Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 04/09/05:

Kimberling City Area: The fish seem to be making the transition to pea gravel and away from chunk rock. Look for most of the fish to be staging on secondary points leading into spawning bays and pockets. Split shot rigs, shaky worm rigs and Jewel 5/16 oz. Spider jigs are all effective on these fish when the lake is calm. Best colors of worm are watermelon and watermelon candy, PB&J is still the hottest color on the spider jig. If you have a little wind fish windward points with a smoke or salt & pepper 4" Yamamoto single tail grubs on 1/4 oz. jig heads, cast toward the point count it down about 5 and reel it back in.

James River: The water up the James over 60 degrees in the afternoon, on windy days a Jewel Tandem Rush double willow leaf spinnerbait in white or white and chartreuse has been very effective around wood cover and in pockets that have had shad blown in them. On calm days switch over to an Eakins' jig in brown / purple flash or Missouri craw, either one with a green pumpkin Eakins' craw trailer. Fish the jig on steeper points and swings near spawning coves and around docks near spawning coves as well.

White River: Still working through allot of short fish to catch a keeper in both the White and Kings Rivers. Best bite has been on natural green craw wiggle warts fished on windy transition banks leading to spawning coves. An Jewel 5/16 oz. spider jig in PB&J with cinnamon / purple Yamamoto twin tail has been effective from 10' - 18' deep on pea gravel secondary points, look for areas near spawning bays or pockets to be successful.

Dam Area: The shaky rig bite has gotten a little tougher this week in the dam area, your better off switching to a Jewel 5/16 oz. or 3/16 oz. spider jig in watermelon / purple flash with a watermelon Yamamoto twin tail or a split shot rigged cut tail worm. Drag either bait on pea gravel secondary points 10' - 18' deep paying close attention to any rock piles or wood cover you find.