Bill Babler

Let's take a wait and see attitude. High water levels in the Fall are never good for Table Rock. It completely eliminates any difination as far as structure. If the water is high, the Corp's will indeed try to get below the magic 915 mark. I don't know anyone that like to fish dropping water levels. It just ain't happenin. Table Rock fishes the best during stable conditions. From now thru Dec on stable water or just normal Taneycomo generation, there is not a deep bite, but a midrange 26 ft. bottom jig bite that is quite possibly the best bite that the rock has all year. Got a feeling it is not goin to happen this year. If conditions are right, all three of our Black Bass Species can be caught fishing crayfish bottom crawlers from now till even January. I am just worried with the loss of a bank line and the water being sucked out from under them, it might be a bit of a challange.

This was ment to be no more than a funny story, not a vent or a ridicule, and was taken as such. Michael for some reason has decided to take it to another level. For someone that has no respect for anyone this is a reveloution. I'm sure his four guide trips per year qualifies him as an expert on the subject. Rods are broken, "Big Deal" I don't think so. If you are getting free Sage rods fine. I don't think he is or believe one word of anything he says. I get a St. Croix Avid broken, and it hurts. Yes, I take 270 to 300 guide trips a year, and can ammeratize out the cost, but in the course I will easily loose and break 6 to 10 rods at close to $250.00 a pop. You try writing off or replacing between 2 and 3 grand in just broken gear and it hurts. OH, that is unless you get it all for free. This was going to be just fun, but he decided to personally attack me. I think he may be Claude Dallas I'll keep Michael on the Zebco 33 list, I'm sure with some instruction he might be able to use one.

Don't totally follow your logic for loving the high water this time of the year. Table Rock fishes fantastic at 910 in the Fall, really tremendious. It puts mid-lake humps at 26 to 36 and exposes cedar tops over the entire lake. It defines rolloffs and gravel flats in that magic 22 to 32 ft. range with dramatic drops to the main channel on the swings and transitions. Don't for a moment think that huge quanities of fish are going to follow this water up, it may happen some places, but not to a huge extent here. Yes, there will be some in the flooded bushes, but there will be more on the origional bank line, and it will be much harder to find. Also, even if the fish have followed it up, if they continue to drop the lake and you know they will, this further sucks the fish off the bank. It may give us a little blade bite, but it is going to make my deep Fall Small Jaw bite much tougher. For most of us that fish here everyday, this is just about as sour of grapes as we could have gotten, as the Rock was just a fixin to turn on big time.

You know, you think you have seen it all and heard it all, but today, on upper taney was another one of those you just take a deep breath on and go to the next one. Couple of very nice older gents from Michigan, and they were more than a handful. Knew they would be when after no more than 5 minutes one of them screamed,"At Last, I've got one!" Picked them up at Lilleys'in a rain storm, and of course they had no rain gear. I suited them up and told them about the fishing we intended to do and asked it they were keeping fish. The answer was a resounding yes. Asked if the open face stradics needed to have the handle on the left side or right and both immediatly said right. Asked them if they were left or right handed and both said right. That means trouble always. Since we were keeping, I started out at Fall Creek, and I casted both guys out and the way I do it, is I will hand the rods from front to back handing the guy in the middle the rod to hand to the back guy first. This was a problem right off the bat, as he did not want to pass it back, he wanted to fish it. I said OK and casted over him for the guy in the back seat and walked clear around him and handed the rod myself to the back. The reason I always make the first cast is to show clients how to cast a drift rig. It is not easy and is more of a lob. I then show them the proper rod configuration during the drift and how to set the hook on the take, a very nice upward sweep from a rod that is being carried with the tip in a position at a 45 degree angle above the water. Maintain the rod at 10 to 12 oclock thru the fish fight, and let me NET EVERY FISH. DO NOT SWING BLOODY SLIMY WET AND NASTY FISH INTO MY BOAT. LET THE FISH SWIM IN THE WATER WHERE IT CAN BREATH. Do not grip a ultralite spinning rod with your off hand 6 inches from the tip and swing in 1 and 2 pound trout, or you might possibly break one of my rods. They did not get the memo on any of this after being very nicely told at least 4 times each. They were told in a manner to please let the fish swim at the boat side, while I net your buddies. I will then net and remove your fish, rebait you and keep you fishing. You think any of this worked. NOT A LICK. As the guy in the back, swung his forth fish into the boat, slapping the middle guy in the face with it and wrapping line around the stearing wheel and windshield, spraying blood all over both his buddy, my boat and myself, I kind of lost it. I usually have at least two rods per person prerigged and can keep ever a 2 yr. old fishing. These guys launched rigs over the tops of docks, into shoreline trees and over any debris that they could see floating. What was really ashame was that huge rainbows were biting like pigs. We concervitively had 50 bows with lots in the 14 to 19 inch class. I Put 4 per person in the box as quickly as I could so they would have to release any extreme quality fish they caught, cause I will tell you any release, of any legal fish if they did not have a limit was not going to happen. Still, I cleaned 2 limits of 16 inch bows and that is just way to good. Let at least 20 over that size go. Thank Goodness. I casted for them at least 70% of the time or they would break the rig off on the cast. It kind of irritated them when I did, but I said," Guy's let me check and do this, I have several special places I want to throw to or I just want to make sure it is working properly." 90% of the time that I would not cast for them they would lose the entre rig on the cast. In 4 hrs. even with me casting for them, I lost 40 drift rigs. That is the most I have ever gone thru, on a trip. I started with 8 rods fully rigged and completely full of new 6 Pound test Maxi. They completely spooled 4 rigs, I have never had over 1 rig spooled in a entire day, let alone 4. Broke one rod, lifting a fish with the last 6 inches of the rod tip. They were hungry and thirsty but had brought nothing to either eat or drink, and asked if I had food and drinks. I did. Spilled an entire diet coke and mashed 2 donuts into my boat floor. One guy also had dog poo on the soles of his cleated mountain hiking boots that he tracked into the boat. I caught this right off and please Lord forgive me but I asked him to please clean the S--- off his foot wear before he got into the boat. He kind of skoffed as what difference does it make. They wished the fish could have been alittle bigger and they could have kept more. Did not have cash or a check to pay me, so had to call Becky at the lodge and she had to charge 1/2 the trip on a credit card and the other guy paid me his half mostly in singles. Of course no tip, no thank you or do we owe you any thing for the equipment or rod we broke? Did comment several times on how nice of boats they had fished out of before and how good of equipment other guides had had. Mentioned a guide on Kentucky lake that had a brand new Bass Tracker Pan fish and at least a dozen new Eagle Claw rods rigged with New out of the box Zebco 33's. They commented " Man that guy knew what he was doing and was really rigged" The other guy said, "Ya, if we would have caught some crappie, it would have been a perfect day." Anyone that knows me knows what my equipment is and I would challange anyone to even have equal, let alone any better. It is not made. All and all a very nice day on the water. Fall Creek to Lilleys's is fishing off the charts, get out there and get-em. Good Luck

Tremendious afternoon on upper taney with a group that Steve Dickey had booked. 5 guide boats, fishing scuds and egg patterns in the restricted zone and orange gulp powerbait from Fall Creek to Short Creek. Our boat had close to 50 fish with lots in the 16 inch class. The other boats did the same, all catch and release. These fish are in fantastic shape, bulging at the sides, just full of scuds, in kind of a tan dark green from I believe size 8 to size 22. Everytime I would handle a fish they would "Up-Chuck" a load of scuds. If you looked in their mouths they were just lined with scuds. I litterly had some scuds so big, spit up in the boat, I was tempted to hook them and try them from Fall Creek down. Taney is fishing just about as good as it can on the upper strectches, Man this is fun.

Thanks for the report Fish. Seems to have been a lake wide pattern of small fish. Spoke to one of the boys fishing the Aunts Creek derby and only 1 limit was weighed in. He said they all needed to be fizzed and were floating on their sides, 15 inch k's. I had 6 guides working out of Baxter for me yesterday and the total was 28 keepers and a shade of 120 fish. Sounds like alot, but that is only 20 fish 4 keeps average on an 8 hr. day. Pretty average, but I'll take it with the extremely sour conditions. I had 30 fish and 4 Golly Whopper Keeper Jaw's. We caught two on a jig on the old bank line and 2 on a fin. We missed at least a dozen on the Fin, as they would just roll on it. Some of them looked like Sheatland Ponies. Phil Stone caught his a little deeper in the 30ft. range, and said he also lost a huge fish on a jig. Thought it was probably a big Jaw. Tim Paige caught some early on a blade and then went deep with a jig and a fish dr. and did pretty well on gravel runoff flats in under 30 ft. dragging that rig real slow into the breeze. All and all, it is going to get tougher yet with the forcast for rain all next week. Good Golly, a flood again.

Surface temps at the dam on the Rock side are 63.3 surface temp, so I don't believe the temp will mean anything. As far as Eye's and Jaw's coming over this time, I pretty much doubt it. Lots of fish were on the dam face spawning and staging Spring before last. They are not there now. There may be some resident fish coming thru, but I will bet ya they are mostly Whites. Might be a little tough to wade fish for a while however.

Someone called me today on my cell while I was working and I didn't get to visit. Please give me a call or beter yet PM me about the 2500 shimano reels you wanted. Sorry I was busy. Thanks Bill

If you can fish and afford a Stella, you are my hero.

Gents, I just revised the rods, it was a big day yesterday, I sold 14 rods and 6 of the reels. Thanks a bunch, this is very nicely maintained fishing equipement. Thanks Phil, I fixed it. Hope you had fun with the grand-baby.

Revised: Rerevised 10 pm Nov. 3ed. The following is a list of my Falcon Rod Inventory I have for sale. 800-544-0257 Cell 417-332-7016 There has been a huge ammount of interest and I only have maybe one or two of each size, so let me know and I will hold any for you. Lowrider 4-6' med casting $50.00@ Lowrider 2-6' med spinning $50.00@ All 6 for $150.00 plus shipping 8 new or reconditioned Shimano Symetre Reels, 2500/1500 your choice $75.00 The equipment is maintained in like new condition. I am anal about my equipment. 1-800-544-0257 Bill Babler White River Lodge www.whiteriverbb@msn.com

For those interested, please go to the buy sell page, for a description of my current inventory, and prices. I have gotten a huge ammount of interest lately, if you want a Cara T3, Lowrider, or Origional please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks Bill

I have never had a Stradic bind and I fish them over 300 days a year. I have 110 Shimano reels, and have never had any sort of problem with my Stradics. The Symetre will bind if it is fished in hard rain or its internal gears get wet. Have no idea why. As soon as it drys out, it is fine. It is all Beck fishes for the most part and has no problems. He has a team deal with Diawa if that tells you anything, and his gear is at least 50% discounted to him and he fishes Shimano Symetre at full price. My spinning gear completely consists of Stradics and Sustains, as they are my livelyhood.

Weather for the derby turned out Super Bright cool and a little breezy. 78 teams launched from either Viola, or Campbell Point. Bill and I were boat No. 1. For us the weather was just pretty tough, and kept us on the deep bite which was for the most part not to generious most of the day. All our fish but 1 came 31 to 37 ft. either suspended or on the bottom. Of the 78 teams, I believe there were only 6, six fish limits of bass weighed in, and there were some very good locals fishing this event. You can check the official results on the Chamber website, or in the Rattler next week. Bill and I came in 3rd. with 13.55 pounds. It is just what I have been catchin the last week, they were young and I just could not get them any bigger or older yesterday. 1st. place was 15.69, and second was 15.45. I believe big bass was a really nice Jaw at about 4 and a half. The winning team had her. We needed that fish to replace one of our K's and we would have been right there. You got to have a 4 to 6 pound kicker, or you won't wind up in the winners circle. Most of us can catch a limit, most anytime, but getting that good-ole-goodin, is the problem. We maybe now after thinking about it, should have ran to the dam and fished Jaw's, but is was just so friggin bright, we thought we would be better off, playing with the deep K's and trying to catch some of the bigger ones. Just 15.5 inch, 2.4 pounders yesterday. Probably had another 35 fish, with at least a dozen scratching 15 inches. Met some wonderful new folks at the derby and lots of people that read us here on OAF. My steak was great, and it was another fantastic day with my good buddy Bill on the water.

That is good information. I also believe they don't school as much on the Rock as other ponds, as we catch scattered slabs on just about any structure, or even suspended on the points as you mentioned, but never really put together a pattern of quality numbers. Again you next point on scattered docks, is also a good one. Thanks we always appreciate it. Gota go a fishin now.

There is an area on Table Rock that is called by the locals Eagle's Roost. These birds don't roost there, but are there now. I saw 3 pairs today. The location is between Baxter Marina and Campbell Point. I have seen as many as 30 birds there at one time. They just love these shallow gravel flats on the South East side of the lake. Best time is November thru March. They are always there, or have been for the last 30 years. Good Luck Eagle Huntin.

This is the Table Rock Forum. Bull Shoals is somewhere in the Ozarks, we what to know how to catchem here.

Started at the Knob, in a very stiff South Wind at daylight. 1st location two 16 inch Jaw's and a Keeper K on a wareagle 1/2 oz blade. Boat in 24 and I could hit the bank easy. Just a mite to easy on the catchin. Conditions were perfect. Back of a pocket with the wind howling into it at the mouth of the Kings. Fished some cedars, two Largemouth both at 16 inches and then a quality LM, jig fish inbetween a couple of docks. I am guessing the jig was in 12 ft. First limit was 13.5. Moved deeper on the jig in the 24 to 37 ft rang on gravel and it was a zoo. I'm fishing the Knob, Sloan derby this Sat. but I had 5 keeps in 5 casts,kiind of without trying. Another limit at 12.5, no upgrades. Motored up between Baxter and Kimberling City on some deep stuff, and again, as it set-in jig bite was on. Mostly at 24ft. Both SMJ's amd K's. Next limit was at 13.5 as I sneaked a 4 pound Lm off this flat on a watermellon candy 4 inch lizard. Jaw's were skinny and not as heavy as the K's up the White River. You know, this sounds like the "Bomb" and would be a great guide trip, but in the Homer Sloan derby this weekend, it won't be worth Jack! 13.5 friggin pounds won't win you a box of tissues to cry in. I am not on big K's or any quality Jaw's or LM to speak of. Maybe they are on my last weeks locations, I have been avoiding them like the plague so as not to interfer with their day to day activity. Hope they are home Saturday.

Yes I have some. Cara's, Originals, and Low Riders, along with some sweet shimano spinning reels. Be a day or two before I can get to ya. Let me know what you are lookin fer.

As Moderator of this forum, I would simply love to have a crappie expert get his or her bottom-line on this forum and try and help folks that wanted to catch a slab or two. For the most part hearing or finding out about slabs, is kind of like hens teeth. Maybe they are just none. Really don't want to hear how you did last Spring, or how you are going to do next Spring. BUT! if you can catchem year round, please let us know how you do it. Not GPS cords. but stradgity, and what you look for. I can catchem 365 24-7 on Lake O. This is not Lake O. Any help would be appreciated. Where in the world do these rascules go in the Summer and Fall? I don't mean catchin 5 or 6,but how in the salakie world do you catch a limit other than in Jan- thru March? Let us know. BB

If you are strictly catch and release, and the fish never see the inside of a livewell, you can catch them at any depth without fizzing, as long as you let them go immediatly. On derby fish, a good rule of thumb is 25 ft. plus. Some days, when the fish are in all layers of the water column, you can catch the deep ones and they are ok. If they are just hanging on the bottom or suspended at that 25 ft. plus, it is a good idea. I am still icying my livewells on derbys. Water temp at Shell Knob today was mid-70's. Use a catch and release substance in your wells, and a blk of ice, and you should really not have a problem, under 25 ft. Lots of fish in that under 25 right now. There are still some deep K's close to 40 however. Good Luck

It is suspose to be a very nice day on Saturday, which should keep the weights low. If it would happen to turn off nasty, then "Katy bar the Door" someone will have a big bag. Great Fun

I really don't look for the K's to move up any. May even go deeper as they can do this time of the year. It is not unusual for us to catch them at 55 ft. in Oct. and Nov. Jaws on the other hand can move up a bit, but they are already pretty shallow running in the under 20 ft. range. It is not typical to catch Jaw's and K's in the same locations this time of the year, except if there is a very good bait school they are both on, or there is a very good breeze blowing across some of the longer flatter points. Much more common to catch the Jaw's at 24 ft. plus than to catch the K's at under 20 ft. Can be done, but thats not the way most of us guide types do it. Look at the locations, in the photo's. Where I'm fishing right now, you could not hit the bank with a 22 rifle. Most of these big K's are coming over deep trees, channel swings and humps. Largemouth for the most part are just not something that I keep up with. Yes I love to catchem, but if a guide here depended on LM to make his or her living, they would be working a city job. Just not enough of em, and they are hard for the average joe to catch. Hope to have a couple on Saturday in the Homer Sloan derby, out of the Knob.

The last few days with the bright sun has caused the fish for me to move considerably deeper. Most of my bites are on either a drop shot or dragging a jig,rig,or spooning in 31 to 40 ft. Got a real treat with the deer swimming across the lake. These are some really big K's, most of the pic's are of at least 3 pounders.