Bill Babler

Dave Goddard called me last night, he just got back from Clayton, New York, right where Wheeler is catching them today. They fished from June 12 to June 19. Said they had so many 4 plus pound small jaws they could not even count them. Said you could catch 3 pound LM on top water all day. Looked like you threw a bowling ball into the pond. No fishing pressure for bass at all. Fishermen were only interested in walleye, muskie, pike and salmon. Used the same baits he uses on the Rock, swimmers, jerk baits and Ned. Water was gin clear. Light line 6lb. and I'm guessing 10 on his megabass jerk bait. Said he had a monster jaw on that broke the hooks on the megabass. Said he thought this week might be even better. Gave me lots of great info.

Yep, she also crunched down the dorsal.

Nice. Congrats.

Wow, just wow. That's completely nuts. Congrats. How did you clean them? My mom would have scaled every one of them.

If you have not be vaccinated, get in there and get the shot. No, Biden is not micro chipping you. Save yourself misery and possible death. Spoke to a guy at the tackle shop in Springfield and he said they all were sick. This is totally senseless. You can walk right into Wal-Mart or Walgreens and be out in 20 minutes. NO WAIT, NO LINE. Just get it done. Unless you have some type of underlying health issue, get it done for yourself and the ones you love. Lets beat this thing End of Rant

Thanks Quill. Prayers and good wishes, for Bo

Thanks. I sure as heck would not want to be in group A with all those finesse small jaw sticks. I think they messed it up this time It's going to be interesting see how many of the group A anglers make it to the final 10 vs group B in this particular event. At this point, just guessing I'm predicting either 6 to 4 or 7 to 3 for group A.

I forgot about John Cox, he is a hand on those jaws. Friggin Connell had 4 out of his last 6 fish at 5 plus pounds. Said his hand and arms we’re cramping. Those big jaws would most probably kick my butt, but I’d sure like to let them try. I just love that clear water, man that’s exciting, these guys are just having a blast.

Not started yet. I think either 8:15 or 8:30 our time.

Is there anywhere that Wheeler and AJ Jr. Can't catch them. I'm going to throw Michael Neal in there too. I think all three if those guys have gills. Be interesting to see how Neil does today. If your picking any derby anywhere and Wheeler is in it he has to be the 1st. pick he is most always in this format a huge factor. Hoping McClelland has a good derby but this is going to be tough on a big stick guy like him. Fingers crossed however. At one point Wheeler Said he was bed fishing in 27' of water. He also as did Jr. Catch them just slinging the Ned around wolf packs

MLF live on your computer. If you know how you can stream it live right on your TV from your computer. My wife set it up for me.

I forgot about Fletcher Shyrock, he will grab a big bag full. Who y'all got as your top 5 today?

Good morning fellow angling enthusiast. I don't know how they assign the groups, but to put all those finesse sticks in group A seems silly to me. I'm going out on a limb here but I would be really surprised to see a 100 pound bag out of group B. "I take that back." For gosh sakes they had Wheeler, Jr., Bertrand, Lucas and Ehrler all in the same group. Connell probably did back flips as did MDJ seeing this. " These 2 might get to 100 lbs." What's your thoughts, and for those that have fished up there is the Canadian side better? Just think if they open it up next year how unbelievable it would be with 2 yrs. Of very limited pressure. Can't wait for it to get started this morning.

Quill, you might have to interrupt your busy schedule and go with me.

Might have to try and put a group together. Simply unreal the way they are wacking them Ehrler has two 5.9’s and a 5.10 in the first period. Lots of sight fishing but lots of casting Ned type baits also. I’m guessing someone will have at least 150 lbs. of 2 pound plus jaws today. They should have made it a 3 pound minimum.

I'm treating myself to a retirement gift next year in June on the St. Larry. These BPT guys are wacking 4 and 5 lb. Jaws as quick as they can get their junk in the water. AJ Jr. Had 5 that weighed 22 pounds in 33 minutes. Simply crazy.

From what I'm hearing from the guys guiding out here you probably don't want to launch there anyway. 5 or 6 K's on a crawler in 4 hrs. Is a trip to write home about. I'd rather weed the garden than fish out here by the Lodge.

Couple of our local guides are on the St. Croix pro program. One told me this morning they discontinued it last week so they both are now mere mortals. Also they told him they at this point are not guaranteeing any rods as getting replacements is impossible. Same deal I was told last week when I called about my broken rod. They are certainly not going to publish that in the New York Times, but if you have 1/2 a brain you know currently replacements are not happening

You guys jinxed me. My Ulterra went out on me during my trout trip this morning. There is only one redeeming feature on the motor and that is the deploy and retract. It’s going to cost me big this time as I will have a devil of a time getting it fixed in a timely manner

He is coming back full Lowrance. Jacob Wheeler sold him on it. Lowrance is being way nicer to the guides and tournament fishermen than Garmin. Not as nice as Minn Kota but pretty nice considering their new technology.

Good friend has had 3 boards go out on his. Got fed up last week, took it off when back to the boat dealership, carried it into service bay, threw it on the floor and walked out without saying a word. His first one the lower unit leaked and spewed water out the head. Mine did the exact same thing and then it had a board in the foot pedal go out. They gave him a new updated 2021. 2 boards later he has had a dose. That product has been on the market forever and it’s still a huge piece of excrement. Just ticks me off that people’s trust and hard earned time and money have to put up with this.

Here is what I have as far as Falcon Cara’s that are new and not pre-fished 1 CCB-4-165-JBS-T7 JB Special 2 CCB-6-174 HC SIGNATURE Full Handle 4. CCM-4-17 Crankers 2 CC-8-1610S Head Turners 8 CS-4-17M Squirrel tail/Nestor Falls Spin 8 CC-6-174. Amistad The 17M and the 174 at the bottom are the new Cara’s. I do have a number of pre-fished I’m going to sell as soon as I can get the new Cara’s to replace them, and may have a few Signatures Swim Jig rods and Squirrel tails for sale now, but not much discount on any of the used ones $189.00 @ picked up. Just checked and I have the following used. 4. CS-3-17ML Squirrel tail special’s 4. MMC-5F-172 Swim Jig Should know the price next week, on the new ones. I’m guessing either $219.00 or $209.00 picked up at the lodge. Shipped is $28.00 more All the new rods I have listed above are the same price. The rep. At Falcon said they have 10’s of thousands of rods ordered and already sold and are waiting for them, with no arrival time table available. It’s just crazy right now. I’m sending in another order so if you want something particular let me know and I’ll order it. Have no idea if I can get it or when it will arrive. Sorry that’s the world we now live in.

2 units drift speed was 1.7 mph.

6-18-21 Picked up Glen and Clint at 5:50 am at Lilleys and headed to the dam. They had been on the White the past two days and described the fishing as pretty slow. They wanted to throw jigs and we started at the cable with limited success. I think 4 rainbows but they were nice. Switched to a tandem grey size 14 scud fished 10' under an indicator and it was simply on, "Bigtime." At least 18 times both boys had one on at the same time, it was pretty incredible. Lots of bright clean fish in the 14 to 20 inch class. And, one of the most remarkable things is that they fished that tandem for over 3 hours and we never had a single wreck. Unbelievable, never have ever went with a 2 scud tandem on ten feet of 5X leader that long without some type of a snaf-foo. On spinning rods to boot. Lots and lots of boat traffic, but it didn't matter on our little slice of heaven today Good Luck

Have not gotten my price yet but I did get 18 rods yesterday. Couple of things, this was not my total order just a few rods. I have to inventory what they sent and reorder as there are no back orders. I don't think any are swim jig rods, I'm guessing Squirrel tail and Amistad. Just looked at Tackle warehouse and they don't have a single Falcon. I think the price point for the Cara's is going to be $269.00 but don't know yet. As you know I will have a much better deal than that. Stay tuned.