Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

It's not keeping BASS that bothers most of you, it's keeping bass with eggs- am I right? I talked to Bill- he gets pretty emotional about it and that's Bill. I think he would feel the same even if weren't a guide.

I did point out the fact that we catch and keep crappie and white bass with little (but some) regard for spawning females. So why are bass so special I asked. He didn't have a good answer.

I'd say to someone who wants to keep bass during a spawn... keep the males and spawned out females. Release the females with eggs and some back in a week and catch and keep her after she's done, if you have to keep bass.

[Bill Babler]

Personally I feel there is a very great difference in keeping a few crappie during the spawn, or a few whites, vs the bass.

First of is the crappie and the whites are not pursued with the shear dollars or the flaming intensity of the bass. Passion, may be a better word.

For most of us, as soon as the crappie move off the bank they are pretty much safe, as crappie fishing all but stops. It is the topic and the target for about 3 months per year, and then pretty much forgotten.

If 1 crappie were never caught again on Table Rock Lake, it probably wouldn't affect anything one single bit.

Whites are extremely self sustaining in the fact that they are without a doubt the most unpredictable fish we have in the pond.

If you do get lucky and get after a few its fine. They have been known to spawn in main lake pockets, riprap, rivers, creeks and even on points.

Here one day and gone tomorrow is their moto. Surfacing in 100 ft at daylight, or suspending under shad in 60 ft. they are too hard to catch on a consistant basis to really worry about. Great fish.

Bass on the other hand are the most sought after game fish on Table Rock, and are pursued relentlessly 365 days a year 24 hours a day.

Lots spawn in full view of us predators and after the spawn will eat almost anything. They are high flyers and each and every smallie I have ever caught has a personallity and a look all his or her own. They are exciting.

They will break your line in a second, they will jump roll and throw themselves into the air in summersaults. They will blast a topwater bait completely out of the water or come up behind it and dive on it like a duck on a junebug. They are magnificent.

The Largemouth is a brute and acts like the bully on the block, he will challange you not only to catch him but to keep him on after the hook set.

K's are my love affair. Table Rock walleye 2ft. of water to 100 ft. make no different to them. They love each other and I love them.

Don't get lots of that from a crappie.

[Josh]

Honestly I wish they would change the length limit on bass… 16 inches is ok for tournaments (because they throw most of those back anyway) but there are way to many people keeping those little 16 inch bass and honestly it’s not giving Table rock a chance to become a true big game lake. Change it to 18-20 inches

I typically only keep catfish, white bass and crappie and maybe a walleye from time to time (if I can catch them)

[bassman1308]

I'm certainly not an expert but it's my understanding the lake level has more to do with a successful spawn then any thing else. If the lake is up in the weeds / brush, small fry have a place to hide. I've heard that one good spawn every 4 years is enough to sustain a lake like TR. I just got a fantastic fishing report from the wedn. night tourn at sk. 14 boats- 6 fish- 29 lbs first place. Don't know what took 2nd & 3rd but 22 lbs DID NOT place. 6 + lbs big bass. I didn't fish the tourn due to the weather but I'm going this afternoon. JC

[Bill Babler]

Nearly froze my Patokee off this AM, but boy did they bite topwater. Couple of bronzbacks in the 4 lb. range and some wonderful K's eating the fin.

Total catch and release fish in the mid-lake section was 22 for the 4 hour trip with 14 fantastic fish over the magic 15 inch line.

Caught fish, swimming the grub, throwing the fin, and dragging a cenepiede.

Boat in the 16 ft. range and working the wind. Would have thought a blade bite would have been in order, but no takers.

Fished 12 spots and caught all the fish off 4 spots. Have saffued them in every location we tried in the last couple of weeks, but they seem to be going in and coming out. If you catch one on a spot there is a pretty good chance you will get a running buddy.

[skeeter]

Bill,

Regarding your unfortunate sighting of 50+ bass carcasses under a dock in Big Indian, I would like to urge you to identify the specific location of the dock. Those of us from the Baxter area that are disgusted by sightings like this would love to have this information and possibly "have a word" with the individual or put the "word" out about them.

Two things are going to happen if this irresponsible behaviour continues.

1.) Bass tournaments are going to be outlawed, either completely or during the months of March/April/May.

2.) Fishing season for Bass will be closed on impoundments as currently happens on MO streams March 1 thru Memorial Day.

[2bfishn]

Bill I understand your feelings but in all fairness I just dont think it is right for you to consider Bass the only Improtant fish in the lake. I know you have a special love for them but otheres have a special love for diffrent species. A friend and I have kicked this issue around about Walley for a couple of years. Is it wrong to keep a Walley female during the spawn? You have admited to keeping crappie that are spawning and yes I read your excuses about crappie only being fished for durring the spring but I have many friends who crappie fish all year. I know that bass fishing generates a ton of money. Especially in the Tri-Lakes. I grew up there and still live withing an hour or so but I believe that ALL sporsman should be considered not just the "Elite" bass fishermen. I have the utmost respect for you but I think this is an issue that needs to be looked at by the MDC not by individuals. If you watch many outdoor shows (and I am sure you do) you will see tounament fishermen sight fishing for spawning females. What happens to these beds? How many bass that are never eaten are caught and killed durring tournaments? I have nothing against bass fishermen. I used to fish a few tournaments and lived 5 minutes from old 86 launch ramp. I spent many many nights on the rock and still remember how great it was to be out there bass fishing. Things went down hill for me when Big Cedar went in and so many guides started fishing the same water I was. They were, as you are much better at the game than I was and my fishing suffered. I am not saying that to run guides down. I just think that as long as people are staying withing the MDC regs. we should not get so emotional and start mud slinging. If there is a danger to the population of bass because of what is happening then it should be addressed by the MDC not by a lynch mob. If there is a need for a regulation to correct this it should be imposed on all fishermen including tournament fishermen. I fish mostly for White bass, Crappie, and Walley now days. I probably have my legal limit of fish in the freezer right now and I can garantee none of them are in the Black Bass family so I know the lynch mob wont show up at my house. I know I am not changing your oppinion but I hope you understand that the fish and wildlife are out there for all of us and that as long as a person is staying within there legal rights we have a responsibility to be coruteous to them even if we disagree with them.

[abkeenan]

when you guys speak of swimming a grub, i assume that you are using a 1/4, 1/8 oz jighead on that? Also, what size 3"-5"? any particular colors that they are preferring right now and at what depth are you swimming it? Might be headed there this weekend, the uncle is for sure and we didnt catch a single bass about a month ago although the crappie did comply. Thanks for the info fellas.

BK

[Phil Lilley]

2b- your post is confusing.

"this is an issue that needs to be looked at by the MDC not by individuals."

So we should talk about it?

You draw a comparison to catching bass of beds/killing them to tournaments and elite bass fisherman... I understand you point but I don't think Bill's motivation is coming from keeping bass around for tournament people.

As for bass being special, yes people do fish for crappie year round but what percentage? 5? 10? Probably not that many.

Walleye- you have a good point there. They are stocked. One can put a price tag on a walleye cause it costs that state, you and I, money to have them in TR. You can make a case of closing the spawning season on walleye- MDC does in spawning creeks on Bull Shoals.

"we should not get so emotional and start mud slinging." There's no mud slinging here. And we aren't a lynch mob.

Skeeter- that's exactly what I told Bill... who's dock is it and report them!!

abk- I use either an 1/8 or 1/4 depending on the wind. 1/8th if it's clam and go heavier if it's windy. Size- I think anything between 3 and 5 inches is fine. I throw to the bank, let it sink to the bottom and crank slowly. Then wait for that incredible 'tap' and set the hook!!

[J.E.]

It's not keeping BASS that bothers most of you, it's keeping bass with eggs- am I right? I talked to Bill- he gets pretty emotional about it and that's Bill. I think he would feel the same even if weren't a guide.

I did point out the fact that we catch and keep crappie and white bass with little (but some) regard for spawning females. So why are bass so special I asked. He didn't have a good answer.

I'd say to someone who wants to keep bass during a spawn... keep the males and spawned out females. Release the females with eggs and some back in a week and catch and keep her after she's done, if you have to keep bass.

Lilley,

If you think about it for a little bit, crappie are much more prolific and procreative than bass. I keep only two or three K's a year and no largemouths. Crappie probably receive more pressure by number of fishermen who are targeting crappie only v.s. bass only but..............