Bill Babler

Believe it was a bit cooler this AM, at the start of things. Took these Spincast boys down to Cooper where I finished up yesterday, thinking I could avoid the run to the restricted area till it got a mite warmer. Stayed there abit to long as we ony had 6 fish in the first 1hr. To many boats going pretty fast too close to me. Motored up to the base of the restricted area, and it was a slow go, lots and lots of help out here today, most anchored in the channel making navigation difficult. Restricted area was booked full of boats on the lower end and I guess I was the only guide boat out today. Very seldom see that many boats in the area that are not guide boats. Everyone was well behaved, and the trout were still hungry. Really nice day, using a size 14 black zebra with copper rib and a chrome head. Swung this about 4 ft. under the strike indicator and it was just all we needed. Believe the fish were bigger today. Had a couple of 16 incher. Fish just clobbered my clients floats. Believe if you would have had the long stick and a bright stimulator you would have done right well on top. Ended the morning with 49 total.

Tight, I have been balled up like a catipillar in a cocoon, in front of the fireplace having Becky put a stick of wood in from time to time. Just about to cut loose. It's kind of a slow time of year for us guide types and have not wanted to spend a bunch of money running around and getting cold. Anything cookin at all on the Bull Shoals Pond? I believe there is a big derby down there next weekend and Beck and Buster are going to practice the latter part of next week. I might tag along if it ain't bone chilling and try and catch a toothy critter. Good to hear from you.

Andy William's house is the largest house in the Restricted area. It is kind of a local landmark. It is just before the bend across from Lookout on the downhill side. It has an extremely nice slack or slow drift area in front of it that the trout will migrate to during 4 generators. Also lots of really nice small gravel there for midge hatches and various other trout fodder. Terry, that was not me. We made a quick pass of there but the water was really falling out and they sure didn't like my junk. I hightailed it back down to Lookout so the folks could keep catchin my pets. I really respect you guys that work that water everyday. For me the fluctuations make it a lot tougher than just down around the bend. Don't have to think quite so much, down there, and that is a real plus for me.

Decided after the AM trip to give the Bass a go on the lower lake. Got started on the transition bank just below the Gold Mine and above the island above Bull. Kiss of death I thought, as on the 6th jerk of the Table Rock Shad I felt someone a knock-en. Really nice black, about 2 and a quarter. Lots of nice visible structure here, and I worked it, but all the fish I caught today came off no-see-em type stuff, Tried to keep the boat in about 15 to 18 and toss toward the shore. 3 more tosses, and I had another one, abit smaller but a nice dark green with a yellow bellie. Worked to just behind the island and during that stretch, I missed several, but I believe they were trout as, I caught a couple of nice bows in the 13 inch range. Moved below Cedar Point and around past the condo's on your left to the next bluffend. Nice bar comes out from the bank here and it is shallow off that flat, I have had really good trout days here, using bait in the summer when the upperend gets tough. There is a dock on the bank here that has a wire enclosure. I fished the entire bank to the next dock, and caught 4 more bass and about 1/2 dozen more trout on the stickbait. Nothing bigger than my first fish. Did miss a good one the bait had just been twitched once and I was watching it and a really big fish swirled on it. Maby a 4 pounder, I got a pretty good look at it. This bank really fools you as you think it will be very deep. It isn't. Just right for a stickbait as the channel dosen't hit it until the 3/4 mark and then, it has a nice shelf. I presume it would be pretty good with a crank or a jig, but have not done that. Was a bit shocked at all the condo's from Branson down a couple of miles. What a shame. Did not see a boat below Rockaway Beach. Great afternoon down younder.

Pulled in the slack in front of Andy's this AM with 4 generators singing away. Wanted to drift the flat side from Andy's to Fall Creek. Two novice flyrodders, and it was a trip that make guides smile. First pass 12 fish to the boat and at least that many misses. These were just flat wonderful people, but to say we were fishing close to the boat would be a mild understatement. Didn't seem to matter, bows in the 10 to 13 inch class ate the small maribou like it was food. Made one pass on the dam just as they dropped to two gens, and didn't seem like I was so smart up there. Returned to Andy's and it was like we never left. Lots of boat traffic and it seemed everyone was catching fish. There were people throwing hardware on 4 generators and they were catching them, so it was really easy. After I dropped the folks off, I decided to give the lower lake a spin and went down there for a couple of hours, report on the Lower section thread. When I returned to Cooper, they were midging like crazy on the flat across from Cooper, so I had to stop. 5 on a size 14 Humpy and another dozen dragging the midge under it. What a day.

Old style favorites are 037-038-045-059-062-063-086 New style 362-363-383-386. Go to the Storm Baits sight and it will give you full color on all of the above. As far as the Rock Goes, any and all of these colores work extremely well and most of us have about a 1/2 dozen of each. I would guess Bill Beck easly has over 200 of these crustation look-a-likes in his boxes. You can kind of match the hatch so as to speak with these colors, by determining the craws natural color that the fish are consuming at the appropriate time of year. 362 and 363 have been really hot this last fall. Good Luck, Hopes this helps

Beautiful day on the Rock Saturday and I just had to get out and see if they would nip at the twitch bait. My hands and arms start to just jerk and twitch this time of year. Launched at Holiday Island to fish the upper river section of the lake, around 10 AM. Only rig at the ramp. Water temps in front of the Island at 38, mighty cool. Fished 5 different custom made jerkbaits from the Island to Viney Creek on some very nice windy transition banks that I have caught boo-koo bass on in the past 25 years and absolutely ziltch!!! Water temps in the Eagle Rock area running about 40. Had made up my mind I was not going to fish the deep fish, just flat tired of it, and was going to live and die with the suspender, I was buried by about 4 PM. Did stop at a dock or two and see if I could round up a crappie for supper. No go on the slabs, but I did catch several small K's from every dock I fished, on the crappie jig. Surface temp at the end of the day was 41 in the Viney, Eagle Rock area. Never saw another fisherman or boat on the water in the 6 hrs. I was on the lake. Spoke to a couple of guys at Johnson's at the Knob, while getting some boat gas and they said they had thrown a wart, jig around docks and a stickbait since daylight and had skunk-a-rooded. Said temps at the Knob were in the 40 to 42 range. Buster is still catchin a few crappie in the 20 ft. range up Long Creek. I believe he fished all day Friday, and had 8 nice keepers. That's it for now.

Ouick note on the shaky head rods. I have both Falcon's and St. Croix upper end spinning rods that I use for duel purpose and without a doubt the Falcon is far superior and much less pricy on these upper end rods. Falcon Cara 6'9" product no. C5-5169M, with 8 Ci's Fuji guides Extreme tip, Table Rock design for 1/4 oz split rigs, 3/8 jigs and shaky head with 6 and 8 lb. test is a Table Rock clear water miltipurpose rod that is as good as it gets. This Rod is about a Buck Sixty Nine with tax, so its not cheap, but you would never regret it. I also use St Croix Legend Elite, ES70MF, 7ft. with the same line weight. This rod is just a bit soft in the middle, but has a very fast tip, to detect the lighest strikes, great walleye rod. The Sticker shock on this baby is about $350.00 with tax so it is extreme price upper end. For fit and finish, the Cara is way above the Elite, The St. Croix, seem to fade abit in the sun, and if you leave them in a closed rod box the handles will mold very fast and the blank will take on a white ashen color. The Falcon's are bullet proof. with fantastic feel. St. Croix, does make the ulitmate grub swimming rod also with a fast tip and a soft middle, that allows you to let that big smallie load on the rod before you lay the law down, if you want more on the grub swimmers, let me know. Presenting bottom baits verse swimming baits is a complete nother category. Good Luck

Snuggled up to the fireplace here at the lodge looking out on the azure waters of the Rock is getting my fever up, but not quite yet for me. Have not been of the forum much, just not alot going on. Here is what I have been thinking and hearing about. Buster has been out quite a bit and is doing pretty well on both the crappie and the K's. He is deep fishing the K's and most of his fish are coming from cove mouths or deep cuts in the major drainages. Typical stuff is around 50ft. Contrary to some of the posts I am reading, shad really don't seem to be much of a factor for either him or Bill Beck, they are also catching the K's on somewhat of the same pattern. Bait usually never hurts, but it seems these fish are like caribou and migrate to the same lake sections every year reguardless of what we can see as far as forage on our sonar. Crappie seem to be pretty good up Long and Cricket on the flats in the 15 to 22 ft. range on the bottom. Slow presentations with either a small tube, swimming minnow or maribou seem to be the ticket. Buster has been after them and is doing quite well. There is still a pretty good jig bite going on the KC to LC end or dam section of the lake. Most of the boys that are doing well here are catchin'em on 3/8-5/16 oz jigs on the really, really flat docks. Pea size gravel where the ramp is shallow and the front of the dock is in the 24 ft. range. This is on the big 20 slip docks. Bites have been from the ramp to the deep end, with absolutely no certain area to be holding the fish. Just fish the entire dock. Been reading alot of stuff on the shakey head. For the guy coming down in March, although you can catch some fish on the "head" then, I would rethink my ammunition. At that time of the year, although there are some bass at the foot of the water column. The majority of the shark population are in transition, traveling in the "Rogue Zone". Very similar to the twilight zone, as it can be very scary twitching that stick of wood or plastic, not knowing what kind of a behomouth will grab it and run. Grub swimming is also in vogue and can be very good. The questions about the 3 favorite baits for the Rock would come into 2 catigories, your favorites or the best to catch fish. My favorite is without a doubt a Suspending stickbait, Redfin, Floating Worm. Absolute must have bait for all season fish catching on the Rock would be 1/2 oz white spoon, pbj jig and trailer, your personal favorite. Green pumpkin fish Dr. The Dr. will from Mid-April to December outcatch anything on the lake if you will just either drag or suspend it. Crazy as it sounds and I usually don't use it for a drop shot bait but last fall, for some reason on a trip I was getting very low on worms. One of my clients picked up a used Dr. off the floor of the boat while I was working on his partners rig and said I'm going to try this on my drop shot for a minute if its ok? I said knock yourself out. We were fishing a deep flat in about 40 ft. and he started just flat hanging it on his buddy. The Dr. is great in any situation. Becky needs on the computer. Hope to get out before long, good luck.

I have had way to many honey-do's, wood gatherings and shopping to get out, but that appearently has not stopped my boys. Lake Report. Dam area to Kimberling: Fish in the 55 to 70 ft. range on the bottom, and also chasing shad in the backs of the major creeks and coves on the surface 51 degrees. Buster is on fire. 30 to 50 fish per day with half being keepers seem to be the rule rather than the exception. White tubes, grey grubs, and 1/2 oz white spoons. Mid lake to Kimberling to Shell Knob Beck is also on FIRE: Same pattern, only no topwater fish. Most fish in the 52 to 60 ft. range on the bottom. Creek mouths and deep channels coming out of the creeks. Shell Knob to Eagle Rock: The words unbeliveable seem to be in focus up in the sticks with 50 to 100 fish per day coming from Creek mouths, deep flats,and mouths of the large coves. Bottom fish are 50 and suspended fish same locations at 35 to feed the suspended fish. Great thing about this is 70 percent of all fish in these locations are quality keeper K's up to 19 inch. And some real quality LM, up to 7 lbs. Hope to go next week.

Check out my article late Winter early Spring on the rock, 04 should be some help. It is without a doubt my favorite time to fish the rock. March, is big fish month on Table Rock with the majority of 5 to 9 pounders coming during the pre-spawn period. If you are fishing Shell Knob, out of Lunker Landing you could not have picked a better spot to ply-your-trade. Fantastic early season action, up the White. Lived at the Knob for 10 years and still maintain a home their, even though we have a lodge across from Big Cedar. It is my favorite place to fish and guide on the rock. Good Luck this Spring, moniter the board around that time and I'm sure you will see whats going on.

Have also heard the same rumblings. May be time to get on the Kings, before the Feburary rush. Last year you had to get there at 3 in the AM just to get on the ramp after the middle of February. What a Zoo.

Warts, warts, warts, some people want to freeze them off and others of us like to use them when its freezing. 46 to 56 degree water temps make this wide wobble craydaddy imitator, numero ohno for caloricly deprived bass in search of a fresh water lobster dinner. From what I understand the best selling hard boddied crayfish imitator on the market. This bait is deadly as the water warms in the spring or cools in the fall. 4 to 12 ft. seem to be its best menu range. 8 to 12 pound string to pull it. Did fish with an old friend passed on now to the big lake in the sky, but he fished the old classic No 38 on 6 lb. test and fished it thru the tree tops at depths of 12 to 20, with fantastic success. I cannot hardly ever remember him hanging it up. He would throw it right in a cedar and it would just bounce like crazy off the limbs. I know the bait didn't get 20 ft. deep, but the bass in the tree tops would come up for it. Lots of eratic reeling and stops and starts. It's wobble is just not duplicated on the plethera of other baits on the market and its crazy hops and dives after striking wood or any other hidey hole, are irresistable to hungry bass. Even though we use them on the white river chain with reckless abandon, they are also used as the primary crank bait on Lake O, Truman, and the majority of south central lakes. They are also extremely popular in Texas. Other cranks that are extremely popular here are the DD22 and the Fat Free Shad. They are fished a bit deeper and usually at a different season than the wart. For the last month, here if you didn't have one on the terminal end of your tackle you probably didn't cash a check. They have been producing huge bags of fish for at least the last 5 weeks. They are a dandy little tool, and are the only real crank bait I throw. Did fish today with the Beckster. Caught some deep 50 to 67 and had lots make a run at the spoon and turn away. Thru the wart some, but it got really bright from 10 to 1 and that pretty much killed the wart. It was to late to run back to the deep ones, so we called it a day with 9 fish. Stay warm

Just back on the forum from deer huning, glad to see everyone getting along. Motored to the dam under 4 generators yesterday, not another boat in the area and very few bank fisherman. 24 degrees, at the start. Did see a party of duck hunters, just below the conservation ramp. Hated to float in front of them but I really don't think we messed them up as we heard them blast on several different trips. Not as good as I thought it might be. The water was a bit off color and with the early clouds, I expected some good brownie's but it didn't happen. We used 1/4 and 1/8th. oz white or sculpin jigs, and caught some very nice rainbows, probably up to 18 inch. First 4 passes were by far the best. Seemed to get off the jig and we went to peach egg patterns and caught fish in numbers all morning, not alot, but enough to keep us chuckling from time to time. Best spot was probably from Andy's thru Fall Creek Ramp. Wish I would have taken some photo's of the scuds and sowbugs these trout were coughing up. Some to size 8 mostly size 10 and a very pale olive. Just huge bugs for our water. I have seen lots of bugs 14's and 12's, but none this large. Looked like 60 count shrimp. One of the clients said we should have brought the crab-boil. These big bugs were a translucent type of green to pale olive, are any of you all seeing any of these? They would litterly cough up 4 or 5 on every trout we caught and released. Also something you don't usually see, was trout midging in the creases during 4 generators. Lots of takes on this fast moving water and midges seemed to be thick in the air. There was a long city block type seam in front of Andy Williams house and the fish were really working it. Did not appear to be large, but still working the top heavy during 4 generators. Good fishing all, good to be back.

Fished the last couple of days and the old saying of what a difference a day makes is really true. Hate to tell people you should have been here yesterday, but that was a fact from Wednesday and Thursday and then the debockle on Friday. Wednesday and Thursday, found the really nice smallies and some super K's in the dam area on long pea-gravel points, best with some wind, but really didn't matter as they seemed to bite us anyway. Cradaddy cranks in browns and green patterns seemed to be the best tablefare. Fish were in 5 to fifteen and some of these fish, were real toads. Caught some fantastic K's up shallow, and that has just not been happening. They may be ready to move up and turn on. Water temp 56 to 60. Thursday, myself, Chris Tetrick and Bill Beck fished the dam area, deep fishing from 48 to 65 on the bottom on some major flats and humps. Nice K's and Whites really ate our junk with gusto. Don't know the numbers, but I would guess about 30 fish in the half day prospecting trip. Most being either keepers, or right on the border for the K's and I think about 5 really nice whites. Most fish were either on the dropshot, grub, or white wareagle spoon. Friday was a different day, with 16 guide boats out of big cedar. Fish were not responding on the deep spots and the only fish seem to be coming flipping docks and swimming 1/4 oz 4 inch C-tail grubs on flat gravel. Not good. I was not on the trip, but Chris reported that everyone struggled to the max.

Spoke to Bill Beck, this evening. He is in second place, with about 15 lbs. Leader is about 16 pounds. Leader had two Small Jaws over 4 1/2. and three two pound K's. I would guess, he won't catch those big jaws again tomorrow. That is only a guess on my part. I believe Bill will catch 5 again, maybe with a good smallie, as he fished deep today and only had 5 keepers. Said he was going after a big one early. He has several good spots he didn't hit today because of running the opposite direction. Thought he could catch a decent limit early at the dam, and they just flat didn't bite. Most fish are being caught after 11 AM. I believe M. Webb is in third with 12 pounds something. Webb didn't do real well last week, with only 1 fish in two tournaments, but he seems to have found his deep fish this week, and it would not suprise me if it was a duel between him and Bill, as Mike will probably grab another small limit, and a limit is very important in a two day tournament. 26 to 28 will probably do it, and there will probably be a half dozen guys right around there. If the wind would blow, it might take a big bag as the blade fish and the SJ's would bite.

Been off the TR fourm for a couple of days on taney. Another big derby this weekend with Central Pro-AM. Wiggle Wart bites seem to be on secondary gravel points on the main lake. CT caught most of his fish from Point 11 to Point 19, thats about all I can give up on that. My fish came dragging a jig in shallow water, although, I have heard that they have gone a little deeper, out to the early 20's. Still no topwater stuff, and I am guessing there won't be. Blade is working in the wind and the fish are holding on some type of wood early in the day on these colder mornings. Beck is fising the Pro-AM, so I am still alittle bit careful on info as I don't want to step on toes. I have also heard and know for a fact that the dragging bite has been pretty good in the dam area, with quite a few SMJ being caught in the 14 to 26 ft. range on gravel with some chunk. On windy days these fish move up and the spinner is a pretty good choise.

10-31-07 Spoke to Tony Wedele before I started yesterday. He had gotten started at 5 AM with what he described as really good fisherman, throwing stickbaits trying to get a good brown fish. His first past was from Clay Banks thru Fall Creek, on 4 generators and he reported no bites of any kind, including bows. Second pass he floated from just above the Conservation ramp to lilleys and nothing. It was getting light, so he switched to dragging an egg fly and fished it in the restriced area from then to 11 AM and his catch as 5 very small silver bullets. Being the hard head I am, I took my fisherman on the same trek using longsticks with various offerings in tandems for two passes and caught 1 small bullet. I have seen them get fussy up there before, but not really this bad. Maybe to much water for too long. That was enough for me. Fished the grass beds below Cooper the remainder of the morning using a size 16 zebra and ended up very respectable with 36 catch and release fish.

What in the world is going on in that lower restricted area? I am going to give it a spin with some medium type fly fisher persons,on the morrow, but from all I'm hearing from other guides and folks that have been fishing the area is very very tough. I fished it last week one day and caught a few using a size 16 green zebra under a dry, and making long presentations on the flat water, but it was very hard. Tony W. had been catching fish with either a size 18 scud or 16 zebra as a dropper under an egg, but he has said it has gone completely dead, not enough bites for him to even fish, let alone take his clients up. Lots of catchable fish at Branson, but I hate fishing down town in all the noise and traffic. Hope the wind and the current helped somewhat today. Phil, let me know how John did this afternoon.

Have been on the Rock every day this week, but just too much going on to be at the computer. Great depth lake wide seems to be in the shallow to 16 ft. range. Small Jaws on flat gravel and also some chunk and K's out on the deeper edges on the ledges and chunker stuff. Wind has been a great equalizer and when it blows the fish will bite. Good catches of Blacks out of the creek channel cedars and also off bluff ends. Football jig is catching lots of fish as is the shaky head and hula grub and dragging a french fry. Wiggle Wart is also starting to really catch on as Chris Tetrick is doing pretty well on this wide wobbling crankbait. Huge numbers of fish are not being caught, but the quality is really good. Good day on the rock now is a dozen fish with 10 keepers up to 4 pounds. Heard rumors of a 8 and a 9 pounder, coming out of the cedars in the Heartland Practice. Lots of 4's and 5's. Have kept pretty good track, and my best 5 each day this last week would be between 12 and 16 pounds, depending on the day. All my and my clients fish have either been on a blade or a jig.

We are not doing any better. Beck had a decent day on Wed. on a FB, but Thursday we all stunk it up pretty bad on the main lake. Wind was just a monster after the storm. It's howling again this moring and extreme high prussure system. I'm not optomistic.

I believe the study is being done in Tenn. For the most part they feel the water quality at its current stage is very good. As far as boy scouts doing anything other than cleaning up, don't think it would help much. With the equipment they have, they can make structures that weigh tons, with very little effort. High Loaders and the barge. This would be almost impossible by hand especially with the varing depths of water. They have a very good reciept. I think with very little effort they could use the rock and gravel for structure on tablerock, that they would remove from taney. This could be placed in the dam area as smallmouth attractors. Don't hold your breath.

Guys, for a extended report, please look at my Table Rock post. I am going to be honest, short and sweet. This project is for the most part geared for habitat restroation on Table Rock. I asked Matt to give me his thought on what were his goals and what he thought could be acomplished on taney with the appropreations that were available to him. He said if they could get the O2 defuissor, it would be a major Koo. He would feel that this alone would be a tremendious accomplishment. TVA is doing a study right now on how much the DO would be raised with the Defuissor. AS far as channelization, dredging and, or adding structure to the upper river. NO. Extreme liability issues concerning the corps and navigation that this is really not a possibility. When I mentioned the sturcture topic, I could see the Corp's rep's, squirming and shaking their heads in a very negitive manner. Not with this monitary allotment. They are still working very hard on the constant flow issue, and do not believe this is dead. The funds that are being donated for this project, frankly are not earmarked for taney. That would be another ball of wax. I'm sure if major political players such as J.M. could be convinced, to stir the pot, so as to speak and make donations of time, equipment, labor and monies to the project it would get it rolling. This is a Table Rock Project for now. It would also take a navigation study and a lot of political haggling with with Corps for this to work, as from what I could take from this meeting, they will fight the structure issue to the death. I'm sure I have forgot some things, so get a few post going on the topic and I'll see what else I can come up with. Hope this helps

Very informative meeting last night held at the MDC Hatchery. This meeting was by invitation only and used as an advisory meeting to both educate, and solicite information from resort owners, marina owners, guides and MDC officials. Shane Bush, Fisheries Biologist presided over the meeting with his superior in charge of the Fishery, Matt Mauch in attendance, along with representives from the Corp. Shane will be running the barge and placing the trees. Quite an impressive piece of equipment. Materials for deposit in the lake will consist of both limbed brush, cedars, boulders and stumps. These materials will be provided by the Corp to a small extent, independent contractors and lake area developers, and harvested trees from MDC properties. Much thought has gone into this project and I was truly impressed by both Shane and Matt. Extremely fine young men, dedicated to make this 5 year project work. It will be a learn as you go project and I believe within a year or two we may see some fine benifits. The guides to a T all stated that this project should be geared for the general fishing public, and that all of the structure should be easily found by area guests. Structure placement should for the most part be designated for the improvement of shoreline cover to increase recruitment by all the pan fish spieces. Crappie and Largemouth in the river systems being the most targeted fish. Placing structure in areas that are traditional fish holding areas where it has been in the past, and that are proven areas will be targeted very heavy. I really believe in this method, as it goes back to the old addage, that 90 percent of the fish are in 10 percent of the water. To try and add structure to main lake clear deep water areas that usually don't hold fish would be folly and just a waste of time and money. Cedars and limbed brush will be targeted for shoreline habitat. Running the piles in either wind rows shallow to deep or by placing multiple piles on points, channel swings and secondary locations. Boulders, and stumps will be targeted in the clear water main lake area as smallmouth holding locations on gravel flats and roll-offs. By no means is the placement of structure set-in-stone. If you have ideas or areas that you would like to see targeted, get in touch with either Matt or Shane. If would be best if you had a reason and could give a very detailed argument on why you believe the area needs structure. For the most part, they know where to put the cover, but are very receptive to suggestions. Other areas of interest mentioned was water quality, with plans in the works to help cut down on nutriants entering the water from the James River Water Shed. Also bank erosion in the same area, allowing silt to filter in from the agriculture properties up the James. I believe this can be a very good thing for the area as long as we can keep the corporate sponsors from dictating the project. There are some strong political influences here, with lots of promises and commitments that need to be honored. As you all know, sometimes they are, but most of the time, after the big splash and interest fades a might, funds seem to dry up and other new topics come to the front. There are several projects to be addressed here and for any to really do any good, I am worried about the allotment of resources, ie money. We'll see, I'm all for it as it was presented.

Spoke to Beck, Buster and Paige today, and they were in the same boat with you Don. High Sky, flat water and just a really poor bite. Most fish I heard, even with shorts, not mentioning keepers, was 9 fish. I was scared to ask if they had a keeper, and they sure did't devulge any info about one. Mighty tough out there. Did you get my email about that trip on the 27th and 28th. If you are open, please give me a shout.