Bill Babler

And simply delicious when prepared properly.😂😃😂 I have to eat it around the house here on a daily basis.

He does not have a guide license so he can't charge you anything.😁 Baxter Report was pretty much a Skunk report with a capitol S. Got on the water at 7 am 47 degree at the ramp. Big Indian is simply loaded with shad from Kanakuk Camp back. I tried to deep fish for at least 2 hrs. and only caught one small keeper, just could not see any bass in the shad or near them. Probably the most shad I have seen anywhere, just millions and millions. Went to the bank and tried the RK Crawler for about 5 minutes and figured out pretty quick that was a no go. As soon as it touched bottom the slime would just cover it. It is clinging off the docks up there and looks to be out to at least 15' No crank baits at Baxter unless you can find some snot free banks and I did not see any. Dragged my big FB jig deep with no takers and then picked up the jerk bait and caught 3 all keeper LM on it and also fished the A-rig and caught 2 keeper K's on it. Fished 7 hrs. for 6 bites and was lucky enough to catch every bite. Lots of new stuff going on there with the old Baxter joint now open as Millie Jo's cafe. It was busy when I went by at 2. Also saw where Black Oak Mountain is going to have a full season of concerts and Swiss Villa is totally remodeled and turned in to Time Shares. Lots of vacation rentals are also going up just outside the park. Water is really clear in both sides of the Indian. With the S. wind when I checked out at a little after 2 surface temps at the ramp had risen to 50. Sad report, but true.

Nail Right On The Head.

My neighbor has been catching some really nice keeper size fish on both a Spro McStick and a Spro Rock Crawler. He told me he had a SM over 5 lbs. the other day on the Crawler and some really nice fish between 2.5 and 3 pounds. Pretty much everyone knows who my neighbor is. He is fishing gravel roll offs that are on channel banks and some transition channel banks. Keeping the boat in about 20' with both baits. RK Crawler bite has been good early and with breeze. Said the jaws are just loading on it, and pulling like freight trains in the 50 degree water. I'll try it tomorrow and see. I'm going to see if he will take me out on Thursday and show me. I'll see if he will do a little interview and let me know what he is looking for right now and convey the info to you all. Said he fished Bull one day last week and had 11 keeps on a McStick. I"m going to launch at Baxter tomorrow and am also going to see if that jig bite is going up there along with all our other deal.

Really nice pictures. thanks

Phil and I will bring some type of sweet goodies and perhaps another dish, and the scales

I think I pulled onto the maternity ward as all these gals looked like they were ready to spawn. The only one that chunked up a shad was the one on the Ice Jig. Everyone of them just pulled and pulled. They tried to hurt me. I can stand quite a bit of pain like that however. Good Luck

That is a Monster screen full of targets. Congrats sounds like a fantastic morning to say the least. I fished yesterday morning at the dam. Started at 7:15 and there were already boats in the branch where I have been catching the deep fish. It was crowded to the point of 6 boats working the same fish. I caught two in there and went else where for a little privacy Started dragging a jig and caught a big K. Continued out the ridge and caught 2 more, all 3 coming in a 100 yrd. stretch. Kept going back and forth till about 10 am and it didn't stop, just kept on keeping on. I left the biting. Think I might have had 14 pounds with the biggest at 3.20. I thought it was a LM as it felt so heavy and I just could not get it turned. . All Kentucky's and I did not or could not see them most of the time, really hugging the bottom and not raising up when one of their buddy's was caught. Probably ended up with 15 or 16 all keeps off that ridge dragging the jig. 30 to 40 ft. Caught them all on a Pig Sticker 5/8th. or a 3/4 in GPO with a 4" Yamamoto trailer, also GP Surface temps in the dam area at 50 to 51 and up Long Creek at 48 to 50

That is a Monster K Congrats, glad you got them on a Jerker.

Just about bet it was not listed as there were at least a dozen to 15 boats just out my window with 2 angles per boat and they did not look like they were just out for a tan.

Looks like a race track out in front of the Lodge. Started about 7:30 got quiet for a spell and now they are running all over Long Creek and Clevenger. 34 degree and windy you got to be somewhat mad at them.

Nice.

A good sound representation is on Phil's current fishing report for Taney, go and listen to Duane Doty video of fishing crankbaits. Listen from about the 16 minute mark thru the 23 minute mark. Duane is running a 2018 Ultrex. It totally drives me batty hearing that thing on both turning the head and running the prop. The noise is extremely loud and if you cannot hear it or don't think its loud you may need a hearing aid. I don't know that it bothers the fish, but it for sure drives me crazy. But in hindsight, that is not a long drive. Of course I'm old and I hate noises, a air leak in the windows of my truck would drive me to buy a new truck. I will tell you the difference in the Motorguide X5 and Xi5 is simply and totally quiet compared to the Minn Kota Ultrex and the Ulterra. The direct drive Minn Kota Four Trax is just as quiet and the Motorguide motors. When your in these boats 300 plus days a year stuff like this matters to me. Of course it is also Ford/Chevy which ever you like, and just because I don't like something or will not put up with it does not mean I'm right and you may think its fine or my nit picking may not bother you at all.

Said it was louder than the Motorguide and the Garmin. Would have loved to have heard the Ultrex to compare.

Thanks MOguy for the video. I wish he would have addressed the speed, as that is really important to me. Also I forgot in my report on the motors about the lift assist. One of my main dislikes about the Ulterx is I'm almost to the point in my life when I cannot either lift or deploy it. It is extremely heavy and really hard for me to handle. One of the guides here has one of the new Garmins and a couple of days ago I asked him if it was heavy and he lifted it and redeployed it with his little two fingers. I at times have to use both hands on the Ultrex. I think the Garmin and the Lowrance also have soft deploy. This function is that as soon as the motor is out of the cradle and rocking forward you can let it loose and it will not bang down but gently lower its self into the water. I believe that also works when you are picking it up, after mid point it will return gently to the cradle without you following it down. I also forgot about being able to access all the boat functions form the foot control of the Lowrance. Thanks again.

Read my post on page one. I go totally thru what I don't like about both my Ulterra and my Ultrex.

Bobby, I like my Ulterra on my trout boat as it saves me from running all over a 23' boat. I can sit in the middle at the console and operate everything including the deployment and have a client in front of me and in back of me. As far as operation outside the deploy/ stow feature it is the slowest dumbest motor I have ever used. It also has lots of moving parts all wanting to get away from each other. On a bass boat I just could not afford its foolishness, even though I just love the deploy/ stow feature. PS, did you get my return message the other day?

Spot Lock does not have anything to do with the graph it will lock you in regardless of the electronics you have. You can use the spot lock with any of the 4 trolling motors If I were to change I would go Garmin on both electronics and trolling motor. Next would be the Lowrance and then the Bird Minn Kota option. Since you already have the Birds and don't want to change you can use the Ultrex, Folks that have never had a spot lock will find it great if your a deep fisherman. There is just enough flaws with it I wish I could have waited a year on either the Garmin or the Lowrance. I have the Ultrex on my boat here in the shed. Come by and I'll show you what I like and dislike about it. Just give me a call

Checked the other day and really I don't think it is available yet. Depending on your electronics right now, today if I were buying a new one, If I'm using Garmin electronics I'm using the Force and if I'm using Lowrance I'm using the Ghost. If I'm on Hummingbird I might still be with the Ulterra or Ultrex but that is by far my last and worst choice.

If you buy the Ultrex and are running Lowrance electronics you will need to add a Lowrance transducer for the best picture. When i first got my new Ultrex I used the built in transducer and the picture was crap with a lot of interference at lever 6 speed and above. Switched to the Lowrance transducer and it cleared right up with a perfect picture.

I bought both the Ultrex and the Ulterra in 2019. Had to spend the money due to taxes and at that time for the Bass Boat the Ultrex was the only spot lock. The Ulterra is still the only self deploy so I got one for the trout boat and the Ulterx for the bass boat. Got those last year and they have both been in the shop twice. New head on each and a new lower unit on each. Prior to that I had the Motorguide Xi5 on the trout boat which was the only other spot lock motor. it did not self deploy and lift, so I went ahead and got the Ulterra. Had a Motorguide X5 Tour on the Phoenix. Both extremely dependable but lacking some of the functions I wanted. This is not meant to be critical of the Ultrex or the Ulterra, as they were the best thing as far as spot lock for bass boats and self deploy for other boats on the market, but both have some pretty significant flaws that both Lowrance and Garmin have improved on. First I'll speak on the Ultrex, It is the heaviest motor I have ever tried to lift, it is noisy, sounds like a coffee grinder I just simply hate the noise as the motor head rotates and it is slower than slow. Top speed on mine pulling my 22 ft. Phoenix is 2.7 mph. The Mg pulled the same boat at 3.2 mph It was the new deal, now it is the old deal. The spot lock is just OK and here is a test for you. Drop a marker and hit the spot lock at the same time while your fishing. On the Motorguide Xi5 you just about can't do it as it will put you right on the string. On the Ultrex and Ulterra your going to end up within about 10 ft. of it or a 1/2 boat length at about best, if there is any movement on the water. This is due to the reaction time between your antenna and the satellite. Much, much slower than the Lowrance point 1 antenna. The Ulterra is still the only self deploy and it is a great savings for me in just servicing my clients, but it is slower than slow and will only take a single command at a time. The Motorguide takes multiple commands and is smoother and super quiet and much faster. The satellite up link is also slow and when you hit anchor if there is any current on Taney, it will slip with the current. Although it speeds up to try and keep you on your anchor point it will soon lose that spot and just shut off. The Motorguide will fight it to the death and not lose it or shut off even in current. There are two new brushless motors out now, one by Garmin and one by Lowrance. Both are faster, quieter, easier to deploy better and more accurate spot lock than anything by either Motorguide or Minn Kota at this point. The Garmin will pull your boat at 5+ mph and the Lowrance is over 3.75 mph on a 36 volt system with a 22ft. bass boat. Speed for me is important as going across short coves or just skipping dead water without starting the big engine is a time saver for my clients. Of course both are symbiotic with their perspective electronics. As Minn Kota is with Hummingbird and Motorguide is with Lowrance. The Lowrance Ghost cost $3,000.00 No brushes more thrust and quiet with capability of scan in the trolling motor head Inter-changeable heads and transducers 24 V or 36V in the same motor 36 Volt is 130 lb. thrust Up to 60% longer battery life over brush trolling motors, at same or higher speed. Head make zero noise when turning super easy to lift and totally wireless in the aspect of hard wiring. Immediate command control. Absolutely no interference between motor and graph at any speed. 3.75 mph. Garmin Force Cost $3,200.00 No brushes wireless remote and foot. 30 to 40 percent more power and 30% more battery life than Mg or MK No sonar noise at any speed. completely quiet, speed up to 5.5 mph. Remote that floats"SUPER IMPORTANT." I had mine flip out of the boat for my Ulterra and that is a $200 loss. Simply point and shoot on remote no button operation fastest gps lock antenna on the market remote foot pedal faster than wired. Totally cable free totally quiet during turning. Total wireless. 24 or 36 volt with the same motor. 140 pounds thrust on 36 and 115 on 24. Easy lift. Minn Kota Ultrex with I Pilot $2,799.00 112 pounds trust on 36. You can bet we will be seeing new motors from both Minn Kota and Motorguide in the next year or two as they will both be totally obsolete. That's the story for Jan. 1st 2020

Agree with you moguy for sure. We head hook the crawler and fish it with a 3/8th. round ball drop shot sinker and a size 1 circle hook. At times they will bite the Yamamoto cuttail or shad shape worm as well or better than a crawler. Have very little problem with deep hooking on either rig. James I'm glad you were not with me last week on my launch from Cow Creek's back ramp. I counted 13 really nice SM all sided and laying on the ramp. Vultures were having a feast. Some of these SM were toads. Totally made me sick. Right now, if you can buy shiners and get around these deep fish, you can pretty much catch everyone you see on your graph. They will back off a spoon, grub or an Ice jig after a while but they will eat shiners till the last dog dies. This year there are as many Jaws deep as there are K's so its not that hard to catch several, especially in that Cow to Kimberling City gravel area and you have good electronics and know how and where to look. I remember back in the early 90's there was a group of a dozen guys that would come and stay at Play Port up at the Knob. They would come the day after Christmas and stay thru about January 2nd. They would literally kill several hundred bass on shiners during that week.They said it was for their Church annual picnic and fish fry. There gone now thank goodness but so are most of the bass in the locations they used to deep fish. Basin Hollow used to just stack full. I can at times find some there but more often than not it is a single or two. In either 94 or 95 my brother-in-law and I from Christmas thru New Year caught well over 500 off the center point where the channel splits in there. 50' to 60' Largemouth and K's, not a single Jaw, and lots of the K's were the Big Grey One's we very seldom see now. Dockit and Bo knows them. We put a single hook on a 1/2 oz. white jigging spoon. The triple hook was just to hard to get them off and it was just one bite after the other. It was packed with shad in there and lots of gulls. I cannot remember a single loon, but it was amazing. One day the wind switched and blew out of the cove super hard and they were gone. The fish have not been back since in those numbers and I look every year. I can catch them in the Fall and Summer at the mouth and off the island, but have not seen the deep ones back in there in 25 years. Beck and I won a February tournament off one tree at the mouth of White's Branch about 10 years before he died. Water was about 70' tree came up to about 40' and I have never seen anything so covered with fish. There were so many it seemed like the tree had leaves blowing in the wind under the water. Bill was on them, and we started out of Schooner and he pulled in on the tree and we dropped the spoons and the bottom just lifted totally around the tree, thru the tree and above the tree. He had poured some 3/8th. darter heads and we used those with Yamamoto and Chomper C-tails and a 1/2 oz. spoon and pretty much doubled on every drop for 6 hrs. I think we weighed in 22 pounds all LM but caught so many K's it was crazy. It was a beautiful day and Bill always liked to eat lunch, even in a derby. I always made big Hogie sandwiches and we pulled out on point 7 and and ate sandwiches drank coffee and took a nap in the sun. Now that's my type of tournament fishing. I will miss that guy everyday till I take my last breath. Not a single day goes by that I don't see his face or think of him. Bills favorite saying: Bab's, where are you? He always called me Bab's Are they snapping your junk? They no Hungry. They are simply Starving Are you fishing or just throwing it out and winding it in? Do you have anything to eat? I'm Starving. I'm Aging. Your Exhausting. And the list goes on. Good Luck out there.

We catch hundreds on Crawlers and very, very rarely does one get hooked deep. In my list I also classified it as a drop shot. With folks in direct contact with the bait and usually fishing it no deeper than a boat length or two on a straight line, it is not a problem what so ever. We probably fish them more on Taney, just using a partial crawler and the trout will get them down at times when we are just sitting using a tight line catfish approach on flat water. When they are generating and we are bottom bounding they will almost never get it down. Gulp power bait is a totally different deal. They get those small pellets/balls down so quick I pretty much refuse to use it, unless folks are keeping their catch and after they get their limit I most often make them change baits.

Dead I think you hit the nail on the head

Guy's we have just fished that thing for hours upon hours and like Bo said, it is about 95% in the upper lip even for novice anglers. The following are baits I consider to be the least harmful when "My clients fish them" Swim Bait Mostly 99% safe. Float-N-Fly same Drop Shot Maybe 98% Buzz Bait Spinner bait excluding trailer hook Vertical jig Ned Ice Jig Flutter Spoon Even if your not in contact Just to big to get deep for the most part Jig that is NOT A EWG EWG Jig Jigging Spoon C-rig Tube Those are kind of how I rank the baits I use as far a mortality from safest to the most dangerous for the fish in the hands of my clients. Next set of baits. Cosmetic damage to the fish: Eye damage, mouth and lip damage, scale damage, not life threatening for the most part Starting with the worst. Most of these are multiple triple hooked lures Suspending jerk bait Top Water Crank baits A-rig I probably forgot some but that is pretty close