. On Thursday, I did have 14 keepers from the 86 bridge to the Arkansas line. I was on a shakey head and moving it in one spot and not dragging it too much. Had 6 topwater fish early that set the day. Also had several nice fish on a hula grub, and a Jewell Jig. MOVE IT VERY SLOWLY. If you are dragging across a K bed and you move it thru the bed, they will just let it go. If you move it slow, your chance of remaining in front of the fish for a longer period of time will increase your nips. It is not uncommon for Kentucks to spawn in the 14 to 18 ft. range on the Rock. Yes, Yes we all see the beds on the bank and in 6 ft. of water. That is but a miniscule portion of the bass. Both K's and Jaws will spawn at the maximum depth of clearity and below. People get bored to quick and change what they are doing. We have layed the fondation for what to do. Seek out the fish and make these presentations and you will catch fish. Good Luck