Bill Babler

Sounds like a fantastic derby. I would for sure fish it, but this is a corporate weekend for us guide types. I believe Denny and his son are fishing it I believe.

Finished 14th. out of I believe 52 boats. 14.34 pounds with a 5 pounder and a 4 pounder. Had 3 swimmers. Caught over 40 fish.

L.W. what did it take to win. Had to have 20+ in the lower lake stuff, to win. Upper 16's to get paid. Thanks

Fished most lake sections on Lake O this week, and also had lots of help. This lake is setting up really nice and the Bass Fishing is getting better everyday. Dam area and Gravois from Coffman out to the mouth and down to the 15 mile mark is very clear. Not quite Table Rock, but 6 ft. of visibility. Surface temp ranging from mid to high 70's. Under low light conditions bite is very good on either bone chuggers or bone spooks, around the docks and on any type of wind blown bank. Throw the surface bait right on the bank. As the morning sun begins to hit the water move to the shady side of the bigger docks in the backs of the coves. Fish are being taken on 10 inch worms and jigs pitched around the docks. Don't think you are fishing to shallow, lots of fish in the under 4 ft. area. Shakey Head bite is fantastic using a 5/16 oz. head and a baby brush hog. You chose the color. Not alot of keepers, but lots of bites. Mid morning to mid day move out to what the locals call structure which is the humps in the gravois and the long runout points. Most of these have bouys on them and are easy to find. 1/2 to 3/4 oz jig and the big worm on these locations, fishing from 12 to 25 ft. There is man made brush on almost all these locations. Grand Glaze Very similar bite with water not quite the clarity. Same temps. Difference here is there is a pretty good buzz bait bite early. Throw the buzzer right to the bank. Pretty easy to tell when it is over as it goes flat usually even in the rain for us about 9 Am. Fish will continue to bite the Zara Spook. Long pea gravel and fist size chunk rock banks seem to be holding very quality bass. Especially release fish around PB2. Osage and Mouth of the Niangua to the Green Bridge on the Osage. Water abit more stained but still clear for Lake O. Very good jig bite in the backs of the pockets around the shallow docks and on brush. Browns Green Pumpkin jigs in 5/16th. seem to work best. Wind blown flat points up close are holding some very nice LM and they are on either a Spook or a buzzer early. Later in the morning don't be afraid to throw that topwater on the corners of main lake docks in this region. Osage Arm to Turkey Creek. Water is off colored but most of the bass guys are really liking it for pitching the jig or using the buzzbait. Very nice limits of 3 pound fish coming from the entire Osage section. Fish the docks starting from front to back in the major creek arms. Docks in the 15 ft. on the front to shallow on the back seem to be holding the better fish. Any wood or laydowns seem to be replenishing very quickly. There is also a very nice bite either pitching or swimming a jig on certain docks. Black/Blue seems to be the color, but I'm not on this deal. K's are in very good numbers on most of the main lake larger docks suspended under the fronts of the docks on the deeper shady sides. from the 15 to the Green Bridge. Use the chugger here and also a spook for some heart pulsing action, as these little guys just tear it up. In four days this week, Bill and I caught and released over 200 bass. Not the quality keepers we wanted for the derby, but just about as fun a fish catching trip as a man could have. Big bite was scarce for us, but the fishing was fabulas. White bass seem to be extremely good with fish on all the wind blow either flats or long points from the Glaze to the Green Bridge. We were catching them on top water, but a roadrunner would have slayed them. Hope this gets the Fall season rolliing. Good Luck

Thanks Gents, that was extremely good stuff. Pretty much got an idea what we are going to do. I'm from Rainey Creek, so know the area a little bit. I'll let you know how bad we get our ears pinned back. Will have a great time pre-fishing the next 3 days though. Thanks for the current stuff.

Never have thrown the chrome one. Got a whole box of Sammy's and don't even take them in the boat. Never have been satisified how they ride in the water. They want to stand to erect for me. Folks catch fish on them however. Just don't like the bait. I throw all 3 sizes of Spooks. I am a very Old School Fisherman when it comes to some things. Don't throw any of them right out of the box, always try and work a little magic on them. The Zara Spook has never been broken and is still one of the primier top water baits in the world. Throws like a dart and rides the water like a surfborad. Sits the water at a slight rearend down mode and in the right hands can go either way. Not around a tree mind you like we have heard the stories of, but for sure you can skate it where you want it with a little practice. Just not backwards. Good Luck

Thanks Mike.

We used both sizes, and frankly it did not make a difference. Talked to another guide that was throwing the Super Spook, the big hook boy up shallow in front of the bushes and on the bluffends. He had similar success. It however is harder to get a hook up with. Seems to me they slap at it alot. Goes without saying that I never just fish them out of the box. All our topwater baits are dolled up a bit and of course hooks replaced with sharp ones. Don't negliect the shaky head bite at the dam, it is still pretty good at the 15 ft. mark with your boat in 25 to 30.

I've only had one Fishpond bag, and the zipper went out. Probably my fault. Phil uses them with very good success.

Probably wrong time of the year for that deal. Look more for the chunker 45 degree stuff and where that transitions either way. Early and late look on the long points and pockets if there is wind in or on them. Think to yourself, why am I fishing this. What would make a fish be there. Long sloping rock points harbor crawfish and shore minnows. Shad also are present on this type of a location. Long timbered points also hold cover for predatory bass that are seeking shade and cover. Blue gill are also present in very good numbers on this type of a location. Look for road beds in the baxter area, and ditches or humps on the gravel flats. It is full of them. Get a topo map of the area and study it. Where the channel swings are and the changes in bottom configuration. Straight up and down bluff walls, like the one you speak of may not be the answer. Why does that look good to you? Is is holding concentrations of bait that the fish feed on? What is the depth of the tree tops? Is the channel close to that circular cut, or is it just a deep water hole. What is the water movement and how much wind is hitting it? Is it a location that holds large quanities of crayfish, or is there very little place for them to hide and feed on the vertical rock walls. If you want to be successful on the Rock, look for the food. Yes there are some LM that live here or there, but for the most part our fish follow the food, when they are not staging for either pre or post spawn. Good Luck

The new sling pack is called an Orvis Gale Force.

Please check my recent post on equipment we took to Alaska under general Angling discussion. Without a doubt the Hydros was our prefered rod Helios included. We had a 4 piece 6wt. tipflex. It is a cannon and is great for fish up to 10 pounds. We paired it with the new Hydros large arbor and the combination of sealed drag system was perfect for the sandy beaches we fished in Alaska. Its preformance was excellent. That particular rod is very, very similar to the new Temple Fork Outfitter BVD. Almost the same weight and action. The Hydros does load a bit better and will in the right hands outpreform the BVD by an experienced caster. 90 percent of us will find no difference to speak of in the two rods. The Helios is so light it is a bit scary. The rod does not load as well as the Hydros and this is mostly due to the weight of the rod. Just feather light. I used the 7 wt. all day in Alaska last year and it is like you have not fished. Absolute no strain on your shoulder, wrist or elbow. Experenced fly casters that are willing to load the tip of this rod as they should can cast it a mile. For the inexperenced caster or occausional fisherman, this may not be the right choice. When casting the Helios you need to put prussure on the top of your grip and tighten your loop. This will let the tip section of the rod load properly and it is magnificent. If your tenique is in need of some work and you don't get it loaded the light weight of the rod will cause your loop to expand and you will be unhappy. The Hydros or the BVD or even an Access or a Clearwater is much more forgiving with a bit more weight.

When Phil and I got back from Alaska we had some equipment issues. Had several broken rods, that were no part the problem of either manufactor. Equipment was good application was bad. Temple Fork Outfitters was without a doubt excellent to work with. I sent in two rods and they were back within 4 days. Yes you did read that right. "FOUR DAYS." They are interested in what happend to the rods, not to fuss, but to make the product better. I wrote a short explaination and included it with the broken rods. Not new rods, but a replaced new section for the broken one. 4 Star Service. Cost was the return and a $25.00 replacement fee per rod. Orvis, we had 3 broken rods including a Helios, Hydros and a Clearwater. All back within a week, none of them repaired. Simply sent me new rods. Cost me to ship them and that was it. Frankly they don't care how they break. You slam it in a door. You break it over your knee. Broken rods are repaired without cost or question and returned immediatly. 5 Star Service You just get a new rod when one breaks. Both companies were a pleasure to work with and I would recommend either highly. The new Temple Fork BVD was without a doubt one of our best Salmon Rods. For Pink Salmon in the 4 to 8 pound range their 6wt. was without equal. We supplied the rods and I kind of watched what the clients wanted to use. We had mostly 6 and 7 weights in either Orvis or Temple Fork Outfitters. Most all had either Hydros or Large Arbor Orvis Reels Reels preformed very nice with the all sealed Hydros not clogging with sand as would the Battenkill Large Arbor at times. We cleaned and oiled them most every night, which is a must when you are fishing salt water. The most popular rod by far was the Blue Hydros, followed by the BVD's. Phil thought the Helios was just a bit to light, if that is possible. It is like a feather, and gives you abit of trepadation, when fishing for big fish. We had a 7 wt. that did break, but believe you me, it was no fault of the rod. It was gross negligence on the part of the user. We believe he was trying to break it. The other breaks happened mostly by getting a fish to close to the tip on a short leader and putting to much strain on the rod. Also we did have a tree incident or two. Would also like to mention we used 10 Orvis Frequent Flyer packable 3 piece spinning rods with Shimano 2500 stradics spooled with 8 pound maxima. These are 7 ft. rods and they are outstanding. I believe they are a Clearwater blank, and thaet tandem preformed flawless. If you are looking for a great gift, you will not beat this packable combo. Good Luck

Just got my Orvis Sling Pack. Totally water proof. Ordered it for our Alaska Guiding, but they were back ordered. Looks great and fits nice. They are however a bit pricy. Big wide straps. Of course it is built to last. You buy one it is the last one you ever purchase as like everything else Orvis makes the guarantee is without equal.

Man Duck, that sounds wonderful! Small Jaw Fall bite in the North. Got to be a great time. Good luck and wish I were a goin. Brace your feet and wind them in slowly.

Excellent morning. We started about the time your topwater bite quit. They are abit fussy on the dropshot. Early is the key, on the bright days. Got to be on the points by 6 or 6:30 at the latest. Bankers and Doctor's hours will get you in trouble on the rock, as the bottom and dropshot bite is pretty iffy, unless you get a good condition, like it is out there today.

Quite a few generic reports out there from the past two weeks but no specifics and most are reposts from other sites. I hate that. If you cannot write a fresh post for each location, don't write at all. BFL results from last weekend were pretty sketchy. Most info that we can gather however points up the River. How far I do not know. Seems Buzz baits and follow it with a jig. Pretty good pattern as always from the 60 mile mark up. Anyone know the water clarity up there? Hate to run that far, but ya got to fish where they are a bitin. Heard the dam area fish were in the backs of the windblown pockets and on 15' brush, but high sky and flat water just killed the bite. Clear water fisherman struggled in the BFL so it seems. Calling for clouds and rain this weekend. Any current news is good news. Thanks Bill

White River Outfitters Guide Service Saturday I believe things broke loose abit on the Rock, with the Overcast skys we had a very nice day fishing the Dam area. Mostly topwater, even when it started to brighten up. Had a slight breeze in locations, and chased it when possible. Fished with Good Friend and Client Ed Shawbaker. Ed is a great fisherman and has a true passion for bass fishing. We had a nice tandem going with Ed throwing a jig and me working the Cedar Tops with a Spook. We pretty much had a 50/50 deal. Although of course the takes on the spook were much more dramatic. Fished 6 hours and had 22 fish with 7 keeps to the boat and had two other nice fish spit it back at us, that might have been big enough. One was a Jaw that just blasted the spook next to a cedar. She swam right at me and was under the boat and gone before I could collect my whits, totally kicking my rear. Yesterday I picked up Randy Moore and friend at Crest Lodge in Aunts Creek and had another 6 hr. tour. Randy has been coming for years and was lucky to hit the Smallmouth Derby this Spring. We litterly slayed them. Good fisherman and will do what it takes to get bites. Got out a little late and there was no way it was going to be a topwater day with the high sun and bathtub slick water. We jigged, spoonedand crawlered. Pretty tough deal. Fished from Aunts to about point 20 on the White River mostly long points and we would usually catch 1 or 2 per location. Did have one spot we caught 10 bass 2 gills and a kitty. Ended the day with about 25 fish. Not spectacular but just a brutal high sky slick condition. Fish we caught were on the bottom 21 ft. to 42 ft. and just scattered. Very hard to see on the graph. Wold just come up and get a bait and return and lay on the bottom. Only 3 squeeker keeps. Surface temp at the end of the day yesterday was 79.8 surface clarity is somewhat off color Wish I was out there this morning, as it is overcast with a slight breeze. I know they are munching the Spook. Good Luck

\ It's already there.

Probably need to take a look at current posts. There are current post on the dam area and also the James.

Been out the last 3 days and it seems to be about the same for me everyday. I'm starting with a bit of topwater if I can find some breeze. Really does not matter about the locations, as long as there is wind on them. Cove mouths and cedar tops all seems to me must have a breeze. Pete Wenners has been catching a few in the dam area early on a wart, with his boat in about 20 fishing the chunker stuff at a 45 degree angle. Also Pete has caught a few nice LM out of cedar tops, on a spook. I or the gang have seen zero chasing or schooling activity either early or late in the dam area, for the past week. Just have to target where they should be and try it for a while. chuggers or a spook, seem to be the best bet for the top stuff. Catching 2 or 3 a day on the top, all LM and all decent, 15 to 18 inches.. Shaky head is by far doing better than the jig. I'm using a Chompers 3/8th. oz. head and a green pumpkin 4" sinko of your choice. It has been catching 5 to one over the small 3/8th. oz. jig. usually about a dozen per trip, with 80% being keeps. Nothing with weight. Lots of SM in the 16 to 18 inch range that weigh about 2 pounds. Long and Lean. Fish seem to be on chunker stuff and as always the breeze is a huge helper. Putting the boat in about 30' and bite is usually about 1/2 way back. All LM and Jaws, no K's for me in the last week. Some of the boys are spooning and flipping docks. I tried this for hours and nothing. One of the boys has one dock he can catch about a dozen out of 1 stall every other day and that is his only savior. All K's. Before Labor day the White Bass Bite was very good early in the Big Cedar area. After Labor day with the cool weather, they have just vanished. No reports of Whites this week. Big Blue Gill Bite is still outstanding. Some of the Guides have been guiding them all Summer and have caught 100"s of Huge Gills. Catfish are also going really good on limblines or jug lines. Saw 3 jugs all floating and bobbing with fish on them yesterday in the old 86 cove. Surface clarity has looked to me to be similar to the James a vey nice green. Surface temps are ranging between 76 and 80 later in the day. Bite has picked up all week and by Oct 1st. should be getting there. Good Luck

Thanks All. They did a very nice job. Becky was hoping to show a few rooms other than the ones pictured, but we had guests. They also said we have 4 rooms and we have 6, one being a two bedroom suite. This is our 6th. year with the lodge and it has blended into the surounding geography very nicely. Very quite with Monster views of Table Rock Lake. Its nice to have 40 acres for the privacy. On the halibut fry note. Phil had a bit of a problem with a couple of freezers, and we had a train wreck. These things happen. I am however ordering some replacment fish to be sent in from Alaska. Our son needed 50 pounds from his trip and since the accident we don't have it. Thanks again

Caught the same K three times one year over 20 miles was traveled between all 3 catches. Positive id on the fish so I knew it was her. Beck caught one out off a log that his nephew had caught 3 weeks earlier. She was around 9 pounds so we know it was the same fish, off the same log. Thats why we don't release in grease. Thanks for the Photo. Very nice fish appropreatly named..

Both of you NIm-Rods would fit the disabled part. Both have a severe "Fishing Handicap."

Pretty timley post. I had spoken to a group of guys going over to Saltry Cove Lodge prior to Phil and I going to Kodiak. I guided one of their members this summer and he told me he was going to Kodiak. I asked where and the dialog began. They were there last week, from Springfield. He called me today and said they had a nice trip although he could not believe the ammount of 4 wheel activity there was over there. He said it has kind of like a motor cross race track. He had been told the Silvers would be there when their group were, but the owner said they just were not in yet, running late.. "Right." I told him before they went I thought it might be a bit early. I know these lodge owners have a limited time to sell and only so many weeks, but Silvers do not hit the fresh water on Kodiak in the middle of August. Said they saw lots of bears and did fly out to a lake for Rainbows? and also fished the salt, with limited success. Caught quite a few dollies and caught some reds and Pinks in the river. They did not fish the beach for fresh pinks, he said they were pretty Used up in the River. Visited about our trip and he said it was nothing like the fishing we had, not even close. They had been given the option of the 4 wheel deal to get to the lodge, but chose to fly in, and said that was the right decision by far. I guess this year there have been quite a few big 4 wheel trucks and vans going in along with the wheelers. I would think the road would have to better than it was last year to get these rigs in, but where there is a will there is a way. I looked at the parking lot of the road everytime we drove by and did see lots of trailers, but not as much as last year in September, but he said there were plenty. Said kind of like the jet skies on Lake of the Ozarks. Way, way to many people. It is kind of funny, cause the road system was really void of many folks this year. We had the beaches almost to ourselves and did have them completely to ourselves most of the time. 6 yrs. ago, there were only 2 guys commercial guiding the 4 wheeler trips. Now the Kodiak vacation guide is just full of them, must be at least 10 or 12 different crews going to saltry. Way to many. Sean, do you know anything about the Sacramento River? I guess the area can only be accessed by boat, plane or thru the Ranch on the Cape. Hear the fishing is very good and the deer hunting is excellent. Would like to give it a try. Maybe next year I'll go later and see if I can find a way to get on it. The Game Farm has a little website but the prices for access are unreasonable. Thanks Bill