Clarification

[Maverickpro201]

11 hours ago, pstone said:

I will certainly echo Quill's comments, Bill.    I have always appreciated and enjoyed your reports as they are always detailed and you just can't find that kind of information anywhere.     I would bet my last penny the vast majority of readers on this post have enjoyed your posts and are missing them now!     Bill, I respect your thoughts and I wish you the best in everything you do in the future!    I might try that pickleball sometime!

Me also.

[grizwilson]

Bill, these days I seem to crappie fish more than bass.  TR has became so crowded I only fish winters.  But unless fish are in a pre spawn stage (there is a whole another discussion of "ethics" and criticism) I am rarely in less than 20 fow, and sure miss your posts.  Is it possible that @Phil Lilley can set up a thread within the TR forum with limited access that you have to sign a waiver that you are ok with FFS and deep fish? 

[DavidB]

21 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Just wanted to take a moment and let the majority of you know how much you have meant to me. 

I hope in someway my information and banter has both provided you a giggle or two and helped you catch a fish or three. 

The reason I’ve stopped posting is really my information has no use and earlier this year came under excessive criticism. It went as far as calling me names on this forum. 

Go back and look at my post of a good friend catching an 8 plus pound fish using electronics. That was probably the icing on the cake ie the final straw.

A bit of history and you all know it. I have never been. I mean never been a go down the bank casting guy. Grew up in the early 70’s on Lake O. With all our guides using Hummingbird flashers to find spoonbill, brush, or white bass using those little boxes. 

Progressed to the paper, 2D, HDS, then FFS. It’s all I have ever known about fishing as far as finding fish. 

Everyone knows when I get near the bank I get twitchy. I’m an open deep water fisherman. It’s all I’ve ever done and all I want to do.  If I can’t see em I really just don’t fish for them.  Never have never will.  

FFS is just a progression to me. I know a vast amount of you dislike it. I totally respect that. 

To me it’s just the life long progression I’ve been following since I watched that old HB flasher when I was a kid. 

Anything I post is solely related to electronics and it’s been made clear that’s not what the forum wants.   My post have always been about electronics and deep fish  

I’m still fishing at an amazing rate and sent Champ lots of fish pics.  There is a brand spanking new Phoenix sitting in the boat barn.  It does have lots of underwater peek-a-poo glass on it.  Sill amazed at how many fish think my offerings have spent the nite in kitty litter.  Really puts you in your place to see all the refusals.  

Just got back a couple of weeks ago from Sturgeon Bay. 5 of us went. Everyone caught a jaw over 5 pounds. I had a 5.7 and a 5.9. Big fish for the group was 5.13. Didn’t catch a ton but I think most all were 3 plus pounds. 

Becky and I just love Pickleball. We have a fantastic new indoor facility here in SK. We both are in great shape I’m about 170 pounds and Becky is 135. That’s about as good as we old folks can be.  We play 3-4 days a week for 2-3 hours  at a time.  Afternoons and Saturdays so it doesn’t interfere with fishing.

I still peruse the forum to see how you are doing but just don’t feel the need to whip a dead horse with my posts as they will be 100%  deep water fishing.

Good luck to all of you no matter how you choose to try and catch them.  You all have been family and it’s been one of the joys of my life communicating on this great medium.

Continuing success on all your endeavors.

Sincerely, Bill

 

 

 

Bill,

Our group from Toledo Bend has enjoyed an April week on Table Rock since 1982.  We have followed your posts and those of others religiously prior to our trips.  I still have a fond memory of some of our group delivering a Cajun basket of goodies to your front door, unannounced, where we were met by your beautiful wife, and invited in for an hour or more of talk about fishing the Rock.  You and your wife were so gracious.

I have always looked forward to your posts, and hope you will reconsider your decision to stop.  Your posts about deep water fishing, with screenshots, have been helpful to me and to others in our group, both on Table Rock and at home on Toledo Bend.  I suppose there will always be others who delight in being critics, but that need not deter you.

Your recent trip to Sturgeon Bay brings back very fond memories of my two trips there.  We were told that June is the best month to be there, but both of our trips were in early September, and they were outstanding.  Those smallmouth have shoulders!  Like you, we caught numerous 3-5 lb fish, and on our last trip I caught a 6.3 in 25 ft. of water, on the Ned, and it sure gave us a start when cleared the water.  Got our guide's attention in a hurry!

Best wishes there at Shell Knob!  We still find ourselves at Happy Hollow, our home away from home, every April.

[Al Agnew]

I'll be the first to admit that in my fishing I don't feel the need for FFS or other fancy electronics, and I also have some reservations about where the electronics are taking us.  But so what?  It's a worthy topic for discussion, and I suspect that anybody who fishes reservoirs should benefit from your posts even if they don't like FFS.  I've never understood getting so butt-hurt about what people hiding behind their keyboards say to you...I've had some pretty nasty stuff said to me over the years and I just either laugh it off, ignore it, or try to tell them why I think they are wrong.  But if it raises your blood pressure and gives you ulcers, then do whatever you have to do.  Personally, I don't like to let the (insert derogatory curse word here) win.

[Mitch f]

54 minutes ago, Al Agnew said:

I'll be the first to admit that in my fishing I don't feel the need for FFS or other fancy electronics, and I also have some reservations about where the electronics are taking us.  But so what?  It's a worthy topic for discussion, and I suspect that anybody who fishes reservoirs should benefit from your posts even if they don't like FFS.  I've never understood getting so butt-hurt about what people hiding behind their keyboards say to you...I've had some pretty nasty stuff said to me over the years and I just either laugh it off, ignore it, or try to tell them why I think they are wrong.  But if it raises your blood pressure and gives you ulcers, then do whatever you have to do.  Personally, I don't like to let the (insert derogatory curse word here) win.

FFS is definitely a learning tool in many respects…even if you’re not using it in tournaments. I’m convinced you just use it on the lake the day before then you don’t need to use it in the tournament. One of the biggest freak outs for me is how fish react to a trolling motor. 

[Bearplane04]

I sincerely appreciate the information posted by Mr. Babler and others like Mr. Quillback, Mr. Dutch, and others who have contributed their experience to my benefit. Their information has opened up TR (and surprisingly Beaver) to my little boy and me, allowing us to have fun transitioning to highlands fishing, whereas I was really frustrated going it alone before finding this site.  I would presume that my experience and benefit from their generous sharing of information is exactly what this site’s creators envisioned, and I would bet there are many other silent members out there with the same message. Never got a lick of benefit out of a single “that’s not how you catch fish” post. Too bad that last message will likely be lost on the intended audience. 

[Champ188]

It never had to be this way. There probably aren't two more polar-opposite folks in the world when it comes to our ways of fishing, and I would never begin to argue against Bill's deep-water methods being more consistent than my shallow pursuits. Day in and day out, the deep-water bite is FAR more consistent than my shallow fish. Yet, we've been friends for many years now and there's not another angler in the world whom I respect more when it comes to Table Rock. Well, Dock-in-It comes close, as well as Quillback. Yes, two more deep-water experts.

Like Bill, I've made friends on this site who have become more like family, and for that I will ever be grateful. And that goes double for my Mizzou-rooting, comedic, deep-fishing friend ... Mr. Bill (as my wife Donna calls him). Love ya, brother. Onward.  

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Bill, I understand.   Also wanted to say thanks for letting us know.   I won't  look for the mentioned post, I honestly don't remember it.   I am glad to hear you didn't give it up.  I was really concerned for you when you started selling so many items, including your boat.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

Anyone that actually cares about how deep or shallow another guy fishes is just pathetic All the pissing and moaning about livescope has just gotten stale.  People just need to go fish and stay off the internet

[DADAKOTA]

Always enjoyed your posts Bill.  My wife and I really enjoyed visiting with you and your wife at the Lodge a few year back.  Hope you will consider posting again.