Bill Babler

Nope

James everything you said was spot on about LOZ. Those fish can get glued on a certain thing up there. You might have 50 guys fishing the same bait, but several guys just targeting different stuff and they probably all catch fish, but those several that are on the right deal or lake section just mash them. LOZ has everything. One of the greats.

Lots of Orvis equipment for sale. I have both rod reel combos or you can purchase separate. Here is a listing of the Reels. Some have fly line. The Battenkill reels are made in Europe. Orvis has a complete inventory of parts should they ever be needed. Orvis Hydros 5/6 wt. titanium very little use backing and fly line. $150.00 Orvis Battenkill LA 3/4 5/6 made in England Flyline and backing $250.00@ 7 reels Orvis Mach LA III/IV Flyline and Backing $150.00@ NEW Orvis Battenkill V made in England $250.00 I’ll probably list the matching rods tomorrow. Becky and I are off to Pickleball I have 13 combos if someone wants multiple I’ll discount them but they are already lower than any of the same quality I see on the web Just PM me I had some scam calls in the boat I offered Tks. BB

Computer Science, an uninhibited open mind and really no history to clutter your mind. No previous lake knowledge is required any longer. Truly a portal has been opened as far as fishing. Really didn’t see it coming to this extent this fast. KVD probably got out at the right time. What’s really scary is these folks are just now putting a small dimple on the surface of what’s coming. On another note the lake is totally full of boats today. Watched a guy catch 3 in front of the house this morning. He was fishing deep tree tops up and down.

I will tell you this. Never and I mean never with 50 years on this lake have I even though about fishing locations that I witnessed last Fall during the Toyota series event here. 100 to 150 feet of water suspended or on the bottom of targeting SINGLE fish in the main channel and catching them. It was truly life changing as far as what I knew about fishing. FFS and the ability without limits to use it and expand the horizons of where fish are moving solves huge mysteries. When the Fall dispersal occurs in September thru early November we always wonder where they go. We now know, and really I’m thinking it’s not good knowledge.

Dru Gill was dropping the Dimiki right on their heads just like Connell. I’ll bet you a dollar to a donut that in the TVS River systems this year it’s going to be the Dimiki. Long Lining Cranks and Hair jigs will still catch them there but I bet lots of those Guys will catch them on mini baits, while looking at em. SPINNING RODS.

Snagged your more than correct. This however is changing to not only clear water high mountain lakes but Texas, Georgia Alabama, and other Southern States. Off color medium depth stained traditional Largemouth waters are now FFS micro baits havens. Seeing every fish prior to trying to catch it, regardless of depth or water clarity. Unbelievable how fast this has happened.

Not many years ago, I mean as little as 2 or three years would it even have been seemed possible, that tournaments would be won on this body of water that harbors Giant bass with 3 inch minnow baits. Dimiki rigs and FFS. I believe this technique got a HUGE kick start on the Rock last Fall during the Toyota Series. The way non-A-rig tournaments are won has not only turned a corner but taken a sharp detour. On the recent MLF event there, 9 out of the top 10 finishers fed the fish on their FFS Dimiki rigs. Most every fish and I mean BIG fish and lots of them were first seen then fed these micro baits on lite line on SPINNING TACKLE. No more fishing only seeing and catching. Times have most certain changed and really I have no idea if it’s for the better.

Hey Bobby great to see a post. Thought you might have flown south with the Ducks.

2-6-24 Upper White River Well, if it goes like it did today next Saturday someone in that BFL is going to weigh in a Huge Sack of Fish. Perfect morning with a bit of cloud cover and a gentle breeze. Surface temps at 0700 were 46.7 main channel. Quit at noon when it really started to white cap and the temps were 50.7 degree. Had over 25 LM most in the 17 to 18 inch bracket with one good one. Never caught a single K. A-rig-stickbait-jig and a new Berkeley Bait. Depth was a constant 25’ not 30’ or 20’. Saw every fish I caught with the exception of 2 jig fish. They were on the bottom 25’ Lots of what I caught were A-rig fish sitting in tree tops at 25’ worked the rig right thru them in the Danger Zone strikes were Hammers Depending on weather you might see a 23-25 pound bag next Saturday Good Luck

It’s a grey area for sure. I NEVER got involved in the catch clean and keep deal in 30 years of the guide business. Never gave a client a single fish I caught or kept a single fish I caught showing a client how. Really never let clients party fish. If you wanted to keep trout or pan fish excluding bass, you had to catch your own. Once you had your limit or the limit I chose to impose.( 2) walleye, you were on catch and release. You don’t have to go into grey areas as 30 years in the business shows and more trips than I could take. Have no idea what Capt. Rick is doing and we all have to let our conscious be our guide.

I’ll give you a quick story about guiding crappie. I just would not do it. Learned the hard way. If your guiding bass catch and release is no problem. 90% of folks don’t eat them anyway. Or even want to for that matter. Crappie on the other hand, those folks have never seen one that they don’t want swimming in Crisco. You don’t produce a limit as a guide you might as well have Skunked. Crappie guided trips aren’t about being out there having fun. It’s about what’s in the ziplock after the trip. Totally different platform. You don’t go home after a guide trip for crappie and tell your buddies how they were great fighters. You don’t say gosh, “that crappie jumped 3 times.” First question from someone is, “Did you get your limit. The answer is yes we did or the guide sucked. We were 2 short of the limit. Never wanted anything to do with that. Never needed the money that bad.

This saddens and breaks my heart. I have seen a continuous decline in the fishery since the LM Bass virus. This is mostly due to fishermen adapting and fishing off shore and being more adept at catching spotted bass. Now with the popularity of FFS and the ability to use it in everyday fishing it puts a greater strain on the resources. To lower the length will further cause this resource to deplete. You think it’s hard to catch 15” fish now. Wait a year or two if this happens. As far as this benefiting the other black bass populations in the lake it won’t do a durn thing We have a huge forage base here, that is ample to sustain way more predatory fish than the lake is currently populated with, or producing Smallmouth are vastly different forage harvesters than their cousins. Their diets consist of not only shad and crayfish, but aquatic insects and invertebrates to large degrees. Lowering the numbers of spotted bass will not increase the numbers or size of our smallmouth. They are in ZERO competition for forage Spotted bass are sexually mature prior to our legal harvest limits. Thru biological study it takes a spotted bass 7 years to reach 15”. They start spawning after their 4 th. Year. There are many studies that show the slower growing spotted bass can live to be 15-20 years old. LM and SM have a life expectancy of 12 years or so. With more than enough forage, no stunned growth in any species and many people calling for stocking. Why are we trying to reduce bass numbers? Yes, at times large numbers are available and congregated. Mostly during Winter migration and post spawn. Large numbers will be in a few lake sections but I caution you these numbers mean they aren’t somewhere else. They are in a few locations congregated. The use of this resource is at an all time high and climbing. The ability to locate and catch fish is increasing at levels that really were not understandable a few years ago. FFS adaptive fishing methods and off shore non structure fishing have revolutionized fishermen’s ability to find locate and catch fish in open water to depths of 100 plus feet. Fish that in the past really no one knew existed are easily caught using modern technology. I really found this out during the November Toyota tournament here. Fishing this lake for more than 50 years I learned more things about TR lake than I had in those 50 years from 22 year old kids in a 3 day period You really can’t compare Bull or Beaver with TR. The inaccessibility of Bull and the lack of fishing pressure for black bass on Beaver total separate the fisheries. Ask anyone on Lake of the Ozarks what FFS and the technique of dock shooting has done to the large crappie on Lake O. in the last 5-10 years. Use the Ben Franklin method here. Put a column of plus and a column of minus and take a close look. Remember this, the forage base can only go in the column for why not to increase harvest. It does nothing as far as the size or number of smallmouth or largemouth as we have a base that far exceeds what is currently consumable by our bass population. Anyone in favor of this has only one intention and it’s not to enhance the fishery. It’s strictly consumption.

Right back at ya bassnut. Thanks all appreciate it. Probably in the best shape I’ve been in since Phil and I had our last Alaska trip. Becky and I play Pickleball 3 days a week and of course lots to do here around the homestead. Somebody buy my Bayboat so I can afford another Alaska trip before Phil gets to old and can’t keep up. Love y’all

Personally have never seen the main White River at the Dam to Long Creek freeze. Neither have I seen the White from Big M to KC Freeze. Might be some ice in the upper creeks and coves but in 50 plus years on the White I have never seen the channel freeze. This last spell didn’t even think about freezing Hobbs Hollow. I did see some ice clinging to low tree branches that are in the water.

There ya go.

Boat has never spent a single night outside.

Pretty good story on the shop. Back wall is recycled 1931 Barn Board. Wood was cut on the farm at Camdenton, Mo. to build a hay barn, by a traveling crew. Wood is red oak. My buddy and I took the barn down last year. I then took the boards to Nixa and had them sanded. When I took them up they were weathered, grey and had tons of green mold. Boards were 1” thick or there abouts. Becky and I built the wall, had to drill every nail hole😠 It turned out unbelievable, totally gorgeous. I’m very blessed.

Your close, that would get you your choice of either the left or right Power Pole and the new batteries. Nice first offer however. 🤪🤪🤪

After much and I mean much thought I’m going to sell my Custom Build AlWeld Bay Boat. Just not using it enough to justify having such a nice piece of equipment and letting it sit. It has really been a God send since my retirement as I’ve played with it, nurtured it and made it somewhat of a show piece. Really given me a play thing. Just the Facts: 23’ tunnel hull good on corners. 15 degree V. 115 Merc 4 stroke with 2 SS Props. HaulRite tandem trailer with almost new tires. Oil filled drums, new jack and new bunks and runners. 10’ Blade PP with new spikes, new hydrolic lines and pumps reconditioned. Hydrolic Jack Plate Minn Kota Ulterra 24V trolling motor both foot control and key fob. New Pro-Guide Batteries. Lowrance Electronics HDS 7 ‘s. Monster Mounts. Point 1 GPS 2 on board chargers - 3 bank and a brand new 4 bank. Boat features planeing pods. 3 live wells with timers, 2 total walk around 18’ rod boxes, 50 Quart Cooler, 7 storage boxes, Full instrumentation, Ranger pop up cleats, trolling rod holders, Rubber easy walk flooring. The motor just had its annual service and tune. $1,409.00. New Gator Hide. Decking and flooring. Boat has multiple fishing platform configuration from Butt Seats to traditional lounge back seating to Millinium double Spider Rig seating with Spider rigging capability included. 8 pole holders. $35,000.00. OBO. 417-332-7016

Starting about now I really don’t think the cold helps much. The Shad are already in the 50’ to 70’ range and aren’t going to congregate much further. The cold makes the shallow fish much more lethargic. I’d much rather see bright sunshine and a warming trend to move the fish higher in the water column. Right now and coming up are about the only time the bright sun is your friend on the Highland Reservoirs. Light penetration and warming temps will start to ease them into thinking transition. I have an entire arsenal I’m throwing at em this year, so I’m chomping at the bit.

Yesterday in the 37 degree weather and pouring rain there were 2 guys deep fishing in our cove. I was totally flabbergasted. Never and I mean never not even in my gung-ho youth was I ever that mad at em. Would not surprise me one tiny bit if someone was at it today.

I’m thinking I looked pretty slim and in good shape😁

Tremendous man that loves the Hogs. One of their own.

Being reported unofficially that Drink got both an extension and raise to 9.75 million per year thru 2028. That puts him in 4th. position in the SEC. Lane Kiffin from all reports is about to jump to second pushing 12 million a year. Cost of doing business is going up like crazy. Don’t know if y’all know this but these salaries are really more than what’s stated. Good friend was an assistant coach for the Razorbacks until Sam came along. On top of his salary they got a house, 2 cars, insurance, clothing and food stipends. That pretty much covers it. Pretty good work if you can get it.