Bill Babler

They just like you better. Besides, I have to net all your fish and that takes away from my quality fishing time.

IF I catch 25 I always say 20, don't want to appear to be bragging. So you caught me, I might stretch it from time to time, but not over once a week or so. Arkie had a Fab trip, we will leave it at that. And leave the Physics out.

So that's why we never go in your boat, is because you don't have a graph. I can see a Christmas Present will save me some gas. Buster hit it very hard up Long Creek today, and got the skunk. They have got to start soon.

Guys, I know that we have an excellent following of wade fisherman on this forum, but take a listen from one of the old timers that has been fishing this pond since the 7, I can't remember when. The fishing from Branson, to the base of the restricted area, and I flat don't care if you are using powerbait, night crawlers, any fly you can think of or a gold hook, without bait, is in my oponion at a level we have not seen since the 70's. These fish have been in here a couple of weeks now and they are mean, mean, mean! 14 inchers, no problem. 16 inchers, no problem. 18 inch fish, they are there. 20 inchers also have been stocked and I have seen them today on stringers coming from in front of the landing. We had at least 50 fish on my 4 hr. trip today, with very few under 15 inches and all were very acrobatic. High energy, High flyers. WE broke 4 off on 4 pound test, and the folks didn't seem to be putting that much prussure on em. They are just big and fight hard. We have had nothing like this in at least 20 years. You everyday wade boys, come and have a blast before they are gone. You can access these fish anywhere from Scotty's to Bass Pro, grab your long stick and come on down. Better yet, rent or put in your boat and get after them, it is a true blessing.

I would classify myself as a decient trout fisherman, but I have never caught 150 fish in 90 minutes. Even if I have 2 other great fisherman in the boat that is a real stretch, you have to play those fish a bit. I cannot tell you how impressed we are. Sounds like a great trip.

D. The spawn is not so much triggered by water temperature. The angle of light and light penetration is what generates the spawn. SKMO had a fancy word for it in an earlier post. AS the fish move shallower, the stickbait bite is still on somewhat, but the split shot rig, soft plastic jerk baits, sinkos, warts, and jigs are all better shallow water offerings than the stick. With all of the fish we caught yesterday, we still had two seperate periods of over an hour each when we caught zero, and had no bites. These fish are really located in very small stretches and they are really concentrated on those locations. In one stretch of bank no more than 100 yds. in length, we had in a 30 minute period 7 keeperss with the best 5 right at 18 lbs. Best advice is if you catch a fish on a spot, you can bet there are more there so work it a couple of different ways. Go down the bank with the stick bait and then go over it again with either a jig or a crank bait. Create a milk run between your two or three best spots and give them a couple or hours to regenerate and hit them again. These fish are really hungry and looking, and on the move. The reason they are on particular spots is because of the feed. Stay away from any dieing shad as you will totally waste your time, we did it again yesterday, Some of our best early season locations were covered with shad and we just could't get bit. Get away from the shad and boom.

The Beckster and I hit it for a few hours this AM. I am forbidden to say where or on what as I am on a very short leash after mentioning the Kings in a previous report. Met his nephew on the water and had a really good morning. Water temps are moving up in a very dramatic fashion, and had water from 47 to 52 degrees. Fished some pockets and alot of main lake, White River. The two boats convicted and then gave pardons to 23 keepers, up to 6.5 lbs. Not bad for 3 hillbilleys. I am now on complete retainer with Bill as everytime we fish he catches a big MAMA. Most all the fish were on a stickbait, but if the water keeps going like this, it won't last, as they will really move up. I am also his personal photographer, as here is a photo of the fish of the day. I am very good with a net and flash photography. I usually don't catch very many fish but whom ever I take does. If anyone requires these type of services you can book me thru Beck's Table Rock Guide Service. He does demand a small perdeim for all the advertisment he is giving me. Good Luck on the Rock.

Lady at the resturant at the knob this AM had heard they were catching some male whites and a few pretty nice eye's from Hickory Hollow to the 86 bridge. Very early and very late. Best gossip she had gotten was an 8 pound eye.

Appreciate the info. You can always learn something here.

Picked the folks up at Lilleys' with a tag boat in tow and headed for the dam at approx. 8:30 Am. Proceeded to the cable, but not above, and advised the tag boat to do the same. Spoke to a friend today that is with MDC Fisheries, Funny, the cable and set-back really has absolutely nothing to do with fishing regulations, but is designed as a safety feature to keep both boats and bank fisherman away from the dam, turbines and plant. Said the wording on the sign really needs to be changed from no fishing to Danger, No Admitance, Resticted Area. Was never meant to be a source of revenue, only a safety feature. Just giggled as I related the 3 ft. over the line cast. Mentioned there might be some higher priority issues on the lake, but he was not an enforcement officer. Over, is over and where MDC is concerned there is no gray area. However there were so many people fishing powerbait in the restricted area today, you would have thought that might have been a priority for them? I more than agree with Tightline on the subject. If you have never driven as much as 1 mile an hour over the speed limit, then you may throw a stone. He admitted his mistake and I think him a good man for it. We all make em, and Lord knows I make em everyday. Also saw at least 3 browns under 20 thrown in the cooler's, and several Bow's in the slot. Just lots of people up there messing up. Lots of people on the lake for that matter. Now the good stuff. 5 drifts from the cable to clay banks and at least 30 catch and release bows and browns on the 1/8 oz. white marabou for my boat. The tag boat did the same as it was really hot on the jig, till they shut her down. From 11 AM till 2:30 fished down town Branson and the fishing was just assume for big rainbows, in the 15 to 18 inch range. Clients ended the day with 4 each and the tag boats two men had their four each. Weighed the 16 bows before cleaning and the weight was 23 lbs. Spoke to the guys running the stocking boat and they were hitting it hot and heavy, stocking at Rockaway and below. Said the quality was not the same as the stocking last week, with this weeks offering being in the 10 inch class. Lots of the big stockers are still in the river, as we caught and released as least 25 more while we were throwing the smokers in the box. Great fishing for the next month at least. Good Luck All

You peaked my interest so I really started looking and found that Arkie, makes a 3/16th. Stand-up Football head. I thought that was probably what you were talking about. Dosen't matter what size, it sounds like it's working great for ya.

You picked a great time and an even better area for the stick. Good Luck

Lived at Shell Knob, for 15 years, and guide the area over 100 days per year and if I were going in July, I would not lock myself up at the end of the Kings River, under any circumstance. Stay away from the Kings unless you are a night fisherman, and then Its pretty good. In July, you want main lake K's. If at all possible, find one of the many resorts on the main White River arm of the lake. Ouail Cove would be great Hardmans Hollow Ok Play Port basic accom. but great access and super people Excellent accom and the best fishing in July, Probably Indian Hills. All have private launching ramps, docks and good accom. There are tons more as Shell Knob and Baxter are resort Meca's. You will be about a 45 minute drive to either Eureka Springs or Branson.

Jay, I have not been able to find a FB head that small. I would try one in that size if I could find it. If you don't mind, tell me what brand you are using? 1/2 is as small as I can seem to find from Jewel. March thru May is when everyone catches there biggest fish on the Rock. That's big fish time. It is the one time we have a chance at catching a real trophy, like your 5 and 6 pounders. Anyone would be proud of that type of quality. Sounds like you are doing really well, on the Rock. Also, a rattle at night I'm sure wouldn't hurt.

There is a couple of parts to this reply, and I'll start with the C-tail. The C-tail is a fantastic bait to start swimming on deep channel swings at this time of year for the next month or so. As water temps rise the fish will move up in the water column and suspend or cruise, starting on the channel swings where the channel comes to the bank. If pole timber is present you can swim these grubs thru the timber and for the most part fish them in locations you would fish the suspending jerk bait. I prefer either 1/4 or 3/16 oz heads on white or smoke color 4 inch grubs. You will loose some. I swim my grubs on 6lb. Some of the boys that fish Beaver in the Spring will use Smimming Minnows and Swim them on 4lb. As the water warms and these fish start to move to spawning location, nothing works better for Big Smallies than swimming these grubs on flat gravel, or gentle slopes of fist size rock. The reason we prefer the 5/16 head this time of year, are the fish are for the most part going to start to move shallow and the smaller head negotiates the crawfish hidey holes better than the football. Way less hangups. The origional purpose for the FB was to fish deep and maintain the jig on the bottom while either dragging it like a rig, or hopping it back to the boat. The round heads in lesser weight have a tendency to swim when fished in that 25 to 40 ft. range. Sometimes that is good however. I will be jerking the rogue's for another month at least, and I will live and die with it, unless I'm guiding and just flat have to get bit another way. Guiding and fun fishing are two seperate and completely different agendas. If I am fishing on my own, I try to bend them to my way of thinking. Does not always work. When we are guiding we will do what ever it takes and our absolute best to get the clients bit. I do take lots of guys this time of year that would rather catch 5 rouge fish a day instead of 20 any other way, or just want to learn a stick bait. Also take guys and gals in the Summer that only want the topwater bite early in the morning and as soon as its is over so are they. Could care less about catching a fish dragging a splitshot rig, or dropshotting. Most folks, however just want to have a great time and they don't care how or how many they catch.

In our super-clear water on the White River Chain of lakes, most do not add rattles. Under colored conditions during rains of off color water times they are easy to attach. 90% of Football jig fishing is done in either late Summer or Fall on the rock, not so much now thru August. The little 5/16 round head is usually the ticket from now thru Spring. Not saying the FB won't catchem, but most of us go to the little guy.

Something to keep in mind on Table Rock is the Shad Kill. This has the total opposite effect from trout fishing. If you see shad in the death throws or floating in windblown pockets in the Baxter to LongCreek areas of the Rock, its best to AMSCRAY, BIGTIME. Unlike the feeding frenzy the trout put on eating anything white, you just can't get bit with dying shad in the area, when you are fishing the rock. Way to many easy pickins. Nothing is 100% a certain, but most of us will avoid the dying shad at all cost. For the most part the trout concentrations below the dam, far out number any shad that come thru. When lots or rafts of shad are coming thru the dam, the trout will even slow down. With all of the forage and not nearly the number of bass, they get full in a hurry. Haven't heard of many dead shad in the Kings or White so that is probably the place to make your stand. Maby some info on Long Creek today and the dam area as there are several guide trips out for both crappie and bass. We'll see. Thanks for the good report Fishrman, sounds like you are doing very well, appreciate your reports.

Of all days to have to fish, Bill Beck was out on the King's Saturday. Most of us Lazy types, put our Saturday trips off till a warmer and less windy Sunday. Even SKMO stayed in, so you know it had to be bad. He only fished a pretty short section, from Royal Point to the mouth, mostly due to high wind and freezing temps, but came to the house with 25 fish with 15 keepers up to 7 pounds. All Largemouth. Said his best 5 would weigh about 19 lbs. and all caught on a pointer or Tim Hughes Table Rock Shad. He was Pumped!!! I took my guide trip on taney early Sunday Morning and gave him a call to see if he wanted to go back up in the PM and catch a few more on this much nicer day. I called him around 11, AM. He was already up there and had been fishing since 9 Am and absolutely, Nothing. He winded up about 3 PM with very little success. Guess the Bass liked 35 mile an hour wind and freezing temps. I rarely have success under falling water temps, and with that much wind you know the stickbait would have been a bear to keep in contact with. He reported water temps, from 40 to 44.5. Water started to warm on Sunday afternoon, and you would have thought the stick would have been on, but he said they completey refused to eat./ My, what a difference a day makes. As much as we all fish this lake, it is a total suprise everytime we go, with about as much consistancy as my wife at that special time of the month. The only way to have success, is to go long and often. I would hate to just try and pick the right day, as I have been fishing and guiding the rock since the 70's and I still don't know when the right day is. You just have to go fishing.

Taxi, A very nice trout, is anything over 15 inch. Lots of quality fish are coming from the restricted area in that length up to 20 inch. The fish are very vibrant and full of fight. They will gladly accept your stick bait and by throwing it you have the opportunity of catching the best of the best.

I just can't understand why they haven't shown up yet. Spoke to Buster yesterday and he is puzzled also. One of the slowest starts to the season we have had. You would have thought with all the generation the fish would have made a move. Good fisherman are working the lake and it is just slow. Maby they will turn on in a fantastic manner later, Can't wait. I think we are all waiting for one good report and then Katty Bar the Door.

Guys, we are going to have to do something about the Freak. Look's to me after he totally put the wammey on the Rock, he moved to Bull. We were catchen-em good on the Rock until he showed this year and now he has gone to Bull too absolutely put the chill on. He is the only guy I know who can put a skunk on Beck. Freekie-deekie, we are going to have to go, so I can take the wammey off of you, before you ruin all the liquid we have in this area. Come to think of it you can only watch. I'm afraid if you fish you will ruin the 07 season. I'll get you going and get this skunk off. I'll make Sk put us on one of his honey holes that won't fail. Give me a call when you get a free minute or two.

Good buddy fished the Shell Knob to Holiday Island stretch today and reported very good action on the suspending rogue. Transitions banks, and gravel pockets off chunk rock. Purple over white continue to be the best color combo. He also took a stint from K-City to the dam and reported shad kill by the thousands and just could not get bit with all the free forage in the pond. Knob, to E-Rock is still the best bet on either a jig, stick or wart. Sparing on the wart as it is just a mite early, unless you are moving it at a snail pace.

Rick, marches to a different drummer than the rest of us, always has and is as successful as anyone. Got a feeling if he used a weight and string as a locater, he would do alright. God Bless him, and wish him all the success in the world.

Just a quick note on the shad. Bill Beck, fished the Kimberling City to Dam area for several hours today. And said it was flat no use on the rock, as there were so many shad in the water. Litterly tens of thousands of shad floating and in the death throws. Maby some of these will find there way to the intake and come on down.

Perfect!