Bill Babler

Had that same collapse bite today. One of the boys lifted on a fish in the 25 ft. range and his rod bent double. All of a sudden, nothing and I saw his line go completely slack. Out that fish jumped landed on the bow of the boat, dislodged the dropshot hook and bounced right off the other side of the boat to freedom. Without ever having any prussure other than the hook set. Big fat 16 inch K. We laughed till we coughed, never a dull moment.

Good Report. We caught them decent today, nothing like that. Started off on the jig fish, only we threw a hula grub, in watermellon candy and also pbj on a shakey head. 3/8 it works great, if the folks have to throw a spinning rod, instead of the caster. I believe our fish were under 20 ft. Picked up a good tip from your post. I believe I will have the folks try and keep a little better contact with that bait, as if they get the line slack and a fish picks it up, they are really putting it away. Killed 3 big keepers by letting them have it a bit to long. 1 SJ, and 2 Ky's. My guys were having a hard time feeling them, as they were moving toward the boat on the pick up and just swallowing that grub. You make those fish bleed in this warm water, and its over. Put all three in the livewell with, some revive and Sea Salt. I, poured the O2 to them for over an hr. and they were dead as stones. You know how I feel about that. In over a hundred trips this year, that is first fish that I know I have killed. Breaks my heart. Water temps in the Baxter area 82 to 84. Thats pretty warm and gettin warmer. My drop shot fish, were on rock piles and suspended in the 20 to 25 ft. range, on both crawlers and the purple/brown Chomper lam. Spoke to Tetrick and Bryant Ward the Game Warden. Chris was slow, fishing the Kimberling area, and Bryant had not heard of a keeper all day in the boats he checked. From Twin Rivers to Baxter. Ended with 23 total about 10 on the grub and FB and the other 13 all shorts, but right up against it on the dropshot. If you were in a derby, you would have had to measure at least 3/4 of them. They would have been short, but close. I believe Tim Paige also caught them pretty well, fishing the same water as Capt. Don. Buster told me Tim's clients had two SJ's over 4lbs. on the Feetball. Don, are you having your guys throw that 1/2 oz on a spinning rod? That is just not working for me. Let me know the secret if you are. I can put that Hula Grub on 8 , but the 1/2 oz. FB needs 10 pound test in my opinion, and the spinning reels and rods just don't like that type of line. I loose way to many jigs on 8. Would rather fish it on 12 if at all possible, but 10 is way better than 8. I do have two 7ft. 2 inch med-heavys from the Rod Shop, with 3500 Sustains that I am throwing a fin on 12 lb. Maxi. They do great. I tried Falcons 7 ft. Shakey head special, and it works good up to 3/8, anything heaver is going to hang up too much. I guess I had might as well take off the fins and put 10 pound on and use them, cause the topwater bite, for me is just not at all. What do you think? Hope they do it again on the morrow.

RRV, that is a great question. Let's see if we can get some of the OAF Contributors to reply, before I throw in my uneducated 2 cents worth. SK, Phil, Don,T, Freak or any of the guys that are out there everyday, can let it rip on what they like C5, Denjac, and too many more to mention, can give your their favorites, and why. Great Question, lets get it rollin, that is what this is all about. Trav may post also, but only 1 sentence, and it better be good.

We have people staying at our lodge from Texas and Oklahoma and they are all reporting theft of gas and personal belongs from Marina's and Private docks with lifts. Lake Livingston in Texas and Grand Lake in Oklahoma have both been victims of this hianious spree. Locking gas caps have not been the answer as boats are being drilled into the gas tank thru the fiberglass sides and into the either aluminum or soft plastic gas tanks and a hose inserted thru the boats fiberglass side, to drain the fuel. Both departments of Public Safety in Oklahoma and Texas have advised boat owners to not leave boats in stalls or slips and to remove all contence from boat that are left unattnded over night. One of our guest from Texas told Becky today there officer told them that if they left there boat in a lift full of gas and equipment, it would be considered an ATTRACTIVE NUCIENCE. This is the same law that covers, if you own a swimming pool and it is not fenced and your neighbors kids drowns in it you are responsible. It is a law and a fact. They are advising people to not leave their boats unattended. Any boat left for a period of 12 hrs. is classified as unattended. Boat should not be left in marina stalls or private docks. That are not patrolled, locked or completely covered. Any theft from unattended boat in lifts or private docks will not be investigated. This pretty much says, if you are ------ enough to leave your boat on a lift or in a resort or marina dock, you will get what you are asking for, in spades. Missouri has not gone to this yet, but the insurance company's are aware that it is your responsibility, not to leave your propery unattended. Our guests have told us that it is almost impossible to make an insurance claim on stolen equipment from boats that are left in either docks or lifts in Texas. Jenny said you have to have a rider on your policy for your boat if it is not at your home in the garage. This is just not a Table Rock or Lake of the Ozarks problem, it is nation wide. Insurance companies and police are saying, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BOATS UNATTENDED ON THE LAKE.

We have people staying at our lodge from Texas and Oklahoma and they are all reporting theft of gas and personal belongs from Marina's and Private docks with lifts. Lake Livingston in Texas and Grand Lake in Oklahoma have both been victims of this hianious spree. Locking gas caps have not been the answer as boats are being drilled into the gas tank thru the fiberglass sides and into the either aluminum or soft plastic gas tanks and a hose inserted thru the boats fiberglass side, to drain the fuel. Both departments of Public Safety in Oklahoma and Texas have advised boat owners to not leave boats in stalls or slips and to remove all contence from boat that are left unatended over night. One of our guest from Texas told Becky today there officer told them that if they left there boat in a lift full of gas and equipment, it would be considered an ATTRACTIVE NUCIENCE.

T. Like I said, I know both of you Numb Nutt's and you would be a pair made in heaven. 8 hrs and no one say's a word. I'm telling you, you guys would be buds for life. OOPP's Am I goin get in trouble on the numb nutts thing? I love you both, so I better not. Phil, I'm going to put your usual shrinkage into your post and believe it was a 3 pound SJ and and a 2.12 K. You fall into the same group as T. and SK, someone I would walk over hot coals for. If I couldn't get all over you, life would just not be worth living. Both you and Tetrick give me and Beck a reason to get up in the morning. All you boy's behave yourselves.

I'm back. Gentelmen, thank you so much for keeping Ozark Anglers the quality informative site that it is. Kirk, I asked you politely to remove your negitive remarks and you refused. It has been removed. Please feel free to post in the future and we look forward to hearing your thoughts in a positive non-abusive manner. Dano, Phil and Myself thank everyone that participates in this fourm. It is a brotherhood of shared information. At this time, I feel this thread has just about ran its course, as Dano said lets go fishin, and talk about the great resource we have in the Arkansas and Missouri Ozarks. Jump in here and let's find some fish. Good Luck Group Moderator Wm. J. Babler

Guys, this has been a very interesting topic. I have a guide trip now and will return at 6 Pm. Please keep this civil with no further personal or group insults being bantered around or we will close the topic. Kevin, thanks for joining, glad to have you and your opinions here. But please modify your post on the Hillbilly Barb. This forum is about great fellowship and informantion. Not group or personal attacks. Table Rock Moderator Wm. J. Babler

T. You and SKMO need to get together, for a fishing dropshot party. You just need to talk to him to see how much you guys have in common. Very similar professions. SK is about as good as there is at interpreting shad and their movements. He has caught as many fish as anyone around the shad schools. I think in a previous life he was a bass. Although, he may have been a shad. You guys would just have a blast fishing together. He is not a guide, just one of the most dedicated fisherman around and one super guy. I know there are times when his sole purpose is locating these deep water shad schools. He has caught some real pigs under and thru the shad. Also just a real good hand on dropshotting. Got to go trouting now, late morning trip on Taney. Good Luck

Guys and Gals, I am getting lots of emails and calls on how long do I stay on a particular fishing spot or location. Boy this is a sticky wicket. Lots of things depend on the part of the lake I am fishing and the conditions that are present. Denjac and I fished 16 locations in a 6 hr. trip, and covered 30 water miles in one direction with a total of over 65 miles covered in the 3/4 day trip. About $85.00 in gas alone, at todays prices. I know you can't do this while recreational fishing, it just won't work out. guide trips are different. Cost for me is not a factor in putting fish in the boat for a client. If you can't make money doing your best, raise your prices. Early in the mornings I am pretty much a mover and shaker, trying to get what is now an almost nonexsistant topwater bite. May I add the poorest topwater year I can remember, since the 99, 2000 seasons. I know where I am going and plan at least 2 to 3 stops early to try and cream any mid-depth or chasers that are very agressive and willing to eat my clumsy attempts at the topwater stuff. If I get lucky and see some, all the better. My next step is to look on the locations I am on and see if I see any deep fish. I usually do this while working the top. If none are present I forget that spot for the day If I haven't caught the chasers. The chasers will usually go down and make dropshot or jig fish. If none are present, that day, I'm out of there. Depending on the wind and the feel, I will then go to the jig. I believe it takes a while to get the deep fish positioned and they are still scattered between 7 and 10 AM This can be a pretty hard time on a usual year. Not this year, as nothing much is positioned at any time of the day. We are catching fish pretty good with the jig. We are catching jig fish, and gettin bites at almost every location we fish. Maybe its just water depth, but I believe the high water has a lot to do with it. They are really feeding on crayfish. Very few we are catching are coughing up shad, 90 percent are lobster lovers. Usual dropshot fish will have shad in them. I believe the schools of K's we usually see deep, are patroling the rocks for dads, instead of schooling and chasing shad. I am completely spoiled with the electronics, and I will guarantee it hurts me. I for the most part have to see the fish. I feel lost if I'm not looking into someone's eyes. Lots of times the fish will hug the bottom and you can't see them. I usually don't take the time to keep plying locations, if I don't see either fish or lots of shad. Bites will dictate how long I stay. If I get bites immediatly I stay longer, especially on jig fish. Deep fish I will look over the entire location, and if I don't hide and seek any, I am gone. All of the above is geared for the main lake. In the river arms where the LM are present, you are a fool to give up good channel swings humps and locations. I will stay longer, as the fish move up and feed and they also just become inactive at times. I fish much slower for the LM than I do for the K's or the SJ's. Why you ask? For the most part the LM are Ambush feeders, stagers and slow movers. They tend to think about their food and not over react They have locations they prefer that are home to them and they know goodies are going to come to them. I work more through and longer for the Big Boy's K's and SJ's on the other hand are always on a family vacation, they are like the Scarlet Pimpernell, "They are here, there, and everywhere." They remind me of a neighborhood pack of dogs, when they bunch up its hard telling where they will go, or what mischief they will get-into. Mischeif for me is surface chasing in 200 ft. of water. I believe after the spawn, huge lake sections of these of these critter band together for a post-spawn party after the kids arrive. Great time to spend on the humps and long points. I have wandered abit here, but from yesterday you could say, about 10 to 15 minutes depending on how well we were getting bit. Denjac also posted he thought we would see some larger congreations on single locations later. I am not in total agreement with that. Usually my very best shot bite is from 2 weeks ago until about mid-July, They will then get very sticky. Don House a couple of years ago had a great bite later in the afternoons, fishing from mid-day on. I don't remember if it was now or later, but If it was now, I don't believe we are seeing it. Don can let us know. Also the Whites are just not showing at either the dam or up the rivers. This is a usual summer helper for us guide types, and it is just not happen. Hope this has let you in on my days on the lake and how I'm doing things. Please comment and let me know how you are scheduling your moring and afternoons on the lake, This fourm is for shared information. Good Luck

Really have had the priviledge of taking some great folks this week. Sunday was a full day from Baxter to Twin Rivers, up the White. It was my best day with about 40 fish. Topwater early on the main lake stuff, with I believe 6 fish. Should have been better, Topwater Bite is fast becoming extenct. Most of the rest were nightcrawler fish suspended 25 over 60. Some Jig fish were thrown in. Monday, I had a 6 yr. old and mother. guided out of the dam area and only had 5 fish. 3 big keepers but just could not get them to bite up and down, stuff. The Boy never whined or fussed, he was on point all morning and a complete joy. The fish we caught he said came off the machine, as he watched them bite it. ie LMC-37C Took the same boy and his dad and brother trouting on Tuesday. 70 trout, they bit like pigs. I asked him which he like the best. Trout, or Bass. He said," anyone can catch trout, I like to bass fish, its more of a challange". That boy has the makins!!!! Had my client of the year today. I get one in a thousand that can fish as well as denjac. We worked it hard, from Kimberling to Shell Knob. We were the 1 fish wonders. Just a fish or two per spot, and really not a ton of fish, but we had our shots. Started out on topwater and had 2 dinks on the spook, with really nothing to throw-at, as there are really no chasing going on. I had a really nice and I mean big SJ eat a secret bait I was throwing. Hit it right at the boat and he whipped me, and got away. He was big and brown and as mean as a snake. Snapped a couple of FB Jig fish off the point and headed up the river. This long point had some activity and we saw a schooler or two, but no takers, until I caught a small K on a FB. A second or two later denjac, reared up and his rod bent, but did not budge. The fight was on. It was big and brown and mean as a snake and it whipped him after jumping a couple of times. Right at the boat it jumped and let out a war hoop and was gone. We saw him good and he faught-a-mighty-fit, but the big brownie won. Won't say how big, it would make you cry. Next spot = Zero Next spot two small FB fish. Next spot = Zero Next spot a deep channel swing. 35 to 70 feet of water with 25 over their heads. 7 fish with a couple of keeps on the DS. Nothing to brag about, but they would has squeeked. Next spot, about my third cast had a fair keeper size K jump off the FB and then denjac landed a nice keeper using the same food item. Next spot we intended to use the FB, but I saw a couple of deep fish and caught them both, nice fat 16 inch K's but that was it. Next spot long chunk rock hog back with lots of wind. 2 small fish on the fB, and then I felt the knock of a good-ole-goodin. Long Story short, 6.4 pounder LM. Real pretty fish. Would give anything if my buddy would have caught him. Next three spots a couple per spot, with denjac finishing with a nice keeper K on a seconday with lots of wind on the fB jig. We used PBJ and Brown Purple Flash. Should have easly put 20 pounds in the boat with the best 5, but instead maybe 15. Great company with lots incommon and never really a dull moment. Pretty typical day for July, except for the 3 big bites. I did however have another big bite and pulled him away and felt him thump for about 15 seconds before he self-released. Sounds better to say that than I screwed up and lost him. Thanks to all for a great week.

This is just a bit of a related issue, on taking the law into your own hands. A good friend of mine with a somewhat quick temper had an issue with a neighbor, over his son's motor cycle. The story goes like this. My buddy had seen the neighbor kid down at the barn where the little dirt bike was housed. A couple of days later he was down there, and the bike was missing. He immediatly called his son out and said, " Where is your dirt bike'? The son said in the barn, lying thru his teeth. My buddy called the neighbor and ask for his kid to return the bike. Of course the neighbor's kid really didn't know where it was or anything about this. My friend insenced stalked over and got into a terrible fight with his neighbor. The neighbor's arm was broken in the brawl. The bike however did not show up. After much crying and whining, and the sherriff brought into play, my friends son admitted he sank it in the pond. He had seen a TV show of guys biking across water from one side to the other and had tried it. ie, bike in the middle of the pond. The ordeal is finaly over. $60,000 is what Ben ended up paying for taking the law into his own hands and assulting the neighbor. There were also criminal charges. You want to shoot someone? Beat them up? Electricute them? Make a mistake like Ben did, and your life as you know it is over. In this day of video camera and recorders, if you do anything to anyone, you are in for the trouble of a lifetime. Gather information, if you can and let the authorities handle it.

Gent's, great comments; Like the hidden camera. Motion lighting for the most part doen't work, we got our pontoon robbed even with the lights. Another problem is a huge percentage of these heists take place during daylight hours. I left my boat in our slip at Shell Knob about 6 years ago after a guide trip. Had an early AM trip and then an afternoon trip. Took all my rods and put them in the lockers and plugged in the charger. Walked up to the house, well in view of the dock, for lunch and a nap before the afternoon excursion. Was gone about 2 hrs. Came down and the lockers were broken open and every rod and all my tackle were stolen, along with both graphs. The one in the dash was pried out. All my lifejackets and coats and heavy shirts with my name on them were also stolen. In 1982 we left a new pontoon at Viola dock where we rented a slip. Did not think about theft. The next week when we came down, everything was gone, ski's rods and lifejackets, and without saying the prop. Put a lift in a private dock at Shell Knob in 1990. My father-in-law, put his new boat on the lift. Stole the gas tanks and the prop. He said I'll fix them, I will take off my props from now on when the boat is on the lift. Two weeks later, they stole the 35 hp engine off the boat. It was chained on. You know, we solved the problem. We don't dangle cookies in front of hungry kids anymore. All our stuff goes in the grage. IF you leave your boat in any dock or on a lift, you are screwing up as badly as you can. Only cost us about $20,000.00 to learn this in our 4 episodes. I should have known better from Lake Ozark in the 60's and 70's. I hate it to death and feel badly for any thieft victim. However, this is not a current problem, but a reacurring nighmare that has been playing out on these lakes since the late 1950's. We all know how to prevent it. I timed myself today. 3 minutes 30 seconds to park the boat at the curtosy dock walk up unlock the truck and back into the water, load the boat and put the motor toter on. It takes twice that long to raise the lift, let alone empty the boat, of all its cargo. I get to sleep all night and don't have to worry about anyone stealing from me, or injurying someone proctecting my property. Good Luck Out There

Whoa-There-Skeeter, I feel your pain, and due take note of the sincerety in your pained thread, but to shoot someone over $200.00 bucks is just not going to work. Lets get to the reality of the situation. You have never been and will never be able to leave a boat on a lift on Table Rock lake and sleep at night knowing it will not be touched. Ain't going to happen. Table Rock and Lake of the Ozarks have been having this problem since I was a child and had our marina at the 61 mile mark on lake O. I had to every evening take the gas tanks, oars and seatcusions and lifejackets out of every rental boat every night. This was in the 1960's. Our marina gas was 27 cents a gallon and they would steal the 6 gallon tanks from the rentals even then. If this was a new thing, I would be as outraged as you. It is NOT and WE as honest people should know better than to dangle a dimond in front of a thief. I know its not right and we should be able to do what we want with our own private property, but I am going to say this cause I been around long enough to know. Anyone that leaves a boat on a lift reguardless of make or model and anyone that leaves their boat in a resort dock or public marina dock. Should not whine or cry, about theift. You know its going to happen, its only a matter of time. As related this is not a new deal. It has been going on here for 50 years. Take you boat home with you. You will never see a guide use a lift or park overnight at a dock. It just cracks me up to see people spending $30,000.00 for a dock slip, so they can have anything they put there stolen or vandelized. I would never have one, nor would anyone that knows anything about this lake. Again, Skeeter, I'm very sorry for your loss. But.

C5, With this last dayluge, about 2;30 I believe we had a shade over 5 inches since 2AM this morning. That is about as hard of a straight down rain I have ever seen. As Trav said Roark, Turkey, Fall, And Bee Creek were out of their banks and just roaring. I bet Roark Resort and Time Shares was under water. Biggest water possible coming down Roark. We went over the 65 bridge and I just couldn't believe it. Trips cancelled, have to help clean rooms. Good Luck

Quick Update from today. If you are having trouble fishing the FB on a spinning rod and are not bait cast people, a Chomper's Hula Grub is the ticket the 1/4 oz and the 3/8 either stand-up or rocker head, or even the shakey head, paired with either the New Watermellon Candy Twin Tail Skirted Hula Grub, or the Peanut Butter Jelly grub, are deadly right now. A touch or orange dip-en-dye on the ends of the tails won't hurt. If you can throw the 1/2 oz FB you will catch fish. Same color tails. Yamamoto PBJ may be a bit better, but bring plenty as they just will not stay together. With the gills pecking on them, as Buster says, " You get about a 1/2 of a fish per tail." Most all the fish we are catching on the White River Section, are Pooping and Crammed Full of Bright Green Crayfish, with orange Pincers. A real mess in the boat, but better than gray shad do-do. Boat in 35 on some of the steeper rocker points and work both the ends and channel side drops. Don't spend lots of time on a point. 10 or so casts unless you connect. What a great alterative to that stinking ferry-wand dropshot. Good Luck

Back to the post by denjac, We have two very destinct and different law enforcemtment agencies patroling our waterways. MDC Mo Dept of Concervation, Agents Grey and Green uniforms, Jon-boats or unidentified runabouts MSWP MO. State Water Patrol. Officers Top of the line dress code, New quality equipment from Rangers to Scarabs to Donz" boats, State emblems all over their clothing and boats. Nither one does the others job, however they may if they wish enforce Any State or Federal Regulations. First. the MDC, are not going to ask you about life saving devices, registration, or any safety equipment. That is not their job. They are there to enforce fishing and wildlife regulations ie Powerdrives guys that checked him Denjac on the other hand posted about expiring registration. ie MSWP Their job is to moniter and regulate boating related activities in the very same maner that MSHP enforces the rules of the road on land. ie lic and registration. For the most part, they could give a flip about the game violations, unless an offense was perpetuated in their presence. They will never ask to see in your livewell or check your lic or fish. Just not their job. In a nutshell if an officer asked to check your fish or fishing lic. He or she is MDC IF an officer asked to see your boat registration and safety equipment, He or she is MSWP I might have some history here, so I know. Good Luck

Jasond, if you do decide to rent a slip, be forewarned. Do not leave a thing in that boat, locked or unlocked, it dosent' really matter. If you want your stuff, take it back to your lodging place and put it in your room every night. This is a no kidding deal, I don't care how much stuff you have, or what anyone tells you. Holiday weekends are the time you can lose your whole outfit in a heartbeat on Table Rock Lake. I would rather step on a nail as to leave my boat and gear anyplace but behind my rig, parked in my grage. Marina and Resorts with boat docks and slips for rent are the first place these thiefs look. Broken fiberglass and missing gear are just the nicer parts of leaving your stuff on this lake. Capt. Don is shooting it straight, don't leave that rig. Good Luck.

Hope most of you all are doing better on the dropshot than me. I am struggling with that contraption in a mighty way. I cannot find a soft plastic dropshot worm of any color, that I can catch numbers on. Yes, they will eat a crawler, but not great. I have had a group of clients that are just not the crawler crowd. They wanted to fish Dead, not Alive. Thats ok, but it will most of the time cut your numbers dramaticly this time of the year. The Football is saving me. What I have had is a wonderful jig bite. Just really too good for the time of year and the conditions. Topwater is also going really decent, but in some strange places, that I don't usually see fish chasing. About a dozen topwater fish this AM, with several chunks, K's and SJ's. 5:15 to 6 AM, then it was over. Went to the PBJ 1/2 oz football with same color trailer, and the bite was on. Fishing some chunker stuff than I usually do, but am seeing topwater action on these spots early and then working the bottom after the top bite, ends. Putting the boat in about 35 and making about a dozen casts on these rocky points and if they don't eat, I'm going to the next. Had 10 jig fish on two different points this AM, with just about the lot of them being either SJ's or LM small keepers. Chunky, mind you, and full of crayfish, but not over 16 inches. Best 5 for this morning maybe 13.5, but over 40 fish to the boat. Thats a good day on a jig. I hate to say how poorly I would have done if I had tried to fish a fake worm on a dropshot all day. I'm just not on them as some of you boys are. I'll keep working on it. Good Luck

Great Post. Enjoy your Eye's Did you lose any baits in the trees? You are a much braver man than me.

Don't mean to throw a bucket of cold water on the grip secion, but I for one would be against NO WAKE at the bridges. Fisherman that are out there are impeading navigation thru a very restricted area. If the wakes are too hot, find another place to play. This would be just another job for the MSWP to have to do. Any of you want to pay more taxes? Why should we give them more to do than what is already on a full plate. On the very first ticket, I can hear it now. " Don't you have some more dangerious desperados to arrest, than me driving under a birdge"? Come on guys. The boats are running that hard till after mid-morning and they are just as deserving as we are. I don't like it either, but in that open water, we need to share. Just the thought from a guy thats out there everyday. good luck

Guided the White River section both yesterday and today. Man is it getting tough. Most of the fish we caught were suspended 24 over 70. Real nice fish, but they won't touch that fake worm. They want meat. Pretty good topwater bite if the clouds will stay overhead. It is kind of a catch-22 however as you need the sun to force those dropshot fish into position, or you just find singles and fish at every depth from 10 to 65. Really hard. Also the bottom bite is way off for me. I'm hearing the dam has a decent bite at 35, but don't quote me as its second hand. Average day has been 20 to 30 for 6 hrs. with 5 to 10 keepers. Sounds better than it is. Lots of down time and then 20 minutes of furious action, then an hour with nothing. Found some whites today, but they were running so hard we only got 3, but they were pigs. I think I have a couple of pretty good hands tomorrow, so will let you know. Look Deep. Good Luck

C5 Fantastic report. This is great info on the night fishing that we have had so many people ask for. Sounds like it may have at last broken thru and they are starting to bite. Full moon is killing the daytime bite and I'm sure it was a great help to you all last night. Thanks for the great report.

T. The Beckester and I fished a derby this AM out of Kimberling and didn't get up there till about 8 AM cause of the fog. That is about the most boat traffic skiing, and also fishing as I have ever seen on the Rock. We sucked it up, as there was 3 boats, minium, on all our secret spots, and huge waves everywhere we went. Was this Lake O. or was it just in my Nightmares. Pulled up on the spot we had caught 25 and 28 pounds on respectfully, and one of the locals was sitting on it. He said," Wish I would have known you boy's were coming this way. Already had 18 pounds off here. They kind of stopped biting now, you can go ahead and fish it." We caught 9 big pounds and that was it for our day. Lots of shorts into double digets on a rig. Good guide fish as some were over 2 pounds, but not derby fish.

RPS My banker out of the Knob, was up there last week trout fishing. He said they had no trouble getting under the bridge, going up. They went up to just below, Spider, and as soon as they got their baits out, the horn sounded. By the time they got back down, they scraped going under on the windshield of his center console Blue Wave. Folks, be careful unless you like to walk. RPS, please list you phone number as a shuttle service back to Eagle Rock, from Beavertown. Could be some gas money in it for ya.