Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 10/30/05:

Kimberling City Area: The deep bite is still holding on as the most consistent pattern day in and day out; spoons, drop shot needle worms or grubs have all been effective. Look for shad to be near the mouths of major creeks and large coves, and then locate the nearest structure; ledge, roll off or point, and most of your fish will be there. If the wind is blowing there have been a few fish being caught on spinner baits on flatter points with bigger rock mixed with pea gravel, this bite will improve as the water cools.

James River: The James has some pretty good color in it above Piney creek; look for most of the fish to be following shad back into the creek arms. At this point the bulk of the bait is about ½ to ¾ of the way back into the creeks but a good rain or some more cold nights will move them all the way back. Look for most of the fish to be in and around the shad, boat docks, secondary points and horizontal wood cover will all slow the shad migration and attract fish. A Jewel 5/8 oz. football jig in brown / purple flash or Missouri craw fished with a Chomper 5” green pumpkin jig trailer is a tough bait to beat in these areas. If it is cloudy and / or windy throw a Jewel tandem rush spinner bait on windy points.

White River: Around Baxter and Campbell point the bite is similar to the Kimberling city area; a good deep bite on main lake and the first couple of secondary points in most major creeks, a decent spinner bait bite on windy days on chunk rock banks, and a good jig bite around boat docks. Further up both the White and Kings river you will find a Jewel 5/8 oz. football jig in PB&J with a cinnamon / purple / jelly jig trailer working on pea gravel and point and roll offs and a Jewel Tandem Rush spinner bait in white with gold double willows will work toward the backs of creeks and pockets filled with shad.

Dam Area: Close to the dam a good jig bite is starting to take shape around boat docks in the larger creek arms, look to the shallow side of the morning and work your way deeper along the shady side through out the day. An Eakins’ jig in PB&J with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw as a trailer is about all you need to make this pattern work. You can also catch several fish on deep pea gravel roll offs with a Jewel 5/8 oz. or ¾ oz. football jig in PB&J or brown / purple flash both matched up with a green pumpkin 5” Chomper jig trailer, work the bait close to the roll off with a hopping action.