Fished today, from Kimberling to Shell Knob

[Fishin' Freak]

Bill,

What are your thoughts on 6 lb test line vs. 8 lb test when drop shotting and split shotting? I have been told that if I will drop down to 6 lb test that I can catch three more fish to the one I am catching now with my 8 lb test line. I am mostly using the P-Line Floroclear--not true florocarbon but it is coated with it. I am getting ready to experiment with the BPS XPS florocarbon line. Just curious if 6 lb test will make that much difference. I have also heard that there is more difference in line strength between 6 and 8 lb line than any other two lines (8 vs 10, 10 vs 12 ect). I am a bit hesitent to drop down to 6 lb line.

[Bill Babler]

Freak, most of the guides, including myself are using 8lb. Pline. Moss Green.

I have just gotten tierd of messing with the twists that result by using the floracarbon.

Got off to a bang today with my first cast on a bluffend catching a whale of a smallie on a sammey. Continued out the point and as it dropped into 90ft. of water, I saw two fish suspended at about 30ft. Dropped down and caught a keeper Ky and then redropped and caught his twin.

That was it for the next 4 hours. I could see plenty of fish but for the life of me just could not get them to hit.

Tried numerious deep trees, and nothing but hang-ups. Ended up just past Shell Knob, and did manage to catch 4 fish off what the guides call the Babler Bank as it is one of my good ole spots.

On the way back to Kimberling I stopped at another of the old milk run spots that I had fished on the way to the knob. Caught two squeeker keepers immediatly and that was all she wrote.

Spoke to a bunch of the BASS guys at the ramp, and they were totally disgusted. 4 had not caught a fish, let alone a keeper and a couple of the other guys were saying they were just going to put it on the tralier and go take a nap.

They wondered how such a beautiful lake and such a fantastic day, could be so terrible. But one of them did comment ya that's Table Rock.

Spent a shade over 7 hrs. on the water and had 9 total fish with the 1 good smallie and 4 squeeker Kantuck's

There were boats on almost all of the deep humps and I mean lots of them, 12 boats on the hump at 16, 6 on cemetary and looked like at least 5 on pt.9.

The Joe Bald flats along with the flats at Shell Knob and Baxter, were simply covered with boats as well as all the humps between the Kimberling City Bridge and Mill Creek Ramp. It's going to be interesting.

[Bill Babler]

Guys, just wanted to let you know that alot of these guys fishing BASS have taken multiple guide trips on the rock in the last couple of years.

I know before cutoff and off limits there were a bunch of trips that Bill Beck, Buster and Tim Sainato took. Along with a full set of trips last week on Bull Shoals, because that is as close as they could get to TR.

When the weights and limits came up in the Heartland Elite, the BASS guys in attendance and they were there in huge numbers, stood and appluaded, they know how rough our home lake is. It is never, never easy on Table Rock.

Most of the guide trips, were on how to use electronics for deep fishing. You would be suprised how many of these guys are recieving huge sponsorships from the electronic companies, and just flat don't know how to use them. For the most part, they just don't need to know. When you are fishing under 10ft. of water, it is just a temperature gage, gps, and bottom saver.

Most all these guys know to a T were largemouth bass live. Most all however have trouble on deep clear water lakes. That is just not how they fish. For the most part these pro's depend on a reaction strike rather than fish that are just eating and being selective. They want to cream the most aggressive fish off, which are usually the bigger fish or the dominate critter on the block.

When they have to sit down and make them bite, they just don't like it at all.

As Tim Sainato said during his interview on stage, during the elite. "You prety much had to drop in in their mouth when they yawned!"

Best predictions for tomorrow is maby 17lbs. to lead. Buster said if it takes over that you are a superhero. Closer guess maby 14.5 to 15.

You guys, post your guesses with who you think will be there and how much, and let's see what happens.

My best and only 5 today, weighted 8.75 with the 3lb. smallie.

[LWW]

Here's my best guess to how things may shake out..

I know Ike is not the common man's favorite, but that guy can fish and he has held the AOY lead all year and I'd hate to see him lose it now. So I will be pulling for Ike.

That said here's my top 3...

1.) Aaron Martins (63lbs 4 day total)

2.) Brent Chapman (59lb 4 day total)

3.) KVD ( 57lb 4 day total)

I think Ike, Skeet Reese, and Hackney might also be fishing on Sunday. Wouldn't be suprised to see Kennedy and Snowden make it through some of the cuts.

Anyone's ball game. Should be interesting!

[Bill Babler]

I know Brent Chapman took a guide trip on Bull Shoals with Buster on Friday. He wanted him to show him how to use some new electronics. He may not do as well as if the shallow bite was on.

Snowden, usually dosen't do well here, it will depend if he can catch them off a community hole he likes between Kimberling and the dam.

You can check out the BASSMASTERS site and see what these guys think.

Check out what Denny Braur has to say, he is pretty down to earth and very realistic. So is Stacy.

Stacy King thinks that 30 lbs. will put you in the top 12 after 3 days and that a total skunkola is not a possibility for the two days leading up to Sat.

Checked with all the guides, and they were out today and everyone thought it was just plain terrible. Most all were using live bait and just could not get the fish to bite. Buster said he saw plenty but it was just terrible.

That usually means that tommorrow will be strong.

Keep your thoughts comming.

[WebFreeman]

My thought was Aaron Martins, too. KVD seems versitile, so he may do well, though he didn't do as well in the Busch Shootout last year. Gerald Swindle did well last year, so I think he has a top 5 chance. I like the fact that they're all clueless. Should be fun.

[Fishin' Freak]

I am going with Aaron Martins to win the whole thing on his magic drop shot worm. He is the king of drop shotting and he will pull something off here. I like Swindle to be in the top 3 as well. Chapman knows the lake as well or better than most of them probably due to his close proximity but if the James bite is not going I don't see him doing real well. KVD is very versitle and you can't count a guy like him out. With Angler of the Year on the line I see Ike finding fish somehow, someway so I will put him third behind Martins and Swindle. Winning weight will be 59 pounds for 4 days.

[Kicknbass]

Thanks for the post Bill, I always enjoy them.

[Bill Babler]

Thanks for the interest guys. I know a couple of the guides that don't have trips on Fri. are going to follow KVD just for the fun of it.

Heard on Mon. and Tue. that he struggled and didn't have a keeper either day, but it dosen't matter, because today, cash is on the line and I'm sure he will be able to capture some.

Martins is a great pick, but don't count out Stacy to be in there at the finish. Seems he always has a huge day here, I think he will be going for a big smallie bite if the conditions are right. He just needs to put 4 days together. Seems he always has a very rough day also.

It will be very hard to be consistant for 4 days.

[Fishin' Freak]

Bill,

I you don't mind keeping us posted on the weights each day that would be great. I will not be able to make it down until Sat. but I would love to hear the stories from Thurs. and Friday's weigh-ins. Thanks!!