Arkansas Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Bull Shoals 07/17/06

No Report

Report #2

Lake - Bull Shoals 07/17/06

Fishing report for BULL SHOALS LAKE home of the record Largemouth Bass.
Submitted as a community service by SPRING CREEK ENTERPRISES, Don and Judy Schnable 417 273 4859 schnabs@webound.com

SPRING CREEK ENTERPRISES http://www.maout.com/springcreek is sponsored by HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS Mountain Home Arkansas http://www.hiexpress.com , SCHOCKEYS BOAT and MOTOR http://www.bullshoals.com/schockey/

July 17, 2006

Dog days are here. It is that time of year when the temperatures sore into the upper 90’s, the heat index jumps into the 100’s and there is little to no wind. During dog days the bite drops off and some days you can’t even get a bite and fishing becomes a challenge for most. Water temperature is now in the mid 80’s (85 to 87 degrees).

The thermocline is at 30 feet and is 10 feet wide down to 40 feet. Every year the shad go into the thermocline and the game fish follow them, so we know the zone the fish are in. Well – not this year. The shad are in 24 to 30 feet and in 30 to 40 feet of water and so are the game fish.

For some reason there aren’t any fish using the thermocline. Temperature and oxygen readings will be read this week so we will see if we can come up with some answers. Lake level this week is at 652.70, 1 1/2 feet below normal pool. We had some rain earlier in the week that helped to hold the pool level.

Largemouth bass have been slow along with all the other game fish species. A little top water in the back of the creeks in the morning can start your day off with a fish or two, after that it is tough. Fish brush piles with Texas rigged worms and docks with jigs for the best chance of catching day time largemouth. Smallmouth bass are around 30 feet under ledge rock or under large boulders.

They are not happy with warm water so there is no Smallmouth top water bite but there is an early morning jig or tube bite on pea rock points and bluff wall ends. During the heat of the day move to 40+ feet of water with football jigs and drag these through the trees and over the boulder rocks. Shaker head jigs and drop shot rigs will also key some Smallmouth strikes in 40+ feet of water if there is some shade in the area you are fishing.

Kentucky bass are with the shad and finding them is like hunting quail – you need to graph pockets, bluff ends, points an over flooded tree stands until you mark a school of shad with Kentuckys under them. Spooning becomes a great technique during the summer months to catch Kentuckys . Dropping a spoon down through the shad scatters them which triggers a response from the Kentuckys that are under the shad.

Walleye are not in the thermocline. They are in 28 to 30 feet of water and in 40 to 48 feet of water. They are holding off flats, around points and over flooded forest. The walleye inside of 30 feet can be caught on nightcrawlers and leeches pulled on bottom bouncers with red, gold and blue blades. The walleye in 40 feet of water are being caught on Glass Shad, Hot’N Tots and Reef Runners pulled on lead core line around 1 mph. The morning bite and early evening bite are the best.

NIGHT TIME: Brush piles have became the prime cover for bass throughout the night, points and bluff wall ends still have fish on them but brush piles are holding the numbers. Texas rigged worms and jigs have been the primary baits. Best colors are red/gold flake and blue/black in worms and Peanut Butter and Jelly and blue/black are the best jig colors.

Rocky Hollow Lodge and Rocky Hollow Suites are minutes from the White River and Bull Shoals Lake. They are located in the hub of activities in Bull Shoals Arkansas--- Tournament take offs & weigh ins and Most Tournament Headquaters. SCE proudly recommends RHL. Don Schnable

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 stories and info in the our Ozark area and data on recreational activities in the midwest log on to one of the nations largest and most complete Internet magazines Don and Judy Schnable 417 273 4859 schnabs@webound.com

SCE is sponsored by
Wendell Stills http://www.wendellstill.com
Holiday Inn http://www.hiexpress.com
Gaston's http://www.gastons.com
Willow Ford Outboard http://www.fishinwhattheysee.com
Stetson Resort http://www.stetsons-resort.com
Twin Bridges Canoe http://www.twinbridgescanoe.com
Venues of Distinction http://www.maout.com/springcreek.htm
Venom Boats http://www.venomboats.com
TMR http://www.tmrbullshoals.net
Shockey's http://www.bullshoals.com/shockey

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