Focused Fishing Web Log

Lake - Table Rock
8/29/10:
Kimberling City Area: Cooler air temps this past week have made fishing more comfortable but have done little to effect water temperature or fish locations. The mid lake are is still dominated by a deep bite with drop shot rigged Chompers or ROBO worms fished on gravel roll offs and deep tree tops accounting for most of the action. Jewel football jigs and Carolina rigged brush hogs are working as well; concentrate on isolated cover on gravel flats and point twenty five to thirty five feet deep.

James River: The James has remained very predictable; deep crankbaits and Jewel football jigs fish around isolated cover on channel banks and off shore humps has been the most productive pattern from Aunts Creek to above Cape Fair. Look for humps that top out around twenty five feet to be the most productive areas. Further up stream the shallow crankbait bite has taken off; isolated wood cover is key to this pattern. Look for laydowns and stumps in shallow water to be the most productive and throw RC crankbaits into the heart of the cover to be effective.

White River: The White remains the most diverse fishery on the lake; from Baxter to Shell Knob a very good deep bite continues with drop shot rigs, Shell Knob to Big M Jewel football jigs and Carolina rigs on roll off banks is dominate and a shallow crankbait bite is heating up in the Kings River. Deep docks are also surrendering fish in the Baxter and Shell Knob areas; three quarter ounce spoons fished on heavy line in the shady areas around docks will produce numbers and quality right now.

Dam Area: The lower end continues to be dominated by the deep bite; Chompers and ROBO worms on a drop shot rig fished around deep tree tops are still producing most of the fish. Several fish have begun to congregate around bigger docks and can be caught on spoons and drop shot rigs as well. Early and late there has been a top water bite on off shore humps and long tapering points, spooks and wake baits have been the most effective presentations in locals, look for schools of shad at or near the surface to locate the fish.

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Lake - Table Rock
8/24/10:
Kimberling City Area: The mid lake is still producing some very good fishing on a variety of deep patterns. Chompers drop shot and ROBO worms have been effective in tree tops at around forty feet. Jewel football jigs in green pumpkin green flash or PB&J with green pumpkin J tail grubs have been working well on isolated brush and rock piles twenty five to thirty five feet deep. Finally, white three quarter ounce War Eagle spoons have been producing quality and numbers around deep docks from thirty to sixty feet deep.

James River: Summer patterns dominate the river as well; deep crankbaits, Carolina rigs and football jigs have all been effective presentations over the past week. DD 22’s and DT 20 crankbaits in lavender shad or citrus shad are producing on roll offs and off shore humps with isolated cover. Make multiple casts from a variety of angles to find the sweet spot on the cover. Jewel football jigs in brown purple flash and black blue flash or Carolina rigged green pumpkin lizards and brush hogs have been working on rocky points and humps near deep water.

White River: The White River continues to be very productive; Jewel football jigs and Carolina rigged lizards in isolate rock piles, deep crankbaits on humps and roll offs and drop shot rigs and spoons in tree tops will all produce fish. Standing timber has produced a few fish early and late on spooks, wake baits and other top water presentations this past week, early morning when air temps are lower than water temps causing a haze or fog have been the best times. Up the Kings River a ten or twelve inch worm worked through brush piles ten to twenty feet deep has been producing some very big fish.

Dam Area: The deep bite has remained the best pattern over the pat week on the lower end. Chompers drop shot worms and ROBO worms worked in and around deep tree tops has been one of the most productive patterns. Look for trees toping out around thirty five to forty five feet deep with shad near by. The spoon bite around docks has turned on over the past week as well; fish large docks on points thirty to ninety feet deep and concentrate on shady areas to be effective. The white bass bite has slowed a little over the past week but large schools can still be found and numbers can be caught in pockets and coves from first light to nine o’clock.

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Lake - Table Rock
8/15/10:
Kimberling City Area: Deep patterns continue to dominate the mid lake area; drop shot rigs and spoons are producing spotted bass on gravel flat and point roll offs, look for schools of shad holding between twenty five and thirty five feet deep near the bottom and the fish will be close by. Jewel football jigs with J tail trailers have been producing smallmouth and largemouth in these same areas; green pumpkin green flash and PB&J have been the most productive colors with most of the fish holding tight to brush or rock piles.

James River: Deep crankbaits, football jigs and Carolina rigs continue to dominate the James River. Roll offs and gravel flats with isolated cover have been the best locations, look for cover in twenty to twenty five feet deep to be the most productive. Further up the river a shallow crankbait and flipping bite has taken shape in and around shallow cover. Look for shallow laydowns and stumps to be holding most of the fish and throw Lucky Craft RC crankbaits tight to the cover to draw strikes. These same locales will produce with an eight or twelve inch worm in red shad, red bug or blue flake on heavy line and a quarter ounce weight. Flip the worm into the shady areas around the cover to be effective.

White River: Just about every pattern that is working on the lake is working somewhere on the White River. In the Baxter area the deep bite remains the most productive pattern with good numbers and quality coming on drop shot rigs and spoons fished on gravel roll offs throughout the area. Further upstream Jewel football jigs and Carolina rigged brush hogs are producing on drops and ledges from twenty to thirty five feet deep. In the Kings River brush piles and laydowns are producing with eight or ten inch worms worked slowly through the cover.

Dam Area: The white bass continue to amaze on the lower end, fish can be caught on spoons in and around schools of shad on gravel points and in pockets. Look for shad and the fish will be close by. Bass fishing is dominated by the deep bite right now: drop shot rigs with Chompers plum drop shot worms or Oxblood ROBO worms have been the most consistent. Look for most of the fish to be holding close to drops on gravel points and flats in twenty five to thirty five feet of water.

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Lake - Table Rock
8/8/10:
Kimberling City Area: All patterns remained consistent over the past week; there is still a good deep bite, football jigs and Carolina rigs are producing and the dock bite has been very effective. Deep fish are holding around twenty five to forty feet deep on flat and in deep trees, Chompers or ROBO drop shot worms will work for these fish. On days when the Corps is running current the bite seems to be better on flats near brush or rock cover and when the water is shut off it is better in the tree tops. Jewel football jigs and Carolina rigged brush hogs have been very effective in rock or brush piles on flats and points; look for isolated cover twenty five to thirty five feet deep to be the most effective. Several better fish have been suspending under docks through the heat of the day, half ounce spoons pitched to shady areas around the dock corners will draw strikes.

James River: Summer patterns continue to dominate the James River; deep crankbaits, Jewel football jigs and Carolina rigs are still the moat productive options. Look for gravel roll off points and the ends of channel swings to out produce other areas, any isolated rock or wood cover should be fished thoroughly. Chartreuse and lavender shad DD 22, DT 20 or Fat Free shad crankbaits fished in and around this cover will produce, make casts from a variety of angles until you find the angle that draws strikes. These same areas will produce with a brown and purple Jewel football jig or green pumpkin brush hog on a Carolina rig, work both baits through the cover and down the ledge paying close attention when the bait falls off the ledge.

White River: The White River remains the most diverse fishery on the lake; from Baxter to above Shell knob the deep bite remains the most effective way to produce numbers of fish, look for isolated brush or rock piles on gravel flats and points from twenty five to forty feet deep and work Chompers or ROBO drop shot worms in and around the cover. Trees topping out in the same depth range will produce as well. Jewel football and spider jigs in green pumpkin green flash used on drop off and roll off points from Baxter to Eagle Rock have been producing good fish and quality. Ten and twelve inch worms have been working in the Kings River; look for brush piles and tree rows fifteen to twenty five feet deep to be the most productive.

Dam Area: White bass fishing has picked up over the last week, schools of hungry white bass have been forcing shad to the surface early in the day making them easy to find. Look for schooling fish and throw small topwaters and spoons into the school. Spotted bass have been holding in and around deep tree tops, much like the rest of the lake the best depth range is twenty five to forty feet deep. Plum Chompers drop shot worms or MMIII ROBO worms have been the best colors. Further up Long Creek look for gravel roll offs and channel swing banks to be the most productive areas; Jewel Football jigs and deep crankbaits are producing most of the fish.

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Lake - Table Rock
8/3/10:
Kimberling City Area: Little changes over the past week, the deep bite is still the dominate pattern in the mid lake area with drop shot rigs fished in deep tree tops and on gravel roll offs and points accounting for most of the fish caught over the last week. Chompers drop shot worms in plum and ROBO worms in red crawler in tree tops at thirty to forty five feet will result in numbers and quality spotted bass. Jewel football jig on gravel points and flats will also produce, use PB&J or green pumpkin / green flash with green pumpkin J tail trailer worked along roll off edges thirty to thirty five feet deep.

James River: Deep crankbaits, football jigs and Carolina rigs are still the dominate patterns up the river, gravel roll off points, and channel swing points on the main river arm have been the most productive. Use a DD 22 or Fat Free shad to work these areas quickly and locate cover or fish, as long as the bite continues on the crankbait keep throwing it. Once the bite slows switch to a Jewel football jig or Carolina rigged lizard and work the cover slowly and methodically. Several quality large mouth have come from deeper brush and rock piles over the past week, look for brush in twenty to twenty five feet and use a ten or twelve inch worm to entice the better fish.

White River: Everything from drop shot rigs to big worms are working in the White River right now. From Baxter to Shell knob the deep tree bite with a drop shot rig has been a great pattern. Further up stream Jewel Football jigs, Carolina rigs and deep crankbaits have been effective on roll offs and flats with isolated cover. In the Kings River the big worm bite has been producing large mouth in brush piles and laydowns; look for deeper cover to be the most productive areas with ten inch ring worms in red bug or blue fleck being the best options.

Dam Area: The lower end continues to be dominated by the deep bite; drop shot rigged Chompers or ROBO worms in deep tree tops continue to produce spotted bass. Look for trees on the main lake or in large creek arms that top out thirty five to forty feet deep to be the most productive areas. Spoons fished around large community and commercial docks are producing as well; work deep shady ends of the docks and allow the bait to fall to the bottom paying attention to your line as the bait falls.

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Lake - Table Rock
7/27/10:
Kimberling City Area: The deep bite has become more dominate over the past week, a couple of patterns are emerging as top choices; drop shotting tree tops and gravel roll offs has been productive as has spooning deep docks. Chompers or ROBO drop shot worms worked around tree tops from twenty five to fifty feet deep have been producing numbers and quality, look for isolated trees on points and on the edges of channels. These same baits are working on roll off edges of gravel points and flats, fish will be holding tight to the bottom in twenty five to thirty five feet deep and will show them selves when bait fish are present. Finally deeper docks are producing better quality fish on three quarter ounce white spoons, use heavy line and a stout rod, make pitches to shade and allow the spoon to fall to the bottom paying close attention as it falls.

James River: Summer patterns continue to dominate up the river; deep crankbaits, Jewel Football jigs and Carolina rigs are still your best bet. Look for gravel roll off points and channel swing banks to be the most productive, make multiple casts and retrieves with a DD 22 or DT 20 crankbait over the roll off looking for cover and fish, when a fish is caught pay close attention to the angle of retrieve and location as fish will be schooled up. Jewel football jigs in brown purple flash or black blue flash or Carolina rigged brush hogs have been productive in these same areas, work the area thoroughly with the bait paying close attention to any rock or wood cover.

White River: The White River remains the most diverse arm of the lake; a solid deep tree bite is available from Baxter to Shell Knob, Jewel Football jigs, Carolina rigged lizards and deep crankbaits have been effective from Shell Knob to Eagle Rock and a shallow crankbait bite and flipping bite has formed up the Kings River. The deep bite and football jig pattern is similar to the mid lake and James River; look for the same structure and cover to be effective. The shallow crankbait bite up the Kings is most productive around laydowns and other shallow cover; work the bait at multiple angles through and around the cover to be effective.

Dam Area: The deep bite is still dominate on the lower end of the lake; much like the mid lake area look for isolated deep tree tops, gravel roll offs with shad present and deep docks are producing fish. Chompers and ROBO drop shot worms have been the best baits, watch for fish to be moving in and around tree tops with your electronics and present the bait directly in front of them. The spoon bite around docks has been very effective on larger fish on the lower end, look for large community and commercial docks and work a three quarter ounce white spoon in shady areas of the dock.

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Lake - Table Rock
7/18/10:
Kimberling City Area: Summer patterns have completely taken over the mid lake over the past week. The most consistent bite has been deep; Chompers and Robo worms on a drop shot rig fished in tree tops ranging from thirty five to fifty feet deep or on gravel flats thirty to forty feet deep. Look for schools of shad to find the active fish. A Jewel football jig will produce smallmouth and largemouth on gravel and rock points, look for rock pile to concentrate most of the fish from twenty five to thirty feet deep.

James River: The heavy rain again this week has kept the James River stained keeping fish a little shallower than the rest of the lake. Deep diving crankbaits continue to produce on roll off points and ledges, Carolina rigged lizards and Jewel Football jigs are effective in these same areas when fish are less active. Ten and twelve inch worms are working in brush piles around dock and on gravel flats from Campers Point to Asher Cain.

White River: Fish can be caught with a wide variety of techniques throughout the White River. From Baxter to Shell Knob the deep bite has been the most productive, with large schools of spotted bass holding in tree tops from thirty to fifty feet deep. Use Chompers or Robo worms on a drop shot or white spoons to catch these fish. Further up river Carolina rigged lizards and Brush Hogs or Jewel Football jigs are working on grave roll off points and in deep brush piles. Up the Kings River a very good shallow crankbait bite has developed in flat pockets and around laydowns.

Dam Area: The dam area is still dominated by the deep bite, drop shot rigs and spoons have been the best options with fish holding on gravel roll off points, flats and tree tops from thirty to fifty feet deep. Chompers plum or brown purple worms, Robo MMIII or Aarons Magic worms on a drop shot have been the best colors. Up Long Creek there is a very good flipping bite with Texas rigged worms and Jewel Eakins jigs in flooded brush or laydowns.

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Lake - Table Rock
7/12/10:
Kimberling City Area: Rains over the weekend have caused the lake to rise slightly and the Corps to run water almost all day creating some good current. Jewel football jigs and Squirrel heads with finesse worms are producing quality and numbers on gravel and mixed gravel / rock points through out the mid lake. Deep fisherman are still catching spotted bass on gravel point roll offs and in deep trees. Drop shot rigs with Chompers or Robo worms have been very productive in plum, MMIII and brown purple laminate.

James River: The rain has brought quite a bit of color to the upper end of the James and it should get a little dirtier as run off makes it way down from Springfield. Eakins jig and J tail combos, Chompers Ultra tubes and eight inch worms have been very productive when fished around laydowns, bushes and docks. Further down stream Jewel football jigs and deep crankbaits have been working on gravel roll off points and flats. Once fish are located work a school over with a combination of both baits .

White River: The White River continues to be one of the best areas of the lake. Drop shot and spoon fish can be caught on gravel point and flat roll offs and in deep trees. Look for schools of shad in and around these areas to clue you into feeding fish locations. Jewel football and pro spider jigs are also working in these areas, work jigs from shallow to deep off the roll off to be effective. Above Shell Knob deep crankbaits have been effective on points and flats around brush and rock piles; DD 22’s and Fat Free Shad crankbaits in shad hues are the most effective.

Dam Area: The deep bite is still your best option on the lower end, look for fish to be twenty five to thirty five feet deep on gravel points or in tree tops. Chompers and Robo worms on a drop shot are the dominate pattern, work the bait close to bottom while watching your electronics for fish moving off the bottom. Fish have been surfacing early and late, these fish can be caught on spooks and sammys while on the surface bt white spoons are more effective when cast and allowed to fall through the schooling fish.

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Kimberling City Area: Releases from Beaver lake over the past week have raised water levels slightly over the past week, but generation at Table Rock dam has kept water out of allot of the bushes. The current from daily generation has moved fish to main lake and secondary points in major creek arms. Jewel football and Pro Spider jigs are a mainstay for smallmouth right now, look for gravel points with a steep drop on one side to be the most productive with the majority of fish coming from twenty to twenty five feet deep. The deep drop shot bite has turned on for spots; trees that top out at thirty feet deep are the most productive, use Chompers plum or brown / purple worms.

James River: Typical summer patterns dominate the James River for another week; deep crankbaits, Jewel football jigs and Carolina rigs have been the best patterns. Look for gravel roll offs and bluff end transition banks to provide most of the action, throw DD 22’s and Fat Free shad crankbaits from a variety of angles until fish are located and then concentrate on those areas. Another tactic is to fish these same locations with a Jewel football jig in brown purple flash or a Carolina rigged brush hog until fish are located, then switch to a deep crankbait to pick up active fish.

White River: Sill one of the most productive and diverse areas of the lake The White River has been fantastic this past week; the water releases from Beaver have made the upper reaches a hot spot with higher water and active fish. Jewel Eakins jigs, eight inch worms and brush hogs have all been effective lures for fish in shallow brush and bushes. Further down stream the current has positioned fish on points waiting to ambush shad, deep crankbaits and pre rigged swim baits have been productive when fish with current over the top of these points.

Dam Area: The lower end is still being dominated by the deep bite; Chompers and ROBO drop shot worms fish on the deep ends of flat points and in tree tops remain the most productive pattern. Look for fish to be twenty eight to thirty five feet deep in both of these locations. The spoon bite around bigger commercial and community docks has started to pick up as well. Look for large docks close to points, pitch a three quarter ounce white spoon into shady areas and allow it fall on a semi slack line to the bottom, pay close attention as the spoon falls, if it stops set the hook as most of the bites come on the initial fall.

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Lake - Table Rock
6/27/10:
Kimberling City Area: The shallow bite remains but has slowed in the mid lake area. Early and late in the day smallmouth are moving up on gravel points and flats near deep water. Jewel Spider and football jigs and Carolina rigged brush hogs will catch these fish until the sun get above the tree line. Once the sun is up the move out to twenty five to thirty feet deep and use a Jewel football jig on brush or rock piles. The deep bite is shaping up nicely with good size schools of spotted bass on deep edges of flats from thirty to forty feet deep and holding in deep trees at the same depth. Chompers or Robo worms fished on a drop shot rig in these areas will produce.

James River: It is definitely summer in the James River; Jewel football jigs, deep crankbaits and Carolina rigged brush hogs and lizards are all producing from Aunts creek to above Cape Fair. Look for fish to be holding shallow on flooded brush early and late, pitch Eakins Jigs and Champers Ultra Tubes in and around the bushes concentrating on shady areas. In the heat of the day move out to thirty feet deep on gravel and mixed gravel points, throw Jewel football jigs and Carolina rigs to any brush or rock cover available. Roll off points through out the James will produce with a DD 22 or DT 16 crankbait in shad hues. Work the point from a variety of angles until you find the sweet spot holding fish.

White River: The White River continues to produce mixed bags of fish; from the confluence with the James to Campbell Point smallmouth are being caught shallow on Jewel Spider Jigs and Squirrel heads on gravel points and roll offs. In the deeper trees in and around Big Creek schools of spotted bass can be found holding in the tree tops waiting to ambush shad as the cruise through. Further up the White and into the Kings a solid flipping bite has shaped up in flooded bushes and debris, use an Eakins jig and craw combo, Ultra Tube or big worm to catch these fish.

Dam Area: The deep bite is still the dominate pattern on the lower end with most of the fish coming on long gravel points in twenty five to thirty feet of water. Most of the fish will be holding tight to the bottom and electronics must be used to find them. Once a fish is located a drop shot rig with a Chomper or Robo drop shot worm has been the most productive pattern. Further up Long Creek there is a very good flipping bite on Jewel J-Lock jigs in the heavy cover of log jams and debris, a deep crankbait and Carolina rig bite has started to shape up on roll off points and edges, work areas over thoroughly to find the rock or brush cover that will be holding fish.

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