Bill Babler

Thought I was the only nut that threw a stick sometimes on a spinning rod. I do RS. I just can't make myself use anything other than 8 lb. though. Where you fish up the James and around the cedars, you are no doubt the wiser of the two of us, with the heaver line. Do you remember when the floating Rapalas came to Table Rock and a few of the boat dock had them. They would drill and pour lead into the floaters and wrap lead around the hooks. Dan Langly tells me that when he ran Campbell Point they would rent these baits. Have you heard these stories? Freak, I use the old style lowrider.

Thanks Rolan, I think that is the way I'lll go.

Both Myself and SK, absolutely meant no disrespect to either J.E. or Hummingbird whom he represents. We are old dogs, me imperticular and by gosh looking at these units 1000's of hours a year. We have formed oponions and have a fair grasp of what we need in a unit. There is no further information that my lowrance can give me to assist my fish catching, I am 100 percent as SK, is satisfied. {But I could be wrong!} Our's is for the most part a completely unbiased oponion, as we are not getting paid to use, or representing anyone's equipment, and not profiting from any equipment that you may buy that we talk about on the fourm. We try our best to keep salesmanship from our recommendations and if it seems as if we are trying to sell you guys something, Please Call Us On It. I pay for everything I use, and will always use what I deem to be the best product for what I'm doing. I will no longer owe anyone in the fishing industry, I have been down that road. I don't have to pay for anything including my boat if I choose not too. All of the full time guides here can have most any deal they want, but the price in the long run is way to steep, we have all learned that the hard way. Again J.E. Sorry my writing style really misled what I was trying to say. Foot in Mouth. Appreciate you on the fourm.

Just a quick note to some walleye movement and I don't really know if you call this White River or Table rock. Most of the locals over there call it the White, so we'll go with that. Most everyone thinks the Beaver town bridge is the start of the lake. Last 3 days they have caught 9 keeper walleye up to 28 inches, and several shorts, didn't give me the total number but said it has been really good. Fishing the flats on the Holiday Island side before you reach the big bend at beaver town, they are also fishing the flat just below the bridge in front of the beaver town hotel, and the flat just above the bridge. I don't think I can get anymore precise than that on locations. He said he didn't care as he thought it would be too cold for anyone to bother him. Caught 3 trolling shadraps and the other 6 on suspending rouges in clown color. Hope to get up there and try it in the next few days. He was fishing early and late. Couple or hours in the AM and a couple or hours just before and right after dark. Most of the fish came in the first hour and the last hour. Good Luck

Don't mean to tinkle on anyone's parade, but according to one of our biologist, I don't believe they have ever found any natural recruitment in Bull, or very little at best. Very similar to Taney in the fact that there is a spawn and a spawning run on several areas of the lake. But like the trout there seems to be no or very little natural fry being produced. You ask why are certain areas closed during the spawn? Simply because there are a high number of very accessable fish in those locations that are very vulnerable. Also Swan is a major gathering point for the dept. for walleye sperm and eggs to be reared off the lake and then reintroduced as fingerlings. If you catch a good walleye and you want it, for gosh sakes thats great. There is a stocking program in place, to replenish walleye. None for bass however hum.

Freak, did you get to go up the White where the fish live, or were you guys playing with electronics on deep fish around Kimberling? Billy told me he had a trip he had to work really hard on last week. I use a custom rod made by the Rod Shop out of Kansas City. It is a medlight. I also have a med. and and medlight Falcon that I really like. The Rod Shop Rod is by far the cream of the crop. 816-668-3026. I'm sure they could get you one about as soon as you wanted it. Would also be glad to let you take a look at mine.

Thanks again, your info has just been outragiously great. Would be interested in the D100. please email me at whiteriverlodge@platwls.com or give me a call at 417-779-1556 and let me know what you want for the body. Also, have you ever done any interior wide angle photography? Would be interested in some bartering if your interested. Thanks a Bunch Bill

Greg, Xnay on the line and for the most part most of us are fish medlight on the rod action. I use the same rod that I work a zara spook with. 6ft. fast tip, spongy middle and good backbone at the handle. Reason for the Rod. The quick tip allows you to move or twitch the bait while maintaining it in the same location and not moving it toward the boat, just altering the head position of the bait in a back and forth movement. Soft middle section is always what you want when using trebles as on the lift or hook set it will keep you from tearing the small hooks out. Same reason a lot of the pro's are still fishing glass rods on cranks. The butt section is self explanitory. I an most of use stickbait freaks like the long handle. Everyone except Buster and he is a master. He uses a 5 1/2 glass rod with a pistol grip handle. He has two and if you tried to buy one it would cost your house. He just flicks his wrist to alter the bait movement. Line is pretty much set a huge seceret is most stickbait fools, use 8 lb. either Max. or 8 lb. P. A few guys like SKMO use floracarbon, I will if I want the bait to sink slightly as the flor. will sink the bait. Most guys use mono because it will stay in the same position as the bait. I have had the flora. sink at a greater rate than a neturally boyant stickbait, if I'm letting it set for long periods, and this is ok, unless I'm fishing cedar, where I don't want the bait to get hung-up. It's all good with the line, but try and stay in the 8 to 10 lb. range if possible. If that bait is attached to a well rope you just won't get the action.

P. If I were just going to crappie fish I would just grab a 3 day Arkansas Lic. Most everyone right now is fishing Ark. The Mo. side will be good soon, and I'm sure you could catch some in Mo. but I'd put my holiday money on the Long Creek, Cricket Creek split and work up both creeks from their mouths, which is all in Arkansas. According to the way SKMO is catching bass in a bit cloudy water, pitching a jig shallow, the same area's would be good for that tecnique also, as the water will be somewhat off color. You have also defined your search area to a managable ammount of water, that holds both the crappie and good black bass fishing. To only be here for a few days and try to manage this lake is a pretty tall task, work that Arkansas water and you will get bit.

Extremely good points. Most fishing especially for bass you are targeting locations that are not at an extreme depth. And, for the most part are very seldom making vertical presentations that require you to see structure, fish and if your lucky presentations. That is why a whole plethera or electronics are on the market. Frankly If I were guiding anywhere but on the White River Chain or in a deep sea environment, I would not spend the big bucks. Absolutely meant nothing demeaning about the hummingbird or any of the other units, its hard to teach an old dog new tricks. On the White River Chain, counting Arkansas for Stripers, there are over 150 full time guides operating. To my knowledge every one to a man runs Lowrance. Everyone of us could be on one prostaff or the other, but something to always remember, there are no deals and nothing is 1/2 price, dealers cost, or free. In the long run you more than pay for everything you get in the fishing business

Guy's I have no interest in seeing what is not directly under me. I personally don't feel any unit that Hummingbird offers is an upgrade to the X15. Like SK, I have a buddy that has a 967. Way out of bounds for both of us. It's on ebay now and he is back with Lowrance. I can see a 256 oz. micro jig at 100 ft. on my Lowrance. You got better? That is not much more than the size of a fountain pen head. I always cringe at people on Pro-Staff deals. As most are, I really paid more, than I should have. National Team Deals are, We pay you $10,000 to use the unit for a year and tell us what you think. Free or partial payment of fishing equipment means nothing, except you owe somebody. If you are not getting a W2 from the manufactor, you flat don't have a deal. One of our local Pro's is on a great Hummingbird deal that pays 5 figures, he fishes it every tournament except Table Rock. He says, mostly because it dosen't matter, what he fishes shallow. Fishes a 115 Lowrance on the Rock. Go figure. Believe me, I have done it all in the last 30 years fishing 300 days a year and I will pay for what I want and what works the best rather than be on a Pro-Staff. I would pay Lowrance twice the price for their units and think they were a bargin. But then agin, I make my living putting people on fish. Typo on 67 instead of 87, me bad. Good Luck

BIG G. I think you get it. Great post.

Guys, most of you are out pounding the bank from June to September and wondering why your not getting nailed. Let me say this about that. GO FISHING NOW. Table Rock is at it's most vulnerable point as we speak and in the next couple of months it will litterly give up all her goodies. GO GET THEM. I don't want to hear crying about not catching big fish in the Summer. That is not the time to fish the Rock. That time is now. If you are a bird or deer hunter you don't hunt in 90 degree weather, why think the fishing is good, at that temp. Water temps on the Rock are in the 45 degree range and the fish area eating. No crowds at the resorts or lodges and the fishing is fantastic for BIG FISH. Lot's of information about how to catch them, now is on the web, so get out there. We should be seeing boats on every wind blown bank everyday, and I bet you, you could go from Eagle Rock to Baxter tomorrow and not see but 1 or 2 boats. You boys watch basketball and Sk and I will have a ball on the Rock. Come on down.

Gary, always great to hear from guys like you. SK and I will keep pumping out Table Rock stuff, but in the long run it's all on the reader to get out there and put into play what were talking about. I promise you we will keep it commin! Good Luck.

Thanks G. Will keep it in mind. Very nice of you. appreciate it. Bill

Guys, thank you so much. It seems were split about right down the middle on this. I do believe the lenses I have will fit a Nikon D50 so that is one step in the right direction. All i need is that dad-gum 10.5mm for the 700 clams. Oh!wouldn't it be nice if money didn't matter. Excellent response can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

Would really like to know if anyone has purchased any equipment off the web? Been reading lots of reviews some bad and some good. Some nightmares and some great experences. The prices for this kind of upper end equipment are extremely tempting. Not ridiculas but lower for sure with no tax for the most part and depending on your dollar size of the order no shipping. Really looking at Calumet Would hate to make a couple of thousand dollar mistake and not get my stuff. On a $2,000.00 dollar order it would roughly cost you $2,700 at Lawrence and you just can't get these types of lenses at BB or CC. Thanks

Fishing has been off the last week, due to the cold, just not getting out. If I were after the fillets, I'd go up Long Creek to where it and Cricket divide and as Phil stated start prospecting the flats. Put your boat at the edge of the channel break and start casting the swimming minnow toward the bank 12 to 22 ft. let it fall to the bottom and just barely creep it back to the boat, maintaining the minnow just off the bottom. Try different colors and locations and learn as you go. It won't be fast, but I bet you catch some. Also as your boat is in the channel keep checking your graph to see if there are any concentrations of fish on the bottom in the channel, or suspended. I like to keep a maribou handy for this as I feel the feathers work better on a vertical presentation. Just take your time and if you feel you are fishing slow, slow down even more, its cold out there.

Have been keeping a close eye on both Bill Beck and SKMO, Beck out for pay and SKMO out for play. He has a diesease called fishbitus. I think alot of us have milder cases, but with SKMO it's terminal. Reports coming from Perkins Hollow to about Big Creek indicate a pretty good to excellent bite on a Bill Norman fleck or purple and white rogue, fished in main lake pockets on transitions banks. SHALLOW!!!! Also a fairly good jig bite is coming shallow in these same locations if wood is present. Quality fish most all being largemouth. SHALLOW!!!!!! Deep fish are still present in the major coves if you can find the shad. They seem to have shallowed up to the 40 ft. level, with lake temps ranging from 43 to 46 degrees. Very tough to find. The James River arm, Kimberling, Dam including Long Creek seem to be laging somewhat behind with really extremely poor results both on deep fish and on stickbait fish. These larger bodys of water, not including the James and Long Creek have lots more hidey holes and seem not to keep up with the White River arm this time of year. Would love any info on Long Creek as I have not been getting as much play on this area. Yesterday report on the James was double bad. Can't get really specific on where the major bite is but I will tell you its going on. You can pretty much look at this post and see the area I have deleted and figure out that may be it. There is as good a rogue bite as about your going to get EXTREMELY SHALLOW!!!!! in this White River area. 5 reports in the last two days with 1/2 day trips weighing their best 5 bass at 16 to 22 lbs. Not lots of shorts and almost all blacks with quality fish on the suspending stickbaits. SHALLOW!!! If SKMO wants to be more specific on location thats fine, but you didn't hear it from me. You should have the depth pretty much down. Guys, they are out there and now is the time to shop if you don't like the isle your on, start looking down different isle's. You will find them if you look. Stickbait article still coming, however SK hit it pretty good. Now is the time to catch 4lb. to gosh nows how big get after em!

Guys, thanks so much for all your help. I have also spoken to seveal pro's with several doing nothing but interiors and to a man or woman, they are all using Nikon Nikkor 10.5 mm fisheye lenses for all of their close up interior photography. No distortion at a 180 degree field of view. The durn camera is not the problem, this lens is $700.00 Guess I'll spring for one as it seems to be my only option. I need my photo's as crisp and clear as possible for the lodge. Also Phil took the interiors with a 12mm fisheye so that is pretty wide on the angle shots. Thanks again guys, really appreciate it. Have any of you purchased anything over the web? Prices seem to be very good for the same equipment they sell at Lawrence Photo..

Guys I have a very good 35mm SLR Nikon that I purchased about 6 years ago with a varity of lenses. Here is what I want to do. Take both broschure quality photo's and also completely rephotograph all of our lodge rooms for display on our various internet websites. Do I need to purchase a digital camera and the appropreate lenses all new or will I just need the correct lenses for my SLR? What steps would I have to take to reduce the resolution of these film photo's to make them come up quickly on the web? I'm sure I would then need photoshop or some other program to adjust this for my computer. I am in a pickle as this stuff ain't cheep. Thought about professional photography, but with constant updates and the price of the pro, I could buy my own equipment, so I want to get what would be best. Please take a shot at this Thanks Bill What whould you do?

Very nice trip to Ark. yesterday. Great to catch-up on stuff you just don't talk about too much on email. Seem's to be alot more guide trips going on at the bstailrace than up here, as it appeared there were 3 or 4 trips going on when we got there and a guide pulling out at the ramp as we were lanching. None seemed to be catching them as well as PHIL and i. Notice the caps for a reason. When you put that guy on a streight line jig he is deadly. I had to make a quick switch to a jig and float in some slack water, just to make it respectable. You don't have to catch 50 fish to have fun. The day was beautiful and the company great. WE did see several strands of what appeared to be flesh floating in the water and I believe the gulls may have been diving on this. We saw no shad, but the health and the fullness of every fish we caught was amazing. All most all the guide boats were fishing flyrods, but for the most part down there they use a tecnique that we seldom employ on taney. It is little more than a flop out and you for sure would not need a flyrod to do it. A canepole or switch would employ about the same fishing style. Most were fishing a white either streamer or jig, or egg pattern about 6 to 8 ft. under an indicator. If their rods were 9footers they were probably fishing with the indicator about 9ft. from the tip of the rod. They just leave that much flyline out and never pick it up or cast it. After they drift the area they choose, they just motor back to the spot with the fly line dragging behind the boat and when they get to their desired location, they just make a hard overhand slam and drift it again and again. alot of times their strike indicator, will be drifting within 4 or 5 ft of the boat. I have seen a couple of the Ark guides on taney and they also drift like this during generation, only with maby 10 to 16 feet of tippet below the indicator, seems to work, as their clients catch plenty of fish. They will fish it right under the boat with no cast at all. Their clients after the drift, will pull the flyline in till the indicator reaches the rod tip, and then pull the tippet in wraping it around their hand. When they get to the desired drift location they will hand drop the tippet and fly just over the side to float the strike indicator, they do have to mend from time to time, but that is about the only fly fishing manuver they make. I like to watch myself cast to much for this presentation, and is that really fly fishing, just because your using a flyrod? Just a question, not a critism. All in all, what a great way to spend a 32 degree February day.

Wayne, I really agree with ya. The X-Rap is a great stick, that throws with ease and never needs a tune job. Depth range between 4 and 6ft. depending on line size, and length of cast. It varies from the custom suspending sticks in the fact that it won't achieve the depth that the rogues achieve. 6 to 14ft. with the same variables. As the water warms and the fish tend to rise in the water column, I really like it along with all the pointers. We'll analize all these baits comming up toot-sweet. Thanks, Great imput.

Bob, check out the archives posted by administration on early season tablerock. Great info, even though I wrote most of it. Also check out the post on table rock from now on because they are going to be coming in heavy on stickbait fishing. Am just about to do a Spring article on the art of the stick with lots of great input from other guides and lots of pic's. You could not spend your money any wiser than to take a guide trip with some of these great Table Rock guides that fish the stickbait. It is truely an art. Buster, Bill Beck and Tim Paige are as good as they get. You will see not only color but most important presentation. It will work anywhere in the White River chain. Good Luck

It's hard to get much out of Buster, if you arn't a buddy. I'm not saying it's impossible, but he is very selective to whom he sells his baits. You can always give him a try as his baits are extremely custom, being reworked from the bill to hooks to weighting and color. These baits don't simply have a slick paint job, they are indeed the works of an excellent lure crafter. 417-335-0357. They are fish catchers. Glad he's my buddy. Tim Hughes has been hand painting all varities of hard plastic and wood baits for years. Tim has a complete stable of tournament pro's with many wins fishing his baits. The painting and the colors without question are works of art. www.hughescustombaits.com Custom Stickbait Rods can also be purchased from The Rod Shop at 816-668-3026 Extreme light weight, with sensitive tips and flexibility thru the rod top with enough backbone to fight a quality fish. Best I have ever seen or used. The stickbait rods are also wonderful for working spooks or chugbugs in the warmer times making them a duel prupose rod. They are fantastic. In the next couple of weeks, I will put together the primer for White River Stickbaiting and will get it up with lots of great info from some of the best Stickbait throwers on the system. Stay tuned