Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 10/24/06:

Kimberling City Area: Water temperatures are really starting to fall through out the lake and the Kimberling City area is no exception. While the fish are moving shallower they are still scattered and are not “ganged up” on any particular structure or cover. Look for smallmouth to be on pea gravel flats and points ranging from less than 10’ deep early and late and as deep as 30’ deep in the mid day. Jewel 3/16 oz. and 5/16 oz. spider jigs in PB&J with a green pumpkin Chompers 4” jig trailers have been the best bait, maintain bottom contact through out your retrieve to be effective.

James River: Better fish continue to come out of the James River; early and late top waters like spooks and sammys have been producing good fish around cedar trees a other standing timber in 10’ of water or less. As the day progresses these fish will move to the bottom and hang tight to these same trees, Eakins’ jigs in brown / purple flash or Missouri craw both with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw have been great choices to catch these fish.

White River: The White River continues to be strong with fish moving shallow early and late then moving out to deep cover. Look for most of the fish to be using pea gravel points and flats to transition form deep to shallow water. Jewel spider and football jigs in PB&J or brown / purple flash, split shot rigged fish doctors or centipedes and Carolina rigged baby brush hogs have all been effective based on the depth the fish are holding in. The Kings River has been producing several good fish in and around standing timber on points and in pockets, try the same methods as in the James.

Dam Area: Spotted Bass seem to be scattered right now and are harder to catch, try drop shot rigs on pea gravel flats and points 30’ – 40’ deep. Smallmouth have been much more predictable; Jewel spider and football jigs in PB&J or watermelon / purple flash, split shot rigged finesse worms or fish doctors and Carolina rigged brush hogs have all been very effective. Much like the Kimberling City area the fish are fairly shallow early and late and can be caught on pea gravel points and flats as shallow as ten feet deep, as the day wears onmove out deeper to 15’ – 30’ deep.

Report #2

October 28, 2006
Lake Level: 908.40
Normal Pool: 915.00
Water Temp: 60-63 degrees

Lower End-Dam Area:

Bass are staying mostly on main lake gravel points, but are scattered from 30'-60' on bottom. Drop shots and spoons are working for the deeper Kentuckies. In the morning look for smallmouth on these gravel banks 8'-15' and throw a 5/16 ounce jig in watermelon or a shaky head with a Zoom swamp crawler in either green pumpkin or watermelon seed. Later in the day move off deeper on these banks to 25' deep, use a carolina rig with fish doctors and double ringers in the same colors.

Kimberling City:

Fishing's about the same around Kimberling as the Dam Area. The Kentuckies are staying deep in the daytime hours, not relating to very much structure but more in the open roaming. The bottom bite is catching more fish with baits drug on bottom 30'-40' deep. 3/4 ounce football jigs in brown and purple are woking on main lake points well. Throw carolina rigs with fish doctors and french fries too. Cover a whole area by dragging the bait behind the boat going from a medium speed to fairly fast dragging method.

Baxter/Shell Knob Area:

The White River has been good. Expect to find fish shallow early biting top waters and spinnerbaits. The past week has had a lot of windy cloudy days where the shallower fish would bite throughout the daytime hours on Mouse colored spinnerbaits. Under calm conditions the fish will move out deeper and are biting the shaky head and split shots using 4''-5'' finesse worms in green pumpkin. A lot of fish are being caught off boat docks on a 5/16 ounce jig in brown/black using a rootbeer green twin tail grub as the trailer. Work the stalls from 5' out to 35' slowly and expect most bites to be off the botttom while the jig is sitting there.

James River:

The early top water bit has picked up here as well. Throw Spooks and Red Fins around timbered points early. Shalow running crainbaits in shad colors and 3/8 ounce double willow leaf spinnerbaits are working on channel swing banks with the wind blowing in onto them. Fish are biting carolina rigs well off of channel swings and open gravel points and flats with isolated cover scattered. The best biats to put on the c-rig have been a watermelon candy brush hog and a greenpumpkin double ringer.