Today

[Bill Babler]

Had two trips today on the Rock, starting at Campbell Point and fishing that area. Found water in the back of several pockets at 70 degrees. I for the life of me have seen no beds or spawning activity, but all my buddies have.

17 fish on the AM trip with 3 keepers up to 4/2 lbs. a really nice smallie.

Not as good as yesterday but kept busy.

Afternoon, out of Aunts Creek netted us about 20 fish with 5 good keeps, 3 1/2 being the best and it also was a smallie.

Some of my contacts did worse, and some did much, much better catching as many as 40 plus keepers today.

No details or they promised to cut body parts off and I need them all.

20 plus pounds was the best report I had today on 5 fish. My best 5, combining two guide trips was around 14 lbs.

I never caught a fish today on either trip and I must have thrown the stick bait 500 throws. Maby they are off it.

I'll give it another try next week while my clients catch a few./

[lymorej]

Don't let beck, and bax scare you, there bark is worse than their bite....

I think.

Your posts are great, conversation pieces with those guys.

See Ya

[Bill Babler]

I, as well as my closest friends make a living fishing Table Rock and Taneycomo.

I for the most part only guide and don't fish tournaments, as much as the other boys. I get their guide trips while they are out on the circuits and it always seems I come out ahead. Except for Bill when he gets on a roll.

They think that I am educating people way to much. They think I am imparting techniques that should only be available thru guide service. Maby so.

I don't give exact locations, only general information on the lake and what myself and my clients are doing. I have never had that be a problem. The boys think it is.

If Bill told me to keep quiet on everything, I probably would as I have no better friend than Bill Beck. Truely one of the finest fisherman I have ever been associated with, and a better man than he is a fisherman.

As far as Buster, If I ever breathed a word of what he is doing I would have to have an armed guard stand by while I slept.

He is a very private person and I love him to death. Another close friend and as you all know we don't have tons we can call that. If I ever needed anything, Buster would be the first one there and the last one to leave.

I keep his stuff too myself.

Any info, is from me to you and I hope you enjoy it and I hope it helps.

My fingers are sealed until next week after the derby's.

[bassman1308]

B.B.-- I personally do not like to be told "where' someone caught their fish. It may be one of my favorite spots and i'd feel "guilty" fishing someone elses area, but that's just me. I get a lot of satisfaction out of finding the fish myself and i assume most other fishermen feel the same. Likewise, i seldon tell anyone where i caught my fish. Again, it may be one of my favorite spots and i'd hate not to get to fish it because the person i told was sitting on it, especially if fishing a tournament.( been there, done that). However, i see no harm it sharing ANY other info and that should help guys FIND their own fish. This is the most helpful fishing site i've ever been on. BB deserves a thank you for sharing what he does considering he makes a living guiding. I'm was in the insurance business and sure wouldn't give that away.

[denjac]

I don't think it hurts to tell where you caught fish. Its tough to pull in on somebody"s spot and catch fish. Conditions change everyday, type of lures ect. And we never give up our honey holes, do we? lol. It is nice having all these posts telling what area is good , and you can go to them and apply your style and technique . Always thought I would like to guide, but then I would worry about having to produce fish everytime I went out. I would guess that when someone hires a guide they expect the fishing trip of a lifetime, and if you can;t produce I would feel like a smuck. I know those days happen. My hat goes off to those that do it, its a tough way to earn a buck, even though its sounds like the job of a lifetime. And it would be!!

[Gary Lange]

I was fishing Sturgeon Bay off Lake Michigan as well as Green Bay in the Spring of 1999 and met a Guide who helped me tie off the boat at the dock as the water was really rough. He told me where to go and what to use. When I got out the next day I met him again in Little Sturgeon Bay and he called me over even though he had two clients in the boat and told me what they were hitting on and gave a few as I didn't have that particular color. I would have a problem with giving something like specific spots about where to fish but not general information about what they were hitting and what type of cover or banks.

When I was with the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, which I am still a member, I had the job of Chicagoland Regional Coordinator. I set up all the outings for my region and they used to get upset when I planned one on one of the smaller streams but it worked out as the guys and gals had a good time, we caught fish and released them all to fight again. We would give general locations and River names and let the people sort that out for themselves. The web site had a lot of traffic do to our success on the water. If a member PM'd another he would get specific info and even a invite to join in an outing one on one.

I think the General Information that you give Bill is fine and does not hamper anyone else who would be in a business such as yours. I thank you for the information you do give and appreciate being able to talk with you on this site.

[Rolan Duffield]

Bill Babler and Phil Lilley have provided more input to help fisherman than anyone I know in the Taney region. They deserve a lot of credit for their help. This takes a lot of time and effort on their part.

So lets show our support and say "Thanks" to both of them.

Thanks Bill and Phil.

Rolan