Fishing In The Flashes

[Bill Babler]

Before, between and after the Electric Fireworks, yesterday John and Andrew Dickerson and yours truely Had one of those dream days on the Rock. Very overcast and waves lapping at the hull of the boat, and better yet spanking some of the best SJ banks on Table Rock Lake.

Fished 7 locations throughout the mornings storm dodging process and caught mulitple fish on every location, with some that just defy the size barriers of what we usually gather up.

Nothing I did, by any means, just one of those days when its not work, its laughing,head shaking, back slapping and high 5 ing.

From the 5:15 launch at State Park till the 8:30 gathering of the guides at Paridise Points Dock, we were on Fire.

Almost were, on fire at the dock, big time. Eric Prey, Chris Tetrick and Myself, with clients scampering everywhere were pinned. After the first birage, it started to clear, and then it happened. LIGHTNING HIT THE DURN DOCK WE WERE ALL HIDING UNDER.

It struck the North East Corner and it looked like a Roman Candle went off, traveling down the post to the water. NO ONE WAS HURT, ONLY WOKEN UP. Lots of stories to tell thats for sure.

Morning continued even after the storm with really surprised me. I believe we caught 29 SJ's and 2 K's. Boat in 25 throwing at the bushes. Jewell Spider Jig and FB in WaterMellon Candy and WaterMellon flash with Chompers Watermellon Candy trailer was the ticket. They wanted nothing to do with PBJ, they are full of peanut butter for me right now. Tetrick discovered this last week and it is holding true. I believe they would have just eaten a WC Cenepide on a rig, but we were catching them so good on the jigs it didn't matter. GReat morning with lots of excitement, I know I won't forget it and I will bet you those 3 sets of clients won't either.

[denjac]

Man o man, I would have went back home and changed pants after that. Or at least rinsed them off in the water. Any whites yet up around the dam?

[focused fishing]

Bill's right, had a father and son from Springfield and we talked about the lightning strike the rest of the morning, between catching fish. I'm stunned how shallow the fish are right now, after the storm let up we ran to one point and caught 20 - 25 fish in less than an hour and a half all on a Jewel Spider jig (green pumpkin candy flash and watermelon purple flash)including a couple of nice keepers. Nick, the son, had a big SJ on and it shook the jig about ten feet from the boat. These fish hot, just about everyone made big runs with plenty of aerobatics to entertain the crowd.

[Bill Babler]

DJ, I for the life of me have not found or even seen any Whites in numbers. I believe a few boys are catching a couple in the Knob to Big M area, but don't know of anyone getting rich.

I have never seen fish with such an attitude as the Jaw's we were catching yesterday. As Eric said, these durn things would just flat try and hurt ya. Threw 2 in the box running full air and Ice to take a photo of, and they never stopped hitting the roof of the livewell. Really didn't have to get them out, just opened the box and they jumped out on the deck. They would take every opportunity to try and bite or fin ya. Both of my thumbs are devoid of any hide and it looks like I ground them on a sanding wheel.

While trying to release them, I dropped almost everyone, as I just could not hold them, and they for sure were not going to make it easy on me. They were MEAN with a capitol EAN.

Had several throw the jig, and that happens to us all. Lots of arieal displays, which is a bit strange for SJ's here on the Rock.

Of course they would make their pattented dive at the boat when you thought you had them beat. Broke a "Whopper" off at the boat along with the other miscues.

Just could not have been a better day, with all the fish, and all the fun at the dock, during the storm.

[techo]

We saw all of the lightening and decided to call it a day. Now I am real sorry we left. You are quite the writer, Bill, makes me almost feel like I was there.

[motoman]

Man Bill, what a great read!

-

I only get down to The Rock a few times a year, and these fishing reports bring back great memories. Keep 'em comin'......................you lucky dawgs!

[Chris Tetrick]

Bill, that was about the closest I ever been around a lightning bolt.

Next time you call me to take cover in the dock your in, I'm heading the other direction-Chris