Bill Babler

Got out prior to the crack of dawn this morning hitting the SK bridge ramp at 5:15. There was a small derby going out but they graciously let me get out before take off. Surface temps at 83 degree water is really stained to almost James River green. Fished from the bridge both up the White and up the Kings. Fish were deeper this morning from the last time I was out. Most everything was at 30 plus early and with the sun, by 0800 had moved to middle 40's mostly suspended. Lots of LM suspended today with the K's and some of the walleye on the bottom, however I did catch a load of walleye suspended. Gills have moved in on the flat run outs and they were thick in that same depth range on some locations, not all. You catch gills, you catch walleye. If there are many gills, there are very few bass. Walleye are really for the most part just in crazy amounts up the White and the Kings. Randy, this is a totally different fishery than it was when you were here. The walleye numbers are staggering. They got to be for a dummy like me to catch as many as I have been. All on artificial to boot. I fished a white War Eagle or a white Dixie Jet 1/2 oz. jigging spoon all day and nothing else. On one location up the White I had 8 keeper walleye in 8 drops, up to 24 inches. Couldn't believe it. They would streak off the bottom and hammer the spoon a good 10' before it hit the bottom. At times there were a dozen streaks headed for the spoon. I caught 20 plus walleye, easy with 15 keepers. Kept 2 that swallowed the spoon. Just no way to prevent that with the number of fish I caught and how aggressive they are. I learned something this morning. When you hook a bass at times the entire school would follow it to the surface. When you hook a walleye totally different reaction. They mill somewhat, but go back down very fast or just stay where they are if they're suspended. Interesting, it really lets you know what your looking at. Lots of bass boats out this morning but most with the exception of the several guide boats I saw were beating down the bank. Probably lost one of the really good deep runs today cause a guy I did not know from Adam or had not seen came over as I was pulling my trolling motor. Said he had been watching me from across the lake and had never seen the like of fish I was catching. He wanted to know what I was doing, by that time we were drifting in 80' and I told him I was targeting deep suspended fish with my Live scope, which I was to some extent. Said he had no idea that fish lived that deep. He was running straight birds and wondered if he could find them with those units. I told him sure, just got to keep looking. If That's true. Its not only me, the guides are catching walleye by the bushel basket and here is where I need some splaining. All the keeper walleye are males. In speaking with the guides as well as what I've cleaned not a single fish has been a hen. Every single fish is a male. Idea's? I'm going to have to talk to Shane about it. Well, that's all the good news. The bad news is both Becky and I have Covid. We must have gotten it on our Colorado trip cause we are both pretty miserable with head congestion, cough and sneezing. We have had 4 vaccinations each and still got the durn stuff. My taste buds were only a little off, but Becky couldn't taste or smell anything for a week. We're doing better now, but staying away from people or wearing a mask when we have to go shopping. Good Golly, the fish are biting, if you get the chance go catch a few. Good Luck

Yep, let’s just use up everything we can. We bought a fishing licenses so let’s kill all that we are allowed by law. Don’t understand it now and never will. One of my best friend just thinks it’s God Given right. Every time he goes to Canada or Alaska, especially Alaska he wants to bring a 100 pound of fish home. His freezer blew chunks this Summer and he said he threw away Halibut fillets from 15 years ago. It was his right however. His daughter in laws dad fishes Stockton and has a party every Fall. Said he will fry at least 75 to 80 pounds of walleye and crappie fillets for his guests. As far as I’m concerned the guy needs jail time. Thought of it sickens me that he would kill that many fish over his position limit.

I’m going to be pretty frank here. Walleye on the White River right now are not a problem on live bait. Really easy to find if you know the depth. Catching a limit of keepers is basically just doing it. Crawlers, artificial drop shot worms or spoons. They are totally mixed with the bass, both LM and K’s. Don’t need a ton of bait present either. Quite a few channel cats are mixed in too. Must be a huge crayfish population as just about every bass you catch regardless of depth has feelers sticking out of their gullets. I cleaned 1 walleye the other day cause I caught it in the gills and he had 3 crawdads in its belly. Hope people let those walleye go to grow. Sure , keep one for dinner. A single keeper or 20 incher feeds me and Becky with a piece or 2 left over. Absolutely no need to kill a limit or even 3 for that matter. Just a nice pan full of FRESH fillets Be kind out there.

Glad your doing well now. I’d be mad as Hell at the ER people. Just no scenes in that. I keep reading to go to the walk in clinics for better care. If they can’t fix you the send you to an ER that can. Good Luck.

I heard it was just miserable at the dam. That area would be Long creek above the 86 bridge to point 7 near Kimberling City. Said it’s just been hammered by 100’s of guide trips, locals and tourist. Even when we lived there I didn’t fish that area this time of year as it pretty close to get ruined. Without a doubt and without question just to much pressure on those fish.

TD, you don’t need all those fancy gadgets this time of year, but it’s fun to watch them. Here is the deal right now, just don’t go fishing. What I mean by that, is have a purpose, look for fish before you fish for fish. After reading all these posts if anyone doesn’t know how and where to get bit, you need to read more carefully as it’s all out there. You can get lucky and find them on the 1st. location, but have yourself check 5 or 6 spots prior to even casting. As we have all said, they’re not on every point but when you do find them they are stacked weather it be deep docks, suspended in timber tops or on the gravel flats or bridge piling. Good luck out there and to tell the truth I can have just about as much fun even if I can’t figure it out. It’s all about the Easter egg hunt.

Used to always be 4th. Of July here in Missouri, but not anymore. If you can get them it’s closer to August and the season is really short unless your really good or really lucky. Becky went to Wally World in Berryville this morning and she said gas was $3.99, there and also at Carr Lane. Gets under $3 and we can get this up one day down 2 day deal from the stock market solved and it could get ok. Wont feel so bad about spending little money fishing.

They had vine ripe homegrown tomatoes for the first time at the SK farmers market this morning. We had them for lunch, man they were good. $2.00 a pound. My best buddy said he would never pay that kind of money as when he was a kid in the 60’s they sold them for .7C a pound. I’m glad to pay it, way worth the 2 bucks. Gas this morning in SK was also down $4.09. Heard Sams and Costco were at $3.59 but that was just a rumor.

On new boats trying to compare the Phoenix platform with anything right now on the market for stability, rough water, fishing ability and ergonomics you are batting your head against a wall Year before last Lake Erie more than proved that. More than one pro bought them. Paid money for them to fish that derby where they knew the ride was going to be a total BEAR. Rangers with broken consoles, Skeeters with busted bows with trolling motors hanging in the water and Nitro’s with cracked hulls and broken floors littered the field. Couple of broken rod holders was all the damage the Phoenix suffered. Lots of guys were making an hour and a half run, Jr. and little Sheffield were making it in Phoenix’s in an hour. Both of them paid full price for their boats. Sponsored now but not then. If your up on lake O. Have Big Ed take you for a ride at the dam in his. Your questions will be answered. “Tell him to slow down!” Good Luck

Just a footnote here. As you guys can remember from past threads I am always really careful this time of year with post spawn fish. Entire lake sections will converge on certain locations. It’s not one here and one there. They are either there in good numbers or not at all. Right now with crawlers or even a good drop shotter or spoon man can just hammer them. You could pretty much harvest most every keeper in these groups. I found a group the other day that probably had a couple of hundred in it. Only a few had hook prints and this location is very seldom looked at. They will disperse, soon but if you find a group like this please know that and be kind. Those groups represent huge lake sections of reproductive fish and are the future of the lake.

Our son had a spot on his lower back several years ago. They ended up cutting a hunk out that would shame a Micky D’s 1/4 pounder. SC is no joke best wishes to all of you. My dermatologist pointed out there are certain times of the day to watch, depending on the time of year. Only at those times are the sun rays damaging. He said a rule of thumb for Middle Mo. to Northern Arkansas are 10:30 am till about 4 pm in the intense summer months. I think there is a table some where that is pretty accurate. Goid Luck.

The techniques have changed over the years from that split shot or small bell sinker above the live or plastic worm to the drop shot, but the theory’s are the same. A couple of things that have went away however are using crawfish or shiners. With those baits that are hard to get or just way to expensive the night crawler has become the bait de’sure. Had a mature client tell me he fished out of Campbell Pt. In the 60’s and Charlie Campbell guided him fishing top water early then when the sun came up they dangled creek crawfish around pole timber and caught monster bass non stop. Said they cleaned limits after limits. He said knowing what we know now it was shameful, but they just did not know any better. Said to tell you the truth we threw pounds and pounds of freezer burned Table Rock bass filets away. Said they also caught huge catfish on the crayfish in the pole timber. Losing lots of them they just could not budge. This gentleman has passed away now, but I guided him till he was 98 years old. You all may remember the story of the guy I guided that put his wife in a nursing home for the week so he could come down and fish, that was him. The last few years Beck and I carried him to my boat in a wheel chair. He had fished TR from its heyday till his passing. 100’s of stories about the lake and guides. He paid me the best compliment I’ve ever gotten telling me, he had the money and time to fish all over the world and had never come close to fishing with a harder never give up worker with cleaner better organized plan and equipment than I had. “You notice he did not say caught more fish.”🤪🤪🤪 I guided Otto and he pals for over 20 years and learned way more from him than he ever did from me. Sorry about the ramble.

Brad your becoming our Summer Dockit. Thanks the pictures are great.

Kentucky spotted bass

That guy was set up wrong on it anyway. That pocket is very unique. If the wind blows in there it’s great even right up on the bank. There is a cut that comes out there and the pile is in the middle of the cut further out the point on the flat side he was in to close to the back of the pocket it looked like it may have been behind him but I didn’t get that close. At one time with the lake at 914 you could see it. I mean 15 years ago. It’s broken down a bunch since. Still early in the season you can throw a jerk bait over it and get bit most anytime you go there. That flat is a wonderful place to stroll a big jig in the fall. It gets a lot of attention this time of year as it holds some eyes and a few early chasers in the morning. Back in the 80’s it had some pole timber on it clear around to the commercial docks, but it’s all flat gravel now with the exception of that pile in the cut. Over the years my clients have caught 1000’s of fish off that spot. One November Beck and I had 22 pounds in a derby out there on a Big Jig. Buster, Tim Sainato and I guided out there with crawlers it was October I think around 1998. We had 3 clients in each boat and in a single morning we had over 300 K’s there catch and release. 26’. They blacked out our graphs. The entire flat was covered with K’s. Must have been 10’s of thousands. That was before anybody but the guides fished deep. Most fishermen didn’t fool with the K’s they hit the banks for LM. Now, we’re just happy to catch a fish of any kind.

Was he in that V bottom in the cut with the pile in it? You know where I mean, I turned around cause he was in the cut and another boat was on the point and there was a guy on the dock casting. I just knew if I can over I would mess you up and it’s over so quick I hated to take the chance. About a month ago I had 5 keeper walleye off the point you were on and the next one down stream. Let them all go. 2.8” Keitech. There is just almost always a bite or two on that spot. I only had a couple on the swimmer today. Everything up and down.

3 on the little worm and 2 on spoons. I think I also had a big one on that came unbuttoned on the little worm. Could have been a nice kitty, or a jaw but it bit and fought like Walter. Had it on and just could not bring it up. Line was clean and no bubbles so I really don’t know. It really pulled good and strong like a very nice walleye.

Hit the SK ramp at 5:31 and was 6th. In line, guys moved pretty fast. Went up the White looking for top water, but really didn't see any. Pretty sure I saw Quill, but it was right at prime time and he was camped out so I didn't want to bother his possible TW bite with a howdy. Was headed up lake but the point I wanted had 2 boats on it so I headed back to the mouth of the Kings. No top water, but Gee Willikers, the fish are just stacked in that 24' to 37' range. Mostly on the bottom. If I would have been in a Blue Triton and had 3 more graphs on the boat there might have been a case of mistaken identity, the way they were munching. Had just a great time, caught a boat load of keepers plus some walleye and left them biting at 10:30. At one point I had a decision to make and most of us have never had to make it. I started COUNTING MONEY. Yep, I was on my 4th. Bag of drop shot worms and I called a halt to the soft plastic. Spoon or nothing. They ate it. Not like the worms, but better than I deserved. Surface temps all morning hovering at 80/81 with quite a few fishermen and not any wake boats to speak of. Had 4 walleye keepers and 1 short. Kept one that swallowed the spoon. Nice mix of K's and LM. Good Luck Out There.

Just rolled in 2 minutes ago. Passed your folks place. Man it’s burned up here since we left. It was warm in Colorado, but the difference is 11 to 15 percent humidity and it cools into the upper 40’s low 50’s at nite. Also most every afternoon a small short pop up shower that would really cool it off It cools fast in the evening as soon as the sun hits the horizon it’s in the 60’s in the evenings so very pleasant to sit out side with the breeze that seems to always blow. Folks out there were burning up with midday temps in the middle to high 80’s where we were. No ice to be found. Everything sold out. The lady’s B&B we stayed at above Pagosa Springs said she had never seen 82 degree at her lodge prior to last week. She said it got warm down in town, but at 8600 ft it most usually stayed cool all day.

Next time out I better be invited👍👌

You crushed them, good for you. Take the grid off and it will clear it up even further.

From what we understand the people that bought our lodge and the 40 acres are investing an additional 20 plus million in the property for more lodging. When they bought our lodge for XXXX million the realtor asked about their financing and they said there was no financing, they would just issue a bank draft with no outside financing Buyers live in Arkansas but the check said an investment group. Check was issued from a bank in New York City. We looked up the group and it was a family with assets of over 800 million. Lots of green floating around out there.

I agree with him. Only time you weigh is if you have a chance for a check or its a series with continuing tournaments where collecting points for a fish off derby is in play. Just totally stupid to drag 2 or 3 fish up there if someone has 20 pounds on the board. Unless you think its Big Fish. PS. A 2 pound K ain't cuttin it. There is none worse than the Homer Sloan event at Shell Knob 1st. Saturday in October. Usually 50 to 100 boats and a ton of Dumb buttes drag 1-2 or 3 fish up there. Totally uncalled for. Just can't beat that Ribeye dinner at the end however and the ton of giveaways.

I can’t even bend it today or it cracks open. I’m soaking in in Bag Baum. 🤪🤪🤪

I too hate to see them dragged all over out there with surface temps this warm. There is a better way as MLF and the Kayak tournaments have shown. I was also fishing with a seasoned guide that spends 300 days a year on the water. When he is not guiding, he is fishing. Simply ate up with it. He just had to show me what he was doing and it fit the way I fish Table Rock in June. 99.9% of guys fishing Lake O. Are not fishing deep suspended post spawn fish. Just not done a whole bunch up there. Said he has pretty much had it to himself for a month.