Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 10/10/06:

Kimberling City Area: The warmer weather and high pressure continued through the weekend and the CPAA results told the story. Drop shot rigs and spoons dominated the winning weights, with most fish are suspended from 35’ – 45’ deep over as much as 65’ deep, some are in trees others are relating to brush piles and other cover on pea gravel points and flats. PB&J Eakins’ jigs with green pumpkin Eakins’ craws are catching fish around the boat docks in this area, look for bigger docks that reach out into deep water to hold most of the fish.

James River: The river bite has been tough over the past week, it seems most of the fish have moved back off shore and are back in a “holding pattern” waiting for cooler water and shad movement to bring them shallow. The most consistent pattern has been either a Jewel ½ oz or 5/8 oz football jig in PB&J or brown / purple flash either with a 5” green pumpkin Chompers jig trailer or a Carolina rigged baby brush hog or French fry fished on pea gravel points near deep drops. Look for the fish to be around 15’ – 20’ deep holding near the deeper side of the point.

White River: The lower White is much like the Kimberling City area; spoons, drop shots and Eakins’ jigs will produce in the same types of banks and docks. IN the upper White and Kings rivers the Jewel football jig and Carolina rig bite has been effective on pea gravel points and flats, a early morning topwater bite is starting to take shape on the main lake, look for fish to be suspended in tree tops early. Throw topwaters and buzzbaits through the tree tops to be effective.

Dam Area: The deep bite is also your most consistent pattern in the dam area as well; spoons and drop shots in trees, gravel points and bluff ends will all produce fish. Much like the Kimberling City area the fish are suspending in 35’ – 45’ deep over as much as 70’ deep, you will need to use your electronics to locate the fish and present your bait. More and more smallmouth are being caught on Jewel football and spider jigs; PB&J, brown / purple flash and watermelon / purple flash have all been effective colors matched up with 5” Chomper jig trailers.