Bill Babler

There is a short video on my website of Beck and I catching a 5 pounder on a floater. For the most part we are using either a 10' or a 12' rod, with a 2500 series reel, your chose. 8 pound braid to the swivel and float to a 1/16th. oz jig or a 1/32nd. I have also caught them on a 1/64th. All with size 1 hooks custom made. Our leader is invesx in most often 4 pound test with a 15' leader to the fly. You get line much heaver and the drop and action of the jig is really impaired. 3 years ago we had 50 fish over 5 pounds on the floater. Year before last we had not so good of luck. Last year they were on it again with lots of quality fish. My two biggest Table Rock fish have came on the floater 9.6 and 9.3. It is not so much a Winter bait for me here, as I am a deep fisherman. It is much more of a Pre-Spawn staging bait. Good Luck

My deer hunting vacation is coming to an end. Be back on the water this week. Have a wonderful Holiday and be sure to have that extra piece of pie that we all really need. Rumor has it the fish are really biting and we will try and get ya on them. Good Luck

Real problem with the Kings River. It is one of the major runoff areas for Table Rock lake and for huge periods of time during the year, it can be very muddy and timber filled. It is probably the most inconvenient part of the lake to access any other location. As far as fishing the Kings, there is a crappie population and a LM population. Most often the views and vista's up there are just about as poor as Table Rock has to offer. I just love going up there at times but would never purchase anything up there. You are just locked up. As has been mentioned be very carful with real estate agents here. They will tell you anything and I mean anything to get the sale. Also on purchasing a dock or slip, there is also hundreds of blogs on this forum talking about it. Probably not what you would think. Good Luck

Great color on that jig

Good to see its back on. Really sorry I cannot fish it. Lost my guide trip on the cancellation, and both Beck and I are booked on the 19 weekend. Cannot afford to lose two guide trips. Good Luck to all those participating. It is a really fun deal. We will be there in spirit.

Bo just spoke to the corp. There was not a permit resended. They said for every regatta that they are informed of a 100 go off without their knowledge. The Water Patrol has handled these permits for the past 20 yrs. Corps person said they let the Water Patrol chart and issue all the permits for bass fishing tournaments. On the same note I know that a Corp person contacted the Shell Knob chamber and asked to provide assistance with the derby. His assistance or suggestions was not accepted. I believe they kind of dropped the ball on this deal. It was a crummy day to begin with, but PP Planning makes for sure PP Performance. You got two major events per year at Shell Knob, with one being the Fireworks Display and then the thing that helps finance it the HS Derby. You would think you could get that off regardless. There were options.

Here is the deal and It is current direct from COE. All the Cor. ramps are closed with the exception of State Park. This includes Sweetwater, Viola, Eagle Rock, Viney, Combs Ferry and Big M. Of course we all know the others. The ramp at Big Creek is a Forest Service Ramp and it is also closed. Shell Knob is not a Corp Ramp and it is open along with the Ramp on H-Hwy. Ramps that the do not have metal barriers have had signs and wooden barriers put into place. It is now common knowledge that these ramps on Table Rock are not to be used. If you move the barrier or go around it you will be ticketed. If the barriers are down and you enter the park you can still be ticketed, regardless if it is marked or not. It is common knowledge. Sorry to be the carrier of bad tidings.

I believe that to be erroneous information. The COE does not control regatta permits. There were multiple tournaments that day besides the Homer Sloan. All went off as scheduled. The permits are controlled by the Missouri State Water ie Highway Patrol. Indecision and really lack of area and lake knowledge were perhaps more to blame. Be pretty hard to get it worked back in for this year. That indecision cost a lot of good folks time and money, including me. Both Beck and I took the day off to fish the derby and then they cancel it a day before. They should have called Steve at Indian Hills Resort. I don't believe they had guests and their dock would have easily handled the derby and it is just around the corner from the H-hwy ramp. Indian Hills also has a Huge convention center that would have more than handled the BBQ, and a wonderful boat ramp. You could launch 50 boats on their ramp in under an hour and with the H ramp around the corner you could have handled 100 boat derby no problem. We have ran 26 guide boats for corporate trips there many times and it handles it all no problem. Fantastic facility with great people. Bet they were never approached. If I'm wrong, and the chamber thought of that I apologize.

Hmmmm, just wonder where she caught that. Looks a tad bit familiar to me. Nice fish guys.

Due to the Corps. shut down Shell Knob's 34th. Homer Sloan Derby may have to either be shutdown or postponed. viable alternative launching points have been mentioned at either the Shell Knob bridge or off H Hwy. The ramp at H hwy would for sure hold all the trucks and trailers and should be considered. There is a new Chamber Director in Shell Knob and we are hearing she is struggling with logistics. Pretty tough call for her, but one that need to be made today in a decisive manner. Take it out to H and get her done. Usually about 50 boats so that ramp would eat it up. A decision needs to be made today. You got one, call the Shell Knob Chamber and lets get this deal done.

Yes there are some good Jaw's up the White and also up the James, but for the most part they prefer open big gravel flats on the White River chain on all the White River lakes. Not unusual to catch big Jaw's schooling and chasing in very deep water and also not uncommon to catch them suspended over the humps and channel swings, on any of our White River impoundments. Here the best Jaw water is for sure Campbell Point to the 86 bridge just in front of Long Creek. KC to the dam is the top producer, but any of this big open water holds more than quality smallmouth. That being said my biggest came from a pocket across from Rock Creek about 15 yrs. ago, during the spawn. 6.3 pounds. There are some areas up the White and up the James that I expect when fishing to catch jaws on and usually do. Just usually not the numbers or size of the ones in the big clear water. Smallmouth bass here on this lake are very opportune feeders, I believe more so than K's or LM. The jaw will just about eat anything. Of course they love Daddy's, but they are also bug eaters. I have seen big Jaws chasing Gizzard Shad that if they were a trout I would be proud to catch. These fish are really site feeders, and for more than the most part not ambush feeders. They see and run down what they want to eat. They may hold in cover at times but this is as much for shade and protection as anything. When they feed, they hunt. Main lake clear water provides the best chance for this type of predator, where the visibility is at its best. Good Luck

Not mine, those boys were left handers. Brought their own gear, and knew how to use it.

Table Rock Lake Current Fishing Report 9-29-13 White River Outfitters Guide Service On the Rock 3 out of the last 4 days and probably should have been on the video camera some of the time. Have pretty much fished from Baxter to Big Creek everyday with a journey to point 9 one day but most of my trips have stayed around the Indian's. Surface temps have been in the 76 to 80 degree range depending on time of the day. I do think we have seen the last of the 80 degree water and with these cool nights the water is clearing at a very fast rate. Looks to be headed to the pre-20 inch rain color which was as clear as it has been in years. Lake at 916.5 and really in very good shape. Bite for me has been two stage and I know Denny had a different deal yesterday, but it has been a just about as clear a pattern as I can remember for this time of the year. Smallmouth lake wide if you are on the right junk are just tearing it up early. Daylight, which is at 0615 until about 8:30 have just been all over a jig. Spoke to Rick Lisek, he was guiding the dam this morning and said he was pretty much hammering them on extremely flat gravel in 12 to 15 feet. Small main lake points and secondary runnouts off major coves and in the creeks. Said his best 5 jaws were close to 15 today. Pretty much the same deal for me. Jaw's and K's early and then it gets tougher than a timex, but kind of keeps on tickin until around 10 a.m.. Then it's on again as the fish seem to move and reposition in the 25 to 35 ft. range on the bottom on the same kind of stuff. These deep fish have been mostly LM and K's however I did catch a nice Jaw out deep on a jig today whilst the clients up and downed it. Been averaging anywhere from 25 to 45 fish per trip, with some nice keeps. Nothing to write home about, but a very consistant 13 pounds on most days. Have not had a big bite, but today we did have 2 walleye on a purple dropshot worm. Both were over 20 inches and are still swimming after a photo encounter from the client that snared them. Into the light and back to the depths. High water day was Friday with 15 keepers. Jaw's are just packed with Craws and the K's and LM are eating shad which I have hardly never seen the like of. It is almost like Grand, with the concentration of bait. Time is approaching to get after them Good Luck

The main ramp is on the South side of the 39 hwy bridge. You can also launch at Big Creek, Campbell Point, Viola or on H. hwy just South of the Viola exit on the left. About 4 miles down H. Coming from Cassville or Arkansas you have Eagle Rock 2 locations one being free, Viney Creek, Big M. and the old Sweetwater access down toward Viney Thru old town Golden. There is also a pay launch at Hickory Hollow Resort up the Kings River accessed off of 39 South. That should pretty much get ya wet.

Nice report, but there are no fish at Shell Knob. D. you must be mistaken about the lake section you were fishing.

Plug, if your done with her for the Winter, you might also pop that SS prop off. Just Sayin.

White River Outfitters Guide Service After what has been somewhat of a struggle to put it mildly, the fish the last 1/2 dozen days have softened up a bit. With the PAA struggling thru the latter part of last week, and the extreme heat and boat traffic, fishing has been pretty tough. With the movement and temperature changes the lake has seen, it is now starting to stabilize even though the surface temps are in the 84 to 87 degree range. In the past 6 days we have reestablished a very hard thermocline at 18' to 22'. Not only is there a lot of bait in this range but the fish seem to be staying extremely close to this depth weather suspended or on the bottom. . Smallmouth in the Kimberling City area have started to bite from first light till about 10 a.m. Most fish are being caught on a jig. White River fish from Baxter to Big M. have slowed a bit but still can be caught on a dropshot in that same 18' depth range. This is usually unusual as the clarity of the water is such that fishing that shallow right over the top of the fish is most often not possible. The water is now of a color that you can do this. As the temperature drops and the water clears our presentations will have to change. Early is still the key with the majority of bites coming from 0600 to 0900. A few topwater fish are starting to appear, and if you locate them they will stay in the area when that bite dies and you can target them with down presentations. Inside major points with shelf rock have been one of my favorite locations this past week. Some timber present is never a bad thing. Keep your presentation in the above mentioned depth range as long as possible, but throwing ahead of the boat as if you working a shallow crankbait in the Spring. It's only a matter of days now. Good Luck

It sure won't hurt. Got to be there to watch them. They had a deal on the Today Show, a few months ago and were speaking to a thief. He said as soon as he saw a sign that said Security Camera in use or Bad Dog, he usually robbed that place, cause he knew it was a lie if they advertised it. If you put them up be unconspicuious about it. He also said there is a real good market for stolen security camera's. They are really easy to steal and easy to sell, if they are not in a protective housing, that is at least lag bolted to the structure.

Quill, I worked pretty hard for bites up there the other day. Move up to Baxter and work the gravel toward Kimberling City. Those Brown Bass are getting ready to get hungry. I had 19 Sunday on my trip with several in the 3.5 pound range. There is a very hard thermocline at 18 to 22 feet. They are right square dab in the middle of it on either shelf or gravel roll-offs. Best deal for us was the green pumpkin Pigsticker with a Yamamoto 4" twin tail or a Yamamoto Hula Grub in Green Pumpkin Candy on the same 3/8th. FB. Good Luck

This is just getting out of hand from Kimblerling City to Shell Knob. Time for them to get caught again for the umpteenth time. No structural damage however. At least you didn't get your boat hull drilled as was happening a few years ago. It will only get worse as more and more people go home and close up for the Summer. They will get braver. Best put those boats in storage under lock and key, until Spring, If your done for the year.

Keep watching what is going on. It is fixin to turn around depending on your lake section, it could be good. Last couple of days I have had really good trips.

I felt way better today after I figured it out yesterday. There is a pretty hard building thermocline right now at 18' to 20' I'm only going to say, you had better be fishing that depth weather on the bottom or suspended. It was just unreal today. My trip started at 6:30 out of Shell Knob and by 9:30 the boys were saying No Mas. It was getting hot and we had just flat hammered them. Fished 2 locations all morning big flats with a jig and a Yamamoto dropshot worm. Guy in the middle dangled and the guy on the back drug a jig. It was silly. Not a load of Keeps, only about a dozen, but just bite after bite and really no dinks at all. If we had been in a derby we would have had to measured a load of them. Water is cloudy enough you can dropshot up the river in the 18 to 20 ft. range and usually you cannot. I'm dragging that Quick 5 3/8th. FB with a yamamoto gp twin tail. I also used their GP/pepper hula grub today on the PigSticker 3/8th. and it worked just as good. If you missed them they kept at it, till they got it or pulled it down or tore it up. Beck reported similar results out of Baxter. He also had a great day with lots of fish. Surface temps at the knob were 85 right on.

That is just about as good of advice and information as you could get. If God forbid I was going to try it, I would take this advice to heart. Thanks for posting.

Your right as rain Wrench. I had good boys that know fishing. I just butted my head into a brick wall as soon as I got home. I am so blessed and let me tell you I know it. This lake since that huge rain and with the heat has just gotten to be a very hard placed to figure and fish. Just look at the PAA stuff. It is just very hard to catch them. Usually right now we are culling keepers. Not so much now, we are begging not for keepers, but for bites.