Bill Babler

What a horrible grind. 38 total fish in the 1st. period with 5 guys catching 15 of those. Last time I remember a fishery this stingy, it was the Monongahila out of the twin cities. I think that was a Classic that KVD WON but I’m probably wrong on all of it. I think there was 3 rivers or some such. What ever it sucker as bad or worse than this.

Just launch at Cooper to avoid problems. That ramp above Short Creek is a complete disaster except for personal water craft. It can be done but just not worth the wetness or effort.

By inflating the worm your going to elevate your scud off the bottom. Size 12 is not to large, but you might stop in Lilley for perhaps a different color pattern. Check with them for the size and color the fish are on at that time. Good Luck

You have learned well Grasshopper 🤪

She has some that rent for over $15,000.00 a week. Most are already booked for the entire Summer season if 2022. It totally amazes me the money that is out there. A good client rented one on Indian Pt. Year before last, a 7 bedroom an his stay was 20 grand. He thought it was really reasonable. Our son is an engineer and travels a lot for work. His budget is $500.00 per day for food lodging. If he entertains clients it has no cap. when I was on the state patrol our budget was $25.00 for meals. 35 cents a mile and $35.00 a night for lodging. That was 1985.

The lady next door to us owns, “Owns” 135 VRBO’s in the Branson area. An investor sight unseen just bought a neighbors house for 2.95 million for a VRBO. 20 acres just down from our house, lake front, lake view just sold last week for 2.1 million. Horrible access and logistics going to build from what they are saying 40 VRBO’s. Times have changed

Agree with what your saying about Marty, however he had some great points today and about every guy that was doing any good echoed them. One of his best points was fish this time of year and no one know the reason are in small isolated areas. Places that are the exact or near the same may not hold them. You get on a stretch no matter how small and catch them. You better hang around. Especially on that pond.

Really slowed down. Man that's a grind. Super hard, glad I'm not fishing. Not a lot if fun.

He is simply nailing it today. Fantastic fishing Intel. These guys will catch more today, they are off to a way faster start. Saw my first boat with 6 graphs, Lowrance. Michael Neil jumped from Nitro to Phoenix this year. My regional rep. told me he forgot to enter into First Flight and then he won the Rayburn deal. Cost him $35,000 in Phoenix Prize money. Ouch.

I have new Cara Crankers in stock, the Rod that McClelland, designed for his RK crawler. Last week Phil Stone had some new Jewel Rods in the boat made by Ark Rod out of Harrison Arkansas. They were more than sweet. USA made from the same factory as the Original Cara. I think a son-in-law bought the business. Looked really similar to the Falcon, except the split grip that was a very sticky rubber material, that I really liked. Lite as a feather. I picked up a cranker and also a jerk bait rod. They were new and Phil had not had a chance to fish them. Said they were priced similar to the Falcon Just looked them up. $289.00 for the Red Series. Some cork handle some rubber. 1 yr warranty returns $25.00. Later warranty $100.00 no lifetime. Just don't know enough about them yet.

I like to do lots of other things, so when and if that day happens, I'm fine with it. I get so tired of all the bitching and complaining about docks I can't stand it. Absolutely nothing but a hole in the water to throw money into. We have had a dock here for 50 years and I have not used it 50 times. Probably will never use it again.

We have one and I wish they would tell us to remove it and get it out of the lake. That would be the best possible news.

Phil Lilley has been delivering aluminum bass boats up on the Rock at times for weekly rentals. Don't know if he is doing that this year. You would have to call Lilleys. I know he has delivered some to the Baxter area in the past.

Throw in the Fann Brothers and Kelly Powers and you can shut the door on that small room.

Unless your Buster fishing Bull. He has caught more walleye over 10 pounds than I have caught bass over 6 pounds. That is one great fish Dennis. Was it on a jerk bait?

I don't think he got lucky. Hammered 26 plus pounds on the final day with an 8 pound 9 ouncer He is not Wheeler, but he and Dustin Connell are durn close. These 28 to 38 year olds are hard to beat. Throw in Jordan Lee with Connell, Wheeler and Neil and that is 4 dudes under 32 that are pretty much owning it.

Michael Neil won the circuit last year. Has also won on BPT.

Word now for the reason, if it would have been the BPT, that's the way they would have done it, as they are full-time professionals. This series lots of these guys work jobs and have to get on the road as to not miss much work.

So I guess they just knock out a day and go to the top 10 today. In reality it should have been top 50 and then top 10. I'm a bit confused

Yes we had them for several days. Pretty much all day, flock after flock. In November after deer season. I don't know if that's late or not. Good friend just got back from an Oklahoma and Texas hunt. Hammered them in Oklahoma. Did really well in Texas too, but said there were not quite as many as usual in Texas. Said there were thousands and thousands in Oklahoma.

Just talked to Mike, he had a good practice, unlike some if the other guys. Had a 6 pounder one day and a 7 pounder the next. I did not ask what baits he threw yesterday, but he said he had 12 to 15 keepers. You can do what ever down there, but it will come to a big bite. 8-9-10-12 pounder. If your hanging around you have to remember one single cast in that pond is life changing. I think its going to be hard to put a limit of 5 pounders in the boat (probably wrong) but it will be possible to catch one of those hog mama's as a kicker to go with 4 OK to decent fish. Going to be interesting. Day after a big wind can be hard and 2 days after a windy front can be a bear. It is going to warm up down there, starting tomorrow.

Mike is right in there. You can't win it on the first day but you can lose it. He is just 7 pounds out of the lead and that is a half of a bite down there. Friggin Michael Neal can catch them from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Just does not matter to him, he knows where they live. I really like the guy and root for him every time out. Olliverson struggled. He does that for some reason at least one day in these big derbys and then catches a bag. He is a very good stick and does well, just needs to not have a bad day.

Thanks all we had a busy day. Becky had both a new water filtration and softener put in and a new commercial hot water heater. I guess that was my birthday present as it cost her 12 large, and all I got was a dinner at Little Hacinda. We did however get another offer on the Lodge, so there is that. Thanks again, love you all

They also said that it is 3' low and that's at least 14,000 acres gone and probably another 20,000 acres you could not get to, so at this lake level, its not fishing as big as usual.

Talked to him Monday. Trap, JB, Jig and bladed jig he thought. Olliverson is also fishing. Mike did well on that circuit last year and hopes to get off to a big start. He said its his deal with a 5 fish limit. Hope so. Said it might be tough with the cold water and temps falling. Looks like some guys are off to a good start however.