Bill Babler

Thanks for the report Fish. That boat sounds like a dandy. That 202 Stratos elite is just about as good as they come. Extreme top of the line bass boat. Congrats.

March 30th. 2014 current Table Rock Lake Fishing Report White River Outfitters Started the day to very cool and foggy weather out of the Knob this morning. As a matter of fact with safety being a huge factor it took me about an hour to idle from the Bridge down stream to Basin Hollow. Picked up Jim and Dave, long time friends and clients. Very good Table Rock lake fishermen. It was really a tale of to different deals for us today. We started off with surface temps in the 44 degree range and the fish were very lethargic, just almost a wiggle when you would wind them in. Dave pretty much started us off in the fog, with 5 fish on the float-N-fly. Jim missed a couple but the bite was very slow. As the wind picked up and the waves started a bit, we went to an A-Rig. Again, Dave had the only fish of the day on that bait, and we wore the paint off of it. Pete Weeners said they were on it for him, but we could not get that bite. Started swimming a grub on transition with the boat in 30+ feet throwing to mostly gravel with ledge and we started catching them.. Really not we, but Jim. Jim had a good day, boating 16 spotted bass mostly in the 14 to 16 inch range with 3 of them just being toads. This one was just a Monster of a Kentucky full of eggs and an exceptional fish. Warmest water we saw was right at 50 degree at Baxter. When I took the boat out at Shell Knob it was still only 49 up there at 4 PM. After I dropped the boys off I went up the White a ways and fished one bank with a megabass pro-blue. I had 3 keepers up there on it and had thrown it all day below the Kings and had not had a bite. Total for us for the day was 32 fish counting the 3 late ones I caught

She does it to humor you. I don't think you make her do anything. Might want to rethink that.

Ya Snake, that is pretty much what I heard. I think a lot of the river talk is just that. I want to see the Pic's. Put in a Shell Knob this morning at 6:30 to the worst Fog I have seen in 30+ years on Table Rock. Surface temp in the clear water at the Bridge was 44.9. Fished a full day going from Shell Knob to Baxter with good fishermen. We had 29 fish with 7 keepers, and earned everyone of them. Had some very nice K's. One I'm thinking was pushing 4 pounds. Will post a pic later. Surface temp at the Knob at 4 PM was 49.7 Did see a spot of 50 degree water at Baxter for a minute. Spoke to two guys that had been reading all the Kings hype and these guys are fishermen. They said it was horrible up there. They pretty much were cranking. Said they caught some but mostly buck LM with no quality. One of these guys a local said he did not think he had a keeper all day, and only had about a dozen short LM. James and Donna may be up there today, and if there is a shallow bite on a crank a blade or a jig, they will catch them. That is for sure. If they hit a dry hole, it will make me wonder. If James cannot catch them power fishing shallow, I'm not believing anyone can. Good Luck

I fished Shell Knob today and did not go into the muddy water. Did speak with two different guys that fished up there, mostly cranking. Said it was really tough. I'm sure the Elite guys will fish that off color water and catch them, but anyone that catches 50 fish per day with that many keeps up to 5 pounds is doing a great job, and that is the extreme exception to the rule, not the norm. Thanks and good luck.

I listened. Been a lot of days that I didn't catch 3 all day, let alone 4 hrs. That is just early Spring. These boys winning the derby's with those big bags are not for the most part catching a boat load either. Just the right 5. Plus 2 on the Jr. The Keitechs are a big presentation. and the Berkley baits or the Storm baits if they are hooked baits have just to good of a hook in them. for me. You snag one of those baby's up and you are going to loose your Flashy Mob. Never apologize for catching fish on Table Rock Lake, and I'll bet everyone here will second that. Good Luck

That post kind of reminds me of most of my guide calls. "We would like to catch lots and lots of fish. I would also really like to target fish in the 5 to 8 pound class." " Can you do this and what do your recommend." If I could I would pretty much change my name to Fann and retire. On another note, I wonder if those boys would consider adoption? Guess I cannot claim that I don't eat much. Side Bar. When you come to Table Rock you come to TRY and catch fish. Take the best information available and develop patterns from it and feel durn good when you put one in the boat. This pond is not stocked and never will be. You are at the Mercy of what the Good Lord has available for you here and anytime you can catch lots and throw in a big one that is a day to remember. Good Luck and watch the forum for what is working when you are here.

Man that's a nice one to put under the dock to keep the gills at bay. Sweet.

Good gosh, that will get you 200 different replies. In other words no one knows for every situation. You have to experiment. When most people got started they used the flukes, but now I think most have gone away from them. For me they pull to hard and there are more streamline baits with just as much vibration. Good Luck on your question.

Unless you are a crappie guy that fishes the river systems of Table Rock, the poles are pretty much useless here. Really do not know how much application they would have for that either. Man you sure could upgrade your fishing equipment with that kind of Jack. I think I would rather have the fishing outfits. Good Luck

Looked pretty hungry for that wart, almost gobbled it down.

Very, very nice looking stuff. Make sure you get your cost of production and the shipping. No problem with that at all, that takes a lot of time and effort to produce really nice equipment like that. Good Luck

Thanks Fish. I know some others that had to work much harder at Baxter. Glad ya got on em.

The way Quill and Skunkworks are cachin em I need to go with them. Got a very good group of fantastic fishermen and women here that are really great about sharing information. We are very blessed to have this site with so much wonderful information that is available for everyone.

Absolutely fantastic fish. You all got around from the Kings River up to Big Creek and Mill. Those are just fantastic results. What were your numbers and how muddy was the Kings? How big also was that A-Rig Fish, it looks like a giant? Thanks for the fantastic reports you do. It it is wonderful to see you all hoisting those big LM.

Thanks for the report Snake, you an the Misses are special folks to us here on the forum. Don't be gone so long without givin us a Howdy.

Don't be showing Alex all our River junk. He will come up there and give our bass a boat ride to Kimberling City.

Sorry, I pretty much with what we have been hearing about the Kings thought it might be a little rough. Even more so than Long Creek, the Kings will mud up and get just terrible with debris. It also with the size takes it a bit to clear out. One good note however is that it usually puts the bass on the bank and the mud brings out the wart throwers big time.

Since about 1980 when there were some privacy laws put into place a law enforcement officer has to have a reason to stop you. Unlike a game warden who may do so without probable cause. You have to commit some type of a violation to be stopped, regardless of how slight or minor. It is called Police Work. To find something minor and see if there are other issues that may or may not be major. It is the way the police solve 10's of thousands of crimes. It has been mentioned here several times about voluntary boat inspections that are done by the patrol. They can ask you if you want one or they can set up an inspection locations and stop every boat that comes thru, they cannot just select you and stop you for no reason. This is why your registration and numbers are so important. The numbers violations are the number 1 reason the patrol use to stop boats, and has also been mentioned paper warning have been issued. Here is the bad deal. Even though we all want to comply with all the safety rules, if you for some reason have made any kind of error with the omission of any equipment and are stopped for a numbers violation, no matter how slight. Your problem will come from the missing safety equipment that may have slipped your mind today. That is a monetary fine, and no way to get out of it. Because you have not complied with the guidelines for the numbers you have opened the door for everything including all of your personal records to be checked. Even records that do not pertain to water craft safety or even to your boat. You have just opened the door. Folks its not hard to get this right. They even give you a handout that says "Do it just like this." still for some reason we do not. Good Luck and safe boating this season.

Duane, did not mean to short you. Have enjoyed reading about your bass exploits also. I know however that if a big fat crappie was biting you would be after him and let Mr. Line sides swim without being bothered. Keep up the great James River reports. Good Luck

Very good bass report from the upper James River. We seldom get them from there and it is always a treat. By the way, have any of you guys heard from Snakum? Miss his reports from the James. Wife must have his nose to the grindstone, but she likes to fish as well as he does. Hope all is well with him.

As a former Missouri State Water Patrol officer, let me state that while blocky is boring, it is the LAW. Both numerals and letters shall be in Block Form. All letters will be in Caps. Guys and Gals this is not a way of self expression, this is the licenses plate on your boat and needs to be visible from distance without being able to read some sort of weird font. Your yearly registration sticker may be placed in front, behind or below the center of your numbers. As I said, go ahead and do this in your own personal style and see what that gets you. I was a State Police officer for 8 yrs. and I stopped every boat with numbers that were not placed according to regulations or had any type of deviance. It led to multiple arrest for everything from narcotics to felony arrest warrants. It is the means the police use to stop you that is not selective enforcement that they cannot do. You have broken the law no matter how slight and it is a means that they use to get to an end. Forget the Crud-ola and do it right.

More than you would think. You do have the option to get multi-year lic, and that is a blessing. I believe 3 yrs. are available on both the boat and the trailer, and the outboard motor is a 1 time deal for as long as you own it. Good Luck They will give you a handout about your numbers and what is expected. You cannot deviate from the pattern they give you or the style or you will get stopped. 90% off all stops by the patrol are for either numbers or registration violations. Once they have you, every piece of equipment will be checked, so its best to make sure you do this part exactly as they tell you and show you on the handout. Good Luck Again.

Let me say this about that. Boat identification numbers in Missouri have to be at least 3" in height. Solid color that is contrasting to the hull on the forward section of the boat. They must also be blocked shaped and presented with a 2" or 1 letter space between the letters and the numbers. ie MO 8888 BC Or they may have a spacing as such MO-4444-BC They must also read from left to right regardless of the side of the boat. Reflective, multicolor or non-uniform numbers are not permitted. If you want to get stopped here, by the State Patrol, just goof this easy deal up with goofy looking or crazy numbers, and you will get your wish. Branson West Ayres Sign is without a doubt the best place to get your numbers made. Go in and talk to Kathy. She has been making boat numbers in the Kimberling City, Branson lakes area for 20 years and knows EXACTLY HOW THEY SHOULD LOOK. 417-272-3327

Sounds like a good plan. If I were you I would start on the flat just upstream on the oppsite bank from Viola. Troll that to the flat point with the dock, then cross the lake and troll in front of the docks clear around Royal Point. Should give you a very good indication. That Flicker shad in the Kings is just about as good as it gets for anything that swims up there. You have to watch them however as they will at times run way off side. Also from what I'm hearing with the trash, that might be a chore. Let us know good luck.