Bill Babler

Thumbs, you are more than right. 99.9% of the time, I just move on. Mostly I feel they are not being rude and just don't know better. Lot easier on my Blood Prussure to just go to the next location. Had some clients with me the other day and had someone cut me off. I just started up and went South. My client said, "Bill, that is why I'm here with you. I don't think I could have done that without saying something to that jerk." He caught a 4 pounder on the next spot and we laughed till tears hit our eyes. The jerk had put us on a Big-in.

On Table Rock it is always hard to tell where people are fishing. This adds to the problem. Some just not knowing in the first place the proper ediquite and others not knowing where you are fishing. I fish so deep most times the shoreline or boats coming between me and the bank really does not matter. I know you bank fishermen don't like it and I think we deep fishermen add to your problems. People just don't know how to get around us. One point however that is get increasing bad and it is a problem is getting cut off. When a guy pulls down the bank I'm fishing and throws down his troller 100 yrds. in front of me it is for sure a bad deal. I usually just jerk up my motor, wake him and move on. Hoping that little bit of bounce will make him think. "Did I do the right thing." I have also in the past just pulled around them and started fishing. This has gotten to be a big problem on the Rock and I think it can only get worse as we have more and more young and inexperienced boaters on the water. Be kind out there.

Sometimes I think people drive around the lake with their eyes closed. I do after years of fishing Table Rock, have some local knowledge, but 9 times out of 10 my eyes this time of the year lead me to the fish. If we see fish breaking, we stop and fish those fish. We fish them both on top and subsurface. We also remember where they broke early and go back and fish it again late, perhaps a bit deeper. I cannot tell you the amount of boats I saw Sunday just drive past surfacing fish. Maybe that is to easy for them are folks are looking for more of a challenge. Not me. I'll take what the Rock gives up any day and be durn glad to have it. Just eyes open today put 30 plus fish in the boat for us and about 1/2 that being keepers. Good Luck and Keep a lookin around.

Quit messing with the Fin's. Take off all the hardware and replace it with very small size 2 split rings on all the hooks and in the nose. Replace the hooks with size 4 gamakatsu, or Diiachi Deathtraps. When you throw the fin start it back with the rod in a very upright position, and continue to drop the rod as the bait wakes back to the boat. Keep the rod pointed directly over the back of the bait and most will work. You will everyday have to adjust your speed to keep it waking as you like. IF it goes under, stop the bait and start all over, even if you just try and slow down, it will stay subsurface. Bending and Heating does pretty much nothing but ruin the bait. One small error your fault his fault anyone's fault and you have just cost yourself 9 bucks. Once you have it running, do not stop the bait do not jerk the bait. Just wind it in. If a fish misses it keep winding, never stop. When a fish grabs it, just continue winding and reinstall the rod to an upright attitude to keep a bend and the pressure on the bait. They will stay hookied. IF you jerk it you made a big mistake. Simple as that. If it doesn't work, throw it in a box and buy another one. I currently have about 2 dozen that work perfect and twice that amount that run in a circle. Good Luck

I've had more stuff stolen off my dock than a lifetime of trailering. I guess they were at it again last week.

$169.00 Bucks for the replacement and recharge. OUCH!!!

Typo Steven. Yes I did have you and Craig mixed up. sorry. Glad you caught them. It was a fantastic bite up there today.

Son Seven and I got out abit late this morning hitting the water at 6 AM. Saw Duck and said a howdy, and headed for a deep bluffend point on very flat water with a high sky starting. On Steve's first cast he csught a very nice LM on a fin probably 17 inches. Boat was in 70' He preceeded to catch and release another 4 fish all keepers with a K and a Jaw in the mix, so on our first stop we had the TR Slam. As we were leaving the Bluffend the clouds started to roll in and the wind pick up. Moved up to the point going into Carter Creek and there was a guy on it, throwing to the bank. Knew he was just flat hurting nothing and waited for him to leave. We went around it twice, Again, with our boat this time in 90' of water fishing the tops of the pole timber. These fish were a full cast behind the guy that had just fished the point. He had no chance at catching them. These tops are 150yrds.out from the point. We caught 8 here with 3 solid LM keeps, again in the 16.5 to 17 inch range. These fish were just eating a fin up. Moved down stream toward the Knob and saw fish chasing as we passed Duck again. Just across from Point 23. Jammed on the breaks and Steve caught 2 short K's in two casts. Moved on up to San Succi and caught fish off every point we stopped on with the fin. I swam a grub to stay out of his way and he really smoked me. Usually 3 to 6 on each point. Most of the time on these flat points we were at least 3 full casts off the bank. Lots of fish suspended in the 10' to 15' range that will shoot up after that fin. Turned around and headed back up stream, and Steve spotted them breaking in a small wind blown pocket off a flat. We caught and released fish here for about an hour from 10 AM till 11 AM, all on a fin. I'm going to say Steve had at least 20 and I had several on everything I could throw but the fin, just staying off it. I caught them on an inline spinner. Splitshot rig, grub, dropshot,spoon and a blade. They just kept mashing Steven's fin the entire time. Just when we were getting ready to head in a huge school of whites broke all around us. We caught 1 each and did not even throw at them again. Time for him to head back to KC after lunch with Mom. Great day with my Son. That for me was my best day of the year, sharing it with Steven, and watching him enjoy one of the best topwater bites I've had in a spell. By the way our best 5 would have all been LM and probably only checked in at 13.5 or so, but the action was unreal with at least 20 keepers today. Good Luck

Just got a look at the Arkansas schedule. Looked at some predictions. 3 maybe 4 wins. If they get a 5th. IT would be a monster season for them. Hope it plays out with a 5 win season for the new coach. Rutgers in the preseason up there will be a bear. I think they have a QB that is considered a 1st. or early 2nd round NFL type player. Everyone is predicting their only SEC win is vs Auburn. On 10 sites have not seen anything better than a prediction of 4 wins. Hope its better

aTm lost 9 players from last year including 2 Juniors, one the outland trophy winner. I don't think they are yet in the reload stage. They were pretty much a doormat in the Big 12 the past few years. I think the stars just alined for them last year. They lost their best offensive linemen, best defensive lineman, best receiver and best secondary player. We will see if Sumlin has the horses to just reload. I think the SEC will make adjustments for Manzel this year, like the NFL would. I got a feeling he does not make it thru game 3 of the SEC season. They will win their early games, but he for sure has a horrible price on his head in the SEC.

Yes the Brown Bass are spitting Craws, but that is not unusual. I think they dream about them like we do steak. That being said I don't think they are real active yet in this high 60's to low 70 degree water. Usually I think you would be ok, but it might be 4th. of July before they really start moving. We always use the big ones for the pot, and the little fellers for bait. Used to use them all the time, but just got out of the habit. Hated to leave the Big 12, but just really saw the writing on the wall. I know the Big 12 added some new teams, but I still really believe they are on "shaky ground." Even with KU's great BB history, I don't think either them KState of Iowa State are very desirable for anyone. Mizzou would have fallen right in there, and I believe they will all be split up eventually anyway. I believe my Tigers will fall into the middle of the pack in the SEC just as they have been in the Big 12 for years. They will have ups and downs but with the financial security of the SEC, I believe they will do well. I have a feeling this year you are going to see Texas ATM come back into the world of reality. One injury to Johnny Runaround and they are toast. They will not be as good this year. We had so many injuries last year and by every report the toughest schedule in football. I look for a solid 7 wins in football and a competitive BB team this year. Good Fishing

Really the majority of stuff I did was schedule maintenance. Recalls, on the 2012 merc. filters, and lower unit oil change. Cover tube that goes from the boat to the motor that hides your wiring need replaced and that is a big job. You have to take everything loose. Did have a problem with the steering helm, and the psi gauge. Needed a new connector on the trailer to truck lights, the vault bearing system that was stolen, and another very minor trolling motor issue. Lots of it was warranty, with the exception of the scheduled maintenance and the tube. It is now virtually Brand New again, and it for sure looks and acts like it.

Vault is a non-service system that is a Hybred Grease/oil formula that is not only pressurized but changes its molecular structure to continue to fully lubricate during different temperature ranges. The first time I ever saw it was on Phoenix Trail. It is now common on every top end boat line weather they be bass or pleasure boat trailers. It has pretty much completely replaced the grease bearing and the buddy bearing we had for years. Of course it is about 5 times as expensive. Just like wheels they need some type of a locking device with a special tool like you have for your fancy truck wheels to be removed. I was looking at this on the internet and lots of people are having theirs stolen. I'm sure we will see a lock put on them in the future. It would not take much, to deter the thiefs. If they had to work at it they probably would not want them.

Fred has been a BassCat dealer for well over 20 yrs. and can still get ya one. I was going to go thru him and get one just before I made the deal with Greg Wood on my Champion. Greg moved to Phoenix with Gary Clouse and so it was very logical for me to follow him over. I had been with Gary thru Smithville for years on my Stratos boats.

Just had to have a maintenance day yesterday after 5 hard months of fishing and more than one foul up on my part. My boat is my life, so I try and keep every issue in check and keep the engine serviced on time. Had a couple of issues this time and had made an appointment with Fred to correct them. With Ulrich, it is never how in the He!!!! did you do that or my gosh that's bad or I have never seen that. You just never hear that from Fred, Janet or any of the staff. It is, "yes we can fix that. Yes we have that part on hand and thanks for bringing it in. We'll get you on the water just as soon as we can." I pay what you pay, this is not a political post it is just when locals treat you right and have for almost 30 years, they just like anyone deserve a shout out. How many times do you try and get something done and the first thing you hear, is We'll have to order that part. You have a Motor guide or Mercury product and go into Ulrich, 99.9% of the time he has got it in triplicate. As long as I run a boat on Table Rock lake, reguardless of where I got it, it is going to Fred's for service. Quick Story; I met Fred in 91 as I was working on becoming a guide. Good friend from Shell Knob, was his service manager at Branson West. Dan Langly. Danny told be to come try Fred on a boat deal. Fred handled Champion and BassCat. Went over and spoke to his sales person. Got a fair deal on a new Champion and went into Fred's office to discuss it and tell him my plans. We visited about the guide business and Fred said I was in for a tough road to hoe. Wondered why I wanted to make fun into WORK. Told him I did and he took that boat deal and trimmed it to a Pro-Staff deal and told me it was exactly his cost on everything. I would direct my clients and potential boat buyers his way. I told him I was also working with Smithville Marine and Catfish and Joanne. They handled the same lines with the exception they also handled Stratos. I ran all the boats and for me I preferred the 201 Pro Elite Stratos. I cannot ever thank Joanne enough at Smithville. My deal was as good as it gets with Stratos. Full memo with no purchase at the end of the lease period. She would just have me turn it in and have me a new one setting there. I would work sport shows and funnel people her way. Joanne really wanted a share of the South Missouri boat market and with Heartland fishing a lot down here she would have a foothold, that did sell her some boats. Fred never took this hard or held it against me. He was always nice and if I had anything go wrong with anything, he would say we can fix that here for you and did more than once and it was on a memo boat. We are very lucky to have Ulrich Marine and me for one knows it. Good Luck

Mark up at Table Rock Tackle and Marine carries several different sizes of Daddy trips. Dice up a 1/2 dozen small perch and as has been said, put them out over night and you should be in business.

Fantastic Fish. A few years ago we had a discussion on the Florida Bass and why they tolerate different locations. Why do they go deep in California lakes and just not do the same or do well in others with great shad populations. I think it is still kind of a mystery. Seems much out of Texas and Calley, they struggle out of the South.

Dave when your down with the family on vacation, I'll get you one and maybe you can figure it out for me. We'll see what you think of it. Maybe you can find something that is very similar to this to build.

Ya I'm sure I would not notice. I had a day off and it was just time to get a few things done. The hub deal was a throw in extra. I just cannot say enough good things about Ulrich Marine, and Fred, Janet and their staff. They are there to assist with a smile no matter how stupid and how irresponsible you have treated your equipment. They just fix it and get you back on the water. I'm not done with them. Upcoming post is on the way.

Pretty good idea. I guess they are going to have to put some type of a locking screw with a special wrench into the side of those things. Just what we need is another tool.

Sam, I'm for sure with you on this deal. You can just flat get hurt messing with this deal. I cannot urge folks to be very careful. Not only getting hurt, but just flat destroying your boat. You get a white in a seat with all those hooks, and it I can tell you is not a pretty sight. Be careful out there, this is suspose to be fun.

No introduction possible. To far North for the Florida's. Tried it at Grand and got zip. Anyway MDC is not introducing any non-native species, in our life time.

You know we guides are really easy targets, as our boats are at these public ramps 300 days a year. I have lost spare tires with SS wheels, "My fault for not locking them." Hubs, lug bolts, and every part conceiveable on a trailer. I've had my truck pounded with a ballpean hammer and my tires flattened by letting the air out. Not had a puncture or a valve stim cut, but everything else. Beck has been broke into and had his clients broken into. It is just the price of doing business. This hub deal however is getting old. Pretty close to $600 out of pocket on them. They need to figure a way to lock them on the wheel. This is the best trailer bearing system on the market and the crooks know it.