Bill Babler

I really think the wake baits kind of blew it up. At one time especially when the front runner was going strong all we had was temperamental Redfins. Now, there are a multitude of throw it out reel it in baits that catch the tar out of them that are super simple to use and you don't have to be able to walk the dog. White bass totally loved that front runner and if you had a multiple hooked bait plus the Runner, you had an emergency room visit in your near future.

Those big Brown fish like that don't get the blood pumping you need to take up badminton.

Ham, both you and James are totally correct, just makes no sense. James, at one time and they still may didn't BASS limit the number of rods a participant could have in the boat? Pretty sure MLF doesn't conspire to this rule. I don't know diddly squat about frog fishing, but good grief I'd be out of sticks in an hour breaking them at that rate.

I’m hearing 25’ to 35’ boat in 40’. Lots of Shad on the bottom in that range. Phil said you could see both the fish and the Shad.

I'm going to get out Monday in an ankle brace. Getting rid of the walking boot on Friday. Reports from a couple of sources today that its about time to get after the big Jaws. We have discussed this quite a few times. Big jig and deep water. They just were not out there last year. They are now. Mostly on long gravel. And a big jig of 5/8-7-8-3/4 or 1 oz. I like the big Nicholes 5 inch craw and stroll or drag it really slow. Hope Bo isn't listening Said there were some quality K's mixed in. That's what I'm talking about. Goid Luck

Cool pics thanks. You all remember when the Front Runner was the deal. Lots of doubles on that and a spook. I'm showing my age there. I'll have to look and see if I still have any.

Totally impossible to tell how long a fish is from a picture. Holding them up like that. What ever Randy says they were is gospel to me.

Great derby up there. Jimmy Washam wins it with the biggest derby bag. Bobby Lane picks up another Duce. Is that 3 this year? Washam a full time deputy, only been competitive bass fishing 5 yrs. Great story.

Yep. That’s his small one. Couple of toads there.

Mitch Crane has broken 4 rods this week. Most every other angles at least one. It has to be the braid doesn't it. Last week they were breaking them while boat flipping. This week its on the snap/ie hook set. As hard as rods are to get right now, even for those guys, its a real issue this year. And yes, they continue to stomp all over them on the front deck. Its a bad look for them and a terrible look for the rod builders, manufacture. Crane's are custom built, he is doing that builder no favors snapping them at this pace. It however has gone on all year with lots of guilt party's. Between the two tours they have broken more rods than Bass Pro has in stock.

Never Home. 😄😄😄

What a nightmare. That's a great story. One White bass or 1 catfish can really sour your day, hitting the middle bait of a spider rig. It can create a gill net of lines in about a half second. Experience speaking here. That would be another great topic. Worst Wrecks you have ever had. Guiding for almost 30 years I've had some Ploozers. Thanks for playing guys, some great stuff here.

Finished 14 th. $11,500.00 winner. Needed one more bite after a really slow start to the day. He fished with a heavy heart this week as his Uncle Don passed. His uncle and Aunt that also passed late last year were the reason Mike moved to Blue Eye. He got the land for his beautiful home from them, just 1 house up the road from me. His next event will be St. Claire in 3 weeks, on the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Forgot about that durn thing. That don't count Dutch. 😄😄😄

Kind of looks like a place that Randy might have fished. 😃

Catchin those whites on a multiple triple hooked bait is like trying to release a mad porcupine. Fun stuff.

Nice lady from KC caught this double on a fin in June 2019. The post about advice not working well got me thinking. Bill’s first cast with a wart on that bank Stone told us about, he caught a double on LM, both solid 3 pounders. We weighed both and won the derby Tim Sainato and I had 3 doubles on a drop shot in the early 2000’s in a derby using tandem drop shot rigs. We used to use 2 hooks all the time, never do anymore. There was a huge school of post spawn K’s off Sycamore point going into Campbell Point Marina. Tim and I and I’ve told this story before had a 13 pound limit in under 10 minutes. Also fishing the Heartland fish off on Grand the same year I had 2 doubles the same day on a spook. All 4 keepers and we weighed 3 of them. What’s some of your double stories and a picture if you have one?

Dutch, you really nailed it. It is so hard to replicate another guys success or even location or technique. In all my years only one time has a location or bait worked for me. Phil Stone put Beck and I on a stretch of bank on a wart. We caught a big limit in about 45 minutes on a city block long wiggle wart stretch right where he said he left them the day before. Trouble is if they're schooling fish they move. These were March 1st. fish working a crawfish bank. We've discussed this many times. Why they are on one small stretch and not on 1000 look alike stretches early in the season is a mystery, but that's always the case.

Internet. MLF live on line. Tackle Warehouse circuit.

One of the best pictorial write ups we have ever had on this forum. Can't thank you enough.

Beautiful fish thanks for the report. Always look forward to reading how your doing.

Most everyone likes Johnny and Rick, so welcome to the club. Rick is more than happy to give you a tip if you need it and a very nice guy. The only different that Rick and I have ever had is on electronics and that is pretty much Ford/Chevy. Have no idea what he is currently using. Have only spoken to Johnny 1/2 dozen times. he is always soft spoken and very interested in what your saying and doing. Very genteal man. His business and marketing strategy has made him billions. Makes products a little less quality and sell it for a little less money. Pretty much the same business acumen as Sam Walton, to some degree. Both great Americans. I just don't subscribe to cheaper and less quality is better. That's why Tackle Warehouse is the largest online fishing tackle purveyor in the country. A few others feel the same. Thanks for posting

Don’t know him from Adam and the topic is about him. I like everyone else have never seen the like. If what he is doing and this started over 10 years ago with back to back wins on the elite series. If you don’t like the topic don’t read it. Simple as that.

Just listened to a pod cast about the Mississippi that had Tom Monsoon, from Lacrosse Wis. Said Wheeler is the best there ever has been and the best there ever will be when its all said and done. Pretty bold statement. Listened the other day to a similar scenario of wanting to take the best of the best, top ten in MLF and fishing 10 lakes from Florida to Texas to Canada. They thought on the low end Wheeler would win 5, but most probably 7 events. Guy is getting phenomenal respect. If he wins on St Clair, that record will never be broken unless he does it himself. He was 5 minutes from winning on Chick. KVD hung on by the skin of his teeth. Marty Stone said 1 or 2 more cast and he would have won guaranteed.

Flutter spoon and jerk bait too. So neat to see how many fish see and follow the bait. On the other hand sad to see the amount of fish that swim off and refuse it.