Bill Babler

Just about as good as it gets. thank you all for a very good report. That silly little rig is a fish catching machine.

As a guide I try never ever to do that. If you find them, hang with them. It's really hard to do. After a period of catching I think it is just our nature to try and improve on what we are doing. This time of year it just doesn't work. At times you can get away with it, but not now. I always tell folks, if we leave these and try to get bigger it all likelihood we will be done. Funny, most say, lets go get em. We learn something every day.

That jerkbait is a fantastic way to find crappie up there this time of the year. Buddy that guides LOZ is fishing it and when they catch a crappie they slow down and jig it hard. He has had some nice limits this week while finding them while throwing a stickbait for bass . Said he took a crappie trip and it did not go well. Guy booked a bass trip the next day and they limited out on crappie they found again with the sticker. Gravois. As Wrench said, its the season. Here on the Rock if you catch a bass, you had better slow down and fish it hard. They are just not everywhere and they are not on similar locations. They are where they are and tend to replenish. Catch one and work that area with a couple of different presentations and it seems to get you a nip or two more. Good Luck

Thank you guys, Very nice reports. Mike have you rubbed against me lately? Sounds like some of my luck may have rubbed off on you. I thought I was the only one that got fish cut off, birds nest and any other malfartion that can possibly happen. Good luck next time and glad you all got to be on the water.

Thank you guys for the wonderful reports, this will help me do my fishing section for the Kansas City Star. It is just starting up for the year and I do the Table Rock section. Much appreciated.

Have had the pleasure of guiding Taney 3 days this week, from the upper restricted zone to downtown. First with the Conservation Federation and then on 2 separate guide trip. On generation even with no Shad coming thru, small rebel crankbaits and white woolley buggers are taking fish down to the conservation ramp. On slight generation and no wind, we are going to go back here to the Tuner Jones Micro Jigs. On overcast days darker olives and blacks in 1/2 micros and on sunny days or times the ginger is really producing. We had 54 catch and release yesterday from Clay Banks thru Short Creek. On any breeze the pink Berkley Power worm on a 100 th. oz. jig head in pink is just a fish taker. We are also dead drifting it at 7' below an indication out of the restricted zone. I'm pretty sure they may have ramp dumped some very nice quality rainbows off the Short Creek Ramp. These are not huge fish but perfect eating size in the 12 to 13 inch range. Today everyone that Austin and Nicole caught were on the pink power worm, from Dave's flat thru Short Creek. If you notice the purple coloration on the majority of these trout that is a really good general sign that they have been released but a few days. Very nice fish. Good to fair reports are coming from bass fishermen on the lower lake. 99% are catching them on the A-Rig Good Luck

Appropriate, Inappropriate, we all know what it is. Yes it can be funny, and we are not fuddy duddies here, but I have more important things to do than monitor topics with bodily fluids, and frilly undergarments, either men or women's for that matter, so lets tone it down a mite.

None that's funny, I don't care who you are.

It's a great rig for the river and for Upper Bull chasing the BigEye Walleye, but it's not a bass boat and you know it as soon as you try and cross the lake on a breezy day. I told my wife yesterday, it is just not as fun fishing bass from it as my plastic bass chaser. It will have to do both however for the next few weeks till Santa delivers my new shiny little friend.

The Verado Pro version is Super Charged with a completely different air intake to increase performance. As far as 4 strokes on Bass Boats you are going to start seeing tons more of them with the Yamaha's and the Verado's The weight keeps falling on these engines and the performance keeps getting better. The Verado is also completely digital in both steering and dash board no SeaStar and no boat gauge package from the boat company it has all its own. It also is equipped with a Hotfoot that you can turn on or off to either use the handle or the Hotfoot. Again, here Ranger kind of got this 4 stroke deal going and then it went to Skeeter/Yamaha packages and now most of the Boat companies are headed that way. We are seeing lots of Phoenix/Verado packages coming on board. Tony Wedele who is on BP pro team has a Verado on his Z21 and said he has never seen anything to compare with it. From ease of operation as 1 finger digital steering to only 1 service per year, its getting really good.

Glad your feeling well Jeff, I'm so happy for you. Continue the great recovery.

Wasn't out long but just had to post a picture of this little guy. Photo of course does not do him or her justice, as this was just a beautiful Small Jaw. Water in the Baxter area is just unreal in sheer beauty. Visibility easy to 15', 50 degree. Only had 4 on the Sticker, all brown, but this little guy just caught my eye.

Wrench makes great points. In guiding in Alaska you only for the most part see 2 engines. First overall without a doubt is Yamaha second is Honda. I will say and I am knocking on wood here is that both Beck and I have ran the Opti's since 2008 and put close to 5000 hrs. on them with out a single engine or lower unit failure. Bill did have a reed blow and another one of our guide friends had a lower unit go out at Lake O trying to pull a dock out in reverse but, they have been really good and fuel efficient for us. In 08 Mike Webb blew the 1st. two he had but I don't think he has had any problems to speak of since. I ran Evinrude strictly from 1978 to 2002 and had little or no complaint. I did have issues with warranty as they went thru 3 corporate changes. Since Bombardier has taken over and they have been restructured I have not ran one. I know they were having lower unit issues but like everyone I'm sure that is solved. Pretty much like Wrench said the boat companies are weeded down to what that's out there is good. How friendly the interior and the fish ability of the boat is what make thre best boat for you. I ride in boats most every day and will disagree that the hull does not make a difference. Yes, driving skill is extremely important, but with the technology these boat companies have now some do drive much softer ride smoother and handle big rough water better. Some, like my big Phoenix you don't drive, you just ride in. Lund started this revolution years ago with a reverse chine hull and the bass boat companies that have followed this lead are making the smoothest hulls. Alan Stinson is perhaps the leader in Hull design and his influence is seen in the Triton, Stratos and Phoenix, while incorporating the inovations of Lund that provide stability and keeping water out of the boat even in cross wind low speed rough water situations. You buy any of the top 6 or 8 boats from the top companies and like the way it is set up for you and how easy it is to access your equipment and get around in the boat and you will be happy as a Lark. As Wrench said the really bad ones have been weeded out. Good Luck

Hope not to step on any toes here. I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had my 2014 Phoenix for sale. It lasted exactly 5 minutes on this forum until my first call. Gone. 1st. guy without even looking at it. He sent his Dad down, one of our own Joe Lane and he gave it a good going over and said, "Yep, it's what I thought it would be, you will be getting the call before the day is over." Had over 20 calls on the boat. I kept it really nice as you might imagine. I'll snap a quick photo when he picks it up Saturday morning. Called my District Manger and asked what my team deal was going to be on a 2017 PHX with a 250 Verado, as you know Phoenix is now a sponsor of the Elite Series. Team deal was still the same, but the technology had gotten much more expensive. As most of you know, Phoenix built a totally new factory in 2015. That factory will not handle the amount of boats they are now selling and they are currently building another factory to keep up with demand. It will be completely state of the art and will come online in 2018. It kind of makes guide deals not as important as they were several years ago. Deal was still good, but not what it had been. I friend is on the Ranger National team asked me what my new Phoenix deal was and I told him. He said let me get back with you tomorrow. They presented me an unbelievable opportunity to go with Ranger. Really just above and beyond the call. Cannot tell you how much I appreciated the way it way handled and how well I was treated by Ranger. During that period Gary Clouse the President of Phoenix, came back with another team deal that was not the percentage that Ranger was going to give me, but was certainly good enough to keep me in the best Bass Boat on the Market by far. There will be a 2017 PHX with the Verado in the driveway by early April. Phoenix had a 28% increase in 2016 sales and no other boat company even came close, most for that matter had negative increase. Maybe one that most would have thought would have had an increase from around here went down. From the 819 to the Flagship 921 PHX, Phoenix has a boat for everyone. With what is now the most innovative big water hull design in the Diamond V the ride and performance is unequaled and you see it by not only sales numbers but with such a short history they are currently 3rd highest owner loyalty repurchase in the industry. Following only BassCat and Ranger. We are also hearing there may be another boat coming out of Arkansas in the next several years as soon as the no-compete clause expires. Boat might have something to do with Forrest L. Wood. But that is just speculation and conjuncture at this point. Maybe. Anyone that would like a test in a Phoenix of any size or configuration, give McCallister Marine a shout at Highlandville and Howard will be happy to visit or get you a test drive quick as a wink. My satisfaction with the boats have been without reproach. This will be my 4th. boat and I have had zero issues with any performance or maintenance on any of them. I have close to 1000 hrs. of guide time in my Phoenix boats without an issue. During that period I have had 4 extremely small issues with my Mercury's. I have had 3 issues with my SeaStar steering going out in cold weather, and that has been it. There will always be changes and things get better every day as far as technology, but as of 2017 Phoenix is on the cutting edge of performance and ergonomics when it comes to bass boats. Anyone that comes into the area, please holler at me and take a ride in the new PHX when she lands at the Lodge in April. Good Luck

I usually really like the show, but they play all that goofy music. I timed it and it takes up about 4 minutes of the show. If they would just get with it, it would be much better. You can tell its Winter and nothing else to do.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the Ultrex is wireless. I think it has a button to activate a GPS anchor. Other than that you are on wired. The ipilot that MinnKota invented was extremely slow, to respond. Ultrex I believe is on a hard wire but has the anchor locking mech. MotorGuide's X5i is wireless but has nano-second response time. They just improved what MinnKota started. Both the Ipilot and the X5i have both a remote foot peddle and a hand held activation key fob. On reaction time theX5i blows the ipilot away in activation speed, but you must remember and this is very important that hard downward pressure is not what turns the motor like it would on a hardwired unit. You are starting the turn by depressing a switch in the foot feet or the fob and it takes very little pressure to turn the units. Both the ipilot and the X5i take time to get used to if you are running a hardwire. It is a very lite touch, just like depressing an electric switch. Where both of these units really shine is fishing walleye, getting on a contour and following and establishing GPS trails and points. I have the X5i on my Alweld Bay Boat and it is just fantastic for fishing Bull Shoals. You can fish as many rods as are allowed in any trolling situation and fish them from any location in the boat at any speed without ever going near the trolling motor. If you hang up or hook up you are in immediate control of the boat to either stop, or move the boat in any direction, no matter where you are in the boat. Motorguide will have the same anchor feature on the X5 which is the hard wired unit out this Summer. From what I understand there are also some other functions coming soon. It seems both these companies are spending lots of money on research and trying to one up the other. Trolling motors have came as far as electronics in the past few years, and it will continue. Only takes Money! Good Luck

F you were out by yoursef your my Hero. Tks for the report

Couple of deals here. First you really have to need them to put them on. They add weight to the very rear of the boat, usually enough to make coming on plane somewhat of a problem. Second the Talon's seem to be in the way quite a bit of the time and they do not have a release mechanism other than the horn, so if you drive away with it deployed in the bottom it is a major problem.. ie Rick Lisek. The Talon also does not seem to hold as well in not rough, but water with big waves caused by other boats. UP and Down. I think because they are affixed to your transom, rather than extended on the grasshopper legs. The plus is that the Talon is a self serving unit with nothing but electric power coming from your boat. NO fluid or syrup inside the boat. They also have a 12' deploy while the PP maxes out at 10'. The PP Blade is the Cadillac of deployable anchors. They will allow you to drive away with out bending or damaging the unit. They deploy away from the boat at a low profile out of the way. They are really heavy including the Fluid and pump, which is in your boat. They will increase your boat resale, but not to the extent that you paid for them. The Talon seems like its for you and you really don't get much out of it when you sell the boat. Kind of like nice aftermarket wheels on your truck. Might get someone to buy it, but that's about it. The Ultrex is a great innovation. It however is not without its flaws. It is very much like the Motorguide X5i when you hit the anchor button it quickly especially with a point 1 antenna stops you and stops you quick. If you are fishing the Ultrex in shallow water, it will completely wash out the area trying to put you on your GPS spot. For deep fishing or holding in straight line wind, they are wonderful. If the wind is swirling your boat will circle on the GPS anchor point. It does not hold the back and the front, it just holds that trolling motor in a place. Your boat will rotate around that point. If you are fishing shallow, the deploying anchors would be better. If you are fishing deep then far and away the Ultrex would be your guy. Good Luck

Unlike Hammer, I have never seen it on any of our black bass species other than LM. Usually start seeing it in late November and it is pretty much gone by April. Thanks bluebasser, great info. No contradiction to Hammer in the least, I personally have just not seen it.

Nicely stated. Get up early and watch for schooling fish exactly where Sprint said. Sometimes you are limited on the Rock with a fly rod if fishing for bass as they always just tend to be out of reach. You may get lucky and see some schooling or chasing off the long point just past the flat pocket ie swim beach at Mill. Be very familiar with the Ned Rig, as you can walk that bank and get them to cozy up to that little monster pretty much 12 months a year. Good Luck

She paid about $5.75 a sq. ft. for the carpet, best sound proof pad that had, plus the installation. We had to remove all the furniture. We purchased it at Lowe's. with all the paint and some other supplies. 8 gallons of paint at $36.00 per gallon, and about 1,800 sq. ft. of carpet. Total bill $11,888.00 with tax and a 1/2 dozen rollers and brushes. Now you know the rest of the story.

I'm with ya on the boat prices. If you can find 20' to 22' with a 250 on it new for 40 grand you better latch onto it. On another note who would have thought carpeting 3 bedrooms would cost $12,000.00. Price of doing business has really changed hasn't it? I have not ordered my new Phoenix yet, but if anyone is interested in my 2014 Pro Staff boat send me a PM. Warranty will be thru 2020 I can probably save you about $20,000 if you want a pre-owned one. I don't remember Vernon's deal being that easy. Maybe he should rethink that.

Jim it seems the late Winter or early Spring derby's someone always finds them. You will see a good bag or two and then it goes to heck in a handbag. I'm usually in the handbag. It is dicey whether to fish deep or shallow, and really hard to switch mid gears. They caught them shallow on Bull last week and you would think it would be the same on the Rock. It isn't. I had heard of a jerkbait bite in the dam area but had not fished it. Spoke to Eric Prey on Saturday and he said there was a very decent spoon bite deep guts, so it seems you have to make a decision and run with it. Even those deep fish when you find them won't usually bite all day, you run in a catch what you can and then it gets quiet. The deep ones are also not everywhere. Yes they can be stacked in a spot and you can look at a dozen similar locations at the same depth and Nada. The way my luck has been on Table Rock the past month, fishing shallow, I'd be lucky to catch the 3 keeps.

Probably been using circle hooks longer than you have. Have had them on drop shot for years. 1st. started in the early 2000's with the Halibut guides in Alaska. I don't think I mentioned anything about C&R. Using live bait. I use circle hooks for walleye on Bull Shoals on the majority of my bottom bouncing rigs to prevent accidental swallowing by the bass, when I'm fishing a crawler harness. Still have some get it all the way down, but if your pulling on those walleye on the initial bite your not going to hook many. My client fish live bait 90% of the time in the Summer. As a matter of fact we fished it today. You may be thinging about someone else. My point was dragging live bait on a Carolina rig or a bottom bouncer you are going to gut hook a percentage of fish. Don't care if your using a circle hook or not. However it does help a mighty.

She has to pay for a new knee first. She bought me a new shoulder last year. The second tooth will just have to wait. Teeth are just fine. Thank goodness, seems to be the only great working part. The gulls were out big time day before yesterday around the bridge up to the bend. If you do anything right its work. The guiding is work. I have loved it, but its work. You have to like seeing other folks catching fish, and you also have to have the patients of Job, as you watch them miss fish and just not catch fish that you could catch with no problem. I still after 27 yrs. love it. As for resort ownership I just finished 5 days of cabinet refinishing and we are now pulling carpet from 3 guest rooms. We try and do all the work we can ourselves but with the stain, clear finish, Guest room paint and Carpet installation. Becky just dropped $12,000.00. Hard to earn easy to spend. Good Luck