Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 04/04/05:

Kimberling City Area: The jerkbait bite has really slowed on Table Rock, most of the fish caught this past week have been on a couple of patterns, when the wind is blowing a natural green craw wiggle wart fished on chunk rock transitioning to pea gravel is hard to beat. Without the wind you will need to change up completely and fish either a 4" - 6" finesse worm on a ball head jig or on a drop shot rig. Pull out about two casts away from a pea gravel secondary point and cast toward the banks making short hops on the way back in.

James River: Wiggle warts will still produce as will spinnerbaits up the river if you have a little wind and cloud cover, the fish are moving up and back through out the day so an area that is hot in the morning may slow down and then be hot again latter, you just need to move around allot. Look for fish to be on main lake and secondary chunk rock and transition points. If there is no wind fish back off of these same points and fish a Jewel 5/16 oz. spider jig in PB&J with a green pumpkin Yamamoto twin tail grub for a trailer, make short hops during your retrieve.

White River: Numbers, that is the story in the White & Kings rivers, you can catch a ton of short fish on transition and chunk rock banks right now, the problem is finding keepers. Better fish can be caught on an Eakins' jig in brown / purple flash with Eakins' craw trailer if you can get it down to 8' - 15' without catching an aggressive short. In addition try slow rolling a big bladed spinner bait in 15' - 20' on these same banks when the wind is blowing on them.

Dam Area: Allot of the guys in the top 6 at the B.A.S.S. tournament this past weekend were fishing the dam area. Most relied on a 6" finesse worm on a ball head and fished pea gravel points in major creek arms. Hold the boat about 2 casts out from the bank and make short hops on your retrieve. If the wind is blowing throw a storm wiggle wart in natural green or phantom green craw on chunk rock that transitions to pea gravel.