Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 09/08/06:

Lake Level: 909.7
Normal Pool: 915.00
Water Temp: 77-80 degrees

Lower End-Dam Area-
Most Bass are staying out in 30-40' of water. Look for them on the long gravel points and flats with brush piles and areas of bigger rock. Drop shotting watermelon/candy and cinnamon purple finesse worms are producing. Earlier in the day drop down 1/2 to 3/4 ounce white slab side spoons where schools of baitfish are present. Quit a few Smallmouth can be found in these areas 25-35' deep and can be caught on brown and purple flash 1/2 ounce football jigs drug on the bottom.

Kimberling City-
Throw a Zara spook in shad colors in the backs of creeks and main lake points with timber for a morning top water bite. In the daytime, fish the pea gravel points with football jigs and a Carolina rigged french fry in watermelon/candy 25-35' deep for Kentucky and Smallmouth bass. Use either a green pumpkin or cinnamon purple twin tail rigged on the big jig and drag it slowly on the bottom with added bounces and pops. Drop shot watermelon 4-6'' finesse worms will produce on bluff end points, submerged timber, and deep boat docks.

Baxter/Shell Knob Area-
Much of the same goes for as above for fishing this area. Kentucky and some Smallmouth bass can be found in the deep spots ranging from 25-40' of water. There's not much of a spinnerbait bite going on, but with the shorter days, cooler day time highs and nights, it's not too far off with the falling water temperature.

James River-
Around the School House to Bridge Port area some Largemouth are being caught throwing a Zara spook in the mornings around timber with baitfish. Also look for areas of schooling bass chasing on top. They will also bite deep diving crainkbaits in shad colors here in these areas, points, and channel swing banks. Carolina rigged baby brush hogs and lizards in green pumpkin with a 3/4 ounce weight fished 12-20' deep on gravel roll offs are working well.

Report #2

Fishing report for 9/8/2006
By Don House of Chauffeured Guide Service
www.strikebass.com

Kimberling City Area:

BASS
Deep water fishing is good in this area, fish are really in there deep water hangouts and moving around a lot with the shad. As the water starts to cool into the low 80’s the fish are starting to bunch up and school in areas along with or very close to the bait fish in the 30 – 45 range. In the early am start looking for schooling fish to be busting groups of small baitfish in these same areas, small topwater baits like baby spooks and small pop-r’s are producing some good topwater action for a few hours early in the day, or all day on good cloudy days.

Once the sun comes up start using your electronics to find any type of structure in this same depth range and you will find these fish suspended close by. Spoons in the ¾ ounce range are really producing good catches of bass, use your electronics to find the fish suspended in this structure and drop your spoon down and hang on. If you see the fish but cannot get the bite on the spoon switch over to a drop shot rig with small 4”Robo worm or even some days still a night crawler. Colors for the plastic worms are changing everyday; some work better than others best bet right now is to have a good collection of colors and just work down the line until you find the color they want that day. You can check Rick’s online store for all Robo drop shot worms in all colors and sizes and some of the new hot colors also in stock along with spoons at very good prices. http://www.strikebass.com

Dam, Indian Point, and Long Creek Area:

BASS
Fishing is pretty much the same in this area. Fishing is good with the same type of baits as in Kimberling City area. Deep water humps, islands drops offs and deep structure is really starting to produce in this area around the Dam and Indian Point. Top water bite is coming on in the back of most creek arms off of secondary points with any depth and trees to them. Most fish are small but in and along with the smaller fish are some good keeper fish also. Spoons in the ¾ ounce range are really producing good catches of bass, use your electronics to find the fish suspended in this structure and drop your spoon down and hang on.

Also some reports of good fish are coming in with small to medium sized crawdad colors Jigs with a crawl trailer dropped down in the deep cedars trees, very spotty but a really good bite when you get them. Smallmouth bass are starting to move up and bite a football jig in the 30 – 40 foot range and the primary colors are PB&J and Purple and Brown with green twin tailed grubs. Look for the really gentle sloping banks with small gravel to mid sized rocks to hold these fish. Keep your boat in the 40 foot range and throw to the bank and drag or hop your jig back to the deeper water.

Baxter, Camel Point, Shell Knob Area:

BASS
Have not had a chance to really fish this area and it has been slow for me at best, but other reports are some fish are hanging on deep drop offs (35 – 50 feet) and long points close to deep water or channel swings. Most fish are being taken with spoons and drop shot rigs in this area, just about the same as the other areas. Also a report of fair topwater action along the deep points with trees in the channel swings with red fins and spooks, run the bait right thru the trees and wait for the bite as you move past them.

James Arm:

BASS
Lower James has been slow for some time now. From point 10 to point 15, has been slow at best. Upper James from Bridgeport on up the report from Capt. Rick is that fish are being caught with a few baits, the square billed crankbait in some shad and fire tiger colors and shakey jig with a straight green pumpkin color worm are his go to bait up there. According to Capt. Rick some days are great and some are just fair, with fish in the 1-5 pound range.

Good Luck
Capt. Don House