Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 05/28/06:

Report #1

Kimberling City Area: The fish are beginning to move into summer positions, Carolina rigged centipedes, baby brush hogs and Chomper skirted grubs are all working on main lake and secondary points. Most of the fish are moving deeper so hold your boat out in 25’ – 35’ deep off the points and fan cast the point until you find the depth that the fish are holding in. A good back up pattern is fishing a PB&J Eakins’ jig with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw in the shady pockets around boat docks.

James River: In the upper end of the river and in the backs of some of the major creeks a white or white / chartreuse Jewel Tandem Rush Keel spinnerbait fished around laydowns, flooded bushes and stump fields will catch several fish both keepers and shorts, as will a green copper shad or black / chartreuse Lucky Craft R.C. 1.5 or 2.5. Out on the main lake Carolina rigged lizards, French fries and brush hogs will work on flat points near deep water.

White River: The White river continues to produce some good fish; main lake and secondary points with either a Jewel 5/6 oz. spider jig in brown / purple flash with a green pumpkin Chomper 4” jig trailer or a mojo rigged finesse worm or french fry in green pumpkin from 20’ – 30’ deep has been the most consistent pattern. Make sure to fish the bait slowly and pay close attention to any rock or wood that the jig or sinker makes contact with.

Dam Area: There are still fish being caught on a shaky head / finesse worm but you will need to move out a little deeper on main lake and secondary points, most of the fish have moved out to 20’+. Some fish are starting to show up in the trees and on saddles as deep as 40’ deep. With the water warming into the 70’s it won’t be long until large groups of fish move off shore and start eating spoons and drop shot rigs.

Report #2

b.c.snowden@att.net wrote:

Brian Snowden’s Table Rock Fishing Report
www.missouriangling.com

Date : May 28, 2006
Water Level : 914.7
Normal Pool : 916
Water Temp : 77-80

Baxter, Campbell Point, Dam Area, & Kimberling City
With the water on the rise this area has some color. Fish can be taken on a variety of methods. During windy conditions I have been able to catch some quality largemouth and Kentucky bass cranking main lake, gravel points with or without standing timber. I have been positioning the boat in 20-25 feet making long casts with a seven foot, St. Croix, glass crankbaiting rod with an Ardent XS Reel, spooled with ten pound, green, SilverThread Line. I have been throwing a Fat Free Shad in black pearl or root beer float on sunny days, and on cloudy days I have been throwing root beer/chartreuse. Work the crankbait back in a medium stop and go fashion.

When timber is present try and make contact with as many trees as possible. When it is calm in the early morning hours a few fish can be taken working a Jointed Red Fin in smoky Joe or pearl/blue back. Work this bait in the same areas that you would throw the crankbait. Even try some bluffends with this bait.

The most productive and consistent bite in these areas has been on a Carolina rig fishing gently sloping, gravel points. Position the boat in 20-25 feet of water and work the bait in 10-20 feet of water. I have been throwing my Carolina rig on a seven foot, medium heavy, St. Croix Legend Elite, Casting Rod with an Ardent XS Reel spooled with twelve pound, green, SilverThread Line with an Excalibur TG Barrel Weight in ½ oz. or ¾ oz. using two glass beads and a barrel swivel. I have been rigging it on a three foot leader with an Excalibur, 1/0, TX3 Point Worm Hook. The best baits seem to be the YUM Notta Worm in green pumpkin, watermelon candy, or watermelon/red flake.

Long Creek
This area has quite a bit of water color, and spinnerbaits have been producing nicely. Try working a 3/8 or ½ oz. BOOYAH Blade in citrus shad or limetreuse with a Colorado willow leaf combination on ledge rock banks in 2-8 feet of water. I have been casting my spinnerbait on a 6’6”, medium heavy, St. Croix Casting Rod with an Ardent XS Reel, spooled with seventeen pound, green, SilverThread Line. Keep the boat in 10-15 feet of water casting at a 45 degree angle toward the ledge rock. Work the bait just out of sight, and let the bait slow down as it gets closer to the boat. As the water continues to rise in this area try pitching a 3/8 oz. Boo Jig in black/brown spice with a 3.5 inch, YUM Craw Papi in green pumpkin, as a trailer. Hop the jig around any isolated laydowns or floating debris that has been blown up along the bank.

James River
In the James River crankbaits have started to produce on channel swings tapering into gravel and on bluffend points. Work a Fat Free Shad or Fat Free Shad Jr. in chartreuse with blue sparkle or citrus along these areas with a medium to medium fast stop and go retrieve. A Carolina rig has also been producing fish in the lower section of the James River. Rig the Carolina rig the same as mentioned above, but you might try working a YUM, six inch lizard in watermelon red or PB&J. As you move up past Cape Fair spinnerbaits have been producing nicely. Try working a 3/8 or ½ oz. BOOYAH Blade in citrus shad or lime reuse with a Colorado willow leaf combination on ledge rock banks in 2-8 feet of water.

I have been casting my spinnerbait on a 6’6”, medium heavy, St. Croix Casting Rod with an Ardent XS Reel, spooled with seventeen pound, green, SilverThread Line. Keep the boat in 10-15 feet of water casting at a 45 degree angle toward the ledge rock. Work the bait just out of sight, an d let the bait slow down as it gets closer to the boat. As the water continues to rise in this area try pitching a 3/8 oz. Boo Jig in black/brown spice with a 3.5 inch, YUM Craw Papi in green pumpkin, as a trailer. Hop the jig around any isolated laydowns or floating debris that has been blown up along the bank.