Lower Lake Quickie

[Bill Babler]

Decided after the AM trip to give the Bass a go on the lower lake. Got started on the transition bank just below the Gold Mine and above the island above Bull.

Kiss of death I thought, as on the 6th jerk of the Table Rock Shad I felt someone a knock-en. Really nice black, about 2 and a quarter. Lots of nice visible structure here, and I worked it, but all the fish I caught today came off no-see-em type stuff, Tried to keep the boat in about 15 to 18 and toss toward the shore.

3 more tosses, and I had another one, abit smaller but a nice dark green with a yellow bellie. Worked to just behind the island and during that stretch, I missed several, but I believe they were trout as, I caught a couple of nice bows in the 13 inch range.

Moved below Cedar Point and around past the condo's on your left to the next bluffend. Nice bar comes out from the bank here and it is shallow off that flat, I have had really good trout days here, using bait in the summer when the upperend gets tough. There is a dock on the bank here that has a wire enclosure. I fished the entire bank to the next dock, and caught 4 more bass and about 1/2 dozen more trout on the stickbait. Nothing bigger than my first fish. Did miss a good one the bait had just been twitched once and I was watching it and a really big fish swirled on it. Maby a 4 pounder, I got a pretty good look at it.

This bank really fools you as you think it will be very deep. It isn't. Just right for a stickbait as the channel dosen't hit it until the 3/4 mark and then, it has a nice shelf. I presume it would be pretty good with a crank or a jig, but have not done that.

Was a bit shocked at all the condo's from Branson down a couple of miles. What a shame. Did not see a boat below Rockaway Beach. Great afternoon down younder.

[Trav]

Wow Bill,

You covered alot of Ground today. In my little boat I wouldnt have had alot of time for fishing.

Nice to see some reports on Lower Taney thread other than mine. Was starting to get an isolation complex. Haha

I only saw 2 other boats other than mine today. Maybe yours was one of them.

[Tightline]

Its good to see our senior resident guide is coming out of hibernation,I was begining to wonder about you Bill. Good Report!!

[Bill Babler]

Tight, I have been balled up like a catipillar in a cocoon, in front of the fireplace having Becky put a stick of wood in from time to time.

Just about to cut loose. It's kind of a slow time of year for us guide types and have not wanted to spend a bunch of money running around and getting cold.

Anything cookin at all on the Bull Shoals Pond? I believe there is a big derby down there next weekend and Beck and Buster are going to practice the latter part of next week. I might tag along if it ain't bone chilling and try and catch a toothy critter. Good to hear from you.

[Tightline]

Bill, if the three of you guys can't take the chill off things down there, then there's no hope for the rest of us.If you go, let us know something.

Thanks TL