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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The increased generation from Table Rock and the small amount of rain in the Branson area last week improved the trout fishing last week, more current has made the fish active and susceptible to faster moving baits. Little Cleo spoons, panther martin and super duper spinners have all been producing this past week, olive, ginger and sculpin jigs have also been effective from Fall creek through Branson Landing. The live crawler and gulp or Power egg bite is still producing even when generation is limited.

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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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The trout fish has remained strong due to predictable generation over the past week. Jigs are still a mainstay with micro jigs fished below an indicator working well from the trophy area through Fall Creek and larger jigs working from Fall Creek to Branson. Olive, ginger, grey and sculpin colors have been the most effective colors. Live crawlers and Gulp or Power eggs on a drift rig or split shot rig will produce fish through out the lake right now.

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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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The dissolved oxygen dilemma has effective the trout fishing some over the past week, while the fishing remains good the trout do seem a little lethargic and less active. Live crawlers have quickly become the best bait for consistent action; use half a crawler and inject a small amount of air into the body to keep it off the bottom. Use either a drift rig or split shot rig and work the edges of flats. The same rig will work with power bait or gulp eggs, try mixing colors to draw more strikes. The jig bite is still there but is much better one or two units are running, sculpin, ginger and olive are still the best colors.

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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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The generation has been fairly consistent over the past week; a small amount of current in the morning followed by an increase in the afternoon. When the water is running jigs continue to be a great option; ginger, olive and sculpin have been top colors, the more current the heavier jig. During slack water night crawlers with a small amount of air injected into them rigged on a split shot or drift rig will produce. As always Gulp or Power Bait eggs are a good choice regardless of current.

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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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The Corps has been running a small amount of water in the morning and picking up generation in the after noon to meet power needs. The jig bite has been very good before generation picks up, olive, sculpin and ginger jigs worked erratically will produce numbers and quality around cover. Micro sculpin or white jigs fished below an indicator have been the top bait in the trophy area through Fall Creek. Once the generation picks up drift rigs with Gulp or Power bait eggs and inflated crawlers have been the best option.

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