Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 12/19/04 :

Kimberling City Area: The deep bite is in full swing in the mid lake area. Fish are being caught on a variety of baits including; spoons, drop shotted finesse worms, grubs and Jewel football jigs. The key to finding and catching the fish is finding the shad, schools can be found anywhere from 25' - 150' deep over trees, on the edge of flats, on channel swings and on bluff ends. When you find the shad the fish will not be far; if you find the shad are suspended work the bottom and side edges of the school until you get the fish to react, if the shad are on the bottom cast Jewel football jig and allow it to fall to the bottom and then hop it back to the boat.

James River : There is still a good jig bite up the James river; throw an Eakins' flippin' jig in brown or Missouri craw with a green pumpkin twin tailed grub for a trailer. Key on channel swing banks on both the main river channel and the major creeks feeding into the river. You can still catch a few fish on a wiggle wart when the wind is blowing, key on wind blown chunk rock banks on both the main lake and in creek arms.

White River: They are still running a significant amount of water through Beaver dam and it has helped to position the fish on points and channel swings in the upper end of the river. These fish can be caught on a Jewel 5/8 football jig in PB&J with a green pumpkin twin tailed trailer. Closer to the Campbell point and Baxter area your best bet is to drop shot a finesse worm in 35' - 65' of water around tree tops and the edge of main lake flats, shad need to be present to be successful.

Dam Area: The deep pattern continues to be your best option in the dam area, key on tree tops and channel swings in 45' - 80' of water, you must have shad in order to be successful. The best baits are a drop shotted finesse worm or a white 3/4 oz. spoon, work the bait in the tree tops or on the edges of the schools of shad. An alternative pattern is to fish deep boat docks with an Eakins jig in brown / purple flash or PB&J with a green pumpkin Eakins Craw as a trailer. Fish the jig from 6" to 60' keying on the shadows created by the boat dock, note that almost all of your strikes will come as the bait is falling so pay close attention to your line.