Yesterday Turned Out Better Than It Should Have

[Bill Babler]

Lots of rumbling and booming yesterday morning. So much this AM, that we cancelled till Wednesday. Started off the point in front of the Mill Creek Ramp at Kimberling City at 5:30 in the rainey dark yesterday. Fiddle around there in range of the truck for a while and then started bluffend and point hopping throwing a 3/8 oz green Chomper Jig with a yamamoto pbj twin tail. I like the 3/8 on the steeper rocky stuff as it dosen't get hung up hardly at all and it drops down the ledges very slowly. I try and think like a crawdad when I work it. Had the boat in about 40 ft. and was letting the jig hit in about 15 ft.

Caught 6 SMJ's doing this all short but close, and a very nice Spot, about 2.5 When you throw the jig on the bluffends, keep in touch with your bait as it is falling on the cast. Had several hit it on the initial drop.

About 7 AM I was able to run up the James a ways and saw some very nice topwater action. If you can find the fish chasing the threadfins, on the gravel flats or cove mouths, its hard telling what you will catch. Had a couple of nice LM, several keeper K's, and 1 walleye. The eye came on an inline spinner fished to a topwater swirl. When I set the hook, I thought it was a small brownie, as I could see brown. It turned out to be a eye of about 16 inches. For the life of me, I don't know what he was doing chasing on top in 40 ft. of water. Unfortunate thing, is he swallowed the spinner clear thru this gills, and was bleeding like a gutted deer when I got him in the boat. He died. What a shame to kill a member of a topwater walleye strain.

After the topwater stuff, I had a couple more on the football jig, and two nice K's dragging a rig.

Hit some bluffends and could catch 1 or 2 from most locations. Fish for me seemed to be 30 to 35 ft. suspended, nothing for me on the bottom. Most over about 40 to 50. Usually one nice keeper and then a short.

Would have had a hard time putting clients on any numbers as I did a lot of different things. I did not catch a deep fish that I didn't see first.

Even with the weather it turned out pretty good, without any type of a pattern, just going fishin.

[denjac]

Good to hear about the topwater bite. Was supposed to fish Joe Bass yesterday but opted out as I didnt think I could keep fish alive in this heat. You probably saw em go by as they came out of Ahoys at 6:00 am.

[Bill Babler]

Denny, I don't believe they got off at 6. Weather was just horrible. I tried to pull into Ahoy's, to get out of it, but the derby boys had all the stalls full. I ran over to Shcooner Creek Resorts dock and sat it out. I think it was closer to 7 before I heard them take off. I followed shortly.

While I was fishing the bluff end at Mill Creek, a lightning bolt struck the water between me and the mouth of Gore Hollow. It was a tremendious display of light and sound. That was all I needed to seek a roof over my head.

Don't quote me, but I believe Marty Conrad had a big bag over 20 pounds to win it yesterday.

[denjac]

Denny, I don't believe they got off at 6. Weather was just horrible. I tried to pull into Ahoy's, to get out of it, but the derby boys had all the stalls full. I ran over to Shcooner Creek Resorts dock and sat it out. I think it was closer to 7 before I heard them take off. I followed shortly.

While I was fishing the bluff end at Mill Creek, a lightning bolt struck the water between me and the mouth of Gore Hollow. It was a tremendious display of light and sound. That was all I needed to seek a roof over my head.

Don't quote me, but I believe Marty Conrad had a big bag over 20 pounds to win it yesterday.

Believe I would have had to change my shorts and then run for cover, I hate lightning! You seem to attract lightning, do you have a steel plate in your head? mental note to self, dont fish with Babs when its stormy.

[Gone Fishing]

The derby didn't get out at 6:00 and I was glad. That nice dry dock felt good. Took out at around 6:30 though. Marty was just infront of us with 15.XX. It took 21.XX to win it(not sure on the name). Fann brothers and Kelly Powers were in the money as well. I think we were all up the James.

[denjac]

Heres the results, better bags than I expected.

FINAL RESULTS

PLACE TEAM TB BB TW PAYBACK

1 Chris Hughes - Kirk Sims 5/3 5.75/1BB 21.3 $1,154.00

2 Kelly Power - Jim Huson 5/5 5.31/2BB 19.7 $874.00

3 Mark Fann - Mike Fann 5/5 4.62 16.3 $572.00

4 Lyn Luther - *Marty Conrad 5/5 5.01 15.4 $350.00

5 Ryan Butler - Dustin Lippe 5/5 4.24 14.1 $194.00

6 John Williams - John Wilbanks 5/5 3.71 13.7

7 John Goodman - Tory Iverson 5/5 3.59 13.3

8 Scott Bailey - Aaron Stanphill 5/5 0 12.2

9 Donnie Stanphill - Andy Stanphill 5/5 3.74 12

10 James Brown - Bob Capps 5/3 3.79 11.8

11 Wayne Fowler - Bob Neff 5/5 3.08 11.6 $130.00

12 *Richard Champeyne - Justin McClelland 5/5 2.82 11.5

13 Ed Larson - Jimmie Holt 4/4 0 9.62

14 Dave Davis - *Shawn Williams 3/3 4.43 8.5

15 Mike Rose - Justin Pruitt 4/2 0 6.41

16 David Williams - Laurence Subelka 2/2 0 6.25

17 Harlin Husky - *no ne 3/3 0 6.21

18 Alan Powell - Buddy Sims 3/3 0 5.85

19 Todd Justice - Terry Fortner 1/1 4.84 4.84

20 Mike Bruton - Josh Bruton 2/2 0 4.25

21 Mark Miller - Chance Peebles 2/2 0 4.03

22 Quenton Dale Bear - Jeff Bear 1/1 3.32 3.32

23 Bob Gordy - Bob Thompson 1/1 2.53 2.53

24 Wally Fairweather - 1/1 2.17 2.17

25 Kevin Burnett - Don Carlson 0/0 0 0

25 Brad Dunaway - *John Rose 0/0 0 0

25 Tom Field - Jay Johnston 0/0 0 0

25 Brian Gray - Lonnie Gray 0/0 0 0

25 Jack Stack - Dick Collier 0/0 0 0

* - Alternate

[denjac]

Thunderstorms Delay The Takeoff

The weather was stormy at takeoff but 29 teams weathered it out and it appeared they found good fish. Big crankbaits and jigs appeared to be the ticket for most anglers.

K Simms & C Hughes

Chris Hughes, of Springfield. MO, and Kirk Sims, of Lowell AR, had a 5 fish limit that weighed 21.34lbs with a 5.75lb Largemouth kicker that got 1st Big Bass of the day. This earned the team over a $1000 in 1st place monies. Deep diving crankbaits and jigs were the answer for the team.

Jim Huson & Kelly Powers

Kelly Powers, of Cape Fair, MO and Jim Huson of Republic, MO, had a 5 fish limit that weighed 19.73lbs which was good enough for 2nd Place. They also had a bass that weighed 5.31lbs good for 2nd Big Bass. Their fish came from using jigs and crankbaits. The team was sponsored by Bass Pro Shops.

Mike Fann & Mark Fann

Mike Fann and Mark Fann of Ozark Mo, sponsored by Champion Boats, Mercury Outboards, Pro Guide Batteries, and Tablerock Tackle,had a string that weighed 16.32lbs. This earned the team 3rd Place. Jigs and crankbaits again the baits of choice.

[Spinnaker]

Just curious about the top water hits. How deep was the watyer depth where you were fishing and how close to the shore, please? Thanks.

[Bill Babler]

Those Fann boys are my hero's. They can allways catch a bag, and you will not find a couple of nicer guys. Always want to try and dislike people or teams like the Yankees that always win, but those Fann Bro's are just the real deal

I even like-em when I fishin again em. Just want then to come in behind me. It dosen't happen very often, they are usually in front.