Bill Babler

Buttermilk, is just past the ski course. Drag bite is a splitshot, or a C-rig.

Here is my question. Table Rock is one of the only lakes in the country that you can catch record book LM, SM, and Kentucky Spotted Bass on the same freeking day. Why in the holy begeebers would anyone want to mess with dabbing docks for stinking crappie? Table Rock is not a crappie, destination. Yes, we have some in the river systems that you can work on, on a early season basis, but main lake Kimberling City is a pretty tough customer for slab fishing. Yes again, some of the locals, and some of the resorts, for their clients, and that is the key words, for their clients have some beds that hold a crappie or two. Never a load or a limit, so much, but some. Go out and have a blast with the bass. Eat diner at one of our local resturants, or get a fantastic steak at Harter House and grill it at the resort. Old saying, When in Rome, do what the Romans do. You chase crappie at Kimberling City this time a year, and you wasted a bunch of fishin time. Take Don's advice. Good Luck

ABK, you had better check your temp gauge, I was over there today, just boat riding. Took a couple out that was staying at the lodge. In front of Brush Creek Resort my temp was 49.9. If it was 60, it dropped like a rock. I have fished the entire lake in the past few days, and have not seen surface temps, even near that mark. If you say it was I believe you, but it sure cooled off.

PD, Great Goin!!! This is really some heads up stick-to-it-stuff, going back and refishing a locations that is holding fish is the way you catch them right now. Creating a Milk-Run is late Winter Bassin at its best. Great day and Congrats to you and yours.

Norther'r by solf-plastics, here for the most part we use cendpides, fish dr's, or finess worms. Yes for sure baby bushhogs, and 4 to 6 inch lizards will work, usually later in the year when the fish are bedding or getting noisy about makin-babies, and establishing a home turf. I fished Aunt's area yesterday, and the drag bite is starting to turn on if you have some wind. They are also on a shaky head and jig. Natural colors of cendpides and Dr's are going to be your best bet. Best bets are wallermellon candy, green pumpkin, watermellon red for the James River arm and peanut butter and jelly is always good, and a lot of companies are coming out with this brown and purple flex pattern that works so well here. Chompers baits hula grubs are also always in vogue. Rootbeer, or watermellon Candy are fantastic, along with the pbandj. Fish will still be on a suspending stickbait when you get here, and we catch big ole mama's on the stickbaits. Pointer 100's, Spro McSticks, and of course the custom painted rogues that we are famious for. Check out all these baits at Table Rock Bait and Tackle just up the hill from your digs. Check out my guide trip from yesterday. Everything we did was is either rock throw distance from Aunts Creek, or a short flight in your bass getter. Good Luck

Pulled away from the Baxter Ramp at 7 AM yesterday with client and Good Buddy Ed Shaubaker. Ed doesn't get to go as much as he would like, but when he does he is as good a stick as I fish with either friend or client. It's one of those trips, I just get to go fishing, and I just love it. Water temp at the ramp was 48.9 with no breeze and a fairly good ammount of rain pelting down. Fish have been on channel swings in the major coves and pockets, and suspended just off the bank. They have not been bottom feeders, but shad chasers, and the stickbaits are still working very well. Chartruse Shad, Chrome Shad, Table Rock Shad and Norman Flake. Pulled into the first location at 7:10, with the boat in about 30 and a nice fair cast to the bank. Lots of pole timber to dodge, just about where the boat was sitting off shore. Bank was intraspersed with chunk, tablerock, and gravel. 7:40 Felt the first tick on a Chrome Shad and pulled back. Really nice 3 pound K, came to the boat by the back treble hook. 7:43 Felt the second tick on the Shad and in came a bright spanking 14 inch K. Moved to a main lake location and worked it hard with no results, swimming a grub and draging a cenepede. Back into a big creek arm looking for a end channel swing bank with some depth and some bigger rock. 9:40 Ed said there he is! really nice 3 pound K on a Chrome Shad 9:43 Ed said, "Got another one". 14.5 K. 9:47 Ed again. "There he is got another one on the stickbait." 14 inch K fat as a pig. 10:05 THUMP the big LM popped the Chrome Shad, Came to the top and then ran under the boat. Asked Ed to get the net as he would have snapped my 8 pound thread. To late, he wrapped around a cedar top about 6 ft. down and kept circling around and around the trunk. He got off of course but the worst part was loosing my Chrome Shad. Tied on the Table Rock Shad and on the next cast 10:20 THUMP, a very nice keeper K. 11:30 man it had been just pouring for the last hour. had a nice tick and caught another 14 inch K. It just continued to pour with no wind and slick water. If it had not been for the rain and the overcast it would have been really tough. We were cold and decided to put the rig on the trailer and trailer up to Aunts Creek getting a coffee and snack and working the lower James afternoon. 1PM first main lake location on the James very similar to what I am fishing on the white. Tick, and I had my first SM of the day, a very nice 12 incher. 1:20 next point Ed said again, there he is and boated a very nice Keeper K on a Chrome McStick. We were thinking about dragging a rig and I was gettin one ready when Ed caught the fish. He said he would like to drag it if I wanted to fish the stickbait. 1:30 handed him the rig, and he pulled it what seemed like 2 feet, and I felt the boat sway as he bowed up on another keeper K. I had not even had time to throw the stickbait. 1:45 little steeper point and he needed to fish the stickbait, and of course I hear, "There he is, another nice keeper, a fat 16 inch K. 2:30 up almost to Buttermilk working a nice transition, back to back cast for the Chartruse Shad I caught 2 short SM's. 3:00 back to our first location, surface temps at 49 but a little breeze on the point. First cast with the jerkbait and a short LM. Of course Ed, now dragging the rig lifts on another nice keeper K. and then before I can grab a rig, catchs another keeper K. WHERE YOU CATCH A FISH, THERE ARE MORE, NOT EVERYWHERE, BUT WHERE YOU CATCH ONE. RECHECK IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN DURING THE DAY. 3:50 we really should be getting home as he has a wife at the lodge, that probably wants dinner and a show, but We are a FISHIN. Last spot, I wanted to stop on this location earlier, but it was flat calm. Nice breeze on it now. First cast with the Norman Flake, 14.5 LM Next cast 14 inch SM. Ed bows-up 12 inch SM. 4:10 Perfect breeze with waves on the inside of the point BANG Nice keeper LM, Next Cast Pop, Nice Keeper K, Next cast NIce Keeper K, Next cast Nice keeper SM. Last cast by Ed. Nice 14 inch K. 4:40 we are in major trouble, we have got to put this boat on the trailer, but the fish have just flat turned on and we have to leave. I believe we had 14 keepers, and 10 shorts, but I could be off one way or the other, just enough to really make it fun. We had slap after slap on the stickbait in the still water, and the stickbait fish we caught, were mostly on the very back hook on the bait until right at the end, when they were just flat munchin it. Most fish I am guessing came out of water in the 6 to 15 ft. range, suspended cruising the banks, in or near channel swings and major cove or creek mouths. WE keyed as much as we could on these locations, and also hunted wind. Our best 5, not big, probably 13.5, but a scrappy bunch, with way more Kantuck's then I have been a catchin. My appreciation to Ed for letting me fish along and share his wonderful day. So be the life of a Table Rock Guide on a fantastic Late Winter Bassin Adventure.

Edyer, this sounds like a presentation that is very similar to a shaky head and a senko cross/bred. I am sure it would work here, but for cripes sakes how many ways are there to catch these critters. I wonder is a guy just couldn't just take a nice solf Chompers Drop/shot worm, and put it wacky style on a 1/4 oz. ball jig head and make the presentation that way? I would for the most part rather watch grass grow, than fish a senko, but me like all fisherman, will probably have to have some of this gear. It is just something we have been doing for years reinvented it looks like. Get the gear and figure it out and keep us posted on how it works. After you get the bugs out of it, I'll come on board.

Welcome, Can't beat Ma's right on down 13 from your turnoff. Just look for the locals there at breakfast and lunch. They open real early. Dana's BBQ is for sure a local hangout just back the other way, along with the 13-76 split past Country Mart is the best Chinese Buffet around. Harter House has the best meat in the Ozarks and it is just past Ma's on the other side of hwy 13. You are in a short toss of Country Mart, Summer Fresh, and Harter House, along with Wal-Mart and Table Rock Bait and Tackle. Can't help much on the crappie without a boat ride, up the James. I'm sure there are some hiding in Aunts. Bass fishing is just now starting to unlock and if you keep your eye on the fourm, you will pick up some great tidbits. Check out Don House at Kimberling day before yesterday and my post from yesterday. Kimberling is just a good cast from your lodge. Aunts, the lower James and the main lake to Baxter is just days away form a major turn on and even now on the right day, Big fish will get all over your junk. Stickbaits with long pauses, jigs in natural colors, warts up the James and we are reading about slow presentations with soft-plastics doing well in that area. Table Rock Bait and Tackle is a full service tackle dealer in that area, you will drive past it on your right coming down 13. Only a couple of blocks from where you turn down to your resort. If they don't have it, you don't need it. Good luck and keep a look out here for everyday lake info.

I guess Capt. Donnie, got them broken loose yesterday afternoon, as while I'm guiding trout this morning, Beck and Tetrick are just wacking the bass. All stickbaits windblown secondary points. Transitions, chunk to gravel. Didn't seem to matter the boys said if it was a channel bank or not. Boys reported over 40 keeps with the average size of over 3 pounds. Pounter 100 in Table Rock Shad, and the McStick in Chrome Shad seemed to be the ones they were swallowing. I just knew it was going to be a great day, when it didn't get bright till afternoon. Cloudy, a spit or two or rain and wind, wind, wind. I was just wilting on the trout stream, cause I kept hearing of what was going on up stairs. Rushed home to hit the water just as the wind died somewhat and the bright sunshine hit. Still managed a very nice LM a 3 pound K, and another nice keeper Kantuck. All on the chrome shad McS. Wish I could have been out at daylight instead of the trout, but they were paying the bills this morning, and the clients caught them like crazy. Highest surface temps at the dam this afternoon 52. Clouds and wind will really get you bit and in a big way right now. Not as many fish as a drag bite, or a shaky head bite, which is coming, but way better quality. Get out there.

Had two swell guys yesterday, launching at Baxter. Fished from there down to 16 then Uturn and up th Shell Knob. Results were the same everywhere I went. BAD with a CAPITAL B. 11 fish toal with 4 big Keeps, early, all a suspending stick. Threw and drug everybait in the boat and just could not get bit after 10 AM. The past 4 days have been some of the flattest water I have ever seen on the rock, and I for one just cannot get bit on flat water. Know of 5 trips out of the Dam yesterday, with a total of about 5 bass caught by all 5 guide boats. That's not 5 fish per boat, that's 5 fish total. Flat water and even though its warm, surface temps just are not rising. It is gettin really cold at night and it takes it till noon to recover. I believe that was probably remidied. today. Glad for a day of the whites cause the green ones are giving me fits. Any day now.

The Ramp is open, but they have removed the curtosy dock, and it is plenty rocky and rough there so mind your boot hulls Good Luck

It really hasen't gotten out much, but stuff like this has been going on here since the last practice week, before the cut off. They just flat moved in here and tried to take the whole place over and ramrod it down our throats. Thats what got me ticked to begin with. I finely just got fed up with all the posturing. Bassmaster Elite has never and I mean never acted like this, when they are here. I know it does alot for the community, but is this the price Branson has to pay for success? Don't mean to keep hammering the sour grapes, and it really hurt my feelings, that Doug thought I was talking about him. To tell you the truth, I had missed his post. After I saw his comment on this thread, I read it and I could see why he thought I was picking on him. Nothing could be farther from the truth, as I had been putting up this these ya'hoos for a month. Lets get on with the fishing, THEY ARE GONE.

Doug, No your post was not really apart of this and for gosh sakes congrats on being chosen to get to do this. I mean that with all my heart. This was just a rant, cause I'm tired of fishermen, trying to be more than what they are. My post was coming from the last couple of weeks. Lots of us took FLW touring pro's on guide trips before the cut off. Against the rules, had some texting us during the derby, wondering how to catch-em. That is a big NO, NO. Roadrunner, great to hear as far as the ego's, but after being around them for 3 weeks, my experence was quite a bit different. Two different guys I guided were first timers, and they both said fishing the entire circuit that for the most part lots of the guys were premadonas. Both had fished numerious events as amatuers, both Elite and FLW and said they prefered the Elite anglers. The reason they were fishing FLW was it required no qualification, only MONEY. You know alot of those guys as long as they pony up the bucks for the entire circuit have no qualification requirments other than own a Genmar Boat and they are ready to go. I find it very hard for a fisherman to have an ego. What in the world have you contributed to society? My admiration tends to go toward, Teachers, our Military our Medical Researchers, Or people helping people. I guess we just need to put it in perspective. What got this whole She-bang started was the Wouda-Couda-Shouda I heard fisherman after fisherman make this week. It is a flat ego thing. I'm really better than you, I just had bad luck and lost a fish, or I wouda beat you. I couda had a bigger fish and I shouda had a better bag. Bad luck the fish got off. Why not congratulations on a great bag of fish? Or saying, "I didn't have them today, they had my number." Did not hear that ONE TIME. Always an excuse. Then again maybe this is what makes a competitive edge. You always have to think you are better than the next guy. Don't guess I'll ever be like that. I like to see the other guy do well also, and don't make excuses when I fail, and in fishing its a lot for me. Sorry about the post, and Doug have a great time and great to hear of your adventures, we all would have really loved to be In your shoes.

Ham, you are exactly right. And I am very glad they came. In this economy they are a very nice boost for our area, and they bring very nice press to our wonderful lake and its fishery. You called it exactly right. Just a little tired of all the posturing and the woulda-couda-shuda's that these guys keep spouting. This happens from the smallest club derbys to as we have seen here the Big Pay for Play Boys. A fish that is caught in practice or one that got off while fishing a derby should never be mentioned in any context. It completely lowers the opinions of everyone around you about how you not only fish, but how you carry yourself. It is not only bragadosious, but demeans the anglers that put their fish in the livewell, by saying, " I am better, and I had a better fish than you." If it is not in the well, you didn't do squat! This was just part one of my usual Spring Time Rant that I should press the delete button on. As soon as I am again crowded out of some of my favorite fishing places that I thought I owned I will rant again.

I always have mine on "Win or Lose". Love those TIGERS.

I am and so are most of us tired of hearing what someone caught in practice that they never weighed in, or for that matter, never really weighed on a certified scales but guess at. I am also sick of hearing who designed this or that and how they fish it. Keep your mouth shut and just fish. Let your body of work speak for what you have done. I am also sick and tired of hearing about the one that got away!!! Here is a news bullitin. If it got off, "YOU DIDN'T CATCH IT'. You didn't have a chance at it, cause you didn't get it in the boat. It is the same as if it never bit. "PERIOD"...... It did not happen, you messed it up or it was not to be. Shut up and Fish. In this FLW Bunch, I have never heard all the B-t---N about I had this or that on, and it got off. Bull-Pucky!!!! You didn't catch it and it does not count. I have caught 10'S of thousands of bass, more than most of these FLW Hero's that are fishing here, and I cannot tell you what the one that got off my line weighed before I even got it in the boat. I can't--you can't-- and they can't. If it got off, "IT DON'T COUNT". IS THAT CLEAR!!! If you are fishing a derby or just fishing and you loose one, that is fishing. Keep your mouth shut and go about your business, don't say, I would be here or there if I had not lost a 6 pounder. That is perhaps the biggest bag of sour grapes you as a fisherman can spit out. "NEVER, AND I MEAN NEVER, SAY I WOULD HAVE DONE THIS OR THAT,BUT I LOST ONE AT THE BOAT.!!!! This seems to be the FLW theme song. Very unprofessional. This is getting to be super old news, and I for one am ready for them to go away. For cripes sakes, Dave Barker and Tim Sainato had bigger bags that they weighed in today than the FLW dudes. Walker, had a big day, and my congrats to him on one of the best days anyone has ever had on the rock, but now reality has sit in. 13 to 16 pounds a day, is what we catch here, on an everyday basis, reguardless of weather. Walkers 26 was fun, but I'm tired of it now, lets go catch our own fish. The Elite boys were fun. Can't say the same here.

GO MISSOURI TIGERS 2009 BIG 12 TOURNAMENT CHAMPS

Check out Amistad Ike weighed in 27 and change with a 12 pounder. The rock may have almost as heavy of weights. " Holy Frozen Nose's"

Thanks KC Love your Tiger Logo. I don't keep up with the FLW much but looking at the roster, there are only a couple of dozen of these guys I have ever heard of. Looks like lots of sons of famious fishermen are fishing this circuit however, and lots of unknowns. This will be a good test.

Joe, I may be totally off base, but I bet the presentation was better with the spot-remover allowing the worm to stand tail up was more enticing than either the Texas Rig or the Wacky, in which the worm would lay flat on the bottom, if you were letting it sit so long. Especially that shallow, using a heaver bait like the sinko, which does not have huge action to begin with. If your getting bit like that, I would think a cenipede or a Fish Dr. is just around the corner. Nice Report Thanks

32 Pounds may be pretty lite. In just the local stuff going on around here the last several weeks, 16 a day will only get you a nice handshake. Buddy of mine called and he said as close as he could tell about 90 boats went around Campbell Point this morning. That would be about 2/3 of the field headed up the White and Kings Rivers. If you are fishing that area, you are going to catch a limit. Can't say how big, but you will have 5 to weigh-in Did anyone see on the fantacy live chat that the moderator thought there were not many K's in Table Rock? Don't know what he has been smokin, but the K's out number the LM here 3 to 1. and the LM and the SM are about equal in numbers. Locations are the difference. Does anyone know how to look at the roster for the entire field fishing TR. I for the life of me cannot find it? Also does anyone know how to see a photo of anglers boats and their wraps? It is easy with the elite series, but this website is much harder for me to navigate? With the elite you just click on an angler who's photo is easy to find and it will show you his boat and wrap. Here you must type in the angler and it does not show you anything, that I can find. Maybe its just me. If you are seeing this stuff, let me know BB

This is going to be way interesting. What cold nasty conditions we have and what huge prussure on the lake the last week. Heartland is coming in and they already have a ton of boys pre-fishing in-amongst the "Big Shot's". Too add to the ammount of fishermen on the lake. I have been out twice this week, and I'll tell you I have not done very well. 6 keepers one day and 4 the next. Not a bunch of fish either, as the locations I usually fish are just covered with boats. I have had to fish some third and forth choices. Was down on the Landing Yesterday, and heard some media interviews with some of the fishermen and women, and they thought it would take a big bag, as they said they are really catchin-em. Makes you wonder. Did hear reports of anglers claiming big catches of SM in very unlikely places, so on a day like this a big Jaw is always a possibility. I counted 16 boats heading past the lodge for Long Creek this morning, so they must not think much of it. I could hear the roar of boats heading up the White River. Every prediction I heard was 21 to 24 pounds a day for the first two days. We'll see. I fish this lake continusly and there is no way I could come up with a bag like that. I believe I can catch 5 everyday, but what I am catching now is just keeper fish. Lots of LM and K's. I kind of lost my SM bite, but as cloudy and windy as it is this morning, they may bite. I believe my best 5 would be 14.5 to 16 and that would include 1, four pounder. The White River from Beavertown Bridge to Viney Creek, has tons of fish on the bank, but what I am catching is 1.5 to 3 pounders, and I am pushing the upper end. Two weeks ago, I was catching bigger sows up there off the bluffends and timbered cove mouths and transitions, suspended and taking a stickbait. They seem to have moved and now the fish are near the bank, but they seem to be males. There will be guys or gals that catch a nice 5 to 8 pound kicker each day, and then fill out with 3pounders, so I am guessing. 39 pounds after the second day. Any one doing much better, needs to be followed and see what in the Wide World of Sports they are catchin them on and for Gosh Sakes WHERE. Gona be fun

Yakfly, Was in the BP discount store earlier this week, and they have a bunch of Reddington RS-3's in weights from 5 to 8. Did not check the reels, but they were spooled with a floating line and in a combo reel and rod case. The case was very nice. Thought they looked like a super backup deal for Alaska, in the 6 and 7 weights. They were in a big barrell up in the front middle section in front of the taxidermy. They also had them last summer when Phil and I went to Alaska, cause I looked at them then also as backups.

Ealy, the ammount of misinformation, they feed us is only equaled by our nieve'tae to believe it. With the sponcerships you can bet that any one thats wins or even finishs in the money is fishing those baits, weather that's what they caught them on or not. A few years ago, one of my tournament partners was sponsored by Lucky Strike. Every time his name came into print related to Lucky Strike, he recieved $500.00. We never fished a Lucky Strike bait all year. We fished 12 derbys and he collected 6 grand, cause we placed or won everyone. He said we fished the baits, so I guess we did. I did not see any of the sponsor money. As far as locations go. These guys are back all the time and they will not broadcast their locations. I just know about Hackney from 2 of the boys that fished with him. As long as this go on, fisherman will lie about baits and locations.

Hunter, 50 bass is an absolutely increadable day, especially starting at after 9:30 and then going crappie and white bass fishing before starting after the bass. You guys had to have had a great time. Congrats on probably the best day of anyone on the lake. Appreciate the report.