Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 03/20/06:

Kimberling City Area: Grubs and Jerkbaits have been the most dominate baits in the mid lake area. Look for windy pea gravel or pea gravel / rock mix flats, points and cuts to be holding most of the fish. When the wind is crashing on the bank the fish can be as shallow as a couple of feet so don’t be afraid to move up shallow. On calm days back out to 15’ – 20’ on these same banks and throw a shaky head finesse or needle worm toward the bank. ¼ oz. or lighter heads with a green pumpkin or watermelon / red worm fished on #8 fluorocarbon is your best combo.

James River: The wiggle wart bite continues to improve up the James River. Even with the cold rain over the weekend the water remains in the upper 40’s – low 50’s and fish are moving up shallow. Look for windy chunk rock or mixed rock banks and points with isolate wood cover in 6’ – 10’ deep and make parallel to the bank. On calm days back out and fish these same areas with a PB&J Eakins’ jig with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw trailer.

White River: Wiggle warts and bandits are starting to come on strong up both the White and Kings Rivers; just like in the James look for windy chunk rock or mixed chunk rock banks and points and throw brown craw, phantom green craw or watermelon warts parallel to the bank in 6’-8’ of water. In the upper Kings the water is quite a bit warmer and a few fish are starting to be caught on white / chartreuse Jewel Tandem Rush spinnerbaits fished on windy banks with isolated wood cover.

Dam Area: A smoke / pepper single tail grub on a ¼ oz. head is the ticket in the dam area; look for windy pea gravel and pea gravel / chunk rock points and cuts, make long casts toward the bank and maintain bottom contact as you reel the grub in. If you loose the bottom stop your retrieve and allow the bait to fall back to the bottom and restart your retrieve. On calm days a watermelon / red needle worm or finesse worm on a shaky head fished to 25’ deep on these same banks will produce several fish.