Shell Knob Report-Question for the Group

[Bill Babler]

Had not been on the Rock in more than a week, so with a day off today and a Rock trip in the morning, I thought I had better find some fishes.  Reading reports and watching current video reports are so totally different depending on who is reporting right now it is amazing.  Guides that are fishing the same water are telling totally different stories most being really tough but a few saying its a barrel shoot. 

Kind of found it in between.  Launched at Baxter but fished from Campbell Point to the SK bridge.  Caught a couple of dozen nothing special, with the exception of a nice 3 pound LM caught on a War Eagle 1/2 jigging spoon at 78 ft. on the bottom.  Caught the majority on a Dixie Jet and a 2.8 Keitech.  They would not touch a drop shot worm of any type for me.  They ran from it like a horse in the Kentucky derby.  I did drop a crawler to see the reaction  and it was totally different.  If I were on a guide trip they would have eaten the  crawler.

Fish are just suspended completely thru the water column. from right on the surface to depths unknown.  Extremely had to find or put a group together, as it is just singles running just about everywhere.

Surface temp at SK was 86 degree.  Water lightly stained.  Wake boats and Summer fishermen with no clue about how close to drive or fish around you are thick.

OK, here is the question.  On a Summer time July/August guided fishing trip what would you expect to catch, and what would make you happy if you were fishing the Rock with a guide tomorrow?

Also, would you be willing to fish live bait or would it just be artificial?  Would you be willing to start as early as 6 am if the guide said that was best?

Just some ramblings, give me your thoughts

 

 

[big c]

Yes to 0600, and worms. I would be most interested in learning where (type of structure/depth) to be fishing this time of year. Also being shown geographicaly and on sonar what different structure looks like to find similar areas. The number of fish caught isn't as important as learning from a guide the type of areas and techniques most likely to catch a few this time of year. I think if you want to catch numbers you're wasting time. When with a guide pick their brain on a technique or two and have them explain/show you so you learn it.

The best part of learning from a guide is finding your own area similar to what you were show. Then use the technique shown and catch 'em!

Just my thoughts but thanks for asking!

[top_dollar]

                 If it were me by myself id probably ask you to target walleye.  If I had the boy, id wanna dunk crawlers and catch spotted bass.  In terms of expectations for a guide trip i think it kind of depends on if the client frequently fishes or will be fishing the lake, or if the client is just in town once or twice.  Personally, a guide trip at table rock or Stockton for me would be more of a learning experience.  Id probably spend more time with a pen and notebook than a fishing pole, as i fish those lakes fairly often and would be looking to improve my skill set.  Catching a bunch of fish would take a backseat.  An out of towner might be more concerned with just catching fish. 

                 In terms of numbers of fish,  I dunk crawlers, jig spoons and troll crankbaits in the summer and can catch maybe 5 or so fish per hour, so id hope that a guide would be significantly more successful than me.  That said, I wouldn't be "expecting" any sort of results, because fishing just sucks sometimes.  Yes Id be willing to start as early as the guide suggests for the best shot at a target species, and yes live bait is cool with me.  I would assume for a shot at a topwater fish, getting out early is the only chance.

[Seth Clarkson]

38 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

OK, here is the question.  On a Summer time July/August guided fishing trip what would you expect to catch, and what would make you happy if you were fishing the Rock with a guide tomorrow?

Also, would you be willing to fish live bait or would it just be artificial?  Would you be willing to start as early as 6 am if the guide said that was best?

Just some ramblings, give me your thoughts

Personally, I would want/expect to catch numbers of fish, type and size not as important but large black bass would be a nice bonus. I would not want to use live bait and would want to learn for future outings of my own how to find fish during this time of year and hope to replicate it on future trips. Whatever time a guide said to go would not bother me at all.

However, if I was someone who only fished 5 to 10 times a year and was going with family I could care less what we used as long the group was able to catch and see fish of any kind and try to avoid the most high traffic pleasure boat areas. The time may factor in some if it was a larger group or had little kids that may be thrown off schedules. 

[Devan S.]

I would answer 2 distinct ways:

As an informed fisherman or local-  I would be trying to gain knowledge on how to fish deep/use electronics. Dealers choice on when/where/and how. I want you to show me and give me the best shot. Catching is an afterthought mostly. Like has been said I want to translate what you have showed to do it myself and duplicate it elsewhere. I wouldn't expect to catch zero fish but I realize that a 3-4 fish total day could happen. 

As a non-informed vacationer- I would think this is Table Rock and is played up so big as a heck of a fishery(Records broken on MLF, ect). I would be looking for a significant amount of numbers of all 3 bass species and be hoping to luck into a 4+lber. I also probably wouldn't want to be up at the crack of dawn or have to drive from one end of the lake to the other. 


 

 

 

[Quillback]

If I was going to book a guide trip I wouldn't do it this time of year.  That being said, if I had to I would want to be out as early as possible as it's cooler, minimal recreational boat traffic and I just like fishing early, my favorite part of the day.

As far as fish catching, it's a tough time of year, all I would expect from a guide is to give me his best shot at catching some.  

Bass fishing to me is partly about catching them on artificial baits, so I would not want to fish crawlers.  If I'm going to break out the bait, I'd rather just fish for bream or crappie.  I think a guide trip for some bull gills would be fun this time of year, I think I would just as soon do that then fish for bass right now.

 

[Royal Blue]

I think if I were to book a guide on the Rock right now, I'd want to learn a lot more about drop shotting and deep flutter spoon stuff.  I really have no desire to pay to dunk crawlers, but I also might be different if I had the kids with me.  

I always expect to catch fish, so that wouldn't really change much.  I'd expect an early morning and would have no problem with that.  

As far as spending money on a guide right now, I think I'd almost rather pay to fish Taneycomo than risk spending hard earned money on a hot summer crap shoot and fighting the wake boats on Table Rock.  

 

[wily]

I’m down at Campbell point now...I asked you for a guide trip this week...three months ago...and you blew me off.  I’ve went with you twice in the past...once on taneycomo while staying at Phil’s...15 years ago in October .  And again out of shell knob bridge 10 years ago in early April...and we caught a lot of fish.

my two boys and I have caught a bunch of fish in 3 days...most wouldn’t consider them guide worthy I guess...mostly bluegill but some bass...we are having a great time.  Dunking worms...and fishing a fish dr on jighead along the steep bluffs and 45 banks worked good today.  We are fishing 15 foot water mostly.  

I’m more concerned about smiles and memories...than worried about techniques 

It really seems like a strange question to me.   If you have to ask what a client expects after 20 some odd years of guiding...I guess I’m glad that I never got a call or pm back.  Because the guide rates are really high 

[Lvn2Fish]

5 minutes ago, wily said:

I’m down at Campbell point now...I asked you for a guide trip this week...three months ago...and you blew me off.  I’ve went with you twice in the past...once on taneycomo while staying at Phil’s...15 years ago in October .  And again out of shell knob bridge 10 years ago in early April...and we caught a lot of fish.

my two boys and I have caught a bunch of fish in 3 days...most wouldn’t consider them guide worthy I guess...mostly bluegill but some bass...we are having a great time.  Dunking worms...and fishing a fish dr on jighead along the steep bluffs and 45 banks worked good today.  We are fishing 15 foot water mostly.  

I’m more concerned about smiles and memories...than worried about techniques 

It really seems like a strange question to me.   If you have to ask what a client expects after 20 some odd years of guiding...I guess I’m glad that I never got a call or pm back.  Because the guide rates are really high 

Bahahahaha 😂😂😂

[Bill Babler]

Don't think I have ever blown anyone off and for sure never intentionally or I would never post locations, results and information here.  In the Summer my schedule changes a frequent as the weather.  I can be booked full and someone's grandma dies and I get an opening or I get a cancellation for any reason and an opening comes up.  Usually from July 1st. thru August my book looks like a scratched up mess as it books and rebooks on a continuing basis.

Truly sorry you feel this way, that is not the type of person I am and I'm sure a few will vouch for me.  Glad your doing well and catching a bunch.

As far as emails, texts, and personal messages, I have posted here repeatedly that I can miss those messages and do quite frequently.  I try and respond, but I miss some.   If you want to talk to me call the Lodge or my cell and you got me.

Not a strange question at all and you can see from the answers, as most are totally different and everyone's expectation are different.  I ask this question to try and improve the way I address my clients needs at certain times of the year, and yes after 29 years I'm still learning and hope to continue to learn.