May 5 Thru 12

Vernon, only 5 rods on the deck? 

Mike

That was one fantastic report, glad You got all over them.  There are still fish on the deep locations you just have to force yourself out there.  Currently the best of the best is between Baxter and Shell Knob, they are off all those bluff's and vertical walls.  From point 9 to Long Creek there is just to much trash in the water to swim the bait effectively to them.  Most all these fish are suspended at 15' to 25' over depth.

Right now the question is why mess with the deep ones unless you have it dialed in.  Lots of fun fish on the Ned -rig and the guys are wacking them pretty hard on a tube and bigger k's on a C-rig fish Dr. fished in the 15 to 25 ft. range out past the moss or up the river where there is no moss.  On wind also there is just a fantastic jerk bait bite up the White.  Keep it moving where you would fish a small swimbait and you will get it almost jerked away from you.  99% SM on the jerker and they are getting a run at it.

Another pattern that has been working from Baxter up the White is swimming a big 7" to 9" swimbait past cedar tops.  Have been hearing of some really big fish coming like this.  Yes you would think top water, but not so much, they have been hitting the swimmer's better and for cripes sakes still hitting the Alpha Rig pretty heavy.

If your fishing from point 9 to Long Creek and have your unit set for clear water, turn on the filter or there is so much moss in the water right now it will almost black you out.

On the golf deal at Buffalo Ridge, spoke with one of the head grounds keepers and he said do not even think about any reduced rates.   They are  going to rise with the reason being they do not want rounds.  Less rounds the better.  He told me the number they wanted for both complexes including  Top of the Rock and I can't remember what it was but it was pretty low.

Said they really cannot do it but if only BC guests played Buffalo Ridge and they had some corporate and charity events that would be more than enough.

This is a labor of love for Johnny and he is hoping to one day get a PGA regular event here.   I was told that those courses don't need to turn a single nickel of profit that is not what they were designed for. 

 

Again, fantastic report

 

Thanks for the report.  We have had our best luck on Ned's Rigs as well though primarily with the Dirt Color.  Limited success on the swim bait regardless of depth fished.  Our problem has been finding keeper fish.  Thanks again for the report.

Hey Randy, welcome to the forum.  Guys, Randy and his family have moved to the area and they are fishing fanatics like the rest of us.  Please give him a big welcome to OAF

Starting tomorrow I have several trips out of the Chateau area and will let ya know if I can find a keeper bite in the wild and uncut.

A big thanks Bill.  As most of you are aware, Mr. Babler is one of the top guides on Table Rock.  My family and I have used him numerous times to learn the lake and always have a great trip.  

19 hours ago, Royal Blue said:

What shoes are those?  I'm about as bad about buying boat shoes as I am about buying spinnerbaits.  Also, I was in one of those tourney boats on the 5th.  The lake felt like driving through a washing machine most of the day!

Soft Science and they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn and there isn't even a second place.  My wife makes fun of me and says they look like clown shoes but as a lifelong clown I find no shame in that at all.  I actually have four pair of them now as does my brother and just about everybody else that's tried mine on.

The ones in the photo are canvas and I wear them for everything you can imagine including yard work.  If they get dirty I spray 'em with some Simple Green and throw 'em in the washing machine.

I also really like the Fin 2.0 and it's the same deal with them - toss 'em in the wash when they get a little dirty.  Plus, they dry in like a nanosecond.  The insoles are flat out amazing. They both breathe pretty well but the 2.0 are incredible in hot weather.

I sent the company an email and said that if they ever start making golf shoes there'll be nothing else in my closet!

They run between 50 and 80 bucks and their website runs 20% off deals pretty often.  I'm sure they'll have something for Father's Day if not Memorial Day.  There's a couple vendors on Amazon as well.  

As for your washing machine analogy I completely agree but we actually settled on "blender"!

 

 

19 hours ago, big c said:

Great report! Look forward to seeing you on the water again (last yr by Indian Point). If so, I'll make sure to stop and say hi.

Thanks C! 

And, yes, we'll be at the Branson "Yacht" Club again this year.  Typically, only the rich and famous are welcome at the "Yacht" club but I'll see what I can do and maybe we can sneak  you past security.

Have to be discreet though as this palatial facility runs around ten thousand per night.  At least I think that's accurate but with all the money I've got I never really bother to ask!

Agent and manager handle all that petty financial stuff......

Should be in mid to late afternoon on Saturday so I'll let you know.

15 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

That was one fantastic report, glad You got all over them.  There are still fish on the deep locations you just have to force yourself out there.  Currently the best of the best is between Baxter and Shell Knob, they are off all those bluff's and vertical walls.  From point 9 to Long Creek there is just to much trash in the water to swim the bait effectively to them.  Most all these fish are suspended at 15' to 25' over depth.

Right now the question is why mess with the deep ones unless you have it dialed in.  Lots of fun fish on the Ned -rig and the guys are wacking them pretty hard on a tube and bigger k's on a C-rig fish Dr. fished in the 15 to 25 ft. range out past the moss or up the river where there is no moss.  On wind also there is just a fantastic jerk bait bite up the White.  Keep it moving where you would fish a small swimbait and you will get it almost jerked away from you.  99% SM on the jerker and they are getting a run at it.

Another pattern that has been working from Baxter up the White is swimming a big 7" to 9" swimbait past cedar tops.  Have been hearing of some really big fish coming like this.  Yes you would think top water, but not so much, they have been hitting the swimmer's better and for cripes sakes still hitting the Alpha Rig pretty heavy.

If your fishing from point 9 to Long Creek and have your unit set for clear water, turn on the filter or there is so much moss in the water right now it will almost black you out.

On the golf deal at Buffalo Ridge, spoke with one of the head grounds keepers and he said do not even think about any reduced rates.   They are  going to rise with the reason being they do not want rounds.  Less rounds the better.  He told me the number they wanted for both complexes including  Top of the Rock and I can't remember what it was but it was pretty low.

Said they really cannot do it but if only BC guests played Buffalo Ridge and they had some corporate and charity events that would be more than enough.

This is a labor of love for Johnny and he is hoping to one day get a PGA regular event here.   I was told that those courses don't need to turn a single nickel of profit that is not what they were designed for. 

 

Again, fantastic report

 

Thanks Bill!  Coming from you I take that as pretty high praise.  I also noticed that my post was promoted to an article?  I'm proud and humbled at the same time.  I have tremendous respect and admiration for the many great Americans on this forum and appreciate beyond words what is offered up here and always to my benefit.  If I was actually able to contribute a little something in return then I'm beyond thrilled.

Looking towards next week, as much as Kathy loves boat rides I'm sure we'll be heading back upstream most everyday again so thank you for the tips relative to those areas.  

Again, I absolutely need to get out there with you sometime so I can disengage my self-destructive "creativity" meter!  We're fortunate to get on them pretty good from time to time but I've never been very good at developing a plan B much less a C or D and that is always my downfall.

Knowing just enough to be dangerous can be.....well, dangerous.

Guess that's probably why I took up golf in the first place - was looking for something to do besides drink beer when plan A tanked!

I completely agree on the Buffalo Ridge/Johnny Morris golf venture deal but sure wish it wasn't the case.  Guys like me live to play courses like he's going to have up on that hill even if it's just a couple of times per year but it's just become out of our reach money wise.  Heck, we don't pay anywhere near that kind jack when we go to Palm Springs in February or we wouldn't be doing that either.  

It just seems like a shame to have facilities like that sitting virtually empty just about everyday of the year.  And it's been like that pretty much ever since he took them over even when the rates were "cheaper".  Just about every time we go over there the maintenance guys outnumber the golfers about 5 - 1 but he obviously prefers it that way.  Has to make it easier to keep them in tip top shape though.

Heck, in that regard, I guess I actually have something in common with him in that I don't like folks messing up my grass either!

Plus, like I mentioned earlier, it's good to only have First World problems to gripe about - "Gee hon, what should we do today?  Golf or fish?"

Woe is me.

Anyways, thanks again for making me feel good about myself and I'll keep an eye out for you next week.  

If I can't get close enough to say hello maybe I'll at least be able to triangulate those GPS coordinates!

Go get 'em everybody!

17 hours ago, m&m said:

Vernon, only 5 rods on the deck? 

Mike

Pitiful ain't it?

And probably only needed one or else should have had a Ned on all five!

Guess I'm REALLY getting old.

At least there were a couple hundred more UNDER the deck......

1 hour ago, vernon said:

Soft Science and they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn and there isn't even a second place.  My wife makes fun of me and says they look like clown shoes but as a lifelong clown I find no shame in that at all.  I actually have four pair of them now as does my brother and just about everybody else that's tried mine on.

The ones in the photo are canvas and I wear them for everything you can imagine including yard work.  If they get dirty I spray 'em with some Simple Green and throw 'em in the washing machine.

I also really like the Fin 2.0 and it's the same deal with them - toss 'em in the wash when they get a little dirty.  Plus, they dry in like a nanosecond.  The insoles are flat out amazing. They both breathe pretty well but the 2.0 are incredible in hot weather.

I sent the company an email and said that if they ever start making golf shoes there'll be nothing else in my closet!

They run between 50 and 80 bucks and their website runs 20% off deals pretty often.  I'm sure they'll have something for Father's Day if not Memorial Day.  There's a couple vendors on Amazon as well.  

As for your washing machine analogy I completely agree but we actually settled on "blender"!

 

 

I have a pair of the Fin 2.0 and they're incredible.  I'm gonna have to invest in some canvas ones.  Those things pretty sweet.