Focused Fishing Web Log

Lake - Table Rock
9/6/10:
Kimberling City Area: Large amounts of rain coming down from Springfield and points north of the lake brought lake levels up a couple of feet toward the end of last week. While it was a cool rain water temperatures remained fairly constant through out the lake. The influx of rain and the Corps attempt to maintain lake levels has created current that help to position bait and in turn fish on points. Jewel football and spider jigs in green pumpkin green flash and PB&J matched with Jewel J Tail grubs have been the most effective bait for these fish, look for long gravel points with a sharp drop on either side to be the most productive.

James River: The majority of the fresh water coming into the lake came through the James River; this has produce fantastic water color, increased oxygen and superb fishing toward the end of last week. Much like the mid lake Jewel football and spider jigs have been a mainstay, add Carolina rigged brush hogs and deep crankbaits to the mix and you have a lethal off shore arsenal. The shallow bite up the James has been very good as well, while the water did not get high enough to flood the bushes the improved color and depth on laydowns and other shallow cover has moved fish up to feed. Jewel Eakins jigs in Texas craw or black blue flash with Paca chunk trailers or Chompers Ultra tubes in green pumpkin orange or june bug have been the ticket.

White River: The influx of fresh water did not have much of an effect on the White River. Close to the confluence with the James the water color did improve slightly but not a significant amount. While little fresh water came through the White the increase in generation and current positioned bait and fish on points throughout its length. Much like the rest of the lake Jewel jigs have been top bait on the white river, add a very good topwater bit in the early hours of the day and a solid deep bite throughout the day and you have some very productive fishing. Spooks, Sammys and smaller wake baits have been very effective around standing timber during low light hours, the presence of shad near the surface is a plus but is not necessary to draw strikes. Chompers and ROBO drop shot worms worked around tree tops in twenty five to forty feet deep continue to produce, watch for fish suspending in the tops of these trees with you electronics.

Dam Area: Much like the White River the major effective of last week’s rain on the lower end was increased generation and current on the lower end. Long tapering gravel points with isolated rock or wood cover fifteen to twenty five feet deep are producing both numbers and quality on Jewel football jigs and Chompers tubes. Work the isolated cover from several angles until the “sweet spot is found”. The deep bite continues to produce nice bags of spotted bass, Chompers or ROBO drop shot worms fished in this same cover or in tree tops has been producing as well, look for trees that top out around thirty feet deep to be the most productive.

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Dam area to Lead Hill: With the lake level still a couple of feet high you can catch a few in the flooded brush particularly early and late in the day. Weightless Chompers Salty Sinkers and Eakins Jigs have been great presentations for these fish. As the day wears on you will need to move out deeper to be successful, Carolina rigs, Jewel Football and Pro Spider Jigs and shaky head worms are all effective presentations. Focus your efforts on mixed rock and pea gravel points near deep water, fishing from 20 – 35’ deep. Most of the fish are holding tight to wood and rock cover on the bottom so pay close attention whenever your bait bumps into something on the bottom. A few schools of Kentuckies have moved off shore following schools of bait, drops shot rigs and spoons have been effective for these fish around bluff ends and other steep points.

Lead Hill to Power site: The high water and current from Taneycomo has turned on a decent shallow bite on the upper end of Bull Shoals. Look for flooded wood cover and brush to be holding fish most of the day. Target these fish with brown or Missouri Craw Eakins jigs with green pumpkin Paca chunk trailers and be sure to make multiple pitches to each piece of cover. If the current goes slack many of the fish will move out deep over points, be ready with Carolina rigged lizards and Jewel Football jigs and fish up to 25’ deep to be successful. The topwater bite continues to produce fish during low light hours; Spooks, Sammys and Chug Bugs are all producing both black and white bass.

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