Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Bull Shoals 04/25/06:

BULL SHOALS FISHING REPORT,northern sector. Submitted as a community service by SPRING CREEK ENTERPRISES Don and Judy Schnable 417 273 4859.SCE is sponsored by

We now have a new season – it is called “sum-spring”. That is when it is spring time but the temperatures are summer like in the upper 80’s. With little to no rain the lake level is 647.57, 6 ¾ feet below normal pool. Lake week I mentioned the pollen and now everything was green. The pollen has now mixed in the lake water and the clarity, which was at 18 feet, is now at 12 feet.

What a difference a week makes Lake temperature has everyone confused. There are creeks and pockets that have 70 degrees in the back, there is 70 degrees in the Theodosia arm, and 70 degrees in creeks above Lead Hill, but the fish are not relating to the warmer water in all of these areas. Mainly because it is only surface temperature. Main lake temperature at the surface is 65.7 degrees, 15 feet down it is only 58 degrees We checked the back of a creek and it was 69.2 degrees and at 15 feet down the temperature was 59.8 degrees.

White bass had one false spawn and they are back in the creeks and pockets trying to spawn again The same baits are working – roadrunners, small spoons, in-line spinners and spot minnows).

Crappie are just about done with their spawn and are still hanging out between shore and the brush piles. Best bait is crappie minnow on a jig head. Also working very well is the Bobby Garland Swimming Minnow in Blue Thunder and the Baby Shad in Blue Thunder and Crystal.

Largemouth bass have made a number of false beds but they are not into spawn as yet, except in the upper most part of the lake. Continue to fish the largemouth in staging areas and treat them as pre-spawn. Some top water is present early in the morning but the best baits are flukes, centipedes, brush hogs and jigs.

Smallmouth bass are in spawn and post spawn phase throughout the lake. Pea rock points and banks are holding most of the nice smallies. Slow baits have been working well all week. Mojo rigged centipedes, lizards, Sinko’s and brush hogs are just a few of the key baits. Spider jigs and tubes also picked up throughout this week fished slowly in 10 to 24 feet of water.

Kentucky bass are on beds and some are in post spawn, but we caught some this week that were full of eggs so it looks like it will a long spawning year. Best baits are tubes, finesse worms, Meatheads, or centipedes. Fish transition areas along chunk rock channel swings or around chunk rock points that have step down ledges.

Walleye continue to puzzle even the pro anglers. Their spawn is over, their post spawn is over but they are just not feeding during the daylight hours. There are a few walleye being caught during the day but the numbers are few and there is no pattern or depth to key in on. Try casting or trolling a Hot’N Tot or Deep Little Ripper Reef Runner bait anywhere from 10 to 30 feet. The best bite is at night on channel swings and points casting Glass Shads (#7 white), Suspending Rogues, and Lucky Craft Staysees There have been a few walleye that were caught on crawler harnesses, nightcrawlers and bottom bouncers.

Remember to keep only what you can eat and release the rest for another day. Rick Culver of Wilderness Trail does the research for this report and the writing of this report. For more information call Rick or Sue Culver at Wilderness Trail at 870-445-2703, e-mail us at wtrail@bullshoals.net or check out our web site at www.wildernesstrail.com

For all other outdoor data ,including Tournament standings and updates log on to the finest Web magazines found anywhere. Don and Judy Schnable 417 273 4859 schnabs@webound.com

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