Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 12/11/06:

Kimberling City Area: The water temperature has stabilized and actually will likely rise a little with the warmer air temperatures forecast for this week. Most of the fish are being caught on two distinct patterns in the mid lake area; deep fish are being taken on white War Eagle spoons, plum or sand color Chomper drop shot worms and single tail milky salt and pepper grubs. These fish are still holding tight to deep trees from 40’ - 85’ deep on both main lake and secondary points, most of the time you need to work a fish out of the tree to see how many are there. The other pattern is the classic Table Rock winter dock pattern; pitch Eakins’ jigs in PB&J or brown / purple flash with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw into the stalls of big community or commercial docks from 5’ – 40’ deep. As you work out into the deeper water allow the jig to “swing” back to you on a semi slack line and watch the line for any movement.

James River: The water temperature up the James is the coldest on the lake right now, run off and snow melt has lowered it to the mid 40’s in most places. Due to the lower temperature and rising water an interesting pattern has developed; Smithwick and Lucky Craft jerkbaits are catching suspended fish in cedar trees on both the main lake and in the major creek arms. Look for isolated trees on steep banks to be holding most of the fish, the overall depth can be anywhere from 10’ – 40’ but the fish are suspended around 6’ deep. Cast beyond the tree and work the bait back to it, allow the bait to suspended next to the tree for 10 – 30 seconds before moving it again, be sure to make cast to all sides and angles of each tree.

White River: The Kings and White rivers are both producing some good fish. Up the kings the Storm Wiggle Wart bite continues to produce; position you boat in about eight feet of water and make cast parallel to the bank paying close attention to any wood or rock cover you see or run the bait into. These same banks and points will produce with an Eakins’ jig in Missouri Craw matched with a green pumpkin Paca Chunk; back out and make pitches to the cover and work the jig through it. On the White river the same patterns that are effective in the mid lake area have been working; War Eagle Spoons, Chompers’ Drop Shot Worms and Single Tail grubs are all very effective from 40’ – 85’ deep, pitching an Eakins jigs around big docks has been working and even a few fish being taken on Smithwick and Lucky Craft jerkbaits in cedar trees.

Dam / Branson Area: This area continues to produce nice catches of fish on two patterns; the Deep bite with War Eagle Spoons, Chompers Drop Shot worms and Single Tail grubs are all producing fish in tree tops from 40’ – 85’ deep, look for the fish to be suspended in the trees and you will need to work the fish to get them to bite. Several Smallmouth are starting to show up again on both boat docks and “open banks” using Jewel 5/16 oz. and 7/16oz. spider jigs in PB&J or watermelon / purple flash. Around the boat docks pitch to the center walkway and work the bait back to the boat from 10’ – 40’ deep and on the “open banks” (mixed pea gravel and ledge rock have been best) drag the jig from 10’ to 35’ paying close attention to areas where the ledge rock is prevalent. Long Creek has some awesome color right now and the area above Cricket creek has been producing fish on either an Eakins’ jig in brown or black with a Chompers’ jig trailer around laydowns and stumps or Storm Wiggle Warts on steeper windy banks.