Bill Babler

You still need to get down here. We miss you. Spoke to the guys at Kimberling at 13 and have looked alot around the dam. I believe we are really going to get the moss for the next month or so, when they kick-em-on. Looks about as mossy as I have seen it. May get real tough when they hit the jacuzzi.

We live in the Big Log Bed and Breakfast, just across the Lake from Big Cedar. Have one of the boys point it out to you while your fishing. Guys, the information I give on this site is just for your enjoyment, I do not or will no solicite any business from my work here. That is simply not fair. I am very easy to find and get in touch with. Just not through the forum. I will not hesitate to give you the best recommendations for the best guides on the lake as I see it. Good Luck

I start throwing the fin, as soon as I see-em on top. Usuall water temp in mid-50's. Some guys catchem in the high 40's on top over cedars. A spook is better for this, but the fin will work. I have never-ever had any success modifying a redfin. Bending bills, trading hooks, using weight, trading rings. They either work or they don't. If they don't I just toss-em. " Easy for me too say at $7.00 bucks per pop." NOT I do remove the origional split ring and replace with a speed snap for lighter weight and easy and quick bait retie. I will also tie a bit of flash on the rear trouble. Most all the guides do. I try to really work the middle or the broken back section to make sure it is free and will really wiggle. I have shaved some plastic where it joins so it wouldn't rub, but thats about it. Fish it on 14 to 20 lb. test, not floracorbon as that sinks, just mono and the bigger line also helps to float the fin. Good Luck.

Rolan, That has been a pretty typical pattern this Spring. Phil knows more about this than me, but the cold water just flat numbs and inactivates these fish. It has been a while since I can recall seeing the water temps drop from 10 to 20 degrees in just a matter of minutes. Spoke to a couple of other guides, and everyone reported when that Ice Cold water comes on and it is full of moss for the first hour, it is just flat over. We have been able to go down stream and get away from it somewhat, but that action has really slowed down in the last week. Still yesterday in downtown Branson, the water dropped from 60 degrees, to about 46. It just shocks the heck out of em. Get down here and show me what I'm doing wrong. If anyone can get them to go it would be you.

Fisherdan, Lyle retired last year. I spoke to him at a resturant the other day and he said he may take a few trips this year, but he is working full time a lowes. Good guy and a very good fisherman. If I were taking a trip, from BigC this year, I would request Tim Paige, he is their Number 1 House guide. Better call now and reserve him or you will just have to take what you get, when you get there and I am telling you, you don't want that. Those guys are pounding it way too many days and sometimes just get a bit complacent, or the best guides are already full and they call in guys that don't fish the rock every day. You can also request Buster if Tim is full. You can't go wrong with either, if they will bite, either of those guys will put you one em. Tim guides the Big Cedar area nearly 250 days a year and if anyone can put you on a "Spot" it would be Tim. Good Luck.

Started out this AM with two from Lilleys' to just catch fish. Water temp at the dock was 57.8. Fish were midging everywhere with a large hatch comming off. These bugs were at least a size 10 and you really couldn't mess up. Noticed the bait fisherman really getting rich, as the trout were on a feed. Had 27 early on a olive flo-orange micro jig, and thought It was going to be one of those easy days. Water started to flow at 11:30 and the water temp dropped to 44.6. That just about did it for me. Try as I might, I just went flat in the water. I was seeing boat after boat pulling in fish and when the water started to drop in temp, it all ended. Wish all a great weekend.

I, as well as my closest friends make a living fishing Table Rock and Taneycomo. I for the most part only guide and don't fish tournaments, as much as the other boys. I get their guide trips while they are out on the circuits and it always seems I come out ahead. Except for Bill when he gets on a roll. They think that I am educating people way to much. They think I am imparting techniques that should only be available thru guide service. Maby so. I don't give exact locations, only general information on the lake and what myself and my clients are doing. I have never had that be a problem. The boys think it is. If Bill told me to keep quiet on everything, I probably would as I have no better friend than Bill Beck. Truely one of the finest fisherman I have ever been associated with, and a better man than he is a fisherman. As far as Buster, If I ever breathed a word of what he is doing I would have to have an armed guard stand by while I slept. He is a very private person and I love him to death. Another close friend and as you all know we don't have tons we can call that. If I ever needed anything, Buster would be the first one there and the last one to leave. I keep his stuff too myself. Any info, is from me to you and I hope you enjoy it and I hope it helps. My fingers are sealed until next week after the derby's.

Dave, I fished that exact area yesterday morning. Did ok but not great on the bass. Have not tried the crappie. Seems the bite is a bit better in the Kings and up the white. Draging soft plastics is your best option on the bass.

There has to be a picture or certified weight of that kind of fish. I simply can't believe someone caught such a behomouth, without any documentation. I hunger for more details. I know thousands of fish and meat eaters, that can't pay the rent and live as poor as a church house mouse, and even if they planned to consume such a fish, they would have spent their last penneys to buy a disposable camera and photo a fish of a life time like that. I believe you Phil if you say so, but this is the show-me-state. As Rex and Charlie have said, they heard tell of lots of 20 pounders, but never did see one. Maby this one is for real. Hope so.

Dave, I have jerked that stupid thing the last two days, until I have not only worn the paint off, but dulled the hooks. It may be over. This water has warmed so much so early, I just think there is no turning back now. Fish two weeks ahead and see how you do. Main mid-lake at 62 to 64 degrees. and cove pockets East and North banks in the 68 to 72 degree range. Creeks somewhat cooler. Morning at 58 yo 59, Main lake and creeks.

Had two trips today on the Rock, starting at Campbell Point and fishing that area. Found water in the back of several pockets at 70 degrees. I for the life of me have seen no beds or spawning activity, but all my buddies have. 17 fish on the AM trip with 3 keepers up to 4/2 lbs. a really nice smallie. Not as good as yesterday but kept busy. Afternoon, out of Aunts Creek netted us about 20 fish with 5 good keeps, 3 1/2 being the best and it also was a smallie. Some of my contacts did worse, and some did much, much better catching as many as 40 plus keepers today. No details or they promised to cut body parts off and I need them all. 20 plus pounds was the best report I had today on 5 fish. My best 5, combining two guide trips was around 14 lbs. I never caught a fish today on either trip and I must have thrown the stick bait 500 throws. Maby they are off it. I'll give it another try next week while my clients catch a few./

64, Our technique will work in the Big M area, as that is the fish factory. Early and late the fish move to the top of the water column and push shad there to create an advantage. No where else to go. As boat traffic and sun come into the equasion,the fish move deeper. With full light penetration the fish move to the bottom or suspend in areas of shaddow. They tend to concentrate there and more bang for your buck occurs. Good Luck

Techo, Can't tell you how much I enjoyed our morning. IT was great to meet a fellow Alaska Buff. Your a very good fisherman, and I bet you will like the split shot a whole lot better now. Techo, and I started about mid-main-lake yesterday with quite a bit of cloud cover. Some boats running, but not too bad. We chased some topwater fish for an hour of so catching 5 on a redfin and a couple on a sammy. We might have missed a couple, but we won't go there. About as tough a condition as you can get with partly cloudy haze and dead flat calm water. This time of year, you still hope for wind on just about any area you want to fish. I broke a couple of my rules yesterday, as the day before I had located some fish on a specific bank. The wind was howling on it yesterday, and it was covered with keeper fish of all three disaplines. Outside of the topwater guys, we really couldn't get bit there. No. wind and cloudy, very very bad. Sun came out and it really positioned the fish and we "Set in on em". Spoke to some guys at the ramp and also some at the boat dealers, while getting some oil. All said their bite stopped when the sun came out. Our's went from good to great with the sun, as it positioned all those fish in the top of the water column and mid depth to the bottom. Lots more fish, lot smaller area. This time of the year, the sun is absolutely your best friend. It puts em where you can get at them. These fish are really getting ready to make woopie, and they want fed before the big event. Techo, think people should check transition banks where chunk of flat rock go to gravel pockets?? Better look there. Secondaries and cove mouths 1/2 back are also holding fish. Fish Dr. Finess worms and Shakey heads will get you bit. I cannot for the life of me get bit on soft plastic jerk worms. Seems other are, and I love them, but they are not liking me. If the wind blows you can for sure power fish with warts or blades in the same locations. Large fish are still I believe holding getting ready to move up. Check isolated trees near deep water and in conjunction with spawning coves. Techo, started seeing locations, and made the comment there are really not a lot of just perfect places, you have to look for them. He was really right about that. When you do find one you know it however. Guarantee you he does. Our next to last spot was just like that, I really started out on too flat of gravel, we still got bit good, but we both believed we should have given the bank a nother 300 yrds on the flat table top type of rock. We had other places to go anyway and the day was getting short. The good thing was he knew we started short and thats what fishing lessons are all about. He was pointing out locations on the way in and they were right on. We both had great fun. Good luck techo, look forward to seeing you on the pond. Pull that boat to where the fish live.

What a great looking hat Jim has on. It's really sad when those kids get bigger than dad. Way to go Jamie.

Sam, Great, Great Report. Just watch'en that eagle has to be worth the price of admission. I wouldn't even need to catch a fish. Might take my wife up and see if we could get a picture. I bought one of them tel-o-photo type lenses for just such an opportunity and that would be a great way to break it in. We won't get too close. Thanks

Can you believe they are already on soft-plastic jerkbaits??? With the warming water, I am always the last to know. You can bet I'll have one tied on next week. Thanks.

Rig-01 Depending on the section of H20 I'm fishing at the Knob. The warts in phantom green, or the old v37 or v38 for way up the White or in the Kings. Would also rig either a hula grub or a jig for the same locations. Any wind and the spinner bug would also be a good idea. Main lake the bite is still on the suspender, but I have heard of a few fish starting to chase. You might keep a spoon or a spook tied on for some long range bombardment, if you see the surface activity. Your rig is also never a bad way to work a section closly if you have had a nip or two. Good Luck Seek the wind young man, Seek the wind. A wise fisherman told be this and I believe it too be true.

Lilley, Myself and Darrell Stiner, had a decent morning on crappie in Long Creek. 12 keepers all 14 inch and above with 1 nice white about 2 1/2 pounds thrown in to boot. Wish I could give you a depth on the crappie, but we had some right on the bank and some in the 16 ft. range. Most I believe were suspended or chasing shad. Had water temps from 58 to 62. Tons of boat traffic and lots of folks after em, for mid-week. Frankly I just could not believe the ammount of fishing prussure for a wednesday.

MOBass, These quality fish are somewhat of a bother in the fact that they are just not giving themselves up. You can throw hardware, till your rod melts and they will sometimes chase or bump it but for the most part snicker at ya. Best results are coming on a streight line sculpin jig or the best action on either a 264 oz micro with a flo-orange head or a flo-orange head 1/50 jig head with 1 piece of sunrise powerbait attached. I am using a float on the micro and the jig head presentation. You are right on the bite and they never swallow the bait. You can catch and release all day, and harm narry a fish. I would not say the 7 ft. rods are a must, but if you don't have them, my 6 year old girls will smoke you. Phil has these rods from the Rod Shop, and if you fish taney and don't have one you are making a huge mistake. 90 percent of the spin fishing guide have them and there is a reason. As for the fly rod, it is working fabulas, if you have the ability to sight cast as you would to Bone Fish. Very long extremely precise presentation. You are working on moving midging fish. They stop for no man. I have guided and fished taney since the late 70's and really have never seen this quality of fish or ammount of action. Come get some.

Brian, appreciate the post. I can't tell you how hard it is to just say enough and not too much. I don't want to step on any toes, or have a person feel that I have spoken down to them. That would never be the case. If I can ever do anything to make your trip to taney more enjoyable, it would make me happier than it would you. Love to have you on the lake, and on this forum.

MOBass, Nobody, owns anything. Get down here and get your licks in. Early is great as it takes those boys a bit to run to the Knob and above. I would really still think about Eagle rock, and you may have it pretty much to yourself. Go get Em-Boy.

I'm sure all of the locals here will be more than willing to give you their hottest banks. I'm also sure you could also go by any of their homes, they probably have several custom made jerkbaits they would love for you to have. The Heartland Tournament Circuit is also here. Just stop any of these guys that have been pre-fishing the lake for 12 hrs. a day 7 days a week and most will tell you where they are, and how they are catching em. Just kidding, Most clear water fish are still on a suspending rogue. River fish depending on area seem to be on crankbait patterns, jigs and rig baits. Look for wind on chunk rock or transition banks in the Campbell Point to Eagle rock area and Transitins in the dam area. Someone may give you more, but this is about all I have got. It is still very slow and everyone is very tight lipped. Good luck with your derby.

Never really equated catching moving schools of midging rainbows as shuffling. Guess it could be deemed as such...NOT! Guess they are just to easy to find. Spoke however to several dozen people on the dock today that really were not doing much that would have loved to have been able to find and catch-em. Next time I see midging fish I'll make sure I ask the 6 year old sitting next to me if they want to not catch the easy ones or just go look for some that are more challanging. I'm sure dad will say, "thats what I'm paying $350.00 a day for, so my kids will have to work as hard as possible to catch fish". This is Spring break. 99.9 percent of the clients we are taking are childern and adults that could flat care less how they catch them, they just want constant action, period. Guiding is not fishing, It is guiding. Nothing matters more than numbers. 1, 10 pound brown, 1, 5 pound rainbow, mean nothing, compaired to 10, 1 pound rainbows. On the majority of these trips, if you caught the state record brown or bow, it had better be mixed in with at least 30 other fish or you would have a complete fit thrown, as we just didn't catch much. That is guiding parents and children. A buddy of mine had a trip a few years ago and his client caught a 10.5 lb. rainbow and a brown over 8 on the same trip. I have taken the client 5 times since. Told me he just flat didn't catch enough fish with the other guy. Didn't eat trout, just loved to catch them in bunches. We had 3 Browns over 5 lbs. chasing those easy to catch stockers the other day. They were never mentioned or cared about. The only care was sissy caught 5 more fish today than bubby. These fish are not usual, if you are following the post. Right now 10 fish caught in the restricted area will weigh 1/2 as much and fight 1/2 as hard as 10 fish present in the bait area. If you can catch-em.

1308, I think that is very good info. A good buddy of mine, Mike Webb, is a very good deep dock fisherman. On bright days he works the shade of the deep docks and when clouds or wind come out, I have seen him fishing suspended fish as far as 30 ft. to the front or windblown sides of these structures. I bet the same on the cedar patterns. Good Stuff.

D. You got to give us more info than that. What was the bait, how were you fishing it, and what location. I don't think anyone will infringe on your water, so spill your guts.