Bill Babler

Guys, Buster and Paige hit it pretty hard in the Dam to Kimberling area the last couple of days. They both did have nice quality keepers but both reported the bite was a lot more active from Pt. 16 up the White. Get a nasty day with some rain a little wind, not a gale and the smalljaws will kick it in, in that dam area. Lots of males getting active up the White and that accounts for good numbers of fun fish. won't win you a tournament but their girl friend will if you are in the right place at the right bite. It.s just starting to kickin.

Talked to SKMO by phone, he is having internet problems, but will soon be back online. I don't believe he has had time to fish much up the White, but believe he intends to hit her hard next week. Please refer to my posts up to Campbell Pt. and just continue on with the same pattern. It should hold to about roaring river.

Kind of a general lake bass report for March 30th. Reports by Tim Paige Ozark Mountain Guide Service, Buster Loving, Buster's Guide Service and Little ole me. Big Cedar to Kimberling area, water temp in the 47 to 49 degree range. Nice spotted bass starting on swimming minnows and grubs swam on 3/16 or 1/4 oz jib heads off the main lake and secondary points. Use 6lb. line, put the boat in about 20 to 24 ft. of water and work the windy banks, following the contour of the bottom as you swim the grub slowley back to the boat. Seconday flat and gravel points in the same region use sitckbaits in Table Rock Shad, and Purple and Chartruse. Have the bait slightly sinking and impart just enough movement on the bait to make it flash. We will also clasify this as the dam area and fish are also being taken in some of the main lake coves on a splitshot rig or a traditional Carolina rig, using a fish dr. or finess worm in either green pumpkin, or watermellon. Don had reported earlier that he is catching some fish in Beardsley Branch on this method. Fish seem to be coming in the 12 to 18 ft. range. Haven't been to far past Aunts Creek, so won't comment on the James. Kimberling to Shell Knob. Hang on! Water temps in the 51 to 53 degree range and fish are really nipping. Had about 35 fish yesterday on my trip out of Kimberling with 8 solid keeper size fish. Two Blacks in the 4 1/2 lb range and some toad KY's. Keep heariing of people catching close in fish on warts in the main lake pockets, so we melted the paint off them yesterday. One of the Blacks came on a wart but that was the only bite we had on it. Probably tried it in at least 20 places, wehre I have taken them before on it. No luck. Tried a rig some in good rig places but only 1 short smallie. You know me, I had to throw those custom sticks and everywhere we tossed it was litup. Was fishing a tourmanmet guy and he just wanted spots to fish on Sat. so we didn't stay anywhere long, but man were they biting the stick. Main lake flat points with any wind whatsoever and you could count on a bite. If you are unfamiliar with Table Rock and are tooling down the lake and see a flat gravel point and think I would never fish there, you just goofed. These fish love wind and flat gravel, especially if there is a major cove next to the flat. Don't pass them up. Didn't get above Campbell Pt. so I will have to get back to you on the upper White. Should be on a wart up there if you can put the stick down. Did have 4 shorts on the PBJ but just could not put the stickbait down.

Don, take a quick look, I'm sure it was just a type O, but the length limit on the Mo. section for Spots is 15 inches. Arkansas is 12 inches, but may not be transported back across the state line. Brett, didn't mean to just your case, and it has nothing to do with how I make my living. You or anyone else is entitled to any fish you wish to keep that is legal. I will guarantee you that Don feels the same way. I have chosen not to kill any of the 3 black bass varities we have for personal reasons. I have fished and guided here since 1968, and have seen a trememdious transformation in the bass populations. Thru the 60's and 70's we were a predonimate largemouth fishery. In the late 70's the spots really started to come on. When I went back to full time guiding in 1992 based out of Shell Knob, it was not uncommon from that period until about 2000 to catch and release a 100 plus spotted bass per day. Any day, Everyday. These were fish that occupided deep structure, channel swings and humps, along with just roamed around chasing shad. Many a time I had boaters approach me in the middle of the lake and asked if I was broke down. People just didn't know the fish were out there. These were not tournament fish as the largemouth population was good and you just frankly could not win a tourmanent on a limit of spots. The big boys just called them guide fish and could care less about the Ky's. I remember Rick Holmgran of Shell Knob a good friend and one of the best ever tournament fisherman on TR, asking me why I even messed around with those little fish and that I should concentrate on real fish. Boy how times have changed. With the fishing shows and the guide trips and the quality of off shore electronics, these places were discovered and people learned how to take these off the bank fish. AS the largemouth population dwindled and the size went down, the tournament boys now started to target the spots that had, had pretty much no prussure. It changed the fishing as we know it on Table Rock when these discoverys were made. In 1999 and again in 2000, devestating fish kills affected both the largemouth and then the spotted bass. While the spots are more nurmerious than the largemouth, they are still nothing like it used to be. I had places up the White River Post Spawn where spots would be on channel swings recovering from the spawn that would hold litterly 100's of bass. They now hold some. Buster Loving, Tim Sainato, Tim Paige, Bob Tindle and I could all literally tie our boats together and catch and release fish for days at a time. We never killed the fish and still we saw the population slowly diminish. Tim Sainato, found a fall spot up the White that you could literally catch bass on until you were wore out. In a 3 day period, Tim, Buster and I caught and released with clients a number of fish that was just to unbelieveable to print. This was before the drop-shot, on spoons and rigs. only a few live there now. Brett, nither my clients or myself have anymore right to the fish than you do. The good Lord has blessed me and allowed me to follow my dream to do what I do. I would never dictate morality as far as the fishing or expect anyone to release fish so my clients could catch more. I just want there to be fish here for my childrens, childrens. As you stated it took you 20 hours to catch 1 legal fish. THAT'S NOT BECAUSE YOUR A BAD FISHERMAN, Think about it! When I was in College a frieds folks had a cabin in Beardsley Branch, we could walk the bank and catch largemouth, non-stop on a texas rigged ringwrom with a fire or blue tail. Showing my age. I must have been to the cabin dozens of times at all times of the year and we could catch them anytime. We had fish frys. Wish we would have just had fun and grilled a hamburger, and maby great guys like you could still walk the bank in Beardsley.

Brett, Killing bass that are getting ready to spawn is not exactly the way to solicite information on this site. With the trouble's we have had here in the past, putting a knife to females getting ready to help repoplulate a lake that is not or will never be stocked is not how most of us operate. Sam's club, has farm raised catfish fillets for about $1.99 per pound. They are delicious. Help us promote and preserve this great fishery by purchasing a bag and letting these fantastic fighting fish reproduce at their most vulnerable time of year. Everyone that reads this site and depends on it for information will truely appreciate it. Thanks Bill

Wonderful week on taney with the EMJ group, but lots of work. 16 big boat trips with lots of fisherman ready for a trout cook off on the MDC. My hands are a mess, every finger with a cut or hole in it. My lip is split right up the middle and my cheeks so chapped they are like leather. Still wanted more and SKMO and I had a great day on the rock. A real relaxer. I didn't have to tie on one bait for him or unhook his fish. It was nurvona. I hope he dosen't see this, as he will want the full treatment next time. SAY, those were his fish. He should have tied on my baits and took off my fish. Maby next time.

Probably a little late and I'm sure your going now, but that is a huge problem with the Rudes. There are two square relay or fuses, 1 up and 1 down. You can switch the two to get you up or down. I used to carry at least 4 extras in the repair kit and most people with the rudes do. It may also be the fuse board as this has happened too. Good luck I also may have missed the reason all together. The fuses have saved me many, many times.

After a full hard week on the trout it's nice to have a buddy that has a handle on the rock. Great trip today on the middle section of the White River arm of Table Rock lake. SKMO may not say so but he backed up what he told me yesterday. Blue Bird day, and some competition on our spots, but a great day on the water. I'll take that anytime. When your dealing with KY's and Smallies this time of year, you are dealing with critters on the move. What's good for you today may be completely wrong the next. If you have a spot holding fish, there is probably not a greener pasture around the bend, don't leave whats working. We worked a great location 3 times and it paid off on the second helping. Good advice. On the wife deal, God bless both of us.

If Don and Rick are catching fish in the 7 to 10 lb. class, they are the ones to go with None of the rest of us can even touch that. 6 lb. smallies and 6 lb meannouth, are all near lake records. All the rest of us poor guides have a lot to learn. I would never tell anyone that I can produce those type of results as it would come back to haunt me forever. 30 years on the rock and I have only had 3 fish in the 9lb. range. Even in its absolute hayday this type of fish was extremely hard to come by. As Bobby Tindle has said to me, if you even tell someone they can expect a 5lb fish here, you are going out on an impossible limb. Yes they get caught on a simi-regular basis, but I sure wouldn't say I could come up with them on a guide trip. What I can catch and what the average client can catch are two very different things. No one can beat Bobby Tindle for large fish on the Rock and even Bobby would never tell you that kind of fish is possible. Good luck, we'll keep practicing.

FliTrap, I will try and get one up today. Phil if you have a small 1/2 micro in archives please put the pic up. Thanks Bill

Truth be known, I believe thats what the Hilton is counting on down the road. Lets not get in a stew, It's not happened yet.

I'm sure you are right and that's the best way to look at it. We all are afraid of change and like the status-quo. I know we will continue to do all we can to make our guest feel like family. Most of this right now is speculation and we are all very concerned about upper taney which for me is one of the main reasons besides our wonderful native people for being here. We could have built anywhere but love our neighbors and friends in the branson area. It is truely home.

Try Lake Fork in Texas for the 9 lb. If it happens on Table Rock, I want your autograph.

Sorry Phil, you should have said it. I was agreeing with Brian.

Guys, as most of you know, my wife and I just completed a life long dream of a bed and breakfast out on Table Rock. Now with the influx of condos it really makes it tough. There are adds Running out there for 2 bedroom jacuzzi condo suites with fireplaces, show tickets and SDC tickets going for $250.00 per week. We have even seen 3 nights stay for free, with the same free tickets. All they are looking for is numbers, like Phil said it is new money with new ideas, comimg from corporations that losses are fine as long as dollars are generated. Breakeven is more than good. High prussure sales are the norm and complaints are rampaid. We have had both Taney and Stone county officials at the lodge and they say the complaints on the high prussure sales are huge. The deals are so good just to get the folks in that they can't refuse, and once they have you, getting away is a nightmare. I think we are in for a wild ride

Amen!

You guys are making my skin crawl. This may ruin one of the best fisheries in the United States. I would take 100 casinos in Rockaway over this Branson Project. We need to run a fence across the lake at monkey island.

Guys, from what I'm hearing the snagging is going at an unbelieveable rate. Spoke to Tony Weldele one of our Taneycomo guides and he reported he guided Flat Creek yesterday and limited out early. For those of you that don't have the equipment and would like to give these big boys a shot give Tony a call at 417-294-7335. I also believe that Don House may guide for paddle fish. It can be some work but fresh water halibut as they are known, if cleaned properly are fantastic table fodder. If you have never went after these behomoths, give one of these boys a ring.

Fished upper taney the last couple of days with excellent results from fall creek to lookout. Lots of guide boats in the restricted area on monday and lots and lots of fish being caught all day. Best catches still seem to be on the 1/2 sculpin micro jig, this jig is a 256 oz. Yes thats little, it is a bout a size 14 in fly terms, or a straight line sculpin 1/32 sculpin jig. On monday with the cloudy water spoons and inline spinners were also taking large numbers of fish. The water really cleared on tuesday and the chase fishing slowed down quite a bit, but the jigs keep really producing. Didn't get out until 2pm but Buster started around noon and said they had really hammered them before I got up there. We found it pretty slow for the first couple of hours, then the swithch turned on. About 50 fish on the trip with most coming in the last 2hr's before dark All on the sculpin micro jig. Did see one guy really hammering them on a beaded egg fly. He was doing at least as good as we were, maby better. Drifted 3 different scud patterns during the slow time with very poor results. Don't know why, but as soon as you switch to the micro, it's fish On!

Tons of good guides are fishing the White below Bull Shoals dam. Email some to see the type of fishing they prefer and see if it matches your experence level and how you want to catch the trout. Are you a fly fisherman? Do you like to bait fish? are you only wanting to target big fish? Do you just want a day on the water catching lots of trout? they should have a very good idea of their catch rates per day and tell you within a few fish how you will fare. If you want to spend a day in the Branson area and fish taney, Check out Lilleys landing, one of the best fly shopes in the area with loads of fishing information, for both pro and novice. Our guides are currently, and consistantly catching 50 plus trout 4 hrs. and 100 plus catch and release in 8 hr. trips. Either artificial spincast or fly. You may also retain a nice limit of these great eating fish from upper taney. All Lilleys' guides have years of experence on taney and you can read their articles on this fourm. They guide most everyday during that time frame so call early. Good Luck 1-800-lilleys.

Haven't seen Dale in a while since he quit guiding and went to coaching. Had lots of nice trips with him in the mid to late 90's. Don't know about the other guys. As for the whites there are some guys that are just marvelious on those critters. I'm not one of them during the spawn but a terror pre-spawn. People think they are good in March and April, but they are very sensitive to weather before and during the spawn. If you can consistantly get them you are good. After the spawn lookout as they are great in the Baxter and Shell Knob area. Don't know about the guys you mentioned. Have heard of the crappie guy.

Great point by petertherock. Now is not the time to cut the bouy points. Slow down and stay in the channel. I am however seeing quite a bit of structure that is going in the old memory bank for future use. Be Safe.

Had a great morning with SKMO. Not a lot of crappie but sure nice quality. I believe the muddy water got to us a bit. I thought it would clear out by the end of deer bluff, but it was muddy in SKMO's best spots. We'll get them next time. Loved your technique, I'm going to get one of this big poles and give her a try. Boy when the wind started to blow it was fun to hit the transitions with the stick. I believe if we would have had some time we could have gave them a wippin for a change. But you know how it is when you have to work for a living. Ha! Thanks again SKMO best time I've had in a good while. PS Becky is thrilled with the sign. Many thanks.

If I'm not mistaken, the first warning came out in 2001. There may have been a problem before this however that was not detected. The reason for the detection was a huge raw sewage spill into the James River in 99 and another in 2000. At this time a bass kill occured up the James river as Phil had mentioned, and this was the first area affected. for the non-consumption of bass. This was in 99 and a lot of people thought we had largemouth bass virus. Bill Anderson our fisheries biologist at the time said the virus was never documented and the LM kill may have been the sewage. As you all remember this was the last time we also had really low water. After the spill for the next couple of years we had huge alge blooms and off color water. The kill manily affected the LM but the spots were also hit to some extent. I think when they were studying the dead or dying fish they determined the fish also were carring the heavy metals. From what I understand quite possibly from tons and tons of fertilizer run off. All our northern brothers that are moving to the lake region over the past decade, feel they need to mow grass on rocks and red clay that were never meant to have grass. Huge quanities of fertlizer will not penetrate our nonporious clay and simple runs into the lake. I know we have also changed our farming practices and have many, many poultry farms in northern Arkansas that drain into the white river basin. It is simpley an accumulation over the years, of use and miss use. I am also sure that the fossil fuels probably have made a contribution. People have been asking why the bass are the most affected? The 3 Black Bass species we have like crustations and are the biggest crawfish eaters. The crawfish are the first affected with the metals and it is just a progression. I have fished on the upper kings river since the early 80's and I used to able to catch 100's of crawfish in the river. Now there are some but nothing like in the past. I used to catch them by the bag full in Flat Creek. Now you have to work to find a hat full. I guess this is the new world. I liked the good old days.

Sorry, thought he said he was going to tablerock and wanted to know what the whites and smalleys were hitting on. If you have an established pattern on any of the ozarks lakes at this time frame for the whites, I'm sure everyone on the fourm could really use some help. You don't need to give away your honey holes, just more info on depth bodies of water and what they may be eating on a constant basis for grub. All good information is really appreciated. Word is out that nice walleye are being taken out of Bear Creek up Tucker Hollow on creek chubs. A few Whites and Crappie have also been taken in that area of Bull S. Other than that not alot of info.