Bill Babler

I guess that’s why Dave uses a higher speed reel. Looks like a great way to catch them, however it may be for less mature guys if you have to do it day after day

On another note Quill, you introduced me to Baltimore Blonde at jig fest. That’s no way to treat a friend, I’m addicted.

Can’t believe it took you 20 years to learn that lesson 🤪 sounds like a great day anywho. Got to go when you can however.

It’s going to be mid to low 80’s Monday Thru Wednesday at Dayton with extreme humidity. Can KVD at 54 years old fish at that pace with that pressure those 3 days? 10 years ago no problem. I think now he is going to have to find another pattern. To tell you the truth, I was a bit worried watching him in period 3. He was breathing very hard and really in pain on every cast. It was 86 out there today. At times it was painful to watch. As Jeff said EE was deep cranking, but pretty much the way we were all taught to do it, lots of pause and sweeps after he cranked the bait down. I think if he some how does not beat out EE and get a day break, the big boys will run him down in the knockout round. To many of those young stud off shore electronic wizards in both groups that he really does not have much separation on, including Ehlier, Connell, Lee, and probably our winner Wheeler He sure had a good day for us mature fisherman today however.

Just read an article by David Fritts. He deep cranks with an 8.2 I can understand that is your wanting to move it fast for a reaction bite. Thanks for the info guys, had just never seen that technique till this year to that extent of such speed cranking

KVD is simply worn down. I just can't get my head around Ultra Fast cranking with a 5.3 when you can get more speed on minimal handle turns with a faster reel. And for that matter not Kill yourself. I can throw an A-rig all day and not be as worn out as he is and I'm in my middle 60's. I just don't understand the physics of it. Jordan Lee yesterday Was turning even faster, but he is younger.

As a matter of fact I tried that after watching them the last few weeks. I could not make it run true. I tried 3 new ones and they all ran sideways no matter what I did, at that speed. I was running a 7 to 1. I could slow it down and it would run OK, but I wanted to try fast and it didn’t work for me. That’s why I posed the thread. I could swim a Keitech or fish a jig and catch them. Nothing cranking. Kevin is totally smoked out. Bet he sleeps good tonight if he’s not to sore, he is moaning on every cast

I have just never seen the speed they are running these 7XD and deeper cranks. Simply as fast as you can turn the handle I’ve watched KVD simply wear down in the last 3 hrs he is working so hard at turning that reel handle. Jordan Lee could in no way have turned his handle faster yesterday and it was just like that last week and even some on Travis in pretty cold water. Like to know how much tuning it takes to make ANY crank bait run true at those speeds Really interesting.

The last two weeks I’ve been watching these MLF Pro’s deep cranking. They are turning the reel handle absolutely as fast as it will turn. They are not cranking it down and slowing up once they reach depth they are just flat smoking it the entire time. KVD was getting cramps in his hand earlier today from the speed he was winding Question, what speed reels are they cranking with and what size line. They are simply winding faster than I have ever seen. Way faster than a buzz bait. Some of you all tell us novices what is going on and if this is the way you fish these deep divers, cause I been doing it way wrong.

No, that’s way to steep where you dropped the pin. Where we caught them yesterday was on the long gravel in front of spawning cove mouth’s. Boat in 30’, 100 to 200 yards off the bank. Right now there are loads of fish either on the bottom or suspended at depth at the 22’ mark. On cloudy days like yesterday they were thru the entire water column. Today I would have sucked as I’m hearing with the high sky and calm they were all on the bottom 22 to 26 feet. Hope this helps. Good Luck

These 3 guys are retired and have been that way for the past 15 yrs. They live in Texas and really fish continuously from Texas to Mexico to Florida. You name it they have caught them there. Mike has a nice place at Shell Knob and I have been taking them for years They have caught 1000’s of Table Rock bass and many times that around North And South America. Dave told me as far as they know that is the best day they ever had fishing anywhere. Period. To put this in perspective all 3 of these guys have caught a LM over 13 pounds, on their adventures. We have caught more many times with this group, as I said they’re lucky as a 4 leaf clover and can fish on top of that. Deal is we had a unreal top water bite to fish that were for the most part just there, not chasing much, just post spawn sitting there looking for a meal Smallmouth just hit top water different, I don’t care what size they are. They hit it totally pissed. On the strikes they were calling “Spot.” Or “that’s a LM.” Or better yet. “ That’s a brown one!” I mean you could tell the difference every time in sheer aggression. Those 2 pounders would just smash it and then pull drag. What a day, I was more than blessed. Surface temps 67 degree, with water color dark ice tea. They would take a 1/2 oz. Dixie Jet out of your hand, but why fish sub surface when they were trying to break your top water junk. Good Luck. Get out there NOW

WRO Guide Service Table Rock Lake Report 6-2-21. Shell Knob Richard with a really nice 15.5 inch smallmouth Nothing big, but just jaw after jaw on the top water junk. Started this morning running a bit late due to the weather, 0700. Picked up Mike, Dave and Rich at Mike's dock, right by Play Port. Launched at the bridge and in that mile stretch I noticed quite a bit of top water, and why not. Talk about the perfect drawn up in the book guide top water day. Even though there were quite a few chasers up stream I decided to head for some of the long gravel run outs between Campbell Point and Baxter It was sinful what these 3 clowns did to our bass. I've been guiding them since 95 I can call them anything, especially after today. Mike is lucker than a leprechaun to begin with so it didn't surprise me. What did was the amount of tiger stripped jaws, that just crushed the redfin and the surge shad. We fished A total of 3 just three flat points in 5 hrs. The guys said they thought we had about 15 doubles or triples on those points. Just stupid good and when one would come in on the hook 1/2 Dozen would be following. Never had a fish over 2.5 lbs but the amount of 15-17 inch jaws was probably my all time best on top water for small mouth Maybe had 18 K's but the jaw numbers would be silly to write down. How I got out of this without looking like I had been in a fight with a porcupine from all those hooks is hard to believe. Just a fantasy day on the Rock with 3 of my longest, and best clients and friends. Good Luck

They really don't get going quite yet on the Rock. Usually last week of June into July. Look on gravel with pole timber. Not a lot of timber left these days. 15' to 18' is just a magic depth number for hand size and bigger on Table Rock gravel. It also seems like the walleye are extremely interested in bluegill that time of year. Use 1/2 a night crawler on a long shank hook, not a cricket hook, something with a little steel in it or a size 1 drop shot hook. Thread the worm a bit past the eye if your using the drop shot to avoid misses. Bet you catch some walleye also Good Luck

I don't care who you are, that's funny.

Fishing Police arrived about 7:30 so that will put somewhat of an end to it As a matter of fact only see about 1/2 dozen diehards fishing out there now.

I know its a holiday weekend, BUT. A lodge guest and I just counted 18 boats fishing and another 8 running out front here at the lodge That's Clevenger Branch, Big Cedar Hollow, Persimmon Hollow and the Islands to the 86 bridge. I'm going to say that is without a doubt the most by far I have ever seen. Probably the worst part of the lake to fish, so you wonder how the good water is fairing. Hope all the fish have little helmets on this morning. Have a great day and remember our Vets.

It was MDC

Skeet also pulled in on me a couple of years ago on Campers Point. Had a client jerk one right in front of him. Total BULL PUCKY.

Found out yesterday they were tagging and sampling flathead catfish.

Fantastic post. Really appreciate the insight. Please post more. Thanks Bill

From what I’m hearing thru the grape vine starting next year contestants will only know how many ounces or pounds you are out of the lead. You won’t know who the leader is. We’ll know watching but the contestants won’t and that will take all impropriety out of the equation.

I’m not talking about catching the same fish repeatedly, impossible. Also not talking about Group A vs Group B. The problems are occurring within each group in a two day format. Example. Hypothetically. Fishinwrench has just caught another fish pushing his daily total to 25 pounds, he is fishing Rainey Creek. I’m fishing Proctor Creek and catching Squat so I go look around. I drive in Rainey and there is Wrench the Group leader with 25 lbs. Where do I go the next day my group fishes, you guessed it Rainey Creek.

Really this deal is a total gravy train for these guys, they are getting paid at most of these events win or lose. The advertisers love this format as they have their products in front of us for 6 days and the fishermen are pumping products constantly. I love that they release the fish immediately but they need to do some more tweaking and clean this up a little more.

Don’t know how you all feel about the format, but there seems to be some blurbs coming up. With score tracker it’s pretty easy to tell who is catching and who isn’t. Pretty easy to take a boat ride around and find who is on them if your not It’s location, location, location in Florida and some folks that had 10 pounds that they found yesterday, suddenly have 60+lbs today fishing in view of the guy that caught them yesterday. I guess this has been going on a while but there were grumbling today. An easy way to fix it would be not to name the leaders but just how many pounds behind or ahead you are. They are fishing for life changing amounts of money every derby and I don’t care how many times you thank Jesus after you catch one. Are you doing the right thing or are you cheating under the table. Hard to prove but there were some growlings today.

Adrian Avena did that to me a year or two ago. Thought he was going to cry. He just kept whining and whining till I let him have it. Total cry baby. But, he did not pull in on me. Just sat down Indian style on his deck and whined. You can see what derby they are fishing and threaten to turn them in and they will move for unsportsmanlike conduct. Total DQ.