Bill Babler

I know I get a lot of grief here about Wheeler. But, remember this, fishing has been my sole source of income for the last 30 Plus years. It has made my life and put me where I am now. I have never, never seen anyone like this guy. KVD in his prime was the best. Prior to him, Denny Braur, Rick Clunn, and Gido Hibdon were the standard. Doesn't matter where he comes out tomorrow he is the most feared fisherman of the now modern age. Pretty much Patrick Mahomes of bass fishing. He won't win them all but he for darn sure is going to win way more than his share. The forward facing sonar, the Google Earth, the side scan and the 2D. He has no equal, nor do a lot of these young guns. Michael Neil and the rest of Wheelers Rat pack. Connell and the rest of them. Gerald Spohrer, Jordan Lee even young is an old schooler. De'foe and several other ole schoolers compete well, but make no mistake we are in the computer age of bass fishing. Evers at time is getting better, probably the best old school guy in the new age. These guys see 99 out of every 100 fish they catch, dose not matter if the fish is 2' deep or 60' deep. Takes them 2 minutes to tell if it will bite or not. We'll see again how this year works out, but it is a totally different game at that level. These kids have turned fishing into pure science and money. They have really removed the fishing in a fishing sport. The word of the day is technology. The phrase of the day is how to use it to make money. There is a handful of these youngsters that have it by the tail with JW leading the way.

What he said. Thanks dpitt, you put the icing on it. I'm sure he spent some money on those and as soon as we say they won't like em, they munch them. Crazy trout will at times eat anything from a size 32 fly to a piece of hot dog.

Great Point Jerry, as we have fish that at times depending on clarity that will spawn in the 20' range. Guys that did good today fished a jerk bait.

I'm thinkin they might just chew on a jerk bait. Good Luck

James Watson is in 40th. Place. 1 or 2 Florida strain LM bites below the cut line. Everybody is still in this going into the 3rd. period. This group of 40 anglers has caught 70 keepers in 200 man hours of fishing today. That's a keeper at only 1.8 pounds. Some of those stocky Florida bass would be short here. Mike is in 29th. and only one 4.5 pound bite below the line. With that wind, I would just have to keep that sticker in my hand. Wow.

Yep pretty sure that's right Willy. That was a terrible struggle too.

What a horrible grind. 38 total fish in the 1st. period with 5 guys catching 15 of those. Last time I remember a fishery this stingy, it was the Monongahila out of the twin cities. I think that was a Classic that KVD WON but I’m probably wrong on all of it. I think there was 3 rivers or some such. What ever it sucker as bad or worse than this.

Just launch at Cooper to avoid problems. That ramp above Short Creek is a complete disaster except for personal water craft. It can be done but just not worth the wetness or effort.

By inflating the worm your going to elevate your scud off the bottom. Size 12 is not to large, but you might stop in Lilley for perhaps a different color pattern. Check with them for the size and color the fish are on at that time. Good Luck

You have learned well Grasshopper 🤪

She has some that rent for over $15,000.00 a week. Most are already booked for the entire Summer season if 2022. It totally amazes me the money that is out there. A good client rented one on Indian Pt. Year before last, a 7 bedroom an his stay was 20 grand. He thought it was really reasonable. Our son is an engineer and travels a lot for work. His budget is $500.00 per day for food lodging. If he entertains clients it has no cap. when I was on the state patrol our budget was $25.00 for meals. 35 cents a mile and $35.00 a night for lodging. That was 1985.

The lady next door to us owns, “Owns” 135 VRBO’s in the Branson area. An investor sight unseen just bought a neighbors house for 2.95 million for a VRBO. 20 acres just down from our house, lake front, lake view just sold last week for 2.1 million. Horrible access and logistics going to build from what they are saying 40 VRBO’s. Times have changed

Agree with what your saying about Marty, however he had some great points today and about every guy that was doing any good echoed them. One of his best points was fish this time of year and no one know the reason are in small isolated areas. Places that are the exact or near the same may not hold them. You get on a stretch no matter how small and catch them. You better hang around. Especially on that pond.

Really slowed down. Man that's a grind. Super hard, glad I'm not fishing. Not a lot if fun.

He is simply nailing it today. Fantastic fishing Intel. These guys will catch more today, they are off to a way faster start. Saw my first boat with 6 graphs, Lowrance. Michael Neil jumped from Nitro to Phoenix this year. My regional rep. told me he forgot to enter into First Flight and then he won the Rayburn deal. Cost him $35,000 in Phoenix Prize money. Ouch.

I have new Cara Crankers in stock, the Rod that McClelland, designed for his RK crawler. Last week Phil Stone had some new Jewel Rods in the boat made by Ark Rod out of Harrison Arkansas. They were more than sweet. USA made from the same factory as the Original Cara. I think a son-in-law bought the business. Looked really similar to the Falcon, except the split grip that was a very sticky rubber material, that I really liked. Lite as a feather. I picked up a cranker and also a jerk bait rod. They were new and Phil had not had a chance to fish them. Said they were priced similar to the Falcon Just looked them up. $289.00 for the Red Series. Some cork handle some rubber. 1 yr warranty returns $25.00. Later warranty $100.00 no lifetime. Just don't know enough about them yet.

I like to do lots of other things, so when and if that day happens, I'm fine with it. I get so tired of all the bitching and complaining about docks I can't stand it. Absolutely nothing but a hole in the water to throw money into. We have had a dock here for 50 years and I have not used it 50 times. Probably will never use it again.

We have one and I wish they would tell us to remove it and get it out of the lake. That would be the best possible news.

Phil Lilley has been delivering aluminum bass boats up on the Rock at times for weekly rentals. Don't know if he is doing that this year. You would have to call Lilleys. I know he has delivered some to the Baxter area in the past.

Throw in the Fann Brothers and Kelly Powers and you can shut the door on that small room.

Unless your Buster fishing Bull. He has caught more walleye over 10 pounds than I have caught bass over 6 pounds. That is one great fish Dennis. Was it on a jerk bait?

I don't think he got lucky. Hammered 26 plus pounds on the final day with an 8 pound 9 ouncer He is not Wheeler, but he and Dustin Connell are durn close. These 28 to 38 year olds are hard to beat. Throw in Jordan Lee with Connell, Wheeler and Neil and that is 4 dudes under 32 that are pretty much owning it.

Michael Neil won the circuit last year. Has also won on BPT.

Word now for the reason, if it would have been the BPT, that's the way they would have done it, as they are full-time professionals. This series lots of these guys work jobs and have to get on the road as to not miss much work.

So I guess they just knock out a day and go to the top 10 today. In reality it should have been top 50 and then top 10. I'm a bit confused