Bill Babler

Moose, don't put 10 lb. on the 2500, it is not designed for that size of line. I have, a 100 of-em, including the 2500MG. 4 to 6 is great with 8 being pushing the limits. Line of that size will just jump off the spool. 8 is ok, but you cannot get much on the reel. Go with the 4 or 5 thousand if you wish to put 10 on. This is the voice of experience, with thousands of fish caught on the Shimanos. Just purchased 4 of the Orvis T3 flight travel, spinning combo's with the 5000 on MH 7' 3 piece, for the 10 to 12 lb. stuff, and 4 of the TFO UL and ML, 3 piece flight, spinning combo's, to use with the 2500MG with 4 to 6 lb. test. Using 10 lb. on the 2500 is like using 8 wt. line on a 4 wt. rod. I'll be at Naknek on the 5th. of Sept. Good Luck.

Ditto, on everything but the job. Good luck

Have not been on the Table Rock fourm in the past couple of weeks, simply because there are easier pickins. Did find my way onto the pond for 3 trips this week. Kind of a general lake report but not real specific, as I have not been out as much as Don or some of the other boys that are hitting the rock everyday. Went out of Shell Knob, BIG SUPRISE!!!! IF you work things right and are out by 5:30 there is kind of a 20 to 30 minute window of topwater action. Bluffends with pole timber. You got to be quick. I will make about 10 throws per spot and run like a jack rabbit to the next point. Fish are on the bottom at the Knob. 25 to 35 off the flat rolloffs. Good morning fishing at the knob, with the drop shot is 18 to 22 fish for the boat, not counting the gravy you may pick off the top. That little purple worm is catchen just as good, maybe, probably a little better than the crawlers. Don't know why. Baxter area also a target this week and the fishing is not nearly as good. No topwater action viewed even though I was out early. Fish more suspended here with 35 ft being a good depth. Not as much action on the flats as bluffends, again with a little pole timber. I am starting on the bottom at 35 ft. and them keeping the clients at that depth and moving as far out as 70 ft. maintaining the 35 ft. to the bait mark. 8 to 12 fish is just about doing all of us in this area. Don't know about Don and Rick, They have been working hard and are probably doing better. Campbell Point to Shell Knob Bridge area does have topwater action early, again off the bluffends and the timbered channel bank coves. 1 day this week, I had one client and we saw some big blacks chasing on top. He threw his fin at one and immediatly hooked up. I saw my oportunity and did the same. Both fish jumped and both were over 5 lbs. He was doing everything right with the fish, and it came unbuttoned. As soon as it did, a big K grabbed the fin and I bet jumped 5 times, and came off. During this wild action, I was cranking in my trophy and it swam past the front of the boat with my rod bent in an arch. There were at least a dozen keeper K's swimming with the black. It was pulling straight away and it came off. We both threw back out and hooked up again with the K's in front of the boat. You won't believe this, but they both came off. Nether one of us suck that bad, it was just a nightmare. Couldn't get another bite on the fin, so we started with spoons. He immediatly hooked up and that fish also came off right under the boat. About that time I saw them on the graph right under the boat and dropped the spoon and bang, I had one. Felt really wierd and heavy and was going in circles, and I reeled up. Looked down, and I had two keeper K's on the spoon, one on the main hook and one on the stinger hook, up the line. Guess What? The top fish dove and the bottom fish headed up and they both came off. They were only 5 ft. under the boat. Tons of fish in the area but they would not bite any of our vertical junk, so I flopped out a FB Jig and felt a tap. Bowed up will all my might and I put all 200 in it. My reel went Zip Zip and I felt the tug, tug, tug, NOTHING!!! Ended the day up there with 8 short fish and a whole bunch of whould have, should have, could have's Long Creek to Kimberling today and the fishing was pretty good. Glad Don spilled the beans on the whites, but I think everyone already knew. Don, Rick, Buster, and Tim Paige have been doing as well as anyone on these fish, but it is getting so crowded that I believe Don and Tim are getting fed up with it. As Don said the window is very short, and the huge crowds don't help. 46 boats this Am and maybe 25 fish caught, with Beck, Buster and I catching 3/4 of em. I weighed 3 over 4lbs. 48 feet suspended over 130 ft. Fishing in the dam area was fair this morning after the white maylay. 35 ft. on the bottom and also suspended on the major lake points. I was fishing a purple dropshot worm and my clients were fishing crawlers. I had to switch them as the purple worm, as it was just smacking the crawlers. Strange. Beck was the same, with the artificial doing the best. Back on the whites, they are extremely hard to catch at that depth, with just a swat or a slack line as the spoon drops, you really have to watch. Clients just flat had a hard time with them. The guides can catch them and hand the rods back to women and children, but it can be really frustrating for the once a year type fisherman, to try and sna-foo these deep fish. No matter how fast or slow it gets, you have to be a line watcher and be ready. Most of our clients just can't maintain that level of concentration for the period of time it takes to catch these fish. In August on Table Rock, you have to be a fisherman. It really helps. Most believe the full moon is holding the bite down. We will see, seems too be tapering off. Cape Fair to Aunts Creek seems to be pretty rough. Quite a few topwater attacks at daylight, and I said attacks, not hookups. The fish will blow on the bait and miss. I believe on purpose. At this stage of the year they have seen it all. Fish area a bit shallower 20 to 35 on the bottom. Shakey head and the Football jig seem to get you bit a little.

When I was fishing the lite's, flora had not yet came into the spotlight. I believe you may be onto something. I would try some 6 lb. and see if that helps. I am fishing 4 lb. on the Lilley and White River Outfitter Rods, as are the rest of the guides that are using them. The Micro lite is still a very good chose for the money. It's like anything else though, there is a better mouse trap. As far as reels are concerned, have you guys taken a look at the Stradic MG. Bass Pro on sale $159.00 Usual price $199.00 This is the highest rated spinning reel on the market. There are more expensive, but at this price with the Magnisium body, it is feather light with 5 ball bearing and and largest roller bearing on the market. Every major research firm rates it number 1 in quality and price for the money, nothing under $300.00 compairs with it. This is professional fishing equipment. Regular Stradic is on sale from $129.00 to now $99.00. If you are looking for a reel, this is the time, to pull the trigger. For under a couple of hundred bucks right now, you can be set for years to come. Good Luck

Boy's if you are not looking for a multi-piece outfit, the White River Outfitter signature rod from the Rod Shop is by far the best I have ever used. Although it has my name I recieve no money from any purchase, or for promotion, I just love these rods. These are made on 7'Plus Loomis Blanks and tied by the Rod Shop: Both ceramic and Sic Pro guides are available on the rod. Very fast tip, medium middle section, strong butt, Long handle. I believe $79.00 to $119.00, depending on handle and guides. Rods will handle line from 1 to 6 pound. I guided with the micro lite for years, and thought they were ok, but I missed fish on long casts, due to lack of backbone, I also thought the rod to have too much reverb after the cast as with light line the tip would quake for several seconds after the cast. When using a rod to guide with it also has to be firm enough thru the catching process that marginal fisherman can maintain prussure on the fish. The micro lite is very poor in this catagory. You need to hold the rod and the tip very still when reeling in fish or the vibration will cause them to come off. I also hate it that Bass Pro is to cheap, to put a hook keeper in front of the handle. The White River Outfitters Special or the Lilleys' Rod will really increase not only your casting and control distance, over the micro lite but will also put more bites in the boat. These are available at Lilleys", or the Rod Shop Phil has other house rods in stock, but ask and look for the Rod Shop Spinning Rods. The guides that offer these to their clients for use are; Myslf Buster Loving Bill Beck Tim Paige Bob Klien

rps, I have over 100 redfins, I have maybe two dozen that run like magic. No one said this was a cheap alterative. They are just a tool and in some situations will outpreform the spook. Usually early in the year. It's all just fun and money, don't take it to bad if you buy a few that don't work. As I stated both Don and I have tons of them for sale. No matter what you do, it just will not happen. Good Luck

Lots of fish in the Cooper Creek area. Fish pink micro's until the sun hits the water, then move to the restricted area. Size 16 to 18 black crome head midges fished as Phil said under a dry are doing very well until about 11 Am. Then go to the house.

1.Power generation, ie MONEY! 2.Floud control 3.Recreation Enough said.

You guys are making me Queezy. Donnie runs up there as much as anyone, just check out his gas bill, same as mine. He is smarter than me and usually stops by the 39 Bridge. I however will run to Beaver Town, and I do way to much. I just like the way those fish act up there. He has gotten on too and found good deep fishing around home. He is catching fish and saving gas. I'm still running the Baxter to Eagle Rock Route. With the size of this lake we all fish the entire body. A few years ago when gas was cheap, Mike Webb, was taking Big Cedar trips all the way to the hump at Basin Hollow. I don't believe he is making that run now. Some of the guys that have guided the dam area for years, are now fishing the upper James, and doing quite well. Just like real bass fishing. Jig and Pig and Texas Rigged worm. I lived at CP for 15 years, and we still have a family cabin in Turkey Two. All of the boys fish it. I would say, Rick, Don and I the most however. Tim Paige used to fish it alot, and knows the area very well. He is now Big Cedar's Number 1 House guide and its hard to get him booked outside of the dam area. Chris Tetrick also knows the area and has guided up there, quite abit. Before booking Chris however he has to ask permission to fish the area, as he is restricted to flat creek and the upper james river, to bridgport. Bill Beck, Buster Loving or myself must be called to give him permission. PS It must be in writting, and signed. Good Luck.

In that case, if I were you I would Proudly Claim Top Ten. That is by far the best one I have ever seen. As far as a spieces go, that well could be the fish of a lifetime. If a guy would catch a LM or a Small Jaw in the top ten, he would never stop smiling. No difference here. Now another question? With the meanmouth, being a hybred, can it spawn? An to whom would it make woppie? It might have a couple of choices. Thanks for letting us see this. Not everyday one of those babies comes along. Good Luck

Great Fish.. What is the State Record, and didn't Mike Webb, have it for awhile?

Your colors are good. Change the hooks to Gamey's, and smaller split rings that hold them. Dump the big split ring on the nose and put a speed clip on your main line, or use the smallest lightest split ring you can find, and there you have it. Fish the bait with your rod tip at a 45 to the water elevated, on a slightly heaver rod than you fish your spook. I like a 6ft or 6 1/2 for the spook, and at least a 7 footer for the fin. Some guys are using line from 12 to 20. I prefer 14 maxi. Don't Stop, Start, Jerk, Pause or do anything to the bait, other than a slow retrieve. You just want the tail to wiggle-diggle, so it looks like a snake coming thru the water. Any action you try and give the bait is a complete waste of time and for the most part, will mess up the wiggle-diggle. Never set the hook, until you feel the weight of the fish, or you will come home empty handed. They will miss this bait a bunch, but just keep it coming. If a fish rises on the bait and misses, keep it coming, don't stop!!!! most of the time if you pause, they will just melt off the bait. If you keep it coming either the same fish, or his running buddy will gobble it. This is very important. For the most part fins work excellent for chasers, bluff ends, or deep trees. I would stay with your spook for visable cedar, and shallow topwater points or flats fishing. They are just a tool and a bit tempermental at times. Don may be able to melt a bill, but unless you have lots of money to spend on redfins, I would keep the matches in my pocket, as they are not cheap. A little to much heat and curtains will fall. I am sure that Don has some that he has spent several hours on getting them just the way he likes-em. These are like Gold. I am also sure, just like me, he has some to sell really, really cheap. Good Luck

Really appreciate it Don. Knew it had to be better than what some of us are doing. I think most of us are trying to work that early bite, and they just are not positioned on the deep spots yet. I am trying to finish, about the time your starting to really catch them. Big Boats and heat are making me crazy. Sounds like I am missing the best bite. Keep up the good work. I'm going to have to get out that pick and shovel and dig a little deeper.

Gentlemen, as far as keeping fish. the area in question, that Phil has written about with the stairs, is well within the Restricted Zone, so the same rules apply here as the dam. Just thought I'd point this out, seems to be some confusion. The Restricted area starts at the mouth of Fall Creek, on the creeks upper boundary, and of course continues to TR Dam. From time to time, lots of waders in the area in question. I presume most to be guests at the FC Condo's. The flat sometime can be a very good location of emergers. There are also holes and pockets in this flat that nympths can be drifted and it is a very excellent place to wade, even if you are not fishing the boat lane. A very current report on the area from Point Royal down to the bait area is on zero or 1 generator. Sculpin Micro Jigs in 1/2 to Full micro drifted 4 ft. under an indicator Excellent to beyond belief. The guide boats are doing extremely well. Not much movement on the strike indicator, they seem to want a real dead drift. Black size 16 midges with a silver beadhead are also catching lots of fish, quality is very good. Again at this time of the year, large egg patterns seem to be very popular. Phil has a peach egg mounted on a silver jig headed hook that is about a size 8 or 10. It looks like a beach ball, but for the life of me, they just love that big thing right now. It comes in gold and silver on the head, and silver will outcatch the gold 4 to one. Some guys are using it for a attractor fly and swinging the midge or a size 16 tan scud under it, but the egg, will get 70 percent of the bites. The micro, will bury any of them however. Had a client last week that had been here on vacation for about a week, and had taken a drift boat trip, and a wade trip. Said the wade trip was very good on scuds, extremely small, 18 to 22 in size, purple and pink, a burnt orange and olive. About 30 fish on the morning trip. Drift boat was a midge trip and was ok, but completely burned to death sitting in the boat. Perhaps 15 fish on the 8 hr. day. Nothing like the wade trip. Will not say the numbers we caught on the sculpin micro, but there were 3 boat guides in the lower restricted area, all fishing the micro's and the least number of fish, that any of us had, during the 4 hr. period, was between 50 and 60. We were fishing it on flyrods, but the other two boats were on 7 ft. Rod Shop spinning rods. The fish ate everyone up reguardless of the fishing tool. On heaver generation, that stinky big egg, with some shot seems to be the second best bet, behind again a full micro in Pink with a Chrome head. Good Luck out there.

Just a quick note, as I have been on the water everyday on one lake or the other. Table Rock has gotten very mean for me, on the deep fish. I am just not getting it done out there. Good 4 hr. trips for me are a dozen to 15 fish and some days I am praying for that many. Topwater has retaken off and I am doing about as well on the top as anything, and it dosen't seem to have to be very early, they are just coming up from time to time. Mainly Bluff ends. Had 5 nice smallie keepers day before yesterday on a bluff end. Best fish was around 3 lbs. The trouble is you just can't fish the top and hope to do any good, you about have to see them blowing up. I believe they are roaming and chasing the shad schools, and just not living anywhere. I had been shotting some deep trees out there when they blew up in the bright sun all around us. Thankfully I had the fins on the ready. One of the group, started at 5:30 yesterday, and just drove his boat from spot to spot, looking for blow-ups. He caught 25 with 8 really good keepers, on spoons and fins. Zero when he tried to drop shot. There are a few guys doing quite well, I understand on deep docks and deep trees. Had a guest at the lodge report catching lots of quality short fish up to 14 inches on the bluffs, throwing a 1/4 oz slider head with a 4 inch green pumpkin worm, and bouncing it down the face of the bluffs. Don't know how reliable his info. is. He said, Nothing big but really fun fish. Almost all Blacks. I got a feeling its going to stay tough now until fall. good luck

Whom ever you are, Im with ya Buddy.

Last year as you know, Phil and I spent 2 weeks at the Naknek River camp at King Salmon. This area of Alaska is completely different from the years I spent at Bethel. I was not as enamored with King Salmon as Bethel, just from the fact of the wild raw beauty of the Bethel area in compairison to the Naknek, KS area. My oponion has changed since dramaticlly. Each area has very strong draws, and for sure the fantastic Rainbow and Sockeye fishing at King Salmon, is not duplicated in any fashion at Bethel. We during our brief stay did not have the time to explore Naknek lake or any of its tributaries which are magnificent. Wild life viewing if fantastic. I could spent a month just fishing the lake shore in Naknek. Fishing the river early for the Rainbows of that size would be a dream come true. I believe later in the season when other nearby rivers get stronger Silver runs it would be an easy fly out to these locations. I truly can't wait to go back. The Bethel area is different in the fact that the city recieves barge and Cargo aircraft service on almost a daily basis. There are stores in Bethel that rival any Sam's club I have ever gone to and also lumber and hardware stores as big as lowes or home depo. Boats and Cars are also for sale and fresh vegtables and fruit are always on hand. The fishing there is all small river fishing with some of the names being the most famous in the world. Aniak, Kisarlik, Kanectok, Eek, Kewthluk, and many more. All fly out and float rivers, with Bethel as the Hub. Every run of pacific salmon hit these rivers off the mighty Kuskokwim. If I had my pick however, I would head back to King Salmon and give this vary diverse area another try. I believe I will.

I need to see pic's of boat and cabin. Nice mess of salmon. I can say, I have never tasted better. Thanks.

Men, I am running a 21 footer with a duce and a quarter, and Monday at Shell Knob, that was not nearly big enough. Shell Knob, to Eagle Rock is the Cobalt Capital of the world. Lots of 30 plus footers, throwing wakes that were 4 ft. Deep V 3/4 throttle huge waves. Jet skies running amuk jumping the waves and running past me at no more than a cast from my boat. Sometime between me and the bank. All these people are not fisherman, and I am very glad about that. It is just the season to surrender the lake after 9 AM to these folks, and be glad they are not setting on your fishin hole. They will be gone soon, and we'll have our nice little pond back. Until then, just grin and bear-it.

Guys, the dam area is just plain HARD, HARD, HARD. One of the main reasons is just the constant prussure on these fish. Yesterday, for example I started at 6 AM and even by that time the first 4 or 5 spots I wanted to fish had boats sitting on them. When I launched at old 86 and came into the main channel, I had over 20 fisherman on that many different locations in view. When I went around the corner toward the bridge every flat, point and bluffend had fisherman on them. The bridge at 86 I will guarantee you was fished at least by 20 different boats on each pier yesterday. One of the only way these fish can go unmolested is to just suspend under moving shad schools in deep water, and that is what they do. You can find them from time to time, but it is a very rough go. Most of our clients are non-casters and a vertical presentation is about all 90% can do and there is only so much of that on the entire lake. At the Knob, there was only 1 other bass chaser on the ramp and we fished till 2:30 and I don't believe we saw another fisherman. They can be bad up there in the Spring, but in the Summer, they seem to slack off a bit. I will tell you this. Boating prussure and jet ski prussure are twice as bad from Eagle Rock to Campbell Point as they are anywhere on the lake. You just have to put up with all the ski boats at Shell Knob, they will run right over you if you are deep fishing. Dosen't bother the fish, but it scares my clients too death. I took waves over the side, over the bow, and lots and lots over the stern yesterday will fishing mid-day. Bilge pumps ran quite a bit. My clients live here at the dam, and they said they didn't know there was that much boating activity anywhere on Table Rock. We were taking so much water over the sides, One of the guys asked me if we were rehearsing for the Deadlest Catch. The other guy said where are the Crab Pots. With all the Resorts at the Knob and all the K. Camps the boating traffic, on that smaller water is horrendious. We had boats zooming between us and the bank and jet skies missing us by under a cast length running wide open. Very small water and tons of boat traffic. I probably fish the Eagle Rock area to Shell Knob more than any other guide, as I lived there for 15 years, but that area has tons more locations, and about a 1/4 of the prussure. Fish are in the same places they are down here, but they bite, and are not nearly so shy. In the dam area, I have been seeing fish zoom to the drop shot and night crawler and just peck it and melt away. At the knob, most times they eat it. Lots of these fish at the dam have been caught multiple times and they are wise to the ways of the world. I don't think I hardly ever have a day in the dam area that I catch a fish that dosen't have a hook sore in its mouth. Not the same as the knob. I have been fishing a shakey head and doing very well on it in both the White River and the James up to Cape Fair. Also 1 good day at the dam. Must have been a fluke. Drop shot is either a crawler or a 4 inch worm. You figure out the color. Have heard of zero topwater at the dam and have not seen any chasers. Most of the deep fin trees are to deep for topwater with all the rain we have been having. I can catch more on the plastic than my clients can on the crawler if I try. I don't. I would not be very serious, about fishing the Rock, until after the holiday. Next week should really kick off the deep season and a few of the holiday boaters will have gone home. good luck

Anytime you fish the rock it is always a challange, on the bank or in a boat. Great work GF, your oponion matters here. Good luck

Last couple of days to report on the rock. Fish seem to be in a real summer time pattern, but some of this stained water is really helping up the river arms. Lake temp for the most part is ranging from 79 to 83 degrees. Fished the dam area Sunday, with great results. Started looking for deep fish and could find no more than 1 per spot, with most coming suspended in the 24 to 33 ft. range, with very few on the bottom at those depths. Wind was blowing pretty good so on a wild hair, started throwing a 1/4 oz shakey head with a fish dr. on the windy banks. Kept the boat in about 30 ft. and most of the bites came in the 20 ft. range, catching 11 real quality fish, all keepers. 10 smalljaws and the other a K. Thought I had it made for Monday so took the clients back to the same locations. Same wind and clouds, but a totally different day. After 2 hrs. we only had 3 fish and the guys, asked if they were biting anywhere on the lake, they wanted a full day instead of the half if we could get them to bite somewhere. I said, "THE KNOB". Don't know how many we ended up with, but lots. Some on crawlers, most on the small 4 inch drop shot worm. Fish depths at 10 AM were 33 ft. and for some reason they moved shallower. Our last drops at 2:30 we had a double on keeper K's in under 20 ft. It was the origional spot I started on and just went back to it for one more try on the way in. Could see lots more fish on the graph, but we were done after a great second half of the day out of Shell Knob. Table Rock Lake fishing Report. Long Creek, *** Some really nice color in the water and reports of fair fishing for LM in 12 to 15 ft. on either jigs or the big texas rigged worms. Missouri border to Kimberling,* Extremely Poor, Most fish suspended at 23 to 30 over varing depths, as great as 150. Not lots of fish per location. Wind and clouds, can shallow up this bite on the right banks. Got one report yesterday of bottom fish in the 50 ft. range, however, Too deep for me. Kimberling to mouth of James,** Same report as the dam but just a little better bite. James River,**** Lots of color and all three species of Black Bass seem to be doing very well, fishing traditional methods. Jig, Rig, Shakey Head, and Texas rigged worms are catchin-em, just like real bass fishin. James River to Kings River at Shell Knob,** Bite seems to be on the bottom in the 23 to 40 ft. range with limited fish per location, so lots of moving is in order. Crawlers and drop shot seem to be taking the most fish. Catfishing excellent on crawlers while bass fishing. Whites seem to have vanished lake wide with but a blow-up or two not lasting over 30 seconds. Whould like to have some reports on these fish, if you are finding them. Kings River,** Walleye are being caught by back trolling and vertical presentations with bottom bouncers with crawlers. Deep diving cranks trolling the flats in the 18 to 26 ft. range are also catching some nice eyes. Bass seem to be fair, same methods as the James. Shell Knob to Beaver Town,**** Bass fishing excellent on drop shots in 20 to 35 feet with multiple fish per location. Early topwater bite on main lake flats and cove mouths. Last two weeks, walleye are being taken with some regularity on the Arkansas Portion, and from drop shotting the ends and roll offs of the flats from the knob to BT. My clients have caught 5 really nice eyes, during that stretch, all keepers up to 6 pounds and we have only kept 1. Let us know how your fishing is going, we appreciate it. Good Luck

Been off for a few days. Guess this stirred up a can of worms so as to speak. Gonefishin, Topic was started on keeping short fish. Could careless how many you keep. Got a feeling your not hurting the population very bad anyway. Gosh, I miss the days of Silver Mallard, to keep you in check. There is no easy thing as an easy guide day on Table Rock Lake PERIOD.... If you think so, I'll be glad to spend the day with you and your crawlers, and see how many fish we can put in the boat. I'll even pay for the gas, and worms. Go out on a practice round and see how many you can put in the boat in a 4 hour period. Catch and release of course. If its under 25, don't call. I know of very few guides that kill Bass. I have not filleted one for a client that was still kicking in the last 15 years, so I don't want to hear about a double edged sword. I use crawlers, almost everyday now on the rock so am not against it at all. Poor writing caused all this hub-bub. I just don't want people killing short fish. Most people got the gist of this however.

Marsha did a wonderful job filling me in, however I'm sure lots were wrong or misrepresented coming third party. Can't wait to hear the accual events, I was with you everyday, even when you were hammering nails. So great to have you back safe and sound. Will probably be down latter today.

Tight, I'm sure I'm in about as much charge of the household as you are. NONE. Thank the Lord and be thankful for what you get. Two, Can't wait for those Mater's \ What about that Ribeye thing??? I have a stash of Ice Cream she dosen't know about, I'm about to hit it. I said Ice Cream, Not her Ice Milk.