Bill Babler

Dateline-- Shell Knob Missouri. The Beckster and I hit the Water this Sunny December 1st. 2009 at ll AM. Didn't take us long and it really should not take you long to find fish, on a lake that is bank full of feeding agressive fish. Key is depth."AS ALWAYS." The Champion gas gauge said we used 1.2 gallons in 5 hrs. on the pond. 175 White Bass, 35 K's with 15 keeps and one gynormas Flathead were the take. We caught, I'm going to say 30 plus White's in the over 2.5 pound range. We tried to only keep two limits of males in the 1.5 and under size. Had probably 10 big, big White's at close to 4 Pounders. All these fish are just full of threadfin shad and small crawfish, including the White's that are also eating the crustations. 36ft. to 52ft. on main lake flats were the ticket, and really these fish are lake wide. Don't expect to see them untill you start dropping the spoon. The fish will just look like a very heavy or dark line lying directly on the bottom. As the spoon hits the bottom and you jerk it up, they explode. 1/2 oz chartruse jigging spoons are being eaten alive. For the full story and lots of Pic's go to my new webstie at www.whiteriveroutfitters.com and check out the Table Rock Lake Blog Winter Bass Fishing. Very seldon can we guarantee fish on the Rock. Right now it is no problem. Notice the dark line on the bottom of the one graph picture. It just looks like a heavy blanket on the bottom. Next graph picture is the explosion. Good Luck Expand both of the graph pictures. Look at the blanket on the top picture, with one fish lifting off the bottom. Look at our lines dropping with the spoons onto the bottom and see how the fish are boiling. You can see the spoon and the lines, as well as the blanket and the explosion. Boys, I don't know how much more I can do. This is probably the most deep fishing information that has every been put up anywhere with the depths and stradgity for the Rock. Hope it helps.

I'm here and ready to recieve instructions, Sarge.

Fished Friday, Saturday and Sunday out of the Knob with the main business to catch some whites for a fry. Boy did we. Over 100 each day, fishing with son Steve. Whites have moved out somewhat, in the 45 to 65 ft. range on the flats, humps and rolloffs. Lots of quality fish out there with them. Caught 4 cats on Sat. and 5 on Sunday, with the biggest at 6 pounds. Also lots of K's and LM with these deep Whites. Probably averaged 10 keeps each day with the best 5 each day in the 12.5 to 14 pound range. Saturday was a short day, as you all know, we had to be back on the couch by 2:30 for the annual Border War. Got on a very small hump up the White River, between the Kings and Big M. and just layed the wood to the K's. top of the hump at 45 feet. Only had 3 keeps off the deep spot, but probably caught 20 to 25 fish in under an hour, on the 1/2 oz real image jigging spoon. Look for these whites as just a dark or heavy line lying on the bottom. You will not for the most part see much activity, until you drop the spoon. It seems as the spoon drops they will just rise off the bottom to meet it. The entire bottom will rise. When you get one caught, reguardless of the depth, it seems as many as a dozen or two will fill the water column and follow it up, sometime coming clear to the surface, but most common heading back to the bottom after 10 or 20 feet. It completely amazes me that you can see these fish in 60 ft. of the water rise off the bottom to meet a spoon that has dropped no more that 10 or 20 ft. You know they cannot see it, they must just feel the vibration as it wiggles in their direction. My water temp gage this weekend was in the 58 to 59.9 degree range at the mouth of the kings. One of our lodge guests was fishing the dam area this weekend and said he had some very nice LM on Saturday on a wart. Don't know how many, but enough to make him happy. Also had several nice fish dragging a rig with a watermellon candy cenipede in the 16 to 40 ft. range. So many fish, so little time. Good Luck out there.

Gabe, I would bet there is some kind of a chemical reaction with your jig bag or box and the skirt material or the rubber that is holding the skirt in place. I use both Chompers and Jewell, in all sizes and find them very compairable. I do like the new round rubber skirts that Chomper now has available on their finess jigs. I have been mixing and matching them with other jig brands. I believe the hook may be a tad better in the Chomper, but without a doubt the paint on the Jewell jig head is far superior.

Laker67, I completely agree with you, and not just from a navigational standpoint. I brought up the subject, of really not removal but the creatiion of some deeper holes and also below outlet 3, perhaps cutting a ditch to the deeper water, say 4 to 6 ft. deep, allowing a current break. It was made pretty clear as Phil has stated that removal or rearangement was not going to happen. They want to add the rocks, and structure. If you have fished the upper zone from the cable to the ramp as much as I have during generation, you know the majority of fish are caught in the deeper runs. ie Big Hole and Rebar. It would in my humble opinion be much better to create more deep holes than it would to add structure. I really don't know how much they will use it anyway. During heavy flow the fish congreate in either deep areas, or move to the sides. I am sure a water break with some disruption in the current would for sure hold some fish, but how many? Under zero generation, the location that they are wanting to put sturcture is going to be pretty shallow. Again for the most part the fish seem to congreate in water that has some movement. ie the channel. Their formost idea on this project is to spread out the fishermen during minimal or zero flow. They would like to see the zone from the cable to the conservation ramp be used totally instead of from outlet 3 to the cable. They are trying to create more wadable fishable water to the ramp. The problem is from Big Hole to the ramp on that side is very hard to wade due to depth and the very hard footing that is created by the already large rocks in the area. It on the other hand is very wadable from the opposite bank, if we could get more entry on the KOA side, once you get below Big Hole. They had this shallow flat marked for pretty heavy deposits of structure, and it seemed that River Run Outfitters,was really against this. They tend to fish this area a lot during both zero and high flow, and I believe they were aftaid of damage to their drift boats. I see their points. That area is not broke, so why try and fix it. It was pointed out that this particular area holds lots of grass that the trout are congreating in and maybe should be left as is. On constant heavy flow this is a fantastic area, as the trout tend to move to this side and hold in the slacker or softer current. I tend to agree with them. I believe Kent Turner brought up a point about a new hiking trail, coming into that area. From Big Hole to the KOA is some very nice wadable water, if the access was just better. Which brings up the point of distribution of the fishermen, if the access was better, would that tend to help with the over crowding problem?

Gosh, my little thread got big. Thanks for the participation everyone. Wrench, you crack me up. Gave my a big laugh. All in fun. MDC has done research on barb vs barbless, as Phil pointed out, about 15 years ago. Ulike other states that have it really for no good reason, other than that sounds good. MDC, did the work. On fly and artificial hooked fish no real difference on mortality. Using bait no real difference. If they swallow the hook and are gut hooked, you know the answer most of the time, reguardless of your hook. When my son was at MIZZOU, he worked on a Brown Trout Project where the trout were fed a test group were fed a prepaired ration, another group a natural ration, and parts of each group were supplimented with whole kernel corn. The fish recieving the corn were completely outgrown by the complex ration and the natural ration. The corn filled the fish and they did not digest it properly or in the correct ammont of time and it stunted the growth. I believe he told me once they consumed the corn they really never recovered. 4 trout instead of 5 on possion limits. I believe financial considerations came into play at some point and this never happened. The beginning theory was to be able to keep 4 fish that were the same weight as the previous 5, to increase the size of the stockers, but still grow the same number of pounds of fish at the fish farm. It Ain't happened. Fish are not nor have they been stocked on purpose above Fall Creek since the restricted zone came into place. Turkeys do eat some quail, but they are not the culprit. Bunny huggers that devistated the fur market are to blame. Somehow this goofy world has determined that harvesting a renewable resoure is worse than depending on forign oil. If you look at the numbers of predators from the early 80's to date the rise is astronomical. Numbers of trapping lic. in the United States is about 10% of what it was in the 80's. Numbers of possum, coon, mink, martin, bobcat, red and grey fox, coyote are way above what they were back then, and we have way more predators. The only control they have is the hwy system, getting pressed. You jack fur prices up to the 1980 levels, and you will see quail, rabbits, and pheasants back. Raptors, who in the name of the Stl Louis Cardinals determined they were more valuable than quail and rabbits. Why they are protected who in the world knows. Yes they probably eat more field mice than they eat rabbits or quail, but you can bet your bippy they will eat everyone they can get a beak on. Just some thoughts

Phil, of course you are right on the brand name issue. I would guess prepaired, scented or soft-baits should cover it. Have not spoken to Phil on this, but Becky and I here at the Lodge would be more than happy to kick in $250.00 toward the creation of two new signs for the Fall Creek area if we could get approval. I will also donate anytime that it would require to put these signs up. I can probably solicite somemore contributions from other guides and also some of their valuable time for the construction. We might even get abit of a break from a sign company on the wording and painting cost. If we had the signs the permission and all the support structure I will guarantee they will get put up if I have to do it by myself. I think we need 3. One on the Island at Lookout for those entering the waters above Fall Creek, say Point Royal, and to also remind people of where they are and what they are suspose to be doing. We are having a habitat and water structure meeting about upper Taney on the 24th of November and I as well as Phil will make sure this is part of the meeting dialog, with MDC.

Please remember this. This is not a catch and release zone. that will never, and I mean never fly. There has to be some latitude. To accuratly measure a fish to the 1/4 inch or less, it is almost impossible to do so with the fish in the water. These fish are not so fragile that they cannot be handled somewhat. Larger fish of course should be supported and kept over the water incase they slip from your hands, but what we are trying to spot here is illegal fishing methods and taking fish that are illegal. Let's not get distracted here or nothing will ever get done. We are very lucky to have the restricted zone, and we sure don't want to loose it. We start trying to push this to far and you will get a completely different lobby against any regulations on the upper lake. I really am going to take a bit of a different stand on the enforcement issue. Don't think it matters. Wow you say! You go before a judge that is a non-fisherperson and tell him you got arrested for having a trout that is 12 and 1/32 inches long and he is going to boot that so far out of court it would hit the moon. You go into court and tell him you got arrested for using power bait in a no bait live bait area and he is going to say, I didn't know powerbait was not artificial bait. What I'm trying to say is that these violations, and they are that, but they are so close to not being it is very hard to distinguish. It's like getting a ticket for driving 57mph in a 55 zone. I guess we all should antie up on that one. 95% of the folks I advise on the regulations, have never fished taney before and usually will not be back. No, I don't think folks are saying, "Lets take a chance and cheat." I don't believe that. I'll go back to my State Patrol days, where they taught us that 90 percent of the laws are broken unintentionally. Main cause is people do not know, or they do not understand. However ignorance of the law is not an excuse. I believe it is still pretty close to that. There are some very different theroies in Law enforcement. State HWY and WHP officers want to write minimal numbers of high quality summons, and their conviction rates are well above 90 percent. MDC wants huge ammounts of paper work generated and the courts to sort it out marginal or otherwise. I remember in the early 80's when I was working lake O. MSWP, we for a span of time in Miller, Morgan, Benton and Camden Counties were 100 percent on convictions. You got a ticket you got fined. During the same period MDC was running about 30 percent on convictions. Not good police work, but lots of paper. Also just laws that are impossible for people to follow and extremely hard to enforce. How would you like to be Quntin and measure a trout that an elderly person caught and is very proud of it. The trout measures 12 and a 1/4. Do you write the ticket? Yes you probably do, as your sworn oath and your business policy says you do, but if that person goes to court rather than mailing in the fine, you are going to get you case thrown out, probably 90 percent of the time. Game laws are harder to enforce because of the judicial system and the marginal way not only the laws are written, but also enforced. Sorry to take up so much time but I am inside and am trying not to help Becky make beds. Very interesting topic, if we can keep it going in this very civil manner. Thanks to everyone for their participation.

I know the dock folks at Lilleys' do an outstanding job on trying to educate people on rules, regulations, limits and the proper areas they are permitted to fish and how they are permitted to fish these areas, but it can for the most part be a complete overload for some of these people. However good intentions they may have, it is very difficuilt to understand what is exected. We need signs on both sides of the Lake that are outlined in either hunter orange or flo-chartruse, to attract attention. Located at the mouth of Fall Creek. It would also be fantastic to have another at the Island at Lookout. As far as the wade fishing area, I really think it is very well marked but the violations seem to keep on keepin on, and I really don't understand it. Maybe we could construct an arch or a narrow chute that folks would have to walk thru with the regulations clearly marked with a Warning, Violators will be Cited. We also need to make sure of the designation, of the area from {TROPHY} totally false to "Restricted Zone." By stating this being a Restricted Zone it more clearly implys that there are regulations that must be followed. A new sign stating the following would probably attract much more attention. RESTRICTED FISHING ZONE RAINBOW TROUT MEASURING BETWEEN 12 AND 20 INCHES MUST BE IMMEDIATLY RETURNED TO THE WATER BROWN TROUT MEASURING UNDER 20 INCHES MUST BE IMMEDIATLY RETURNED TO THE WATER TROUT LIMITS 4 TROUT PER PERSON PER DAY WITH NO MORE THAN ONE BROWN TROUT BEING COUNTED IN THE LIMIT PERMITTED FISHING METHODS HARD BODIED LURES OR FEATHERED FLYS WARNING NATURAL OR LIVE BAITS, SOFT BODIED BAITS, SCENTED OR FLAVORED BAITS INCLUDING POWERBAIT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW Just a blue print, I'm sure someone could come up with something better, but it needs to really put the point across you will pay the price if you cheat, not knowing the law is no excuse. I also whitnessed another little trick that was going on this last week. Fly fishermen throwing hatchery trout food into the top of the outlet chutes. The trout were litterly trying to climb the rocks to get at it. I guess chuming the chutes is legal, but for cripes sakes.

Guy's and Gal's I don't think in any way there was some kind of a deer season conspiricy or anything with folks thinking, Man the Wardens are not here, let's keep fish. It was just one of those weekends that the weather was not only short sleeve but short pants stuff and the fish were just eating at an unbelieveable rate. I'm going to tell you that probably most every trip I take and you all know that is a bunch, I usually have to inform folks about the proper rules for the area. There were just a few more on Saturday that I truly believe were unaware of the rules or where they were. Some unfortunitly did not know of any rules. These were folks I term dumb by design. Today was a different deal. Only myself and another guide boat on the upper lake and an odd boat or two. Fishing was still good, but not great, and the fish really littled up. Weather again was fantastic. Numbers were usually 6 fish per drift from the cable to Fall Creek most being 11 to 13 inchers. Yesterday it was 17 per drift with most being 15 inches plus. I just told Phil this story. One of my friends was arrested this weekend and his deer conficated because he shot it off the road. Did he? You tell me. He pulled into a driveway that turns in off the roadway to open a gate on hunting ground he had permission to be on. His car was in the driveway off the road and the rightaway and across the ditch. When he got out to open the gate, he saw a deer at the far end of the field. he quietly returned to his truck, removed his gun and walked back up to the open gate. Leaned his rifle on the coner post and shot the deer. I guess the warden viewed this thru the Hubble telescope, and told him he needed to have been complete thru the gate with the truck before he could shoot the deer. Really, I mean is this what that law of not shooting off the roadway was intended to mean. I don't think so, even in the furtherest reaches of the law. The warden took the deer and gave him a ticket and told him to mail in the $135.00 fine. I can see this if his truck would have been on the public road. It was on private property, but the warden said the drive before you go thru the gate was still considered roadway. He asked, and before he said it not wanting to be Smart. Asked, what if the driveway was 1 mile long all on private property instead of 20 ft. onto private property. Warden said it would not have mattered he still would write that ticket and let the court sort it out. Warden said you don't go tru the gate, you get a ticket for shooting off the roadway. Bob then said let me ask you this, What if that had not been a gate, but just open private land, with my truck on it. Game warden didn't answer, just got back in his truck and shouted out the window, mail in your fine or you will never hunt again. Nothing to do with taney trout, and I apoligize, but just wondered what you all thouht. Taney will be fine. We all do our part as I know the enforcement is being used all the hours it can withstand as Phil said, and I have heard from some wardens, it isnot going to get any better with the budget crunch.

I will say this. I usually started the conservation like this. "Gosh, you all are really doing well. Mind my asking how you keep catching so many big fish? Of course I already knew. Then I would point out the rules and of the many I spoke to, only 2 questioned me, and continued to keep and fish. The fly fishermen, immediatly let the dead trout go. The boaters and pontooners did not release the fish they had, but they for the most part left the area. Most said they didn't think the area was clearly marked. I will tell you it is clearly marked, but another warning or poster across from the houses in Point Royal would be very nice. I will bring this up at our meeting on November 24th. The fishing for big fish right now just does not get any better, and I believe that is really bringing the folks up and keeping them up there. Usually after a drif or two people can catch just as many fish below fall creek. Right now there are just some toads to be caught in this off color water, in the restricted zone.

Got on upper taney this AM at 10 and from start to finish in the restricted zone it was a complete disaster. From boaters in violation, to wade fly fishermen it could have been a game wardens Nervana. Who I give you gives a flip about some poor slob shooting a stinking deer. Missouri herd estimate at 1.4 million. 3.5 million in auto accidents, and over 100 million in crop damage per year, but MDC for some reason puts all there efforts into working this very small segment of wildlife management. Do to the wonderful weekend and all the folks in town the upper river was full of fishermen. Even with the flow the fly fishermen were out and they were keeping fish. I spoke to two as I drifted by and seen many more in violation, and advised both to release Yikes!! a very nice brown and one guy with at least 3 bows on a stringer over 16 inches and under 20. Of course all were dead, and it would have probably been better had they kept them after killing them. At least 10 boats were keeping fish in the slot and most fishng powerbait in the restricted zone. There was only so much I could do. I was guiding and just could not police the entire area. And for that matter, is it my job? Really got tired of telling people what to do, and I'm sure my client tired of it. At least 6 rental pontoons in the restricted zone with mulitple fisherpersons, all keeping fish. Fish were running huge with a capital H, and they were chunking under 12's back and keeping the big boys. We had about 100 fish with 70 percent in the slot up to 22 inches drifting either sculpin wooley's in size 6 or small stickbaits. Fishing is thru the roof. Don't know if people didn't know or care, or thought there would be zero enforcement, but it was clearly a very dark day on the upper restricted zone. I have fished taney well over a 150 days a year since the start of the restricted area and have never seen this type of complete neglect for the law. The quality fish really took a hit today.

Boy's I totally agree with you on the price of some of these baits. My best saying is;"If it sounds like to much to you it probably is." I will tell you this. I take bass fishermen from across this country that don't have a megabass or two, they have tackle boxes of them. One of my best clients from St. Louie, I will say has at least 100 in his boat at all time. Every color in triplicate. I take a Dr. from KC that has shown me 5 tackle boxes of these baits with every slot filled on 24 slot boxes. Lots of these baits at one time were selling for as much at $200.00 each, I have a client I know for a fact that paid and grab your shorts $700.00 buck for one of the first megabass baits that came out. He fishes it, it is not an antique he has on the wall. Buying these baits has not been that hard for some of us, as we have been buying the hand painted baits for years. Really, just about the same cost. I get a couple here and a couple there. I also always carry a retriever when I fish one, but if I lose it that would not ruin my day. Only if I didn't have another one just like it that the fish were biting. I believe I have 22 of these baits as we speak, but I also have over 60 hand painted baits by Tim Hughes and also Buster Loving, so the progression for me was already on. Now to tell you the truth, I don't use the hand painted rogues much anymore, as they are just to light, and really don't fly or fish as well as the new weighted baits, with the casting systems. AS far as the McStick, Beck fishes them exclusively. He likes them way over the megabass and has kicked my butt enough with the Stick that I really cannot tell much difference. Where, When, How, and Why you fish it are alot more important. I will say this. I believe both Beck and I are as good as any on the Rock with a stickbait, and nither one of us use a clown in any situation. Yes they will catch bass, but It would not be in my top 10 colors in any situation. 20 years ago, I fished a spoonbill rogue in clown and thought that was the bomb. The McStick, was somewhat patterened after the megabass in design, and the colors were mostly from Tim Hughes, and colors that catch them on the Rock. I had hand painted baits in Japan for two years that Tim had Painted to help with the design and paint colors. I understand they are coming out with a few holographic colors this year that will be wonderful. You know. IF you don't use them, I believe you will still catch-em. They were catchin bass on stickbaits long before the Megabass,McStick or any other expensive bait here. But in the early days of fishing the stickbait. The Marina's would rent stickbaits with huge deposits, so this particular bait has had a history of being at the top of the price food chain. Good Luck

Dutch, that Buttermilk up to Campers area is always a great hangout this time of the year, sometimes extending till February. Now to find them, just go out on the flats we catch K's on all Summer and they are out there, in big numbers. Really does not matter if you see them, and sometime they will just look like a fuzzy blanket laying on the bottom. Drop that spoon and they come off the bottom and streak toward it like fireworks raisng in the night. Don't believe for a minute that you cannot catch good LM mixed in with the White's. I have caught some super LM mixed in. Not so much main lake Whte River, but up the James for sure. Like I said, I made 6 stops, 5 with the spoon, and caught K's and Whites on each stop. There are several locations, that just are off the chart with numbers of huge Whites. On the Jig stop I caught 3 shorts, off one point, but they were really nice Jaw's. Sounds kind of like what T. was finding. Good Luck

The guys at American Legecy are great. Also a local can get you about everythng you want at www.martyconradfishing.com I have also been buyiing some direct from Japan. Not much savings, they just have any bait you want. You can find them on ebay under megabass baits. Guys, out of respect for my life, right now I have promissed not to give complete details on the colors I am using. As you all know, however, I like the purples and whites.

Had not ran the Stratos much since the new Champion followed me home, so I thought I should get her out and give her a spin. Started first crank and all systems ran as good as good as before her makeover. Such a beautiful day and really just wanted to run the boat, but made 6 stops, 1 with a jig and 5 deep spoon spots. I am embarrased to say the fishing yesterday even with the high prussure and high sky, was off the chart. Took two rods 2 jigs and trailers and 3 spoons. The Stratos has a Lowrance 520 global map on the bow and a 320 in the dash. I though I would miss the 37 HD, but to tell you the truth, the 520 is fantastic. I had not even set it up since it is new and I had taken it off the Champion and put it on the bow of the Stratos. It took me 2 minutes to have it dialed into seeing an absolutely fantastic picture. My spoon, and swivel looked like a boulder dropping to the fish. You could see individule fish run at the spoon, just like the big boy lcg 37. Caught fish in numbers at every stop. One stop up the White River I called Beck up to as he was guiding and it was completely loaded. Completely blacked me out with whites and K's from 28 to 42 ft. Not going to mention the number I caught yesterday, but will tell you on Beck's full day trip, he netted 150 whites, 60 K's with about 40 keepers. Oh, I forgot, he also had a 25 pound flat head. I was sitting on a hump talking to him for just a few minutes and his clients caught 6 each while we were visiting. Some of the whtes we are catching are just huge. 3 pounds up and the K's are mixed right in with them. You could not even get the spoon to the bottom, it would be hit multiple times on the drop. These fish are really ganged up. Did see some shad at 50 ft. and caught 2 K's on the bottom at 51 ft. Heard yesterday from Kimberling to the dam the fish were 60ft. plus and also caught in insame numbers. The shallow guys did not do so well as us deep water graph watchers.

If those boys didn't put into till noon, and still had that kind of bag, they are the real deal. I or for that matter, as most of the Rockers I know, are not that good. Those boys are the Bomb. They should be thinking about suplimenting their income with some derby rock fishing. With those results during the middle of the day they would have all he investments. I'll practice and see if I can be so good. It's never as easy as it sounds. Good luck out there.

Troutgnat, reading your post made my head spin. Take a deep breath, slow down and don't over think this. I know the top 3 finishers in the Heartland last weekend fished the exact same water you were on. They however I know did not go back into the creeks or pockets, they were main lake fishermen. With the water dropping concentrate your efforts on the outside bushes, on any main lake or secondary points. Most guys fishing these bushes are using either a Chompers Tube or a 5/16 finess jig. Stay back at a range where you can also use a 3/8th. or a 1/2 oz jig and hop or drag it from up close to probably 16 to 22 ft. I have been seeing some very nice LM coming from around that deeper number. The guys you talked to at the Ramp..... Sounds like Good OLD SHCOOLERS. This time of the year with a huge percentage of the fish being on crawpappy's a Hula grub is never a bad choice and most always a great choice. Lots of guys are putting that hula grub on a 3/8th oz. football head and doing really well. I would almost bet you though that the boys you spoke with had at least 3/4 of their polks before you hit the water at 11:30. It is not getting any easier later in the day. Fishing thru mid-day is pretty tough this time of the year. Especially on bright sunny days. The fish are feeding early and going to bed when the sun comes up, or at least staying in the deep cover or shade. Fishing when you fished, on a high prussure day like yesterday, you probably did as good as most fishing the same time slot. Good Luck

GF No not at all. Just wanted to make the point that reguradles of the derby or whom ever is running any type of a boater vs nonboater issue, the circuits are pretty much the same in that reguard. No one circuit is better or worse than the other. This at one time was not true. In the mid to late 90's, CPA was just flat as cut throat as it gets. Lots of bad apples were weeded out and it is not only to be commended, but a very good example of a fair and sportsmans like attitude, that it displays today. Another great point is for the nonboater not to go into this thinking it is a guide trip, as it is not. When you are playing for pay, it is, even with a fantastic attitude, every man or woman for him or herself. Carry on.

Very interesting thread about the Heartland derby, and the "Pro-Side" vs the Amatuer side. Started this thread, in respect for Ralph and the Heartland. Lets please not pick out particular derbys, or events, when money is on the line and one participant is using his or her own boat and paying the majority of the entry fee, it does not matter what the name of the event is, for the most part it will go as it does with the person in control of the boat and most important the money, being the one who will make the majority of the decisions, good or bad. Now, lets get to the rat killin. Pro's? For the most part, I don't think so. Yes there are a few. Charlie Campbell, Dave Barker, Bill Beck, Kelly Powers, Jerry McCutchen, Tim Sainato, Tim Fleetwood, Jackie and Jimmy the Davis boys, Wes Endicott, Bobby Sullivan, Robbie Dotson and his Pappy, Rick LaPoint Pete Wenners, Brian Snowden, Buster Loving and that is a very select short list. These guys and a few select others make a huge part of their annual income in the fishing rodeo business. Most of the other 150 to 225 Pros, are just like you, that fish. They work a job all week and for the most part when they come to a water way they have not been on, they struggle. They get the first cast and they pick the fishin holes for one reason, and for the most part, it is not knowledge, it is desire. They get to pick and throw, cause they ponyed up the bucks for the priviledge. The Funkin Wagnels defines a professioanl as someone that earns at least 90% of their income from the profession they have chosin and have praciticed their craft at that profession for at least 8 yrs. For the most part this is not dudes fishing the boater side of any of our local derby's. These and I say the words with respect are weekend warriors that enjoy competition, but have to be back to work on Monday morning to pay the morgage. Win or lose, it really does not matter, as far as their making a living for their families. So you ask what can be gained from fishing the non-boater side. Lots, with a capital $$$. Just ask Jeremy Rasnick. if you are smart, and play your cards right, fishing behind one of these guys can net you big bucks, weather they know the water or not. This Winter, I'll write an artilce about fising from the back of the boat, that is for another topic. I have been guiding almost all my life, and it never fails, that I will learn something from most every person I take, them being a raw beginner, or a seasoned pro. If you are fishing the back of the boat see what your boater is doing, See how he or she fishes particular structure or picks out locations. Catchin fish? Really does not matter, you are seeing a different tecnique and approach. If it works great, if it does not, thats ok too. You have learned something. Guide trips are different. I hate to guide derby fishermen. They are non-appreciative, and for the most part could careless about the fun of catching fish, they want location after location, and 1 keeper per spot. Guide trips for fishermen are more single minded, if it aint' broke, don't fix it. If they are biting, stay and catch them till they quit. Lots more fun, but not what will win you a derby. I don't for the most part care about the size of the fish on my guided fishing tours. 14 inch Jaws are just as good as 18 inch Largemouth. They tug and pull and thats what its all about. I regress. When fishing a derby on the non-boater side, there are always fish available to you. There are only a couple of senerio's when this is just not going to happen. The first being pitchin a jig to visible structure. Working a blade to visible structure. Deep fishing trees with a shot or a spoon and that can be over came. If your boater is not fishing like this, you got a great shot. Just cause you cannot throw in front of the boat, is not going to hurt you to the max, you still have a great chance, if your dude is on fish. Another situation, is when your boater is on shallow crankbait fish and is parrelling the bank with a shallow running cranker. Sometimes this is still ok, as one of my good friends fishing out of the back of an Elite Anglers boat kicked the Pro's Arse jerking a rogue on the outside of the boat while the Pro, caught squeeker keepers, mostly bucks, going down the bank with a wart. Fishing out of the back of the boat is what you make of it. You want to fish the front and make the decisions, pay the money. If not, have fun and learn something from everyone you fish with. I have learned way more on days that I struggle than days that I am all over them. Derby fishing can be fun. Just cause money is involved, don't let it ruin your day, or let the guy in the front ruin your day. Remember, you could be at work. On another note, Techo and Donna, you both inspire me. I read and reread every word you honor us with. You both always leave me with a smile and thinking, I wish I would have said that. Sincerely BB

Guys and Gals Thank you so much. All the Rods are gone with the exception of 4 lowrider 6' med casting and 2 lowrider 6' med spinning. I also have 8 symetres. Anyone wants all 6 rods they can have them, for $150.00 plus shipping. They are worth, $350.00 in trade in and trade up value, so if you have a new Cara or Expert Falcon in mind, you can pretty much double your money by trading one of these lowriders in on it.

Fish, if I told you, you would have to go buy more tackle, as I believe I have caught one fish per day on everything I have in my box. I don't have a pattern of any kind and am really struggling. I have been told everything from spooning in 70 ft. to flipping bushes in under 1 ft. I have caught some on a rig, jig, and drop, and spoon and spinner and crank and mostly on nothing. I think it is hard. Did have 3 really nice ones on top this AM. Still, even with the cloud cover, topwater bite was about a 30 minute deal, right at daylight. Sorry, I am struggling with the high water and it dropping at an insame ammount.

Don't get me wrong, it is good to see the sun, but the bright blue high prussure and good golly who knows what, has made my Table Rock bite extremely tough. I have a trememdious topwater bite, on either a fin, spook or popper, this bite has been going on from approx. 6:55 AM to 7:01 AM. After that, it is pretty much over. I am deadly on White Bass in the 30 odd ft. range on a jigging spoon. Green type bass seem to be avoiding me like the plague. Last 3 days, I have fished as hard as possible with a great client and have 7 keeps each day none of which inspired me to a great extent. Anyone that has a clue and is catching over 7 keeps, in a hard day of fishing, let us know what ya think.

Rule of thumb, is 3 minutes to backdown, launch and remove your rig from the ramp. m this 3 minute rule has been in almost every outdoor mag. from Bassmaster to Outdoor Life. Rules for launch should be posted on the ramp, it would really help. Motor toter should be off and and all equipment ready for the launch before you put your rig into the launch order If you are in order, you are not putting gear in your boat, unhooking straps or visiting If folks are having trouble, it only takes a second to help. This however can backfire. I took one of the worse cussin I have ever had by offering to back a rig down the ramp, from the lady that was trying to back it and her husbund that was sitting in the boat as she continued to jackknife the trailer from one side of the ramp to the other. I have litterly helped dozens of times probably over a hunderd, and have never once been thanked. Most often scouled at by the drivers, and reluctently allowed to assist, with absolutely no appreciation. Best approach is probably patients. I have interfered a couple of times as men gave their wifes a cussin, for not either being able to load the boat on a trailer that was to deep or to back the rig into the proper position. When the guides are launching at Cooper Creek, as a guide line, we can launch 3 at a time. It takes less that 2 minutes to back the ramp tie the boat and remove the rig from the ramp. Take a deep breath, if you feel you can help and won't be deemed as an interloper, please offer. If all else fails, laugh.

Spoke to the good folks at St. Croix today, and this is just for FYI Avid and Primier series spinning rods have 1 yr. warranty on workmanship. Breakage policy is $50.00 to replace the rod plus shipping from Branson via UPS is $30.00 They will ship it back free.