Bill Babler

6-28-22 Had to run up to the farm at Climax Springs Sunday evening. In route got a call from Ed Franko wondering if I could spend the morning with him on Monday. He had a last minute cancellation. Answer was Heck Ya. Becky was with me so we just stayed at their B&B and ran up to the farm today to pick up my trailer. Nice to not be on a schedule 😀😀 Ed and I left his dock for the pre-breakfast run at 5:30, had to be back for breakfast at 9am. Fished for 3 hours and had 111 all top water fish. Yes you read it right, 111. How do we know the correct number you ask. Ed is working with a fish charting research group, keeping track of his guide fish on Lake O. this year. They are paying him well for the record keeping and he has a clicker. They want water conditions with times and weather data also. He is making really good money doing this on top of guiding. None of the reporting makes a difference if he or his clients catch 1 or 100. Just pure research. I counted my own, and I know I had 61 top water fish. Friggin Unreal. He is on just a killer pattern, totally unreal. If the MLF guys were here now with a 2 lb. minimum they would break every record they have set to this point. Wheeler would have 100 pounds a day and not bat an eyelash. Probably would take 350 pounds to get a check. These guys would figure this out immediately. I had it figured by our second stop. Total Table Rock pattern only the numbers on LOZ are staggering with the amount of fish on each location. Fish are grouped and suspended. They wanted a walking bait not a prop bait. Ed gave me a Sammy and he started with a Whopper Pooper. I had him buried in 20 minutes till he switched to a spook. Said they had been on the WP really good, but not yesterday. They just crushed the spook or Sammy. Lots of them caught it, as it hit the water and at least 3 times I had doubles on that I did not get to the boat. Don’t ya just hate that!!!! There is just millions upon millions of Gizzard fry, right on the surface in huge schools and if there is any deep structure the bass are in the shade or using depth for shade and blowing up thru them. It was crazy. Whites, Hybreds, LM and a few K’s. The LM were long and lean typical post spawn. They won’t be for long the way they were going at those Shad. One of the best mornings I’ve had in years. We went in for breakfast that was simply delish and returned to fish till Noon. Breakfast at Bass and Baskets Ended the morning with 129 total Black Bass, not counting the other including the whites and hybreds. Water temp at 81/83. 4-6 foot visibility so you know where we were fishing with deep clear water. This thumb says the entire story. When you reeled one in, a 1/2 dozen would be under it following. I’m guessing forty 15 plus and up inch keepers in 5 hours of fishing. Biggest fish was a shade under 4 pounds. On a 5 fish derby I’m guessing 16/17 pounds. On an MLF BP DERBY catch weigh release easy 100 pounds. Ed has no idea how long it will last, but he thinks the generation is the key in his area and really just massive numbers of LM and forage. He told me his clients in June had caught and released well over 1000 LM. Man what a trip, and the weather was beautiful. Who says you can’t go home, I love the Lake of the Ozarks and always will. Good Luck

Just got off the phone with Big Ed Franko, and his report was outstanding. Top water and a jig. Mornings are fantastic on top water in the dam area. He told me his clients are catching about 30 fish a morning on top. Most on a Whopper Plopper When that slows for bigger fish he is switching to a big jig on main lake stuff in 25 to 35 foot and doing really well on 3 to 5 pound fish. Said it’s the best he has seen on the lake in the last 15 years, for this time of year. He contributed it to lots of current in the dam area. If you get a chance with the cooler weather this week, LO might be the place to go. To speak to Ed his number is 573-692-6710. He is booked full but is a great resource for the dam area and a Heck of a nice guy. His trips usually end around 11 and of course he hits the hay early so if you want to visit with him call after 11am and prior to 9pm. Good Luck

Been involved with Lews pretty much since they really started to care about 12 years ago. I have lots of baitcasters that I really like. I have never seen a company go thru so many different rods. They have time and time again dropped or discontinued rod lines. They’re spinning rods weight a ton and are flat as heck and really all the casting rods I have used were heavy and flat. Have not used any of the new signature models however so these reports you all are giving is a step in the right direction for them. May have to give the XD A test flight

That would be the one.

Talked to McClelland and he thought the deep cranker was a bit to heavy for his taste however he said he just does not deep crank. He thought I was rolling gar as he said this happens all the time on Grand. I know now that was the problem, the 3’ to 5’ long gar are so thick I was hitting them with the crank bait. When a bass bit I caught it. As far as the hooks you would think a bait right out of the box that had never been in the water would work for at least one morning. To tell the truth no more often than I do that I didn’t want to waste expensive hooks on it. I’m sure most of the Cranker’s here don’t immediately change the hooks on new XD cranks. Correct me if I’m wrong. I like the idea of the 7’ 11” that Fish is using but go back to KVD saying never use a rod that does not support the weight of your bait. I will look into the 6XD ROD. As if I really need another stick. Thanks all I appreciate your thoughts

We’ll, I just found out what might have been my problem. Spoke to one of our local pro’s and when I told him about catching gar on the FB jig, he said I was rolling over them with the crank bait, not missing bass Who knows, but I bet he nailed it these were hard thumps, like I hit something or it hit me Still please let me know your thoughts on deep crankin rods that support those big baits. Thanks All.

I’m guessing your right. I just don’t crank with much other than a Wart or RK Crawler. Don’t really have a rod for those 17’ to 22’ crank baits. I just don’t do that. I might invest in one however. I did watch a KVD video of deep crankin ledges with a 6 XD and he was using a 7’ 4” Heavy Lew’s Crank bait Rod. Full Graphite. They have some blends up to 7’10” but the lure weight does not support that 1 oz. 6XD so he cranks with that 7’4” Heavy that supports up to a 2oz. Bait. He said never to use a rod that does not support the weight of the lure your throwing with it. He said a lighter rod just wears him out as he has to physically pull the bait. Said the Heaver rod for deep crankin is easier for him. Please let me know what you all use for theses 17’ to 20’ plus deep diving cranks. Might I ask what 7’6” rod your throwing your XD on? Thanks.

Thanks Steve, and as everyone knows I’m a big hook changer. The baits I threw yesterday were right out of the box, and I’m guessing Mustads. I hate Mustads, but as I mentioned I never lost a hooked fish. These bites were just slams and I really have no idea why a hook was never taken, but none came unbuttoned, they just didn’t get hooked. Fished the same area today not nearly the traffic as yesterday, hard to figure why a Thursday would be busier than Friday. Surface temps when I started 0500 were at 83, so cooler than yesterday. We got a big storm last evening here at the Knob. Put it on the trailer at 9:30 with temps at 84.5. Had 19 this morning but only 2 keepers, all on the 1/2oz. GP Pigsticker with a Yamamoto twin tail GP trailer. Most all the fish I caught today were under 15’ deep, and just about everyone had a hook hole in its mouth. Don’t ya just love those really dark small jaws. Nothing on the XD, Swim bait or top water. Did have a bass blow on a WP, but the gar on every location kept following it. From Campbell Point to point 9 the gar are simply everywhere, just terrible. Good Luck

Let me know, I'm an eager learner. Do you think it was small fish slamming the XD? Had lots of bites on it. Long Rock runnouts, not gravel locations. Might have been gar, they tortured me all day. Kind of locations you would fish a jerker or a A-Rig for LM. Thanks.

Got out at 5:00 and it was a boat race at Baxter. Lots of guide trips. Lots of boats running way to fast in the DARK. There were shad up shallow and in the bushes on the points. Not much top water at all and I did not have a single bite or blowup. Had 5 solid keepers and 5 shorts that were right there pushing the 15" line. All nice fish. . Also had 2 gar, both on football jigs. Can't ever remember catching a gar on an FB jig. Surface temps at the start were 85.5, when I pulled out at 10:30 right at 87.5 degree. Caught all my fish on a Lake Fork flutter spoon, a 6XD and the FB jig. I'm going to have to have Fisherman give me some lessons on the 6XD. I got a ton of really hammer hits on it but only boated two. My rig was a 7'6" Hvy. Cover Rod with a Lew's Tournament Pro. Spooled with 12# carbon. Never lost one I hooked but just could not get a hook in them. I mean they wailed on it. Boat is 20' to 27'. Most bites on the cranker were in that 12' to 17' range. I will confess I had 13 drop shot fish off one bluffend and probably could have caught 13 more. They were just babies, I mean 8 to 10 inches. You could see them swarming the Morning Dawn 4" worm on live scope. 15' to 25 feet on the FB jig. 24' to 30' on the drop shot and the FS, suspended over depth. Good Luck.

Your right. I’m guessing it’s still frozen at 20’. I was just reaching in to tighten some bolts and I thought my hand and arm was going to sleep. We have a thermometer in the slip and it said 79.9 in the shade of the slip. I’m sure out in the sun the lake was warmer but it’s to cool for me. Wife dangled a toe in and jerked it out. I can remember our son and nieces playing with the hose with well water at 55 degree and not batting an eye lash. If your having fun your having fun.

I was working on our lift at Shell Knob today. Surface temps at 79 degree. Simply felt like Ice Water to me. I can’t see how these kids can stand that cold water. I guess once your out in the 91 degree air your fine, but it chilled me when I had to go in shoulder deep.

Been a while, but I caught 2 keeper walters on back to back casts swimming a Redfin thru a cedar top up the White. Probably 10 years ago. Both fish were 20”. Only time ever on a true top water. Lots on shallow subsurface baits Have seen many, many walleye suspended just under the floats of deep docks. I mean 3’ down over 60’ to 100’ of water. I guess it was 3 or so years ago we were catching short walleye drop shotting tree tops in 60 plus feet suspended just over the top of those deep trees. Caught dozens of them in the 10 to 15 inch range.

That is a very good point an a very good possibility. Mike mentioned he had heard of that device but didn’t know if anyone was using it If anyone has it, it would be KVD. Inquiring minds would like to know. Great post thanks for the info.

KVD should have had at least 1 then, maybe two as twice he put his jacket on and walked to the front to strap rods and didn’t rehook prior to firing up and taking off. His official missed both.

Nice. You are catching much better fish than I am. I’m catching the ones you have in the first few photos, not the ones in the last few photos. I just refuse to pick up the little guy, so I guess I’ll continue to struggle till spoon time.

I know they have to have their life jackets on when the big motor is running, but my question is do they have to have their kill switch hooked up. VanDam twice has failed to rehook his switch while running on plane. I don’t know the rules on this. And maybe he is using some kind of switch that doesn’t hook to his life jacket.

Been fishing quite a bit, and have pretty much lost that one day early top water deal. Shad are done spawning for the most part and schooling on the flats on top early. Sun and boat traffic are pushing them down and really for this time of year they are going DEEP. Some schools are on the bottom and others suspended as deep as 80’. Lots of Shad schools in the 40’/50’ depth range. I’m really struggling catching keepers. 3 or 4 a trip, but lots of shorts both LM and K’s. Seem I’m catching as many walleye as bass in the keeper size range. Kept the one a few days ago but have been turning all others loose. Best day was 7 keepers and 3 shorts. Nothing over 21 inches. Every walleye has been caught on the little Keitech, reeling or dragging. “strolling” it on the bottom in 14’ to 26’. You know the bite every time, it’s unmistakable. Almost like a bluegill with a shudder then it’s free then a thump. Never set the hook till you feel the weight of the fish after the thump or you ain’t gettin ‘em. Tons of fun fish on the flat gravel in the 16’ to 20’ range on most every gravel point. Usually 6 to ten or zero. You catch one you catch several, including the walleye. Shad does not have to be present as most have claws sticking out of their gullet Surface temps 72/77 from Camp Pt. Up river. Good Luck. Quick PS. Lots of whites chasing most mornings. Up and gone from Hobbs Hollow to Viney. Must have seen 20 or more pods the last 2 days. Carry On.

JD, that sounds like a Bucket List for us.

So cheap I kind of felt guilty, but we didn’t hit them very hard. Both the pork and the brisket was so tender and juicy it didn’t need sauce Those construction workers knew the waitress by name, they left a $30.00 tip. Each one of them had 3 plates.

Those were concrete guys having lunch. They were planning their afternoon pour. Sounded like a big job. Becky had read about this place in a guide book on well kept secrets for off the beaten path dining. It was super good. Seemed like most everything homemade. Kind of a struggle to get your grub as they were so busy, but worth it.

Becky and I hiked the FTT at Roaring river this morning, what a great day to hike. Trail is 4.5 mile loop and judged moderate as it has 2 half mile climbs. Becky does not like climbs, but I do, really stretches you out. Trail for the most part is shaded and really nice. Perfect day today with a lite breeze and 73 degrees. After the hike we went into Casville and had lunch at the Whitley Pharmacy. It was great with a loaded salad bar that included brisket, pulled pork and giant baked potatoes plus dessert all for $7.99 each. Place was quaint, but jammed to the gills. I skipped the dessert, and only had 1/2 a tator, but that was plenty. Kind of an iconic place. Going up to KC for the weekend but should be back early the first of the week to get after those top water fish again. This would have been a perfect morning, but we had other plans. Only 3 other rigs at the ramp when I pulled out yesterday so not bad at all. Good Luck

Surge Shad and a Speed Shad. For the life of me I could not get them to bite a prop bait

Sorry about no pic’s but just didn’t get around to it. Launched at the SK bridge at 5:30 and was the only rig in the lot. I had not been up the white the entire year and really today was my first true retirement trip, just to do what I wanted and really didn’t care if I even caught one. Thought that no catch was going to be the deal as a 0600 the skies opened up with a lightning show and total down pour. Sat in the Kids across America dock for 2.5 hours. Stopped raining and up I headed, really not expecting much after the big boomer display. First 2 locations were a zero on topwater and the little Keitech but I did get slammed on a 6 inch wild eye Shad swimmer. Rounded a bend and saw one bust in a cove mouth off a flat. 3 hours later I just got tired as it was incredibly unreal. At one point I had 13 topwater cast in a row with a fish. At times a dozen would follow in the one I had hooked. I got to playing with the live scope and the little Keitech. I would see a group suspended at 15 ft. And throw just past them and see them eat it as I reeled it into the school. It was just totally fascinating. The bottom in spots on the flat was also covered and you could drag a C. rig thru them and catch one or at least get a bite every throw. Have no idea how many I caught but did catch 3 keeper walleye on the little swimmer. This gave me an idea so on the way home I put the boat in 25’ on 3 flat points and caught 3 more walleye 1 on each point. 6 walleye with 5 keepers. I kept one 20” and Becky and I had it for dinner with a fish sandwich left over. Good buddy also has a great day up the Kings on a white Jackhammer with a white fluke trailer. He said he had 3 keeper eyes on the durn J. Hammer out of the bushes and lots of nice keeper LM. He released the Walters along with the bass. I did not have many keeper bass, I think 5 out of all those I caught. 2 LM and 3 jaws. None were picture worthy. All slim and spawned out. Fish after fish of 13” to 14 7/8th.” K’s. Just a flat great day after the rain delay. Headed to Roaring River to hike a 5 mile loop and have lunch someplace. This is kind of fun. Good Luck

I knew that was a mistake when I did that 🤔🤔🤔🤔