September 20Th. Table Rock Lake Report

[Bill Babler]

Wish I could have gone to Alaska now as Becky has just kept me hopping. Have guided everyday for the last 3 weeks and there seems to be no end in sight. Did take this coming Saturday off as the Mizzou game at South Carolina is at 2:30 and did not want to miss any of it.

Combinations of Fall Corporate trips, regulars, and a lodge or Lilleys' guest here and there. Fantastic weather and everyone is wanting to get out.

Surface temps have dropped to 76 in most of the areas from Campbell Point to LongCreek that I have been fishing. Water is in fantastic shape. All the rain has not caused the lake to move either way much. Hanging in there in the low 8,s.

Walleye bite slowed down for me a couple of weeks ago, but has came back strong last week and into this week. Had a 8.5 and a 7 pounder on the same trip. Lady caught them both. Lots and lots of catfish, mostly flatheads.

Most of my fish have came on crawlers, but they are starting on the jig a little bit and to tell you the truth, they are hiting that little purple yamamoto worm just about as good. Only problem is you eliminate the cats and the eyes with it, so I'm keeping my guests on the squirms.

Today I was out of Chateau and it was my toughest day in a while with 12 bass, but we had 9 very quality keeps. These were complete toad K's and were caught suspended at 28' over 60'. Could not find bottom fish today in the dam area, most everything was suspended.

My trip started at 8:30 and I got on the water at 0600. I threw a spook, blade and a square bill for 2 hrs. without a bite in the Big and Little Indian before the trip. Saw zero topwater fish. Started in the dark with a swimbait off some long runnouts that I was catching fish on earlier this Summer and nothing there either. Figured once I picked up the clients it was a crawler day.

About a dozen guides out ot Chateau today and and the couple that went above Kimberling City, had the best go of it. That is an insane run at $3.75 a gal gas. There comes a point when you just have to say, we got to catch them here. I ran all the way to Kennel Branch and really had my best go up on that end. You just got to get away from the fishing prussure that is in the dam area. There were easily at least 30 to 40 boats fishing the same water as the guides today so we had plenty of help.

Good Luck

[Tfsh4bass]

A buddy and I fished some new water today around Indian from 10-3 and it was tough for us. The drop shot saved the day because we only caught 3 little guys on moving baits and hardly got bit. We ended up catching around 17 drop shotting numerous places from 12-3...mostly ditches in the 30-50 range and like Bill said we couldn't find the bottom fish at all. We maybe had a few squeakers but not any good ones...mostly 13-14" spots except 1 black.

[Champ188]

Luck has nothing to do with Bill staying busy. He works his tail off year-round to stay on top of the fish and treats his clients like gold.

[Bill Babler]

Hopefully I'm blessed more than Lucky. I believe in anything you make your own luck. Everyone tells Becky how lucky she is to have and run the Lodge. She works a minimum of 70 hrs. a week, and people just don't see that. Had a lady the other day ask her, "Now that you have served breakfast what are you going to do the rest of the day?"

She starts at 6:30 and ends each evening at 10 PM and works 7 days a week, except to go to Church on Sunday if she can possibly make it. We like to sit on the deck and watch the boats and the birds and have a cocktail in the evenings, other than going out to dinner a day or two a week and having lunch at Twin Islands Restaurant, that is the routine.

People wonder why business fail and some thrive. If you don't love it and take advantage of your opportunities and do the best you can reguardless of how many hours it takes it does not work well.

I really cannot imagine someone only working 40 hours a week. What would you do with the rest of the time? But we are working for ourselves and enjoying most every minute.

Here is my day, most days.

Wake up at 4 AM

Shower and Shave get dressed

4:30 Kitchen Duty

Set Table Places Unload the dishwasher, fill the guest refrigerator, make 3 pots of coffee and one tea.

Harvest plate condiments from herb garden and make sure deck is ready for guests.

Take a quick look at the KC Star and STL today and if time write a short blog

6:30 Load Ice into boat cooler and head for trip

Fish to usually 11 AM or 1 if it is a 3/4 day.

Meet for Lunch as she goes shopping most everyday to have fresh breakfast foods available.

2 PM Water all plants and take care outside of Lodge.

4 PM Go back to shed and reset boat for next day. If It is bass two days in a row, Now, I will retie and clean every rod and reel we used that day. If I am using 5 drop shot rods I will complete retie them all. Know the clients that I am going to have and rerig all the rods to "Their Capabilities." I clean and disinfect every rod that anyone uses during their trip. Replace line on any that need it. I will usually do at least 3 rods per day. And also spool for the fishing we are about to do.

Restock the boats baits and check all the boats systems. Repair any small problems and clean the boat, and get the battery hooked to the charger. Make a list of anything I need to pick up at the bait store.

If I am going to trout, I have to complete rerig the entire boat, taking out all the bass equipment and putting in the trout. I have this very organized into special boxes.

that I also check each day and refill from my shed tackle store. Yesterday evening here is what I rigged for my trouting for today, for two clients.

3 rods rigged for crawlers or powerbait with drift rigs

3 straight jig rods for throwing sculpin 1/16 oz jigs

4 rods equipped with a float and 2 different color trout magnets

4 rods equipped with a float and Turner Jones Micro Jigs

3 rods equipped with a float and 125 th. oz . jig heads for deep nympthing powerbait under a float----Deadly!

4 rods with small to medium stickbaits.

Not a single one of the rods or a single bait had been fished before and all had been completely retied. Every drag had been tested and every spool with filled with the appropreate fresh line. I always have on board at least 1 extra rod for each fishing method we are doing for each client. It is a waste of their time if they break off watching you retie their rig. I want to be able to hand them a new rig at any sign of trouble, no mater how we are fishing.

If it is a fly fishing trip that is a completely different song and dance with more equipment to rig. I love it.

Try and get done by 5:30 or 6 PM and sit on the deck and have supper or have it watching some TV in the theater room. Usually in bed by 9.

Guess I forgot the book work. I'll do that tomorrow

Other than that, I don't have much to do most days.

It is a wonderful life and we both enjoy it, and would not have it any other way. We are indeed "Lucky."

[rps]

We can all tell you hate every moment.

[rps]

Keep doing what you do. Please.

[Jason Essary]

Bill, it is wonderful to hear how someone works so hard and makes a good living. I am so sick and tired of listening to so many people that want it just handed to them. Even if they do work 8hrs a day, they think its killing them. Many I have talked to in the last couple weeks dont have jobs, but wont go to work "here" or "there" because they think its not good enough for them, all the time they are behind on their house payments, car payments, and still go "out" to eat half the time. Had a guy I know the other day telling me how long it had been since he had worked. I have seen his work ability so I asked him if he wanted a job. His first words were that he would not work for under $25 an hour. I dont even pay myself near that. Guess he will stay home until the bank kicks him out!

Ok, im getting down from the soap box now. Keep it up Bill, always say that you make your OWN luck.

[Champ188]

Bill, it is wonderful to hear how someone works so hard and makes a good living. I am so sick and tired of listening to so many people that want it just handed to them. Even if they do work 8hrs a day, they think its killing them. Many I have talked to in the last couple weeks dont have jobs, but wont go to work "here" or "there" because they think its not good enough for them, all the time they are behind on their house payments, car payments, and still go "out" to eat half the time. Had a guy I know the other day telling me how long it had been since he had worked. I have seen his work ability so I asked him if he wanted a job. His first words were that he would not work for under $25 an hour. I dont even pay myself near that. Guess he will stay home until the bank kicks him out!

Ok, im getting down from the soap box now. Keep it up Bill, always say that you make your OWN luck.

Jason, people who don't want to work don't have to ... our increasingly socialist government makes sure of it.

[Champ188]

champ,

I guess we have diff. thoughts about what the word lucky means to each one of us

to me "lucky " is when you are given an opportunity to do something, and you are successful at that opportunity whatever it may be,

I didn't mean what you thought I meant.

My apologies for misinterpreting your meaning.

[Quillback]

I've fished with several guides in the Pacific Northwest for salmon and steelhead, and the good ones are like Bill. The boat's clean and organized, the rods are rigged are ready to go, and when you get to the spot you start fishing. Nothing worse than a guide that starts off the day rigging rods and rooting around the boat looking for hooks or whatnot.