Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 09/29/06:

Kimberling City Area: Things are finally starting to change on the Table Rock, water temps have dropped into the mid 70’s and the fish are moving out of their summer patterns toward fall locations. While all that is good it does men the fish tend to be spread out and a little unpredictable from one day to the next. This past week the most reliable locations have been pea gravel points and flats primarily on the main lake. Jewel spider and football jigs in PB&J or brown / purple flash with green pumpkin or cinnamon / purple / jelly Chomper jig trailers have been very effective fished from 20’ – 35’ deep on the bottom.

James River: Up the James the fall transition is a little further ahead than the rest of the lake; look for fish to be shallower and holding tighter to cover than on other areas. Jewel Lavender shad spinnerbaits fished around cedar tree tops is producing a few quality fish everyday, throw the bait past the tree and either run it into the tree top or kill it when it reaches the tree to be effective. Brush and rock piles on pea gravel points and flats have been producing fish as well, fish a Jewel ½ oz. heavy cover finesse football jig in brown / purple flash or PB&J with a 5” green pumpkin Chomper trailer slowly trough the cover to draw strikes.

White River: Much like the Kimberling City area the mid White has seen most of the fish leave the deep trees and start following pea gravel points and flats into the creek arms. In addition to Jewel spider or football jigs on the bottom use your electronics to find isolated pieces of cover on the bottom from 25’ – 35’ deep and fish them with a Chompers 4” drop shot worm on a drop shot rig. Pay attention to your graph and watch for fish to move in and out of the cover. The upper White and Kings has turned on much like the James; look for fish to be holding tight to whatever cover is in the area.

Dam Area: The dam area has turned on over the past couple of weeks as well. The diminished boat traffic after Labor Day has made many of the main lake locations fishable again and some large Spotted Bass and Smallmouth have started to show up. Much like the rest of the lake most of the action has been on pea gravel points and flats from 25’ – 35’, Jewel football and spider jigs, Carolina or Mojo rigged French friesor baby brush hogs have all been effective.

Report #2

Lake Level: 908.90
Normal Pool: 915.00
Water Temp: 70-75 degrees

Lower End-DamArea:
The Smallmouth are doing O.K., some days are a lot better than others. The best time is early, and mostly on windy, cloud covered days. Work baits in the 14'-20' depth range for the smallmouth. 1/2 ounce football heads, green pumpkin tube baits, and carolina rigs are catching fish well. The Kentuckies around are hanging out on gravel points. A number of fish have begun to go deeper in the past couple weeks. Some fish can be found in 35' to 50' deep. Once an area of fish are found, stay on top of them and work 4''-5'' finesse worms in plum, watermelon/red
and cotton candy for the deep bite right now.

Kimberling City:
Fish are scattered. Look mainly on the lake's long flat pea gravel points, anywhere from 25'-42' deep. Use a 3/4 ounce football jig in either brown and green flash or a P.B.&J. for a search bait on these points using a green pumpkin 4'' twin tail on the back. Drag the bottom slowly searching for bites and isolated cover

Baxter/Shell Knob Area:
In the lower to mid section of the White River, deep fishing is one of the best options. Drop shot finesse worms and 3/4 ounce white or chrome spoons are catching Kentuckies now 25'-42' deep on main lake points. Long gravel points seem to be holding the most fish. Further up the White more river fish are being caught with white spinnerbaits around the mouths of creek arms to about 1/3 of the way inside around cedar timber. Early some fish are taking a white buzzbait in these areas.

James River:
The water temp. is almost 5 degrees cooler than the main lake, dipping in the low 70's to high 60's on some cooler mornings. Expect fish to be relatively shallow early and on windy/cloudy days in areas of shallow water cover. A white/chartreuse spinnerbait 1/4 to 3/8 ounce thrown in and around standing timber are catching #'s of fish with a few very healthy fish here too. Fishing form Cape Fair area below some nice K.Y.'s and blacks are biting carolina rigged french fries and fish doctors in green pumpkin and watermelon/candy. You may go 50 or more yards without picking up a bite until you locate a certain peice of cover that will be holding a number of bass. Look for large peices of wood, brushpiles, and rock changes.