Fished today, from Kimberling to Baxter

[Bill Babler]

Reports are just about the same over the entire lake, with water temps anywhere from 50 to a high of about 53.4. Can't believe the huge drop.

Fishing remains very good for not only LM, but K's and Smallie. Swimming a grub seems to be the very best bet, as these fish have pulled off and suspended and others are getting ready to make a sex run. Lots of fish staging.

Have heard good reports of early and late topwater bites from reliable sources and know it to be a fact, but I'm not one as my fish are ranging suspended from close to shore to about 17' some suspended at that range over 30' with lots suspended at 15' to 17' over 25'.

These fish are in the mouths of major coves and off long flat points getting ready to go in. And the one's that have been in are there to socialize and look for goodies.

Rogues in crome and Lucky Craft Pointer 100 in TR Shad are also doing very well for me.

Wind again is a huge factor. Not as much as today, as I took two over the bow and my trolling more was flying high, more than it was in the water.

I'm at the Knob, tomorrow, and will give you the run down from the White River, after I have flung around up there.

This bite has not been consistant for me as I am having some great periods and then some extremely slow times. Speaking with other guides, they are getting the same results. If you find them they will feed very activly for about an hour, and then go flat.

Best bite for me is 9 AM till about 4 Pm. Have tried early and late with the topwater stuff and also the sluggo's and floating worms, and the Knob is the only place I can get a reaction on this stuff. Good Luck

[willy]

Hello Mr. Babler. I've fished with you in the past a few times. My buddy nailed a big smallie behind both of us and I still get razzed from time to time about it. Anyway, four of us are coming down tomorrow thru Sunday, staying in Aunts Creek. Just picked up some 3 inch smoke grubs to swim, what size head should I throw and how deep should I keep the boat in? Ever had any luck around point 13 Piney Creek? I'll probably run down to Baxter also. Can't believe the weather but you gotta go when you can. At least it's not going to be blue bird skies.

[Hunter91]

Bill,

We fished the same area today from about 9am to 2pm. We caught 8 bass with three good keepers and one big crappie at 16 inches and weighed 2 lbs 6 oz. swimming a grub also. The wind was terrible!!

[Bill Babler]

Hunter, that was a very good day for that ammount of wind. It's a wonder everyone got home safe. I told Phil, sometime experence and thinking you can do just about anything clouds your judgement. Good equipment and knowing your limitations are imperitive on a day like that.

I am swimming either a 3/16 th. or a 1/4 oz. head. I have not been up the James River yet this year, further than Aunt's. I bet someone has and will respond.

I finely broke down, after watching the Bass Elite tournament in So-Cal and bought $300.00 worth of swimbaits. "That's not that many". Roughly a few over a dozen.

Caught 2, K's over 4 lbs. on em. The bait was completely destroyed after the second fish. They sell a glue kit, but I am hoping just fishing or super glue will fix it.

Nice fish but can't afford for two of them to tear up $20,00 baits.

Gosh, how fools part with their money, to see if they can catch a silly little fish.

[Phil Lilley]

Willy- I would say 25-30 if you're fishing fairly gradual sloped banks like pea gravel, throw up to 10 or less. I think Bill overlooked that question. He's out on the Rock again today and will report when he gets back.

[Josh]

Bill where did you get your swim baits??? i saw the same Bass tournament in So-Cal on ESPN (the bait looked amazing) but man were they pricey.

i have a few spots that i would like to try that trout swim bait

[Bill Babler]

I bought them on the net. I just typed in Swim Baits after I had seen the brands they were using in the Elite.

All of mine were 4 in or less. The Castaic are truely expensive, and the others are very pricy. I have been having good luck on the Osprey in Shad. 4 inch.