Bill Babler

Wrench is correct on most of what he posted. The White River Chain however is a totally different animal. The thermocline dictates almost everything for us here. The White River is a series of clear water impoundments that were created by daming the river system. The thermocline is a compression of the water throughout the system that creates tailrace trout fishing below its dams. These deep clear water impoundments are much different than most places in the world. Here we have stradification, rather than turnover. The colder water compresses and sinks. The lighter warmer rises and compresses the colder water, forcing it down. Here on the White River we are talking about lakes with depths that can range up to 200 plus feet in some locations. No matter the season 200 ft. deep water never turns over with top water it remains deep. Here is an example Lake of the Ozarks water can move thru the entire Osage River system in 48 hrs. with the dam at Truman and the dam at Bagnell at capacity. Table Rock takes 30 days to move water from Beaver Dam to Table Rock day it is about the same distance. 100 miles on the Rock and 90 miles on Lake O. The thermocline is not only an O2 break it is also a temperature break. The break is usually to 55 to 65 degrees. Fish love to hang out at that depth, along with the bait that also likes it. We now have a solid thermocline on the rock at about 32 ft. Surface temps are still however somewhat cool for this time of the year at 83 degree, and as the Wrench alluded to it is keeping fish in this zone as well. Here the spotted bass love to hang at the cline. LM and Jaws will remain active at much shallow and warmer temps than the K's. The K's like that cool deep water near the cline, along with lots of Kitty's and of course most of all the walleye. Good fishing on the rock can be found to both suspended fish and bottom fish at the thermocline and the best place to start is 22 to 36ft. Hope this helps Good Luck

Great points by all. As Denny said it can be a bargaining tool, but there is the fact that the dealers may not have them available to sell to you reguardless. If the extra two years are a deal breaker and they have not been in the past, as lots of folks pasted up on them. It may be an issue. I'm thinking with the low interest now that the two extra years might not be that big of an issue. My wife bought a new 2011 Malibu and it is less money than the 250 ProXs with the rigging and the Mercury Smart Craft package. Nice blog

Thought Wednesday nite was at the bridge and Friday at Campbell point. Had not heard of a Saturday out of the bridge, but maybe there is. Could someone clue us in. Tks.

Quill when you bought your boat it was a different deal. You probably paid $300.00 for the extra 2 yrs. Yes to some it was a no-brainer. To others, and I mean more did not than did purchase it. I know several guides that did not spend the extra 3 hundred at the time and are now going to be really sorry. They just assumed they or to whom ever they sold their boats could buy the extended warranty. I was also fortunate on my 2012 and purchased the extra 2 yrs. for the $300.00 figure. I believe they either called it 5 and drive or 3+2. Fish, of course I drive a Mercury. I don't know how they are really able to extend those out to the 5 yrs. Man that is a long time, but they must have uber confidence in their products not having problems for that period. You can also tell when the economy starts to improve by the boating industry. When they start to sell boats and motors things start to change. When you can finance boats for 2.25 percent either new or pre-owned it keeps them moving out of the stores.

From what I am hearing the big 3, which is really the big two Yamaha and Mercury are doing away with the 5 yr. warranty. It is out there, but only at the discresion of the dealership. This being said, and I know this is the way Mercury is doing it the dealer is awarded warranty points by the number of engines they sell. The more engines the more warranty points they are awarded. After they accumulate X number of points, they are able to buy extended 2 yr. warranties to sell. You read that right, they must themselves buy and then resell the warranties. These will be offered most often to frequent boat buyers and persons that do business on a regular basis with the dealership. The 3 yr. warranty will be in effect and that is really a great warranty. The 5 was insane and still is, but it is going to be almost impossible to get and If it is offered, it will be for the most part by a dealer that will sell it for a profit. Why not? What I am hearing is the 3+2 extended will be offered for $1,200.00 minimum. or 2 years extended at $600.00 per year. If it is available. Again it is all on the dealer. He or She must sell units to be able to have a chance to obtain point in order to be able to purchase these 2 yr. extended warranty to sell to their new boat buying clients. Interesting

Thanks indeed RP. Wonderful information, that is for sure above and beyond the call.

Glad that you brought this up. I struggled with giving a Summer Report for above Eagle Rock, as I just do not fish up there this time of the year. We all know it can be very good however and would appreciate you taking it from where I left off at the bridge at Eagle Rock and perhaps going to Beaver Town. Thanks in advance.

Table Rock Lake July 4th. 2013 Fish Report White River Outfitters Guide Service I never guide on the 4th. and try to spend it with family, but everyone is still snuggled in and this is a good time to put out some good patterns for Summer Fishing the Rock. Hope this help and good Fishing. Table Rock Dam Area to Point 6 Clear water fishing pressure and pleasure boat numbers are always a factor in this area of the lake. The lake will warm up but with the last few nights in the 50's surface temps have fallen lake wide to around 80 degree. There is a very soft thermocline forming at 22' but nothing is locked in. Everyday is different, with some surfacing action one day and then nothing for a week. With the lake at 916+ there is still water over some of the shoreline bushes. There has been good activity lake wide in and behind these bushes early. Try a jig, frog or a buzzbait behind to thru the bushes and see if a nice LM will accept your offering. This is also a time for the dock bite. Pitching drop-shot, jigs and spoons in and around the shady parts of the docks can be rewarding for nice K's and some very nice LM. Summer is also a wonderful time to locate and mark deep trees and humps on the Rock. After your morning action, take an hour everytime you are on the water to find a new location. Use your map or your electronic map to find and mark fishy looking deep locations. Look for tree tops that rise into the 30 ft. depth range and see if you can entice a fish to rise to your drop-shot or spoon presentation. Drop-shot are most often suspend this time of the year. Look for these K's out the long ridges and swings where you found them shallow and continue out. Sometimes to over a 100 ft. over the river channel. Most will be suspended at or near a hard thermocline, usually 26' to 36' Kimberling City to Baxter Point 7 to Point 19 Very much the same pattern as the dam area, but you can look even shallower for the K's in this area and for some reason you can also get a very good Summer bite here on Smallmouth. Flat Rolloffs and Humps seem to rule the lower Whhit River Stretch, with concentrations of nice Spotted bass and smallmouth hanging in and loving that 22 ft. range. Dragging a jib here just like fishing a Carolina rig is a sure way to catch these Table Rock Beauties. Another great pattern from here up Eagle Rock is a spoon or drop-shot patter using artificial or live bait. Good catches of walleye, catfish along with the bass species are possible targeting vertical presentations on channel swings and the rougher heaver rocked run outs in this White River Section. 22' to 30' is always a good number. James River Probably my favorite Summer fishing location. People always ask me what I like to do and this is it. I'm lumping in the Kings, and LongCreek here. Probably our best Largemouth fishing comes in these locations. This is the time for the "Big Boy Sticks." Big jigs, Brush Hogs, and 11 inch worms come into play in the Summer on our tributary river systems. Early and late even Night fishing these river fish will come shallow and with the above goodies you have a chance to catch your personal best of the year. During the day on the Rivers, again look for shade and depth. Not uncommon here to drag that bigger stuff in the 22 to 36 ft. range off the flat point up the rivers and catch nice LM. Numbers here are sometimes high on smaller LM, but most often fishing larger baits here will mean less bites and bigger fish. Shell Knob Point 19 to Eagle Rock Most often my Summer time home. This area of the lake more than excels during the heat of the Summer. It is time for the Knob. Weather fishing nights or during the day there is something for everyone. White Bass in this area as well as the Mid-James river seem to stay pretty active off the major lake point early and late. In the spree and chasing their food down you will also find most all the game fish that swim in the Rock up on top early and late. Not everyday, but it is something to look for. Fish at Shell Knob, love to suspend in the Summer. This pretty much knocks the pressure off cause very, very few of the fishermen target these fish. Most guys say its tough or they are just not biting. I will tell you at Shell Knob they are always biting. You or I may just not catch them but someone will. That is just the way it is. Look for concentrations of bass setting off the channel swings and major river and creek arm swings and roll offs. 26' here just seems magic. But and here is the Caveat 26' over WHAT!!!! Why oh why do we think the fish need to be near a tree the shore of the bottom? I will tell you now they don't and if your going to fish the Knob in the Summer and be successful everyday you had better figure this out. Good electronics here are just about more important than gas in your engine. You don't have them and it can be a struggle. You have them and learn how to properly use them and Summer fishing at Shell Knob is a play ground. Walleye at the Knob are a hoot in the Summer and we have been catching them here fishing for bass for all the years I can remember. Again look under the docks and the humps and deep turnouts next to the river channel. They love spoons in the summer. Look for lots of shad activity and you most likely will find both bass and walleye. Fish with your eyes as much as your equipment, looking for bait, and breeze. Table Rock can be fished this time of the year with great success, but remember we have visitors here that also deserve a place on the water for their activities and we all know from the wakes who they are. Good Luck this Summer on beautiful Table Rock Lake.

They are really biting up there. Guided there the last couple of days. Lots of fish around the docks like Champ said and just about as good a jig bit as you can ask for in front of the bushes out to about 18 ft. Drop shot bite is also shallow at Shell Knob, running today out of Baxter as shallow as 16' at times early. All the fish are really full of crawdads and are working on them like crazy. Any type of a green 3/8th. size jig with a small trailer on it is the ticket. Most fish seem to be on some type of ledge or chunk, and I have been catching them at the Knob on flat banks along with the points. A bit of breeze on the bank is always a reason to stop and fish it. Beck was up there 3 days ago and had "GULP" about 60 fish on a drop shot, in a 6 hr. guide trip. That's good, I don't care who you are. I probably approached the 50 number today out of Baxter. Bill is catching suspended fish and mine have mostly been coming off the bottom or catching a cruiser here or there that is up in the water column. He said he saw some huge schools zooming up to take the drop shot worm or crawler from as deep as 40 ft. over 100+ He also said he was catching and seeing quite a few suspended in the 26' range. Nothing big for either of us and surprisingly the shallow jig fish have not been big. Most just solid Table Rock Fish. Stay a complete full cast from the locations you are fishing and fish the bait completely back to the boat to help establish your target depth. You should be catching fish at Shell Knob. Good Luck

I got lucky and had a few on a new pattern, but most of the guides are reporting it was a really tough day. Will fill you in on this if it was just not an accident. Topwater fish have pretty much for most of it called it quits. Shad seemed to have moved down much deeper and that is preventing the fish from pushing them up. I will tell you there is quite abit of very shallow action, with the bushes still in the water, in and behind them. Good Luck and have a great weekend. I'm fishing out of Baxter tomorrow, but taking Thursday the 4th. off for family time. Have a great holiday

Phil loved your video. You need to take them out for some serious instruction. The other two guys need to consider being behind the camera instead of in front of it. Stepping on equipment, running their hands up the rods to pull in fish. Pumping fish, they were a nightmare to watch. Was just waiting for a rod to snap. Keep up the good work, your part was great.

If you watch either pro-fishing tour just like you Plug, they pitch it a lot. This is a technique that takes practice and is great for fishing docks and ledges. Yamamoto 4 or 5 inch cuttail and most of the Chompers drop shot worms are excellent for vertical fishing. Very, very shortly we will not be fishing the shot on the bottom. A lot of fish now are suspended and we are catching them vertical at depths. of 26 to 36 over 100+ The shot shines in presentations like these. For that type of presentation, good electronics are not only required but a must. I see 90% of the fish we catch and fish to the fish that I see. Thanks for all the good information on this blog. Good Luck

Besides the sharpening process, I think the higher amount of carbon in the hooks keeps them extremely sharp and really helps with the initial sharpness and the longevity. The best knife makers want that high carbon content. Try this trick with the death trap. Very easily run it along your thumb nail. It will start to dig in immediately. Stop or it will go thru your nail. As soon as it stops turn your thumb over and the hook will hang there upside down. Try that with your current hook. The only problem I have with this hook, on multiple hooked baits is that it will pin the fish and completely void it from moving or fighting at times. If the fish gets the front hook, the next hook or the next, will get the fish also. It will attach to him like a seed tick to your ----leg---. The hook is like a leach, when it touches the fish, it grabs it. You have to fish totally different with this bait and it makes you fish the proper way. Absolutely no hook setting. When the fish get the bait raise the rod and wind them in. You jerk this bait and you will not win. Simply keep pressure on the fish and its a done deal.

Nice. You throw that on lake O with a Baby Brushhog and something big will try and take it away from you. Caught that carp on a 3/8th. Missouri Craw with a green pumpkin baby hog.

Josh, I was headed for your end dock today at Cape Fair, but Pete Wenners beat me to it. We fished FireCracker and the Ramp with no takers, fishing a big worm and a big jig with a brush hog. Nothing. We switched to a 3/8th. oz. Green Pumpkin Pig Sticker with a 4 inch either Chompers or Yamamoto twin tail and just hammered them back to Aunts creek on 45 degree chunk. Nothing big and not a lot of fish per location, but fish on every stop. Usually 3 to 5 fish, right on the end transitions, rock with the key. All LM up to 3 pounds and the fish were just full of crawdads. I forgot, 1 30 pound carp at the jig. Hoped it was a big Flathead, but no such luck.

Thanks for the baits by the way, I'll for sure give them a try. As for the hooks, a size 4 Death Trap is completely unbeatable. Anyone that is posting another brand has not used one or been poked or cut by one or they would recommend it. Nothing is as sharp, strong, or has a better bend for a jigging spoon. As far as the tail feathers, For whites, yes for other species not so much. I catch more walleye without, and for sure more bass without. The Whites however just love the extra flash. The Mustad is weak, and the Owner is a cutting point. We have discussed this in previous Blogs and it just cuts to big a hole. I want a needle point hook with a super barb. ie the chemically sharpened Death Trap. The Gamakatsu runs a nice second. Good Luck

I think I have posted this information before but here it is again. When tying the drop shot I use 8 pound mono as my main line, to a size 12 swivel. you could use your 6 pound here but I don't trust 6 pound line on a relatively short leash. Caught way to many big cat fish and walleye on a drop shot along with plenty of bass over 5 pounds to trust short lengths of 6 pound unless you have an excellent reel and a very good drag system. Which I have and still don't trust the 6. There is also the abrasion factor and 6 is just to flimsy. Reminds me of a story here. Beck and I were trying to set up one of the other guides on this lake, he is a good friend, and had been pretty secret on what he was using and catching fish on. I called him with some misinformation about baits and line size just to get his reaction telling him this is what Bill and I were going to use. He went completely off the handle when I mentioned the 6 pound line saying after 20 yrs. on this lake we were both dumber than mud. "I'm cleaning this up quite abit." End result was 6 pound was way to lite for the drop shot the way he was doing it and he told me everything just the way he was doing it thinking Beck and I were complete idiots. We both still giggle about it. Names have been omitted here to protect me from getting pummeled. I regress. First deal here is to tie a 3' piece of F. Carbon leader to a size 12 closed end swivel I use the sampo style. Without a doubt the best. Buy Dannialson sold ring Swivels, there is another brand around here, but I'm very sorry to say they come apart just way to often and I have had to dump them. Use a palamar to tie the leader. I use Invizx 8 or 10 pound. I really like the 10 It is only .009 diameter and completely invisible to fish. It really helps with the shock of the bite the abrasion of the fish, rocks and underwater cables and other nasty scratchy things. Your leader when drop shotting will take the brunt of everything bad. Your main line is just a way of getting it to the nasty fishy areas, so it does not have to be as strong as the leader. Yes I know the weakest link in the chain, but we are not talking chain we are talking fishing line. After you have attached your leader to the swivel, attach the other end of the swivel to the main line using a palamar. Now you have a twist resistant drop shot. On the leader end, face the hook point to you and thread the line past the hook point thru the eye and then back and an over hand knot ie the palamar I usually run the hook about 12 to 18 inches below the swivel. I as most of the guides that do this everyday use a size 1 hook of your choosing. I use a gamakatsu drop shot hook. BP sells one for quite abit less money and it works fine. "Yes this hook looks small, but it fishes big, and is the correct circle and bend to catch the fish in the top lip 99% of the time. It is remarkable." Now an important step before attaching your weight. pull the tag end of the leader line taunt from your swivel to the end. See if your hook is facing up or down. If it is facing down, run the end of the tag line back thru the eye of the hook and it will turn in up. This will make hook-ups much easier and will increase your percentages. I then attach a drop shot weight, and I prefer the round balls over the crazy stuff, in sizes from 1/8th. to 3/8th. depending of depth and if I'm dragging it some or fishing up and down. There you have it. Good Luck

Guys, this is a very volatile subject. Please keep it as extremely clean and non threating as possible. You never want anything in print that may or may not come back to haunt you. This is also a very friendly family forum, so I must ask for a bit of decorum even though feeling are very close to the surface. Being out there everyday I more than feel your pain. I have witnessed several incidents this year that were very reprehensible at best, and all of them were by some of our own fishermen. As far as out early, that is great advice. Did have skiers on the water at 5:50 AM yesterday however. Pretty unusual, but they were there. Good Luck

With the Water Patrol being gone and the so called Hwy. Patrol as our keepers now, we are all in serious trouble on the water as far as enforcement. Frankly its to the point there is just no one out there to do anything about any infractions or to watch over us. That means we had better watch our own backs. Campbell Point to Big M is one dangerous puppy in the Summer with the big boats and the narrow water. You all be careful out there.

It is also completely non-usable, since the flood. There is a huge hole just off the concrete and if your back tires slipped off you would need a wrecker to get you out. Stay away from there, it is more than dangerous. I probably would not venture down the rocks to fish. I'm pretty nimble and that is a dangerous place. Enough people get seen on there and I bet they will put up signs and direct you to the dock. Dock fishing at Fall Creek has always been good. As has been mentioned watch the boat traffic. Just can't beat that inflated crawler off the dock there, Good Luck

Not bad at all. I've had a lot of mornings I would be happy with 12 fish with 4 keeps, and I fish here everyday. Good luck

It is not very often that I do, and I appreciated Bob wanting me to fish with him and a good time was had by all. Phil Stone may post, but his folks were fishing the same general area this morning and they had close to 30 big Whites. I believe all were spoon fed. He had 4 folks and was fishing up and down in 160 ft. of water. Fish were suspended in about 25 ft. You know you have made it as a guide when you can figure out that kind of a deal, on a consistent basis. He had the usual deal, and I bet you a crawdad that he never cast a lure all day. But, he did get to touch a fish, Ha. Ha I don't feel sorry for him. What a great way to make a living. All of us are blessed. Good Luck

Ya, that is a horrible deal. Grand is famous for that kind of thing, and its not good. People from years of experience know how it is down there and those guys should be banned from the lake. That is a black eye on everyone of us, for what a few ignorant, self-centered have done. Thanks for sharing Tfish, sorry you had to see it.

Like to see more stuff like that. Know you get paid to do it. Just wanted to say we really appreciate those kind of deals. Excellent read. BB

Topwater bite continues to be hit and miss on the White River Arm but today it was pretty much a Solid Gold Hit. Bob Peterson was by his lonesome this morning and I got to fling abit. Caught a few also. We fished topwater till about 7 AM and then things went Insane. I mean bite after bite, and big Bite after big Bite. Close to 20 pounds to the boat today with 3 big ones that I did not post as they stumbled into my jig instead of Bob's. Had one chasing 10 inch Gizzard Shad in front of us that we did not catch. Other than that, we pretty much cleaned up. This lake is just on fire with Big quality fish. All three Black Bass species and White's, are keeping us in just about all the fishing we can take. Good Luck