Video Fishing Reports

[dtrs5kprs]

Well, one thing we know for certain after all of this, the fabulous Mrs. Babler is not going to suggest Wendy's for dinner anytime soon .

[Phil Lilley]

Gentlemen,

I regret posting these videos. My intent was not to compare or judge them. I posted them as video fishing reports. I didn't see this coming at all.

Yes we share fishing information here. Bill is the best... and Bill receives cold shoulders from a lot of his piers because he so free with good, timely information. He is the moderator on this forum and yes it is probably the most viewed fishing forum for Table Rock Lake.

Eric Prey has been judged here as a fishing guide who only posts fishing reports for personal gain and copy/pastes reports on numerous fishing sites. He has also been unfairly compared to a Table Rock legend.

Eric and others are trying to make a modest living at what he loves to do. This topic hurts his image, and it's all because I chose to post his video. I would delete this but the damage is done.

[focused fishing]

Gentlemen,

First off, thank you Phil for sharing my video on your site, I do appreciate it. Trying to get a new website up and running and appreciate all the help we can get.

I did not ask Phil to post my video and in fact have asked him not to post anymore videos in the future because of the response on this thread.

Your gain or your loss you decide.

It has been almost four years since I have visited or posted on this site and would not have today if not for a friend mentioning he saw that one of my videos had been shared here.

Unfortunately I was reminded exactly why I never visit.

Apparently there is some question about the accuracy of my report, part of the reason I decided to do my videos on the water was to reassure the viewer that I was actually fishing. I’m not sure about you but I don’t go to the water and not fish. Whether a guide trip or for fun, if I’m on the water I fish. My reports are done after a day of fishing and reflect how we caught fish on that day.

For example; the report Phil shared was shot this past Sunday at the end of a trip to the lake with a friend. We caught a total of 14 fish that day, 6 were keepers. We caught 2 on a stickbait, 1 on an umbrella rig, 7 on a jig and 4 deep between a spoon and dropshot rig. Most of the keepers were caught on the jig with one better fish on the Umbrella rig. Not a great day but not bad.

I do not go into that much detail because of time constraints of the video. The feedback I have received from my regular viewers is they would prefer more detail on the baits than a replay on the number of fish so I explain the brand, color and type of bait and include a picture.

The videos are usually posted within 48 hours of shooting. If the patterns I detail in the video is ineffective in a couple of days my apologies.

Someone else posted reports should be a guideline or starting point that is what they are a guideline.

Personally I have had a decent winter on Table Rock, not as good as in years past but still catching fish every time I go out. Maybe I’m just lucky.

Yes I do work a second job, unfortunately I have to in order to support my family.

I did 174 guide trips in 2013 (Apparently that doesn't qualify as full time) and worked approximately 36 - 44 hours a week in the evening. During June, July and August last summer I averaged 109 hours of work a week between guiding and my night job. If you have a problem with someone working a second job rather than putting his feet up at 2:00 in the afternoon don’t hire him as a guide.

Most of the guides on the lake have something else they do to earn a living.

Yes my videos do promote my guide business. I am a small businessman and started doing these videos to share information with other anglers and to promote my business and the business of two other guides I partnered with. As a small businessman it is what I do. Sorry if you don’t like it, in the real world if you don’t promote your business you won’t have a business.

I also promote my sponsors, they support me I support them it’s a mutual agreement. Much like the ads on this web page.

I DID NOT POST THIS VIDEO OR ASK THAT IT BE POSTED

Phil did this as a courtesy and again I appreciate it greatly.

[abkeenan]

Here's my 2 cents' worth. Bill makes some very valid points ...

(1) This is a conversational site of tremendous value to those of us who frequent it. In my opinion, it is without equal in the world of fishing forums. Heck, it's probably without even a rival. We share more information here in ONE DAY than most internet sites do in a YEAR! Don't believe it? Go try to find even a smidgeon of this kind of reliable, local information anywhere else.

(2) The unwritten but well understood standard here is that any fishing reports are reasonably fresh and include a time element (i.e., when the author of the report went fishing).

(3) Finally, I don't think anyone, including Bill, is saying we shouldn't have these video reports. Fact of the matter is, Pete Wenners does give a time element as to when he was last on the water; Eric does not. Common sense should dictate that you read what you will into that. It sure appears that Eric's report is more commercialized. Again, let common sense be your guide.

(4) Bill is our moderator and the leading contributor of information, hands down. He does not EVER advertise his guide business on here so I think we can safely deduce that he doesn't view these video reports as a threat. His interest is simply in "keeping it real" in every sense. Enjoy the video reports, but if you are viewing them for take-it-to-the-lake information, do so judiciously.

Thanks for letting me have my say.

[Alex Heitman]

Eric, I appreciate all of your reports, especially your website that has instructional videos. It gives you a starting point on what to look for when your out on the water and an idea what the fish have been doing recently. You are right as well about the sponsors. If you didn't promote them you wouldn't have any. That is just being business smart from a fundamental standpoint.

[JimmyBaja]

As a novice trying to figure out how to fish Table Rock, I like reviewing the videos. Being able to visually see a specific bait that has been mentioned on the forum is very helpful. A lot of time when I read these detailed posts I have to google the bait mentioned so I know specifically what you are talking about. IMHO, the videos are beneficial for me. Thanks for everything you guys do. I know you all have other things to do.

[cyclonebass]

Eric, i too enjoy watching your reports and not once did it cross my mind you were feeding the public "false" information to drum up business for yourself. I never post on this site because I'm not from the area and would have very little to contribute, but i enjoy reading all the reports to get me through the long Iowa winters. When i read Bill's response to the posting of the videos, i was shocked by his assault on you and was inspired to submit a post. Now I'm sure Bill will respond by saying he wasn't directly attacking you or your reports, but the rest of us on the site who have non-biased opinions will agree with me, this was attack on your character. I think Bill's post showed very little class, especially considering both your report and Pete's report said the same thing. I encourage all who post to keep on posting the reports and videos; the silent majority loves to read them and we don't past judgement on you like others do.

[Sore Thumbs]

Wow. I knew with all this bad weather that an arguement would get started on here. Lol. It s funny that Phil showed both these guys from You Tube. I am always looking to obtain knowledge about area lakes and Pete,Eric and that Winkiees goofball that makes me laugh are the only guys that post videos about Table Rock. I get a lot out of a story if I have video. I don't know Eric like some of you guys do, but I just took videos for what they where. Didn't read much into them. If I was considering a guide I would do my homework and probably ask around about someone before I booked a trip. As for Pete. I just recently met him when I was at Falcon. He seems like a nice guy and was more than helpful when I asked for his advice. He took his time and showed me spots on a map and recommended things I should use. A lot of people wouldn't do that and really appreciated his help. I guess what im getting at is that those videos along with this forum and any other info you gather are all tools to help us learn to be better fisherman. I need all the help I can get. Stay warm fellas!

[gitnby]

Thanks, Bill!

I was hoping someone would jump in on this. I have found Pete's reports to be good, and he will say when, or if, he has been out in the past week. And he also shares some good tips on how to rig and use certain baits. I have learned quite a bit from him.

As for his reports, I think he's usually pretty close on what's happening out there. He'll tell you when it's tough, and doesn't get too excited when it's good.

I found Eric's report to be self-promoting and not very accurate. Not sure where he has been fishin lately, but he makes it sound like fishin is great right now on the Rock?

My personal experience, and that of many guys who are a lot better than me, is that this Winter has pretty much sucked so far! Can't remember struggling like this to find and catch Winter fish.

Phil,

Do NOT feel any regret for posting these videos. You, as always, were just trying to add to the flavor of this forum, and we all appreciate the time you spend keeping us all informed.

Eric,

I owe you an apology. After re-reading my post, I realize that I did not convey the right message. What I should have said is that I have found Pete's reports to be more accurate for me and the way I fish. Like many of us, I usually only find time to fish on weekends when the fishing pressure is at it's peak, and every point has a boat on it. This Winter has been less than stellar for me, and maybe I have been spoiled by some previous great Winter fishing? But, I shouldn't vent my frustration on you or anyone who is doing well.

I own a small business, so I definitely understand why you want to promote your service. Anytime you deal with the public, you will always be open to criticism, jealousy and worse. I have no problem with how many days you spend on the water, because you still are out there at least twice as often as I am.

I have been fishing this Lake for almost 50 years, and I would say that most of the good things I have learned have been through people like yourself. I have hired guides dozens of times, and always take something positive from the experience, even if we didn't catch much.

I would encourage you to reconsider your involvement with this forum. There really are some great folks on here! But, sometimes our "Ozark" shows!

Not only are we "Show-Me" staters, but we tend to speak our mind before our brains and heart engage. And God knows, we will argue about anything, especially things we know absolutely nothing about.

I wish you the best in your business and your fishing.

[Bill Babler]

Yes, I believe that Phil was just using these as a common thread for all type of how to reports or video blogs weather it be general fishing or for that matter any type of advertising.

He did not mean it nor did I as a critique of any individual that does this type of advertising. As I have reiterated time and time in my posts on this blog.

I believe the question is do you like video Fishing Reports and do they have value.

I like them, but mostly for entertainment value and that alone.

Good Luck

Phil in a private email to me said that I praised Pete and failed to praise Eric. That was the problem, and for this I apologize. I however did not view either video, as I did not think that was the question. Again I must have misinterpreted what Phil meant by posting the video's to begin with.

I view all fishing videos for the most part made and posted by guides to be advertisement for their guide business and treat them as such. This I stated. If by extremely poor writing style I was taken to mean that either of the videos were giving false information, for this I also apologize, as again I did not watch either.

As far as Eric is concerned we have a very good working relationship. In the past 10 yrs. or so I have called Eric usually an average of 5 plus times per year to offer him guide trips. Believe me if he did not do a good job I would not call. He has worked for me on loads of trips during that time and has done a very good job.

I realize I should have pointed this out as I mentioned Pete's name as being good on the video deal and not Eric. I should have even if I had not seen it I guess.

But, did not think that either Pete or Eric was the question or the reason for Phil Posting those video's.

I'm pretty much done with this. Pretty easy to get into trouble if your not a professional journalist.