Bill Babler

Just goes to show. I have spent 6 hrs. either flipping bushes, spinnerbaiting bushes, or fluking bushes, and have not caught 1 fish. I have worked these bushes from Long Creek to Eagle Rock and Baxter to point 12. After every guide trip this last week, I put in an hour or two looking for fish for BFL clients in the bushes, and found NONE. With the water dropping, good luck on the bush bite. These fish are really biting most days on topwater, over the deep stuff. There is also a very nice bite on a shakyhead, and a rig, in 17 to 23. Am understanding the jig bite is also picking up. One of my clients also caught a very respectable limit this past weekend on of all things a jerkbait. Nice Fish Don. You have found the correct bush pattern, I just can't get her figured out. Go to www.whiteriveroutfitters.com, and check out my current fishing report, to see how Todd and John did today. They even let me catch a "Baby SMJ."

Wow!!! Been working the last couple of days and thought I had a fun one going and now its this. Here boys and girls are the cold hard facts, and I hope this answers all your questions. First off as of 2006, the last creel check study on Table Rock Lake, do you know what the average ammount of time it took to catch a keeper bass was? I do. 1 every 8 man hours. As of the year 2000, do you know what the number of Keeper Black Bass you would have been allowed to retain for consumption from Table Rock Lake, had it not been for the economic impact of fishing tournaments? I do. 3 fifteen inch fish per day. Do you know what the number of Keeper bass would be today if it were not for the economic impact of fishing tournaments? I do. 3 per day. The impact of a 5 or 6 fish limit, is justified not as a measure to curb, or to maintain a level as far as a population control method. It is there to attract and maintain the attention of fishing organizations that wish to come to our area. This money is not looked at in the 10's of millions, but the hundreds of millions. MDC, has no reason to move the limit, for the most part 90% of the people cannot catch a limit, and the 10% that can, release the fish. Do you know the number of bass you would be allowed to keep if 95% of the total bass fishing population of Table Rock lake were not catch and release? I don't know this one. But I was told at one time by our fisheries biologist, that if the tournaments and the guides all kept their fish, It would take no time to cripple the population to a point of extreme danger. This will never be a factor, as the derby's turn the fish loose and 99% of the guides do the same. I have fished Table Rock, since 1966. I have seen the wonderful and I have seen the horrible. It currently is not wonderful, it is pretty good. I'm not standing up for the tournaments, I usually only fish 3 or so a year, with a couple of those being charity events. Those of you that want to keep Bass on Table Rock, better cheer them on, cause when and if they are ever gone, so will be the 6 bass limit. I would love to see the day on Table Rock, and I have stated this many times that folks should hire a guide because they want to, not because they cannot catch fish. A huge percentage of my clients are still, I cannot catch fish. Pleae don't be confused about Bass limits on Table Rock lake. They are what they are, and they have absolutely nothing to do with population control. It has to do with MONEY. The small portion that keep fish are really not harming the lake. It is just sad that they are so shallow sighted. Sam made a wonderful point however. Catching and keeping fish at the tail end of their life span is much better than keeping fish at the beginning of it. Eric's Point is also very well taken in that the genitics in that gene pool are not plentyfull at all in Table Rock. Bass over 5 pounds are extremely rare. "I MEAN EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY RARE. Take 10 of the best guides on Table Rock, for the entire year, and all 10 might have at the most each, between 5 and 10 fish that weight that much, with 1000's of hrs. on the water. That is their clients included. "They ain't just swimmin everywhere." Yes it is legal to keep your 6 fish. Yes it is legal to shoot 6 quail out of a covey of 8. Yes it is legal to walk for 3 days and then kill the only rooster you see on your pheasant hunt. Yes it is legal to cut to pieces Sow Bass and watch their eggs spill off the cutting board. If that is the way you feel you must be in your life, you only have yourself and the almight to answer to. In no way should this fishery be ever even mentioned in the same sentence as management deer hunting. Deer huning is a management numbers control method. Fishing limits are set to control over harvest, not to reduce numbers. Its kind of hard to practice catch and release deer management. Our numbers are what they are because of the ecomomic impact and that we release fish and they know it. It has absolutely nothing to do with over population control. Table Rock Lake is not at this time a place to come to thinking I'll have a blast here, catch and eat fish and then take limits home for the freezer, or to give away. Just not that type of a deal. We have millions of man hours of fishing prussure on this fishery and it is UNSTOCKED and has to be able to self sustain. It cannot even come close if we are not good shepards. MDC, knows we are and that is why it is what it is. Here is a pretty good life cycle of our Black Bass Populations: Life and Breeding Span of Kentucky Bass: Up to 16 yrs. of life with a breeding span of 13 yrs. 15 inches on the 7th. year. Largemouth Bass: 12 to 13 yr. life span with a breeding span of 10 yrs. 15 inches after 5th. year. Smallmouth Bass: 12 to 14 yr. life span with a breeding span of 10 to 11 yrs. 15 inches after 5th. year. What this boils down to is from the 3rd. year of life to a natural death, these fish are repopulating a lake that is nowhere near the level it has been in the past. Removing breeding fish at anytime never has a positive effect on the bass populations. Those of us that hold it so dear to our hearts have a hard time with the killing of the fish. The joy I see on peoples faces when that fish crashes a topwater lure is undiscribable. A childs first catch, a 90 year old telling me he was here in the hayday, and "Boy has it Changed." A fishermen asking me. "Can I Kiss it?" It's all about Table Rock. I cannot remember the last day I fished or guided that I didn't catch a fish or even a 1/2 dozen that had not been caught and released before. I always think of the joy they must have given that person that released them again for that 90 years old to recatch. How can you kill anything that makes you smile that much? You got a fishin licenses and you want to kill fish, I have said it before thats up to you. I just don't want to hear about it. As another person, pointed out, it is very disrespectful on this forum, to mention it. We as guides give 100's of hours to this forum, and really ask very little. We do ask that you be respectful of the fishery, and this board. We also ask that you allow us to have an opinion, from time to time and not only be a source of free information. 1477 your not from here. You have not struggled through what we have. You have not seen this fishery as we have. It is not the same, or may never be the same. We are very protective of it and are expected to me by MDC. Congratulation on your spectacular catch, one that I or dare I say, no one on this board has ever seen, or may ever see. Please feel free to do as you please when you are here, but also remember how dear this fishery is to the most of us. Good Luck out there.

Pretty brave or dumb one, coming on here talking about cutting the sides out of trophy Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass on this lake, and on this forum. No there ain't plenty of that kind. Next time you get a hankeren to kill fish like that just let us know, we'll buy you all you want for your fish boil. Have not seen anything like that, since the 1960's I thought we were past that stage, as far as evolution. My day is completely ruined and it is before 7 AM.

What is the fastest you or you and your partner has ever caught a limit in a derby? Example in 2003 Tim Sainato and I caught 5 Keepers in under a minute on our first stop in a Heartland derby on Table Rock. We were fishing a pocket near Campbell Point and they were just stacked in there post spawn. At that time we were putting two hooks on a drop shot most of the time. Not so much to catch multiples, but to fish two different depths, and to also stablize the rig from spinning. When the boat settled to a stop, Tim and I both fishing off the front hooked doubles on the drop shots, while the baits were still falling. The fish just swarmed the baits, worming like crazy. We had 4 keeper K's flopping in the bottom of the boat. I told Tim to drop the other rig on the bow, and I would unhook and livewell the fish. No need to measure as they were 17 inchers. Before I could get the second fish unhooked, he swung our 5th keeper in the boat on top of the 3 others flopping on the boat floor. Have not even come close since. Just one of those magic moments. Let's hear some of yours, just for fun, derby fishing or not.

Wrench made a good reply. One thing to remember however, and this is very important. If you are fishing any derby, that I know of or any that I have ever fished in the last 30 yrs. Here is something you had better remember. You cannot have a bait in the water and cast another bait out. It is fishing with multiple rods and that is not permitted in any Bass fishing tournament I have ever heard of. Even if you forget and your lure is hanging in the water off the side of the boat and you make a different presentation with another rod, you are disqualified, for the day. You make a cast with a spook, the fish misses it. You reel it in fast, and grab a grub, a worm or a fluke or a sinko and throw it at the swirl. You look down and your spook is hanging off the side of the boat and the back hook is just barley touching the water. YOU JUST DISQUALIFIED YOURSELF FOR THE DAY. If it is a Buddy event, he is DQed. also. It is the most minor of infractions, and not ment to cheat, but it is a rule, and when they ask you if you have broken any of the tournament rules, you have. No baits on different rods can be in the water at the same time, fishing them or not. Great idea however if you are just out having fun. Good Luck

Gary is right about the boat. After that Horriffic display, the boat maintained a very upright position, and didn't come close to flipping. I was the water craft operations safety operating instructor for the Water Patrol, for 2 yrs. I have driven a many at unsafe speeds, and that boat while not as stable on top as I would like, sure did the job of staying up right. At that point after commiting to the crossing of the wakes, letting off the throttle would not have made one "Iota" of a difference. It is all about angles and trim. Would disagree about the stability of the run on top however. You can see, even on calm water the boat at full trim has quite abit of walk in it, moving from side to side pretty bad. If you will watch close, you will see the driver, is really doing a good job of having to drive this boat, at full trim. He just ain't a sittin there, he is working the wheel pretty hard trying to keep the roll and drift out. I thought he did a pretty good job, but let the camera, cloud his judgement. Hit the wave at a 45, causing the port bow to dig in and send it up. If he would have hit the wave at less angle and took a mite off the full trim, that boat would have eaten up those wakes, at that speed, easy. I would say that boat driven at less than extreme racing speed say 76 instead of 96 would be a fine boat. Probably no walk or anything. Would really like to see one of those boats up close. Thank God he is OK.

Don't pay a lick of attention to anything RPS has to say, he is just guessing. Not at All. Great info by RP and Tnat. Trick as always is to be on the water early for me I'm starting at 5:15, it is light, and you can see well enough to hit the water. Long runouts, and major spawning cove mouths are my targets. Does not bother me at all to have my boat in 150 ft. of water in the middle of a big cove. Use your eyes and ears. If you are observant, it will take you no time to learn a carp splash, from a gar surface, to a bass chase. I do not even have to see the topwater action, to tell what kind of fish made the swirl. Look for feeding or active fish, along with either Gizzard or Threadfin shad on the locations you are fishing. Look for a breeze blowing a slight or walleye chop into these locations. Sammy, Spook, Fin, or anyother topwater noise maker, will get attention, along with some subsurface baits of choice. Campbell Point to point 9 and the other direction to point 23 are all on the menue. Best advice, is let the fish tell you where they are. They will. Good Luck BB

Great to hear Sam. Send me an email on how your crappie trip went. Been wondering about it. Thanks Bill

Sorry about the En-Gine. Man if it is not one thing it is the other. I'm at the dam today. Phil and I are going to try and scare up some Whites, or get after those topwater fishes. Great idea on the soft jerkbaits. Looks like we may have some weather this morning. Fin used yesterday Denny, was a Modified Missouri Minnow. Table Rock Tackle and Marine has them. I'm sure ammong others.

Eric, don't know how I missed ya buddy. Fished the same Aqua Firma today and man those critters were a-nippin. Started out on a fin and went to a rig with a watermellon candy cenipede, around 11Pm. Had about 2 dozen keeps today with some very nice Jaws. Jane and Lenord had just one of theose good ole goodins. Looks like you did the same. Maybe just a bit better. Congrats! Beck just slayed them around Kimberling and Aunts on a Fin, and did not put it down, on a 6 hr. trip from 5 AM till 11 AM. I fished till 3 PM, and the bite just kept on. I believe the drag bite is 3 weeks behind, and with the moss just now breaking it is getting good. Good Luck

Great Report. Would bet you the Farm, you side hooked a Gar. First thing, if it was a Kitty, side hooked your line would have been slimed. If you would have mouth hooked the cat, same thing. Also the hide on a Kitty is so course, usually if that hook bites you will keep them on. There are just loads of gar working those same areas as the Gizzard Shad and BAss are on. I have been hooking them on a regular basis. The will either jump if you hook them in the mouth, or if you roll over them and side or back hook them, they will move to deeper water and pull down. Hook will pop out about 90% of the time, if it is not in the mouth. Will on a very limited basis here catch a carp in the mouth, but I have never caught a drum here in over 30 years of fishing on the Rock. Ususally if you catch the carp, it is on a jig or soft plastic bottom bait. If they get it, they will always come in as that hook just will not pop out of that spongy rubber mouth. You could have side hooked one however. My bet though is a big Gar. Have hooked several in the past few weeks in the 3 to 5 ft. range, I bet up to 20 plus pounds.

Not at all Tnat, you be proud as punch of that 5 pounder. This is the second biggest fish I have seen since the "Fish Kill." Beck had one when we were fishing, on a stickbait 3 yrs. ago that was a Nine pound class fish. I had clients and myself, in the 90' have 3 fish at 9.1. to 9.3, Most were very anticlimatic. I had one on a wart, in very cold water and it just swam to the boat. I had a guy catch one on a buzzbait, and it really just sipped the bait under, and immediatly wrapped in a cedar top. We got over to the top and it was just finning there, and we netted it. I had a lady catch one on a zebco 33 with 30 pound test on a jouinted fin. It struck the fin right at the boat. "She could only throw it aobut 30 ft., but insisted on using it." It made a dive under the boat, did a couple of quick downward runs and came to the net on the deep sea rig. 9.3 pounds my biggest ever. This big girl, and you can see she has not spawned came on an inside timbered point, of a huge spawning cove with very deep water leading to gravel spawning pockets. This location has a history of big LM and two over 6 pounds have been taken there already this year. Boat was in about 40 ft.of water with pole timber in view and some big gizzard shad flicking and fish were working them. We were working another huge boil, when she hits Matt's Fin. She just really put on the kind of show that you will never forget. We took several other topwater fish in the same location, all very nice fish. Better than the ones pictured. Just to excited to take all those photo's. We had fish to catch. It still gets my heart pumping, and makes me the happiest guy in the world when people catch fish. To tell you the truth, I had several folks ask, "Don't you wish you had caught that fish?" To tell you the truth, the thought never once entered my mind. Matt caught that fish, and that is what it's all about.

Thanks boys. That thing was so big and her mouth was so big she could have eaten that 17 inch Jaw that Larry is holding. I have caught a lot of fish on a fin, and seen a lot more caught, but I have never seen one eat a bait like that. The fin was completely gone in her mouth with only the line coming out. When I first saw this it almost scared me to tears, thinking it was in her stomach. It was not. It was crossways in her mouth in front of the crunchers, with a hook on each side of the inside of her jaws and a hook in her tongue. She would have never gotten away. She just flat ate that jointed fin completely. Caught her using 8 pound maxi on a 7 ft. Falcon Spinning rod and of course a Stradic. And let me tell you the drag got a work out. Two heart pounding jumps, "They are just wild right now." and about 3 strong runs. We also had at least a 1/2 dozen other big fish "Boil" on it when the water was flat early. If we would have had the slightest breeze, I believe they would have hooked up also. I saw all of the boils, and two of them were 4 pound Jaw's and another couple were big LM. These fish are after big Gizzard Shad, that are also staging and spawning right now. You can see those shad. I believe the bigger fish are targeting the Gizzards. They are really on a fluke also, if you have the time and patients to fish it. Not the traditional shallow pattern, that you are watching the bait, but a deeper presentation, just letting it float down on the wind blown, or for that matter flat water points. If you see gizzard shad flicking on the points, it is a very good choice. Good Luck

After the MSWP derby debockle, I have been on Taney, so today was my first day back on the Rock. Got started out of State Park with Matt and Larry Thompson, from OK. Two great guys that have fished several times with me. Started on a fin and a fluke, and went to the grub when the wind got up. Our best fish came on bluffends over deep runouts and pole timber. 14 fish with 7 keepers and they were the right kind. Matt incarcerated this 8 pounder on a fin. She just Mounted the durn thing. I sounded like a train wreck. She jumped twice and he kept the prussure on her the entire way to the boat. "Where were these fish on Tuesday?" This Okie, said she was his biggest "Blackie." Check out the girth on this gal next to an 18 inch spotted bass. Matt and Larry with a nice Table Rock Grand Slam. All fish filmed in this movie were kissed directly on the mouth and returned to the Rock, a bit wiser, but for the most part unharmed.

It was not the Fann Brothers, it was just Mike Fann fishing with an officer. Only takes half of that team to win most any derby.. those Fann Brothers are not only fantastic fishermen, but for sure a couple of the nicest guys in the world. If I can't or don't win, I am for those "Stinkers." Beck and I duel with them most all year. Cannot say, that even when they beat us, that I don't smile. I just love those boys and what the stand for. I know Mike was fishing without Mark on this deal, but think about this. We would all love to be that close with our brother, and have that kind of a relationship. Truly a blessing from God. Those boys have a real gift for the Rock, and it shows. Wind for us did not blow until 1 Pm and by then we were so lost we couldn't find our backside. Weighed in a little pride limit, and only caught about a dozen keeps, all males either SMJ's or K's. Congrats to Eric Prey and Chris Tetrick they both had very good days. Did win a $100 cranking battery and fished with my best friend, so it was a great day. Good Luck BB

I have no confidence fishing topwater in 15 to 20 ft. either. Most of the day today, and it was a poor topwater day, my boat was in 60ft. to 110ft. of water. Did manage 4 nice keepers, and about a dozen shorts. Had several blowups and lots of follows. Kind of like Dick Collier says, "The only reason there is a shoreline on Table Rock Lake is to hold in the water." You are comming primetime, they will be biting. High Prussure, High Blue like today, and its tough. Little cloud cover and a "Walleye Chop," and it gets really, really good. You are fishing World Famious Table Rock Lake, Expand Your Horizons. Good Luck,

Congrats to Team OzarkAnglers: our very own, James and Donna. Told Champ this earlier in the week, and we both thought it would not be enough, as we thought the "Nusery Bunch, would be catchin them off the delivery room table." My old buddy, Tim Sainato told me earlier in the week, he could catch 16 pounds and he was a man of his word. Did not believe that would be enough, but 16 and then 18 to back it up was plenty. He just about doubled up on that Nitro BP Money, with a first and a second place finish. $7000.00 for the win from Bass Pro. All and all a great weekend for Tim. Day in and Day out, we tend to forget about the guys that have been fishing here the longest, with all the new guns around, but on this pond or any other for that matter, Tim Sainato is always hard to beat. Even with all his years of fishing here, he practices harder and longer than anyone. Remember, he quit traveling with Bassmaster top 150 to be at home with a young family. He was still qualified to fish. He was one of the hardest workers on the circuit. When Tim and I won the Heartland Buddy Point Championship a few years ago, and finished 3rd. in the Team Fish Off, Tim would fish each lake a full week prior to the event. Daylight to dark. He creates a plan, and fishes that plan to a very precise manner. I can tell you he has his entire day stop by stop setup before he ever takes off on tournament day. I have been very blessed to fish with some of the best fishermen that have ever fished Table Rock Lake, and Tim Sainato is if not the best, for sure in the top handfull. Congrats: To Tim "Snotnose" Sainato.

For fishing that particular line size, I would without a doubt fish a Falcon T7Cara CC-5-1610-S The rod is a 6'10" split grip finess jig special. It is great for pitching docks and dragging up to 1/2 oz FBJ's. It is light as a feather and fast as lightening. I also swim a redfin on it using 12 to 15 pound maxi. It will throw the fin a mile. I like a shorter rod or a spook. Using up to 14 pound test flurocarbon it works great on the jig. Most times we are either fishing 10 or 12 pound test with it depending. It also throws the smaller swimbaits very nicely. These rods were $199.00 but Falcon had a price reduction to $179.00

I have several of those "Buckeye Wakers". They are on my bait shop wall. I think however they will work for the most of you. WAY, WAY, TO WIDE A WOBBLE. Brian Snowden, did however catch a 9 pounder on one last year, after I showed it to him. They will work, but not even in the Park with others I have used. I am still very high on the Spro BZ 1. Try it and you will like it. Works great the the Gama. Hook right out of the box. Looks identical to a gizzard Shad on the surface. Troube is all these bait cost a Friggin fortune. It is just obserd the price of the wakers and the sticks. Really has anyone found a better bait than a spook, for 6 bucks? Yes the Fins are my favorite, but after the tuning and the Maybe's, you got a ten spot in them with no guarantee they will even work. Wakers, still a work in progress.

All the patterns we are on will hold to Mid-June, with some drop shot fish thrown in. I am already targeting some bigger fish on the shot. Topwater early is off the hook, and by early right now I am meaning 5 AM till 7 AM Best to be out by the 5 number. You can contact Donny anytime at 417-270-7157. Good Luck

Okie, I use a varity of wake baits, the redfin, is only one of many. I have some Balsa Baits I have never shown that are the absolute bomb. Over $25.00 a pop. I do modify them as far as hooks and other astetics, but do not paint them, as paint adds weight to the bait and they do not preform. I have found several that I like much better than a fin, but will have to let you all experiment on your own. As far as the straight fins, and the jointed, I use the jointed on a baitcaster, and a straight on a spinning rod. Clients that cannot throw a bcaster, and use a spinning rod,throw straight fin much better. It is much lighter than the jointed, and is very, very hard to throw on a bcaster. it just sails and will backlash you in a New York Minute. You try and throw a straight on anything but 8lb. mono, and you are going to have a mess on a baitcaster. Just like the jointed it is very stubborn. I have dozens that don't work. If you find and have one modified that does work correctly, take good care of it. In answer to your question, "I think, I'm a bit confused," I just throw it out, and reel it in. Good Luck

This time of the year, it has been and I guess will continue to be somewhat of a problem. Guy's and Gal's, clients and those that just need a little more lake information and may want to book a trip, here is what I got goin. First. Do not under any circumstances leave me a voice message on my cell phone. I will not get it period. I have Verison, and today at 6 AM it said I had no messages. At noon, I had 11 messages dating back to two weeks ago. They as does Alltel have delayed messaging, and they will admit this, if cornered. If you want to book a trip or visit about fishing, call either my cell, or my lodge phone and speak to a person. Becky knows as much about the fishing as I do, as she is really on the ball and knows what we are doing on the lake. During midday, please, and for cripes sakes,"I love you all." don't call me and ask about fishing on my cell. I am with clients and it is just not fair. I had a lady client today, ask me to turn off my phone as I was infringing on her time, and she was right. It embarrased me to almost tears. Next, if you email me, please leave a phone number. We have had at least 2 dozen postal fail to notify returns on emails and I know you just think I am not getting back with you. Also if your computer does not know us, it will throw us into the junk file and you will miss our message. Had a guy the other day chew me out for 10 minutes about not returning his emails. He said he would never book with me. He just wanted to tell me how concieted I was and how bad I stunk for not responding to his emails. I told him to check his Junk mail and he found 6 responses from me. I am more than willing to give what little info I have to anyone. Give me a call usually between 6 and 8 Pm and I will help the best I can. When I'm working, please be considerate of others. I am sure the rest of the guides on this forum will concure. Love you all, and thank you very much. Good Luck, Bill

This is a very good question on the Wake Baits, and my answer may seem smart-alakey, but it is not, ment to be, I'm just a poor writer. The name of a wake bait, is what you do with it. Wake It. It is not a twitch bait or a stop and go bait or a popper or a zara Spook, it is designed to be a gizzard shad waking the lake surface trying to escape. If they miss it, keep on a wakkin at the same speed, they most times will come and get it. "Just Say'In. Fozz, Thanks, I have heard of Becky, thru Tim Page, she redid his entire Nitro Cruser for under $400.00.

Read my latest fishing report and it will be very similar in early June. Keep looking at the forum, as I usually post at least once a week on the area fishing. Also our Podcast are a weekly fishing report and are some of the most informative information on the area lakes you can get. Always have info on Kimberling City. June on the Rock is for sure topwater month. You will see loads of topwater action, as all 3 black bass species are in a post spawn feeding frenze. Bright days, the action is early and on bad weather days it will stay active all day. Our dropshot fish will also kick in and for this good electronics on your bass chaser are a very important tool. You don't have to have them, but you will do much better with the underwater eyes. Also if you like fish to eat, the White bass should be schooling off the major flats lake wide and off the deep cove mouths and bluffends, early and late. They like small topwaters, and they really like "Shiney Stuff." Also, you can look at my website for fishing action that we are posting during the week. www.whiteriveroutfitters.com As for guides, there are lots of really good ones posting on this forum, and many more outstanding guides in the Kimberling City area. I would book soon, as the best guides fill up pretty in June, once the kids are out of school. Table Rock Lake Guide Service Branson Guide Service Elite Guide Service Mid-States Guide Service Ozark Mountain Guide Service Eric Prey Guide Service Mike Webb Guide Service Buster's Guide Service Steve Dicky Guide Service Bill Lawrance Guide Service Rick LaPoint Guide Service Rick Lisek Guide Service Phil Stone Guide Service Pete Wenners Guide Service Tim Sainato Guide Service All these guys are good.

The bite is on and I mean big time. I have fished most areas of the Lake this week and here is what I am seeing first hand. Longcreek Area; Water temps in low 60's Bass on Beds and staging off cove and bluffends. Some dragging is available 16 to 24 ft. Best fish are coming topwater over bluffends of pole timber. Swimming a grey or smoke grub is catching very nice K's. Big Cedar to Kimberling City; Water temps low 60's Topwater is off the "Hook" early or when there is a breeze or cloud cover. Lots of bedding fish. Bluffends, pole timber and 45 degree rock banks are producing LM and K's. Flat gravel is producing lots of quality SMJ's. Topwater, is working even on slick water, aslong as there is cloud cover. Grub swimming is very good. Usually suspects, on the grubs. Kimberling City to Twin Rivers on the White River; Water temps low 60's Extremely good topwater bite very similar to BC to KC with the exception there is some water that is available to drag a rig, due to no moss. Also in this area a shaky head is on fire using a chomper shaky head worm in brown pruple laminant. Bottom fish are small in the under 12 ft. area, with lots of bites. Deeper fish in the 20 to 30 ft. area are nicer size with fewer bites. Twin Rivers to Eagle Rock; Water temps low 60's Topwater as good as it gets early off the flats and major lake points. Very nice LM,SMJ's and K's are avialable all pre-spawn and full of eggs. Drag bite is good on your choice of draggy stuff in natural color soft plastics same locations, and into the coves. Bottom fish are running very small, but lots of em. River Systems Kings and James; Water temps mid 60's Same as above only at times a good jig and spinnerbait bite shallow on the wind. Another good tactic is the floating worm, which is deadly during the period, along with a senko. On another note, be very careful with the topwater stuff, as both Beck and I have accidents today. He had a client after telling him over a dozen times not to swing fish in the boat, swin a fish in and land in on the his own ankle. All 3 sets of trebles sank in to the hilt with the fish still on the bait flouncing and a jerking. Major disaster. I had after telling a client over 30 times in two days, not to swing a fish into the boat with a redfin in its mouth swing one in. A 14 inch K, hit the back rest of my new Champions passenger seat and the hooks tore out 3 major holes in the seat back. That seat is bargain priced at $360.00. He never said so much as I'm sorry. I worked for free today. This Redfin has 1 number 2 cutting point Owner Rooster tail on the rear, and 2 diachi No. 4 deathtraps on the body. It will cut you to pieces. It will bury a 1/2 inch past the barb in your hand,arm or leg before you feel it stick you. It will tear your boat to pieces if you are not careful, be careful with these vicious hooks. Pictured is my Table Rock Tackle Box for the next 3 or 4 weeks, only other bait I even use is a fish Dr. Good Luck