Who ya Pickin? Redcrest on the Rock.

[Bill Babler]

No run off so I went right to the catchin. 

I played a game and fished 5 hours. That’s 2 MLF periods at 2:30 hours a period. 

I played a bit with a jerk bait and a Magdraft but I caught and weighed right at 55/56 pounds using 2 pounds as a keeper. 

I believe I had 24 keepers. 

Not  going to say where I fished but if you know the Rock you can figure it out.

Surface temp all day was 63/64 degree with about 6’ of visibility.  Overcast with breeze, you could not invent a better day for Table Rock.

 

Really I could have just thrown the trolling motor down and not even started the big engine but I chased the windy banks  

 

Here is the main takeaway, the Kentucky’s came in.  They were in the flat coves and all over flat gravel in 14’ and under.  

They were absolutely not there yesterday!

Talked to Eric today and we think it’s going to take 150 pounds for the 2 day qualifying round to make the 10 man fish off on Sunday. 

That’s 75 pounds per day. I don’t know if I could do it but I think I could catch 125 in two days if I could keep from doing stupid stuff. 

Saw DC, Michael Neil, Dru Gill and a bunch of others. Saw Evers going in the back of short pockets, looking for beds. That is not going to do it when you can catch 2 pounders at the rate they’re biting. 

We’ll see if it’s true but word is some of these guys are catching 50 plus keeps a day. 

The K’s are all the same 2.3 to 2.8. The Jaw’s were close to 3 pounds. 

My thumb looks like hamburger 🍔 




 

 

 

[Macsimus]

22 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

It would be interesting to see if you could just get on a 200 yard section of flat  gravel and not catch some. 

 

 I could probably help you out with that. 😄

[Champ188]

On 4/12/2026 at 7:34 AM, Bill Babler said:

With a 1.8#  bass that counts this will be silly  2 pounds is no problem for a boat load.  I agree with Dock, there are some huge K’s out there right now, might see a 5 pounder  

Didn’t Wheeler and Tock have 100 pound days last time they were here?

Wheeler was on the bouy point run out past point 9 going into Aunts Creek, across from point 10. 

He caught them mostly on a small swimmer. Tock was on the saddle at point 9.  I think a drop shot. 

Mark Davis threw a hard head, in the flat coves by Eagles Roost, could have trouble with that this year. The year he won was a flood year and he caught them at the edge of the muddy water in Rock Creek on a wart.

Another point is if you want to run for an hour plus you would be down so far to the scope guys it would be extremely tough.

The playing field will be LC to Campbell Point and LC to Aunts Creek, 

I’ve told this story, but I was guiding 2 ladies at SK and they were catching one after the other on a fin.  Avena pulled in on us and sat on the bow of his boat kicking his feet in the water like a punk kid. 

Kept yelling at us saying he was fishing for $100,000.00 and we were on his best spot ((community hole at SK)

One of the ladies said if he is going to cry let’s go somewhere else. As we were leaving one lady threw him the bird.  I can’t stand the guy.

You’re going to have to fish a swimmer or a minnow to keep up. Score tracker will be lighting up like a cash register at Walmart. 





 

Glad to hear that coming from someone whose opinion I value. I've watched that guy poach fishing holes for years and seems like whenever there's a dispute over water, even if he's not directly involved, he's always in the neighborhood. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

I’ve heard that before.   “I’m fishing in a tournament”.   What does that have to do with anything?   I should give up my spot on my day off because of that?!

[Bill Babler]

He is famous for it. Thats why I don’t think they should say who is leading on score tracker, just tell the weights not who has them. 

It’s just amazing how by the end of the day he is fishing the same water as the  leader derby after derby. 

A few years ago I thought Bobby Lane was going to rip his head off.  Keith Posche also. 

He doesn’t poach on Connell, Wheeler or MDJ, but anyone else is fair game, including locals  

 

[Quillback]

Watching the live coverage, Wheeler just lost a good smalls.  DC is scoping, he's catching them but not the size to count.

[Bill Babler]

Gosh that was a big Smallie Wheeler just lost.

Sounds like they are hammering. 

[Quillback]

16 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

Gosh that was a big Smallie Wheeler just lost.

Sounds like they are hammering. 

Wheeler is whupping on your smalls.  One after another on they are all over the 2 lb. mark.

[Bill Babler]

Ya, just talked Phil Stone. I knew immediately where Wheeler was. It’s called the stump row. It’s right across from our White River Lodge. 
Total SM location I’ve fished it 100’s of times. 
Just a great spot. Ridge covered with stumps. 

Dru Gill is also fishing a known location.  I know Connell’s location and I also know about 100’s of fish that can vanish in an hour. 

Looks like Minnowshaking. 

 

[Quillback]

Wheeler is using the Rapala Mooch Minnow.