One Of My Best Days This Year

[Phil Lilley]

You guys should have taught Bill to take pics and POSt them on the forum... God knows I've tried and failed.

Thank goodness some of Bill's clients post pics from his trips - proof he really does fish occasionally.

[TroutRinger]

Those are some nice fish! Are those spotted bass? or spot-smallie hybrids?

[focused fishing]

Ok, guess it was a bad decision not to go this afternoon. I had a rough time saturday, and after reading all your reports, i felt better about it. So i didnt go out today, cause the high pressure is still around. But i guess the fish had to start eating again sometime.

So, for the pros, why did they start eating better today, before the next front gets here??? Any ideas?

I know everyone was complaining about the post front conditions late last week but I really didn"t struggle too much. Don"t know why I was so lucky, but I guided 7 of the last 8 days and only struggled with whites.

On Tuesday we had an unbelivable day on whites, Wednesday more of the same, Thursday the whites never came up but it was cloudy and windy and we caught smallmouth and largemouth on windy banks (a perfect rainy windy day) on bandit 100's, spinnerbaits and grubs, Friday the whites never came up but we caught smallmouth and KYs on a drop shot 22' - 35' deep on the bottom on pea gravel points, Saturday, Sunday and Monday the smallmouth moved up shallow and ate a jig really well.

The biggest thing I can point to is water temp. most of the lake is in the high 70's and low 80's, I think the fish are moving up like they would in late September. Plus the water has some color in it, in the Kimberling area we had about 6' - 8' of visablitiy and maybe 10' down by the dam.

Don't know why but this past week TR has been really good to me

[ColdWaterFshr]

Good report. Seriously.

All except that part about the boys having career aspirations of tourney fisherman, and guide.

Tell them to stick to their studies 1st and maybe the guide/tourney thing can be a fall-back if that don't work out!

[S&M]

Post deleted for the betterment of the members.

As well as my membership on this website.

[Bird Watcher]

Good report. Seriously.

All except that part about the boys having career aspirations of tourney fisherman, and guide.

Tell them to stick to their studies 1st and maybe the guide/tourney thing can be a fall-back if that don't work out!

obviously your elders didn't discourage you when you told them you wanted to be the world's biggest DB when you grew up.

Why should these kids dreams be shattered when you were free to realize yours?

[focused fishing]

obviously your elders didn't discourage you when you told them you wanted to be the world's biggest DB when you grew up.

Why should these kids dreams be shattered when you were free to realize yours?

Well Said.

Not sure if he's the world's biggest, but he is in the running

[CaptainJoe]

I agree with Eric. Yesterday was one of the most beautiful days on Table Rock Lake. My clients and I spent the day in the Dam area soaking nighcrawlers (dropshotting) in about 28 to 35 feet of water over 80 to 110 feet of water. My clients managed two dozen nice (not huge) fish with the keepers being in the 16" range. We stayed between Indian Point and the 86 Bridge. We did not find any schooling/boiling White Bass. The water was lightly stained and 80 degrees. The wind was out of the SW about 5-10 mph. We started at 6:30 a.m and were off the water by 12:30 p.m.

I also use the ice water with the nightcrawlers. I put them in the water and ice the night before and store them in the refrigerator. In the morning, I put a frozen cold pack in the insulated (lunch size) container. Late in the day, depending on how hot it is, I may need to add ice. When you buy your nightcrawlers, cut a small 2" by 2" piece of paper towel and add it to the crawler container. The worms will eat the paper towel and they will last up to a month.

[Don House]

I agree with Eric. Yesterday was one of the most beautiful days on Table Rock Lake. My clients and I spent the day in the Dam area soaking nighcrawlers (dropshotting) in about 28 to 35 feet of water over 80 to 110 feet of water. My clients managed two dozen nice (not huge) fish with the keepers being in the 16" range. We stayed between Indian Point and the 86 Bridge. We did not find any schooling/boiling White Bass. The water was lightly stained and 80 degrees. The wind was out of the SW about 5-10 mph. We started at 6:30 a.m and were off the water by 12:30 p.m.

I also use the ice water with the nightcrawlers. I put them in the water and ice the night before and store them in the refrigerator. In the morning, I put a frozen cold pack in the insulated (lunch size) container. Late in the day, depending on how hot it is, I may need to add ice. When you buy your nightcrawlers, cut a small 2" by 2" piece of paper towel and add it to the crawler container. The worms will eat the paper towel and they will last up to a month.

Ya guys my trip today was just like yours yesterday. Very nice and cool, with a great breeze blowing in... Small Mouth are still up shallow on the main lake points in the early AM, PB&J and Cotton Candy 3/8 Football Jigs tipped with twin tail chompers in matching colors was our ticket today early and lasted until around 9:00am, mixed bag of 14" to 18" small mouths. After the sun came up high and bright we moved out to the deep water hang outs.. Found really good fish but only in three out of 6 trees groups we visited today. But once you found the right tree they were schooled up pretty good and eating that Chartreuse 1/2 ounce Spoon even better.. Type of fish just get it down to the right depth of 30 feet and bang fish on! This would last for 6- 12 fish max, larger first then smaller fish then it was over... Also had alot of short fish today on the crawler and drop shot, just could not get the bigger fish to bite that thing.. Will be back out again in the morning, anything changes I will let you know...

Good Fishing

Don

[denjac]

Good report. Seriously.

All except that part about the boys having career aspirations of tourney fisherman, and guide.

Tell them to stick to their studies 1st and maybe the guide/tourney thing can be a fall-back if that don't work out!

I think education is a must for every job, but your post is just mean spirited, just another jab. RANDY BLAUKAT has a law degree, hmm what does he do for a living? Guess he can go back to law practice if the tourny thing doesnt work out.