Missouri Lakes Fishing Report

Lake - Table Rock 12/18/06:

Kimberling City Area: The rising water temperature seems to have effected the shad migration and in turn the deep bite in the mid lake area. Most of the shad seem to have moved out of the creek arms and back out to main lake points and bluff ends similar to a late fall pattern rather than a winter one. The fish are also much less aggressive than they were a week ago. War Eagle Spoons, Chompers Drop Shot worms and single tail grubs continue to produce but you will need to really work the fish to get them to bite. The dock bite has also slowed a bit; Eakins’ Jigs in PB&J with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw is still the best bait but you really need to slow down and make multiple pitches to each stall to draw strikes.

James River: The James really hasn’t been as affected as the rest of the lake; still a bunch of fish being caught on both Smithwick Rouges and Lucky Craft Pointers in and around isolated cedar trees on steep mixed rock and ledge banks. The fish are not as far back in the creeks and coves as they were a week ago but if we get the rain that is forecast the shad and fish will move toward the backs of the creeks again. As always an Eakins’ jig in brown with a green pumpkin Paca chunk will work on channel swing banks in major creek arms and on the main lake.

White River: The Kings River is still producing fish on Storm Wiggle Warts, Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers. Wiggle Warts are working on steep mixed rock and ledge banks in six to ten feet of water; position your boat eight feet deep and run the bait parallel to the bank bumping the bottom throughout the retrieve. Much like up the James River the jerkbait bite is most productive around isolated cedar trees. The deep bite in the White River has slowed up just like in the mid-lake; War Eagle Spoons, Chompers Drop Shot Worms and single tail grubs continue to produce but you really need to work the fish. Also the fish are a lot deeper in the White River arm; start looking 45 feet deep but don’t be surprised if you have to go as deep as 80’.

Dam / Branson Area: The deep bite around the dam has slowed much like the rest of the lake; look for the fish to be closer to mouths of creeks as well as on the main lake, you really need to find the shad to find the fish. War Eagle Spoons, Chompers’ Drop Shot Worms and single tail grubs are all effective once the fish are located. A few more Smallmouth starting to show up on pea gravel / rock transition banks; Jewel spider and football jigs will work for these fish but you really need to slow down and work each area thoroughly. PB&J, watermelon / purple flash and brown / purple flash have all been very effective colors match each one up with a Chomper jig trailer. Up Long Creek several Largemouth have been caught on Storm Wiggle Warts; steeper chunk rock and mixed rock and ledge banks seem to be holding the fish six to ten feet deep.