Homer Sloan Derby. Shell Knob.

[Bill Babler]

10-4-25

Son Steve and I fished the HSD out of Campbell Point it is the longest running Bass Tournament in the country. This was its 57 th. Consecutive year. 

39 boats this year. We came in 5 th. Stringer 10.14 and 5th. Big bass 3.9.   15.02 won the derby and 3.14 was big bass. It’s 6 fish so that’s why it didn’t take a kicker. 

There is absolutely no more fun I could possibly have than fishing with Steven in this event that helps the SK Chamber. 

Fantastic steak dinner afterwards and thousands of dollars in donated giveaways. 

I probably blew it for us as far as winning by just watching Steve catch fish. We stayed on our first location for 2.5 hours as I netted 24 fish for Steven and not a single keeper. 

The channel Swings up the Kings River are simply loaded with fish and I’ve been catching some  nice 15” to 17” on them but yesterday they just would not hit the mark on the board. 

No dad is leaving a location when their kid is catching fish like that no matter what the size. He was having a BLAST. 

Surface  temp when we started was 79 and at 4 when we weighed in it was 83. That’s warm water and there were boats everywhere. The wake boats ran us off the deep bite as we were  taking waves over the side, glad it did as we didn’t have a fish in the livewell. 

At 9:45 Steve put the 3.9 in the boat on a  Texas rig worm out of a brush pike and we did that the rest of the day to catch our 5. 

We each lost 2 keepers so we easily could have had our 6. Steve had a really nice LM jump twice and go back down in a pile and we lost  it. Probably just about like his 3.9 and I did not fish clean at all. 

I back lashed 2 reels spooning deep fish and accidentally hit the release button TWICE. If you say you haven’t done that I don’t believe you. But twice in one day SHEEEE! 

I also had 2 solid keeps jump off so totally my fault. 

We caught in excess of 50 fish yesterday and if it had been Father’s Day I could not have had a better present. 

Homer Sloan Bass Buddy Tournament is always the first Saturday in October. It is FUN. If there is anyway you can come next year with a family member or a good buddy, you will make memories.  Please join us for this wonderful Table Rock, Shell Knob event. 

Good Luck. 













 

[Quillback]

I was looking for the results, should've looked here first.  I fished on the upper White yesterday, caught some sub-legals on jigs and the c-rig up shallow on windy banks.  There were a lot of people on the lake, a lot of bass boats and a lot of rec boats, mostly pontoons.  Hardly any of the rec boats were skiing or doing anything except cruising up and down the lake.  

I have heard that Campbell Point is hard to launch because you have to back way in, but it must not be too bad if they held the tourney there.

[Bill Babler]

Campbell Point is a BEAR to back in. Front truck tires have to be in the water. 
If you have a buddy it’s ok but by yourself you’re going to get wet. 

The Marina hosts the weighin, there is no way the launch facility could do it as the ramp is terrible and there is no boat parking access as the launch dock is really a one boat dock. Also, they covered the entire shoreline with huge boulder riprap so that’s out. 
 

Quite a few launched there but the SK bridge ramp was the main launch for the derby. 6 minutes to CP  

Steven and I launched at H Hwy.  We were the only truck at the ramp. 6 minute run to CP. 

The guys that won last year skunked. Fish were biting but just limited size. Over 1/2 the field didn’t show up at the weigh in.

Everyone showed up at the steak dinner 😁

Steven and I waded thru 50 + fish to nab 5 keeps.  Glad we did as he doesn’t get to fish much and he had a ball just catching fish.

Pleasure boat traffic in the SK Baxter area Saturday was totally insane with wake boats and big Cobalts all over. 

Warm water and a beautiful day had them enjoying early Fall weather. 

Results are usually only posted in the Rattler and it takes 2 weeks. Not this coming Thursday but the following one. 

Ya’ll come fish next year. 




 

[Quillback]

Maybe next year, it would be fun just to fish it once.  None of my fishing buddies are tournament fishers, so have to do some arm-twisting to get a volunteer to co-fish.

[Smithvillesteve]

Bill: great post. Every year i take my son with me up to Canada. Since he was about 14. He's 25 now. And there is absolutely nothing better than fishing with him and watching him catch walleyes all day long. I wouldnt trade it for anything!! Its priceless!! Happy birthday Quillback!! I'd be happy to fish that tournament with you sometime. 

[Quillback]

54 minutes ago, Smithvillesteve said:

Bill: great post. Every year i take my son with me up to Canada. Since he was about 14. He's 25 now. And there is absolutely nothing better than fishing with him and watching him catch walleyes all day long. I wouldnt trade it for anything!! Its priceless!! Happy birthday Quillback!! I'd be happy to fish that tournament with you sometime. 

OK, I'll try and keep that in the back of my mind, I'd like to fish it.  Thanks for the BD wishes!

[SRV1990]

On 10/6/2025 at 9:14 AM, Smithvillesteve said:

Bill: great post. Every year i take my son with me up to Canada. Since he was about 14. He's 25 now. And there is absolutely nothing better than fishing with him and watching him catch walleyes all day long. I wouldnt trade it for anything!! Its priceless!! Happy birthday Quillback!! I'd be happy to fish that tournament with you sometime. 

My 25 year old son isn't into fishing, but loves golf.  So I feel the same when he and I golf together.  Nothing better!