Cold Water

[Bill Babler]

Started out this AM with two from Lilleys' to just catch fish. Water temp at the dock was 57.8. Fish were midging everywhere with a large hatch comming off. These bugs were at least a size 10 and you really couldn't mess up.

Noticed the bait fisherman really getting rich, as the trout were on a feed.

Had 27 early on a olive flo-orange micro jig, and thought It was going to be one of those easy days.

Water started to flow at 11:30 and the water temp dropped to 44.6. That just about did it for me. Try as I might, I just went flat in the water.

I was seeing boat after boat pulling in fish and when the water started to drop in temp, it all ended.

Wish all a great weekend.

[Rolan Duffield]

Boy --- that doesn't sound like Bill Babler. You must have had a hickup.

Rolan

[Bill Babler]

Rolan, That has been a pretty typical pattern this Spring.

Phil knows more about this than me, but the cold water just flat numbs and inactivates these fish.

It has been a while since I can recall seeing the water temps drop from 10 to 20 degrees in just a matter of minutes. Spoke to a couple of other guides, and everyone reported when that Ice Cold water comes on and it is full of moss for the first hour, it is just flat over.

We have been able to go down stream and get away from it somewhat, but that action has really slowed down in the last week.

Still yesterday in downtown Branson, the water dropped from 60 degrees, to about 46. It just shocks the heck out of em.

Get down here and show me what I'm doing wrong. If anyone can get them to go it would be you.

[Rolan Duffield]

Hey Bill. I understand what your saying. I was just kidding with you. Yes, when they turn it off, it can happen suddenly and you can't do anything to change it, though we keep trying.

Many years ago I used to fish Bennett with a close friend who was an excellent fisherman. He would go one direction up or down stream and I would go the other way. If fishing suddenly changed for the good or bad, we generally could relate to the time of the day for that change. It happens.

On Taney, late in the afternoon this has happened to me several times and it wasn't because of water temp conditions.

Rolan

[Bill Babler]

You still need to get down here. We miss you.

Spoke to the guys at Kimberling at 13 and have looked alot around the dam. I believe we are really going to get the moss for the next month or so, when they kick-em-on. Looks about as mossy as I have seen it.

May get real tough when they hit the jacuzzi.

[Rolan Duffield]

Bill:

I'll be down on April 24 with Ed, my brother. Will try to get down sooner if Ellen can get rid of her cold.

Save some catching for me.

Rolan