Where Did The Whites Go?

[Bill Babler]

First thing first, good to see Capt. Don back on the forum. I will tell you I was very close to joining him. I have posted my position time and time again, on how I fish and why I do what I do, and still another person, takes a shot at me.

Phil took care of it with a very nice reply, and I have let myself calm down.

Went on a 2 hr. tour yesterday morning out of Lilleys' looking for Whites, in the dam area, along with 8 other guide boats, waiting for them to move in a location, that they have been on every morning for the last 3 weeks. NADA!!!!

When you only have 2 hrs. to catchem, and you have waited for surfacing whites for 1/2 of that, you might be in trouble.

The dropshot and the crawler bite has also gotten extremely tough in the dam area. We are getting to that part of the season that these fish have just been pounded and pounded. They will run at it and then just melt off. The little girl in the front of my boat was watching the graph, and I had her saying "Here they come." Bad part we were also saying there they go.

Strange morning, in about an hour, after the white bass debackle, we had 1, 3 pound channel, 1 keeper walleye, about 2.5, 2 trophy gills, 1 small white, 1 small LM, 1 small SMJ, and 1 small K. All we needed for the Grand Slam, was a Carp and a Spoonbill.

I was very happy to have each and everyone of them. Lots of giggles and a good time in a couple of short hours yesterday morning.

Talked Becky into going out for a while in the afternoon. Went up to the Knob, and had lunch at the Port Grill at Campbell Point. Very good, try their rings, they are fantastic. Spooned for 3 hrs. in the Ocean of huge Boats and waves, and had 6 bass and 1 keeper walleye, all returned to the Ocean.

3 of the bass were quality keeper K's, and most all these fish came from bluffends in about 24 ft.

Most of the boys reported the high prussure and clear blue the last few, have really made them work.

Good Luck

[champ187xr6]

Bill you are right. The Port Grill has real good rings. Sounds like the fishing has been a little rough lately. How is the new boat treating you?

[Bill Babler]

It is a very nice boat. Lots of room with the single console and the extremely wide casting deck. Do not like the huge center box, that when opened takes up over 1/2 the front deck. No where for anyone to stand if you need to get out a bait, and just to far to have to climb in and get something. There are also no bait trays or places to put small items or for that matter, even small boxes, just a cavern, where your gear shifts all over the place. Maybe could have been thought out a little better. I know some guys with the Champs, are having some custom work done in the huge center box, to make it more workable.

I will also need to buy an additional rod rack system for the starboard side. These are the easiest racks I have ever seen to work with. Very nice.

Ride and big water preformance is not in the same catagory as the bigger 201 Stratos, or nearly as dry. I have to watch it, on wind or crossing waves at a 45 degree angle, or I or my passengers will get a splash. Not bad at all, but something I am not used to.

Of course my new boat is 19'8" and my Stratos is 21 ft.

You would think only a foot difference what would that matter? It is night and day. The ride of the 210 Champ, or the 201 Stratos, is so far superior to the 200 or 203, Champion or the 195, or the 200 Stratos, that you cannot even compair the two. Really the Alan Stinson Hull on the Stratos, is in a league by it's self.

Long answer to a short question, I like it and really like the ProXS. It is just a tool, and I'm not in love with it, anything that will make my job more enjoyable or easier I will like.

Oh! another thing, and maybe the most important thing I don't like is placing the trolling motor foot control in the well. I feel I am working all day with my foot in a bucket, and if it is wavy it is very hard to stand with one foot lower than the other. I will never get this again, and much prefer it sitting on the deck.

Beck makes champion, completely glass over the well and carpet it to the front before he will take the boat. I will on my next one, if I get another Champ.

[rps]

Despite the trolling motor troubles I have described in writing on this board, the watch fob electronic control on my Minn Kota is really neat. I've put it on a dangle from my life vest, which I wear all the time, and use my right thumb to change on/off, direction and speed without looking by touch. That way I don't have to stand on anything, and I can be anywhere in the boat. Before you customize what you have or buy a new boat, check out the system. Motor Guide has remote digital control models as well.

[Bill Babler]

Despite the trolling motor troubles I have described in writing on this board, the watch fob electronic control on my Minn Kota is really neat. I've put it on a dangle from my life vest, which I wear all the time, and use my right thumb to change on/off, direction and speed without looking by touch. That way I don't have to stand on anything, and I can be anywhere in the boat. Before you customize what you have or buy a new boat, check out the system. Motor Guide has remote digital control models as well.

RP, I have thought about that, but the friends I guide with that have tried them do not like the response time of the remote units. I cannot personally say, as i have not driven one myself. When fishing upper Taney, under 4 generators of power, we have to have an immediate response, and for some reason the guys that have had them have gone back to the direct foot control. As I stated before, I am always ready for an easier way to get the job done, that may be it. Thanks Bill

[focused fishing]

Bill,

There still they've moved out deeper and the schools are broken up. Had a half day yesterday and a full today. Yesterday and today caught some good smallmouth and KY's from 6' - 12' on Jewel Spider jigs and 3" tubes from Kim City to point 5 until about 10:30. Moved out deeper to follow and found the whites, suspeneded at 25' - 30' over 35' - 60' on pea gravel roll offs. From 10:30 to 2:00 today we had about 40 and cleaned 25 all on white 1/2 oz. spoons. Yesterday we were moving from one point to another and they were in the same spot managed about 15 in 40 minutes until they broke up.

Haven't seen them surface in the last two days but the shallow smallmouth have made up for it. the schools of whites have been much smaller but big enough when you get them going you can catch 10 - 15 in short order.

Out of State Park in the morning see if it follows suit down there.

[Jason Essary]

Great report Eric, thanks as always...