Mock Derby For Me Today

[Bill Babler]

Gave it one last try today, to see if by any chance I could catch a decent bag. "NOPE"

Fished the derby hours, 6:30 to 3 PM.

First 4 hrs. I just flat tried as hard as I could to catch a big LM. Timbered points and runouts up the White River. Threw a 1 oz Flutter Spoon and a Big Fat Free Shad, caught about a zillion Whites, some not as big as the Fat Free, or the spoon. No Largemouth, NONE.

Guys and Gals, I have been on the water and fished my entire life, and never have I seen the fish activity that was going on today, up the White River. From the mouth of the Kings to San Succi, it was solid white bass, millions upon millions of them. They were not only on the top of the water column, but down to the 35 ft. range, almost solid, just unbelieveable. I fished Lake O in the 60's when Rainey Creek would just fill with them, I have fished Grand and Northfork and also fished here when it was fab. Nothing touches the ammount of Whites I saw today. They stayed on the surface for about 6 hrs.

Wanted to throw the spook and the fin some on the Pole timber bluffends, but as soon as it hit the water, I would have a 1 pound white bass. You could feel them time and time again smacking that big crank bait. I must have hooked a dozen in the side, back, belly and top of the head. As the flutter spoon dropped, you could feel them wack it at least 4 or 5 times each cast. The Big Size 2 Gami, caught about as many as the cranker.

At 10:30 with nothing to weigh in if I were in the derby, I decided I needed a limit. Took me exactly 1 hr. to catch-em. My usual deal, and I fished not a single place that I normally fish. First location, 1 dropped the 1/2 Real Image in pearl color. Wack, and the wormmin started. The big K hit the spoon at 25 ft. and when it did the location came alive. I could see at least a dozen strong lines zooming after the one I caught. Put him on the scale before a quick release 2.7 pounds. Dropped the spoon again, Thump, 2.6 pounds. Lines were shooting across my graph everywhere. Put the rod up and moved to the next location, just in case I fish, I didn't want to educate them all.

Same type of location. These fish are locked in at 25 ft. reguardless of being on the bottom or suspended. Dropped the spoon a couple of lifts, and the line stayed slack. 2.2 pounds. Dropped again and good golley all heck broke loose, wack. 2 pounds even and at least 6 more just like him followed him up to the surface, trying to steel the spoon.

Next location, a pole timbered bluff point I just normally don't fish as it is a bit hangie, when I have clients, but I thought there might be a LM out there that would eat the spoon. Pulled way out on the point, the boat was in 80 ft. and there were about 3 or 4 pole timbers that their tops came up to about 20 ft. Dropped the spoon, and when it was at 15 ft. I saw 3 lines coming. Bam!!! and this one pulled me down hard, and I thought it might be a big LM. This fish pulled drag on two runs. Huge white, about 3.5 pounds. Dropped again and the same thing happened, only this time the fish was a very nice LM at exactly 3 pounds.

I had my 5 and it was 11:30. Trouble is my 5 weighed, 12.1 Boy this is sounding familiar. Made up my mind with the last 3 hrs, I was just fishing big, and did so to the best of my ability. Did get luck and catch 2 more very nice LM, 2.13 and 3.3.

13 pounds 13 oz. was my final total, but of course this does not really tell the story. Had this been a guide trip, the fish that could have been caught today would have been off the chart. Derby fishing and guide fishing are not to be compaired in any aspect. Sheer numbers of quality fish make guide trips. You have to have a quality fish or two to do anything in a derby.

Don't know, maybe its tough, and my 13 to 14 pounds a day would get me a small gratuity, in the derby. Probably won't however.

[Troy Gregg]

Gave it one last try today, to see if by any chance I could catch a decent bag. "NOPE"

Fished the derby hours, 6:30 to 3 PM.

First 4 hrs. I just flat tried as hard as I could to catch a big LM. Timbered points and runouts up the White River. Threw a 1 oz Flutter Spoon and a Big Fat Free Shad, caught about a zillion Whites, some not as big as the Fat Free, or the spoon. No Largemouth, NONE.

Guys and Gals, I have been on the water and fished my entire life, and never have I seen the fish activity that was going on today, up the White River. From the mouth of the Kings to San Succi, it was solid white bass, millions upon millions of them. They were not only on the top of the water column, but down to the 35 ft. range, almost solid, just unbelieveable. I fished Lake O in the 60's when Rainey Creek would just fill with them, I have fished Grand and Northfork and also fished here when it was fab. Nothing touches the ammount of Whites I saw today. They stayed on the surface for about 6 hrs.

Wanted to throw the spook and the fin some on the Pole timber bluffends, but as soon as it hit the water, I would have a 1 pound white bass. You could feel them time and time again smacking that big crank bait. I must have hooked a dozen in the side, back, belly and top of the head. As the flutter spoon dropped, you could feel them wack it at least 4 or 5 times each cast. The Big Size 2 Gami, caught about as many as the cranker.

At 10:30 with nothing to weigh in if I were in the derby, I decided I needed a limit. Took me exactly 1 hr. to catch-em. My usual deal, and I fished not a single place that I normally fish. First location, 1 dropped the 1/2 Real Image in pearl color. Wack, and the wormmin started. The big K hit the spoon at 25 ft. and when it did the location came alive. I could see at least a dozen strong lines zooming after the one I caught. Put him on the scale before a quick release 2.7 pounds. Dropped the spoon again, Thump, 2.6 pounds. Lines were shooting across my graph everywhere. Put the rod up and moved to the next location, just in case I fish, I didn't want to educate them all.

Same type of location. These fish are locked in at 25 ft. reguardless of being on the bottom or suspended. Dropped the spoon a couple of lifts, and the line stayed slack. 2.2 pounds. Dropped again and good golley all heck broke loose, wack. 2 pounds even and at least 6 more just like him followed him up to the surface, trying to steel the spoon.

Next location, a pole timbered bluff point I just normally don't fish as it is a bit hangie, when I have clients, but I thought there might be a LM out there that would eat the spoon. Pulled way out on the point, the boat was in 80 ft. and there were about 3 or 4 pole timbers that their tops came up to about 20 ft. Dropped the spoon, and when it was at 15 ft. I saw 3 lines coming. Bam!!! and this one pulled me down hard, and I thought it might be a big LM. This fish pulled drag on two runs. Huge white, about 3.5 pounds. Dropped again and the same thing happened, only this time the fish was a very nice LM at exactly 3 pounds.

I had my 5 and it was 11:30. Trouble is my 5 weighed, 12.1 Boy this is sounding familiar. Made up my mind with the last 3 hrs, I was just fishing big, and did so to the best of my ability. Did get luck and catch 2 more very nice LM, 2.13 and 3.3.

13 pounds 13 oz. was my final total, but of course this does not really tell the story. Had this been a guide trip, the fish that could have been caught today would have been off the chart. Derby fishing and guide fishing are not to be compaired in any aspect. Sheer numbers of quality fish make guide trips. You have to have a quality fish or two to do anything in a derby.

Don't know, maybe its tough, and my 13 to 14 pounds a day would get me a small gratuity, in the derby. Probably won't however.

Bill, I know of tourneys on this pond that 13lbs won.... when this pond gets tough it gets real tough and with a saavy angler such as yourself having as much trouble as you say you are, I am thinking the derby weights this weekend will be way down.... my guess is 15lbs will take top honors, they will get lucky and catch that big black as a kicker, the rest of the field is going to have keepers and thats about it. Just my two cents

I know you are a force to be reckoned with in any derby that you fish, and I wish I could see you in it this weekend. You know as well as I do, tomorrow is another day and what worked today can change 180 degrees tomorrow... anyways, good luck to you

I only made it out for about an hour today... 11-12, I just wanted to go play around with the gear and catch a fish or two just to kick up the confidence a lil, Off of the back of the boat I won't know what were doing until tomorrow. But I did end up with 5 keeper SJ"S in that hour, two on one location and three off of docks, but they were just that, KEEPERS...my guess between 10 and 11lbs

Tight lines, and well see you on the water

[James Robertson]

Sounds like a very intresting day . I went looking for white and stripers here on the Dardanelle Thurs. all I could find was very small stuff. Don't know where the quality fish are either. I sure enjoy reading your posts. Bill I hope to get a chance to go out fishin' with you someday to see those fish come after lure in the depth finder. Thanks James

[motoman]

If I'm seeing the results right bill, 13 to 14 would've had you in the money. Right up there with Snowden and Wenners. (Assuming you were going to fish the Team event today?)

-

That's nothing to scoff at!

[Bill Babler]

Went and watched the weigh-in. Probably could not have done as good as Pete and Brian, probably closer to Beck and Lisek Between 12 and 13 pounds, and that was worth a big zero.

Told Bill the locations of most of the fish I had been catching and had also fished with him several days this last week. He was a scufflin and spent time on most of those locations, and did not fare well. I'll just run up the White today and fun fish abit.

Really don't want to spend the $300 plus it would cost to fish the derby and work that hard, just to try and get that ammount back. I am just not on any kind of a quality LM bite that my wife and Banker would approve of that kind of an investment.

Want to catch 50 K's or unlimited Whites, and I'm your guy. Maybe I could weigh-in a quality limit of Whites, with a walleye or so thrown in to boot.

Good Luck out there.

[crazy4fishin]

Bill interesting post, it sounds a little tough right now but patience is a virtue......at least that is what i am told - I am going to be down on Table Rock next week and give it a try....who knows what the pattern might be then right?

If I could catch 50 K's or unlimited whites in one trip you would find my boat floating around aimlessly with me just sitting there with a huge grin on my face stunned.......

I do have one question, and I have asked it on another thread. I want to upgrage my FF on the front of my boat..I have an Eagle 480 right now any suggestons/recommendations on a resonably priced unit? Not sure if I need a GPS as I have Lowrance unit in the console.

THanks again for all of your posts and thoughts...

[Bill Babler]

C4F, It is not tough a bit right now. Only catching big LM is hard. It was not as hard as I thought it was, yesterday, with the Dodsons, and B. Sullivan weighing in Monster bags of-em.

My trouble is that is just not how I roll. LM for me are a treat, rather than an every day occurance. The reason for the most part, is I just never fish for them, I have to catch numbers, and there is not a guide on TR Lake that could make a living catching LM. For the most part and I am being general here, is you have to totally not worry about catching a limit of fish. You just have to go and fish big baits in big fish locations, and let the dice land as they roll.

Not so much during stickbait time, but right now for sure.

As far as the electronics are concerned, I am pretty much going to stay out of that discussion. It always turns into a sales pitch. One thing I will tell you, is your best electronics, belong on the bow. Any global mapping unit on the console will put you on your locations, seeing whats down there after you arrive is a totally different matter.

Good Luck

[crazy4fishin]

Thanks for the input Bil I appreciate it