3-8-17 Pre-Trip Report

[Bill Babler]

Both Beck and I are off today so we are hitting the Briny Blue at 8 AM.  Be back with a full report this evening.  It's early and I have already seen about a dozen boats go by the Lodge.  It's that time of the season and folks are ready and eager to get a good old mama.

Hope the winds does not blow as it has been my eyes are already damaged from the constant blowing.  The Saga continues.

[Bill Babler]

Well, I wish I had a better report for y'all, but I don't.  We were a bit late and hit the water at 9 to a dead calm.  Probably should have thrown the bait with No-Name, but we were after biggens and threw our junk deep.  Went 3 hrs. without a bite and then the wind kicked at Gale Force  I caught 2 keeps back to back  and then Willie caught one.  We then moved to another point and caught 2 more keeps off that.  We swam deep all day and caught 8 fish with 5 keeps that weighed 12.5.  Bill had a nice LM that helped on the weight.  When the wind started like that we threw a jerkbait and I want to add here that I am dumping my entire collection of them all in the dumpster on Happy Hollow Road as they no longer catch fish.  Bill is dumping his in Kimberling City at the landfillI

I'll do better tomorrow.  Every fish we caught was right on the sweet spot, there are no marginal bites out there.

Good Luck

[wareaglecamo]

gonna be a lot of DUMPSTER DIVERS out tonight!!!

[1farmer]

2 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Well, I wish I had a better report for y'all, but I don't.  We were a bit late and hit the water at 9 to a dead calm.  Probably should have thrown the bait with No-Name, but we were after biggens and threw our junk deep.  Went 3 hrs. without a bite and then the wind kicked at Gale Force  I caught 2 keeps back to back  and then Willie caught one.  We then moved to another point and caught 2 more keeps off that.  We swam deep all day and caught 8 fish with 5 keeps that weighed 12.5.  Bill had a nice LM that helped on the weight.  When the wind started like that we threw a jerkbait and I want to add here that I am dumping my entire collection of them all in the dumpster on Happy Hollow Road as they no longer catch fish.  Bill is dumping his in Kimberling City at the landfillI

I'll do better tomorrow.  Every fish we caught was right on the sweet spot, there are no marginal bites out there.

Good Luck

I think it's caused by some type of jerkbait virus, mine have had it this winter also.

[Bill Babler]

Well sadly to say today was pretty much like yesterday except I had better fish.  6 total fish with 5 more than solid keepers.  One of the LM was over 4 pounds but would not have weighed 5   Best 5 today at 15 pounds, but 6 hrs. for 6 bites.  I'm pretty patient, but that is even slow for me.  Just like yesterday I went the first 3+ hrs. without a bite.  It goes from completely flat to 2 footers in about 15 seconds.  As soon as I get wind I get bit.  Not bit good, but at least bit.  I'm fishing right on the sweet spot when I do get a bit.  If I'm just casting I'm not catching.  I have to know this is the one and the only cast on this location that has a chance and it usually is.  You get about 3 to 5 throws on a location and if its not right, you are not getting bit.

What I'm saying is off these points and swings I'll run it down each side and right over the top to where it drops.   It will usually be in the 1st. to 5th. cast on the location to get bit.  You can stay all day if you want, it won't make a difference.

Did see a group of Big Cedar guide boats catching fish on diving gulls.  If the gulls are frantic and hitting the water you can get bit there.  If they are just resting on the water it will not happen.  I caught 3 SM today that were suspended in 30 ft. over 60 ft. and I saw several big groups of shad at 90ft. to over 100 ft.  Fished from Moonshine to LongCreek.

[m&m]

Bill, thanks for the information. Lots of real clear water in the area you were fishing. Good bites are few and far between.

Mike

[Hammer time]

6 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Well sadly to say today was pretty much like yesterday except I had better fish.  6 total fish with 5 more than solid keepers.  One of the LM was over 4 pounds but would not have weighed 5   Best 5 today at 15 pounds, but 6 hrs. for 6 bites.  I'm pretty patient, but that is even slow for me.  Just like yesterday I went the first 3+ hrs. without a bite.  It goes from completely flat to 2 footers in about 15 seconds.  As soon as I get wind I get bit.  Not bit good, but at least bit.  I'm fishing right on the sweet spot when I do get a bit.  If I'm just casting I'm not catching.  I have to know this is the one and the only cast on this location that has a chance and it usually is.  You get about 3 to 5 throws on a location and if its not right, you are not getting bit.

What I'm saying is off these points and swings I'll run it down each side and right over the top to where it drops.   It will usually be in the 1st. to 5th. cast on the location to get bit.  You can stay all day if you want, it won't make a difference.

Did see a group of Big Cedar guide boats catching fish on diving gulls.  If the gulls are frantic and hitting the water you can get bit there.  If they are just resting on the water it will not happen.  I caught 3 SM today that were suspended in 30 ft. over 60 ft. and I saw several big groups of shad at 90ft. to over 100 ft.  Fished from Moonshine to LongCreek.

The Rock can and will humble the best fisherman in the world. One day a hero the next a zero.

Fishing can change not only day by day but hourly. 

Glad to learn you tried for big ones or power fished, like many, but had the savy to adapt and and find a pattern that worked! Congrats! So many times many anglers including myself want to catch em "their ways" and not the way the fish want the bait. You are a very versatile fisherman, and that's what the Rock demands many times.

Thanks for the in depth post and shared knowledge and experience.

[Bill Babler]

Probably should have switched to the Ned, or drug a split shot, Fish Dr. on that flat water, but I'm still after those staging fish.  Seems I can't get bit without at least a puff of wind.   Guys again if you are out there and see the gulls diving and squaking or you see shad on the surface in these pockets be sure you toss something that direction.

Hope everyone's health and property are ok from last nights storm.  I think Becky is going to have to schedule a visit from the Roof Dr.

God Bless

[96 CHAMP]

With Champ being a writer and the way you tell your post you guys would make one heck of a book. Good reading, thanks