Fishing Report

[Bill Babler]

The Beckster and I hit it for a few hours this AM. I am forbidden to say where or on what as I am on a very short leash after mentioning the Kings in a previous report.

Met his nephew on the water and had a really good morning.

Water temps are moving up in a very dramatic fashion, and had water from 47 to 52 degrees.

Fished some pockets and alot of main lake, White River.

The two boats convicted and then gave pardons to 23 keepers, up to 6.5 lbs. Not bad for 3 hillbilleys.

I am now on complete retainer with Bill as everytime we fish he catches a big MAMA.

Most all the fish were on a stickbait, but if the water keeps going like this, it won't last, as they will really move up.

I am also his personal photographer, as here is a photo of the fish of the day.

I am very good with a net and flash photography. I usually don't catch very many fish but whom ever I take does. If anyone requires these type of services you can book me thru Beck's Table Rock Guide Service. He does demand a small perdeim for all the advertisment he is giving me.

Good Luck on the Rock.

[superfly]

WOW! Nice healthy looking fish.

[dwiebenga]

Mr. Babler,

I am coming down over Easter and you mentioned the water already getting near the 50s. At what point does the stickbait bite die off? When they move up are you switching to jigs and crankbaits? With this major warming trend are we also looking at an early spawn? Maybe even that first week of April?

Thank you

Dave

[Bill Babler]

D. The spawn is not so much triggered by water temperature. The angle of light and light penetration is what generates the spawn. SKMO had a fancy word for it in an earlier post.

AS the fish move shallower, the stickbait bite is still on somewhat, but the split shot rig, soft plastic jerk baits, sinkos, warts, and jigs are all better shallow water offerings than the stick.

With all of the fish we caught yesterday, we still had two seperate periods of over an hour each when we caught zero, and had no bites.

These fish are really located in very small stretches and they are really concentrated on those locations. In one stretch of bank no more than 100 yds. in length, we had in a 30 minute period 7 keeperss with the best 5 right at 18 lbs.

Best advice is if you catch a fish on a spot, you can bet there are more there so work it a couple of different ways.

Go down the bank with the stick bait and then go over it again with either a jig or a crank bait. Create a milk run between your two or three best spots and give them a couple or hours to regenerate and hit them again. These fish are really hungry and looking, and on the move.

The reason they are on particular spots is because of the feed.

Stay away from any dieing shad as you will totally waste your time, we did it again yesterday, Some of our best early season locations were covered with shad and we just could't get bit. Get away from the shad and boom.

[J.E.]

"I am very good with a net and flash photography. I usually don't catch very many fish but whom ever I take does. If anyone requires these type of services you can book me thru Beck's Table Rock Guide Service. He does demand a small perdeim for all the advertisment he is giving me."

LOL......

Sounds like a great guide............

[Bill P]

Fished the lower James yesterday. Zero on stick bait,zero on jig and finesse plastics. Caught 5 on #37 warts. 3 SM on mag wart. 2 shorts-3 legals. All close to bank,less than 5-6 ft deep,near deeper sides of points.