Eagle Rock 8-25-25

[Bill Babler]

Going to take a couple of PB friends that live in Holiday Island next week and haven’t been up the White in a couple of months. 

First stop was for me and headed to Panther Creek to throw a buzzer. I was tossing it by 6:30. Fished both the flat side and the channel side. Had 6 fish on the flat side with 2 squeaker and I mean squeaker keeps. 

Think I would have done better, but the
creek was full of Otters 🦦. Had 6 in front of me going down the bank lending a helping hand. 

Funny story I saw a dead Otter in the road at the Roaring River Bridge Saturday. Panther Creek is just across the lake. Don’t know if it’s the same family but it was a coincidence. 

My friends aren’t avid anglers so I then went in search of some drop shot fish and found plenty at 27’.  Also found a small Covey of walleye. Caught a couple then left them. They were mixed with BIG GILLS and some nice bass. 

8-22-25

Fished the Kings with my brother in law and just flat had a great morning. Most on topwater Speed Wake. They bit from daylight till 10:30. Did catch a decent amount on a Gizzard Shad Keitech in 2.8” 

Nothing big but they just bit and bit, exploding on the little wake bait. 




 

[Devan S.]

I live just up the hill from panther creek. Otter is about the only animal I haven't trapped. 

Looks like I may try and take care of those suckers come winter. 

[Bill Babler]

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I’ve got quite a bit of video but it won’t load. Only this snippet. You can hear the cheetah type chirps. 
I saw 14 together one day on Taney 10 years ago but this group of 6 was the biggest I’ve seen on TR. 

They are super fast and can hold their breath it seems forever. 
I bet they simply hate them at the Roaring River Hatchery. They not only kill for food, they kill for fun. 

[Quillback]

Panther has not fished well for the last few years, could be those otters are the reason.  Used to be one of my favorites, there were places in that cove that you were virtually guaranteed to catch at least one bass if not several.  

[Bill Babler]

I’ve had some great days in there, usually on a crank bait or a jig EARLY season. I’ve also caught whites chasing in the back but not for several years. 

As you go in on the left that first pocket used to be good. Really not so much anymore. The second pocket has a run out point that you could catch jig fish off it every time. Not so much now. 

However, going down that shelf bank till it flattens out is still durn good. Caught all 6 of my buzzy fish there. 

Lot of pressure up the white yesterday. Guys were fishing where they were supposed to be so I assume they were locals. 

At least 1/2 dozen boats stayed on locations all morning without moving. I’m guessing night crawlers for walleye. 

25’ to 32’ above Big M. Not that deep at Shell Knob and the Kings River. 18’ to 22’