Ranger Z22

Quillback, I do not post much but I want to thank you for the idea of using a speed craw alone. Tried is several times over the last couple of days, on a shakey head, and have had some days where I really caught them, especially true last Wednesday. Green Pumpkin /Purple is my main color. z22

9:00 right at point 10.

I have been out with Bill a few times. Each time I have learned something, he does not hold anything back, he will tell you the straight answer to everything you ask. His equipment is top notch, and being an old guy also, we really have a lot of laughs together. Great article for a great guy. z22 don

You're welcome. Hope you catch them as well as we did the past few days. don z22

No problem will send you a pm late this afternoon. Thanks for allowing us to pull in, but if you just arrived at the spot we would have gotten closer, but you were fishing, close enough to say hi and drive on. don z22

Bill good to see you today, hope you keep catching them. Going back to the area we discussed first thing tomorrow. When my son and I were out we only caught one white today, but the blacks were every where. If you are going back to the same area, I will look for you tomorrow. don z22

Bill I agree that people just don't know or don't want to know about fishing courtesy. If they want to fish in front of you they will and cannot understand why you are mad. Since retirement, I only fish on weekends if my son or company want to fish, for me that eliminates about 50% of the cutoff pros. There are a few during the week or as the week progresses who join in the cutoff-fest. If you mention to them why are doing what they are doing well you can you imagine the answers you get. z22

I am LUCKY enough to have this house before I retired, and now retired about a year. Nothing better. My son and daughter in law were down this past weekend, we had a great time out fishing, One morning my son and I went, his wife wanted to catch up on sleep, reminded me of all the times he and I fished together. Great memories. I have fished a few times with Mr. Babler, con those daughters into a father's day gift to go fishing with Bill, you will have a great time. You always learn something from him. z22

Bill, congrats on the fish...sure looks bigger than the one I caught the other week. I have ran our areas we fished together, and have caught them consistently, but no numbers. I have also stayed close to the house and caught a few a jig. Also now that you mentioned the gulls, when I see gulls=no fish. We did not have gulls when we fished together, at the areas we caught them. Don H z22

techo, all the best to you, hope surgery goes well and you are back pulling jigs out here on Aunts. z22

First of all I want to thank Bill for one of my best fishing days ever. We had a great time, and time just flew by. Also, this is a showing of how good of a fisherman Bill is, he made sure I was always in position, when the fish were on the a rig, he did not fish the same bait he wanted me to have first crack at em. He has always made sure that I am getting the best bait to present to the fish, his fishing is secondary. The equipment you are using with him is the best, rods, reels, and the boat is clean and ready to go. In addition we had to old guys in the boat just having a grand ol time. Bill Thanks very much. Don H z22

I don't post much but would like to attend. z22

Congrats. Hope you guys enjoy your boat as much as my wife and I enjoy ours. z22

Bill thanks for all your advise/locations/patterns, and everything else you do to help us. Don H here, last time we fished together, I was counting down the days to my retirement, it is here, and I am having a great time. Today will be 13 days in a row I have fished, and I am using your information to help me have good trips each day. There are days I don't fish very long--you know the work list will be out of hand if I don't get some of the tasks done. I have also had some luck fishing the jig in Aunts Creek (sorry Techo). z22

You may want to try stone water cove, which is up the James. Looks very impressive from the lake, never been there, or give Bill Babler a call and stay at his bed and breakfast. My wife and I had a yearly trip to big cedar, which we stop going, not friendly, rooms were getting worse each year, and on and on. z22

Throw those jigs. Wind, throw spinner baits. We really had a good day, like Bill said if we had 8 hours we may have caught the kicker fish. z22

On Monday 10/25, I finally hooked up with Mr. Babler for a morning of fishing. Finally being the key word here. I was scheduled to go in August, but Bill wanted to cancel because of the heat and no bite. That right away told me that this guy is straight shooting and will do what it takes to keep his customers happy. Also during this time, and I was not aware of this, Bill's boat blew up, he left me an e-mail that I could not pick up until yesterday. but none the less he was there, (thanks Bill Beck for letting Bill borrow your boat). Our day started in a little fog, but that did not interfere with Bill making sure we were going to move until we found 'em. We hit several spots and kept moving until of course at the end of our day, we did well. When you fish with Bill you are fishing what he is fishing, at one time I had 5 rods to use. Many times a guide will use another approach and you keep using the same technique, until he finds a new pattern, Bill believes in team work and keep his customer involved to catch fish. The quality of equipment is second to none, he is using the same equipment you are. The day flew by, and I cannot wait to go again. I recommend to everyone who wants to go out with a guide, Bill should be in your group of guides to select from. Don H z22

A very good report--posted each week, by Eric Prey, can be found on his website, www.focusedfishing.com. Also Pete Wenners has a video report each Thurday on his website, www.hookedonbass.com. Both will give you a good start to your trip. z22

As Capt Joe mentioned, seen this topic before. Not a fan of BPS brand lines. I use Seaguar Carbon Pro 12lb test. Initially was breaking that off too. After some research, I went to using a Eugene Bend knot, and in my opinion, greatly improved catching rather than breaking. z22

There is nothing better than fishing with your kids. I was lucky this weekend, my son and his wife came down and I "played" guide for them. I did not fish but had a great weekend, we (they) caught fish, especially yesterday. Seeing these pictures reminds me when he was doing the same thing. Great times. z22

The 797 is not too small for the console. Not knowing the exact dimensions, I would think the 332 and 797 display to be very close. I have no problems viewing while running the trolling motor. I am reallyspoiled by the 997, like having a big screen TV on your boat. Both of these units are very good, and after having Lowrance for as long as I can remember, (30+ years), these are great, won't go back. Hope this helps. z22

I had the 332 on my last boat. When I bought the boat I have now it came with the Hummingbirds on the console and up front. I was very skepical if I would like this. I have the 797 up front and the 997 on the console. These units are great. The more you just use these units, the more I wonder why I did not get this earlier. z22

Thanks for the report. Good luck this weekend the the derby. I will be attempting to catch a few myself, no derby, just fishing. Z22

We also saw those guys. They were running the new Yamaha SHO 4 stroke, couldn't tell make of boat, probally ripped the letters off the side running up and down the lake. You are right, they were flying. My Ranger is slow, but thats ok, don't want a face lift, or my collar beating me to death. z22

I will be first to confess that I do not post much here and I am sure I am not in the minority. I also am very close to retirement, and you betcha I have a nice boat. Now does this make us who have nice boats jerks? I am sure they come in all shapes and sizes, but to assume that nice boat = jerk is way off base. I did not start with the top of the line, that was impossible, but after 37+ years of fishing the rock, starting with my stick steering Terry Bass Boat, you carry those values with you of not cutting people off, staying away from people fishing, going slow if someone is fishing an area that is narrow, so and even waving at others. Z22 now owning a Z521