Focused Fishing Web Log

Kimberling City Area: The deep bite continues to be the dominate pattern, spoons , drop shot worms and grubs from 25’ – 60’ deep over tree tops, humps and bluff ends. Look for schools of shad and the fish will not be far away. There are a few fish being caught on PB&J Eakins’ jig & green pumpkin Eakins’ craw combinations in some of the larger, deeper boat docks. The fish seem to be using the docks as cover and will move up to about 8’ deep early and slide back down to 25’ deep in the afternoon.

James River: The crankbait bite has slowed with a few fish still being taken on DD-22’s and DT-16’s on main lake “roll-offs� and tapering points. A slow moving presentation was more effective this past week; a Jewel football jig in brown / purple flash with a Chomper green pumpkin jig trailer fished in these same areas has been effective as well.

White River: The best bite has changed back to a deep pattern on the White river, most of the fish are gathering on drops and deep tree tops and can be caught on a drop shot rigged needle worm. Look for schools of shad 25’ – 45’ deep, over water greater than 50’ deep. The Kings still has some pretty good color in it, if we get a little rain the fish really seem to turn on that day and for a day or two afterwards. An Eakins’ flippin’ jig on any wood cover 8’ – 25’ deep has been very effective.

Dam Area: Your best bet is still the deep bite, look for fish to be holding tight to tree tops, drops, saddles and bluff ends. Many times you won’t see the fish on your graph until they make a move of the bottom to chase shad or your bait. Chomper drop shot worms, white spoons and grubs are all very effective baits right now. There are also a few fish starting to move up on some of the main lake flats and tapered points, try a PB&J Jewel football with a green pumpkin jig trailer and drag it around from 25’ – 40’ deep.

Main Lake: The better bite continues to be out a little deeper; Jewel Football and spider jigs or a Carolina rigged lizard or salty sinker have been the baits of choice. Look for deeper points with a mix of pea gravel and larger rock that drop into the creek or river channel. Hold the boat out deep and fish the bait in a variety of depths until you locate where the fish are holding.

Above the bridges: The buzz bait and top water bite continues to produce early and late on sunny days and can be effective all day long when it is cloudy. Most of the fish are in the creek arms and bigger coves and are positioned on points with rock and wood cover. Channel swing banks on the main river as well as in the major creek arms will also produce a few fish on an Eakins’ jig or Culprit 7’ red shad worm.

The Walleye fishing is pretty good right now; trolling crawler harnesses by the dam will produce as will deep crankbaits trolled on main lake flats early and late.

Crappie are still being caught at night, under a light, in the daytime look for brush pile 20’+ deep, either way a live minnow is your best bet.

Dam area to Lead Hill: The most consistent bite is the deep bite right now; spoons, drop shot worms and grubs fished on bluff ends and off shore humps will produce some nice spots. Smallmouth are being caught up to 30’ deep on Jewel spider and football jigs on pea gravel points and flats close to the dam. A PB&J jig with a cinnamon / purple / jelly 4� jig trailer has been the best color combination.

Lead Hill to Power site: With all the recent rains the fish seem to be a bit more active in the creeks up the river, top waters and buzz baits will produce in the low light hours of the day and weightless salty sinker pitched into the shadows will work when the sun comes up. There are still a number of fish being caught on Carolina rigged french fries and lizard near channel swing points as well.

Deeper brush piles continue to be your top producer on Pomme. An Eakins’ jig and craw combo in Missouri craw and green pumpkin will produce all day long. Early in the day you can catch a few on top water or buzz bait but most are smaller fish. Up the river a flipping 7� worm to wood cover continues to be a great pattern, Culprit red shad and blue fleck worms are favorite colors.

Night fishing is still your best bet for crappie, use live minnows under a floating light near wood cover.

Best fly patterns for the week: A zebra midge in 16 or 18, a size 12 grey scud and a size 10 olive wooly bugger have all been productive this past week.

Best spinning tackle: Not many changes; little Cleos, buoyant spoons and super dupers when the water is running, live night crawlers and power nuggets when it is off.

Kimberling City Area: Still catching most of the fish in deep trees, humps and bluff ends. Look for schools of shad suspended from the surface down to about 50’, when they come close to a tree, hump or bluff end the fish will feed. Work a Chompers drop shot worm, grub or white spoon in and around the shad and the limbs of the trees. Most of your bites will come as the bait is falling so pay close attention.

James River: There are several fish being caught on DD-22’s and DT-16’s but the dominate pattern is switching to a Jewel 5/8 oz. football jig in brown / purple flash with a Chomper 5� jig trailer. Look for pea gravel points and flats that roll off into the deep water of a main creek or river channel, keep you boat in the deeper water and make long cast up “on top� of the flat and drag the bait back to the boat. This bite can turn on and off through out the day as bait or other factors move the fish up.

White River: The recent rains in Arkansas have dirtied the water of the Kings River and added a little more current than the White. I’m still catching most of my fish on a PB&J Eakins’ jig with a green pumpkin Chomper jig trailer on main lake channel swings and chunk rock points. I have talked to a couple of guys that have been catching a few on buzz baits early in the backs of some of the smaller pockets, a white blade / white skirt combination is best.

Dam Area: Deep, is about the only way you can get bit in the dam area; either a Chomper drop shot worm or white spoon in and around suspended shad or a dragging a ¾ oz. Jewel football jig 25’ – 40’ on main lake flats are your best options. The spoon and drop shot seem to be working best in main lake and major creek arm trees and around the saddles between islands, while the football jig is working well on drops off of big main lake flats.

Main Lake: Better fish are still coming out a little bit deeper, look for most of the fish to be on main lake and secondary points with a mix of pea gravel and chunk rock. Your best options bait wise are a Carolina rigged lizard or salty sinker or a Jewel 7/16oz, green pumpkin in the salty sinker and lizard and PB&J with a green pumpkin jig trailer in the jig. Fish from 6’ to 25’ deep and pay close attention to any brush piles or rock you come across.

Above the bridges: With the recent rains the rivers have gotten a little more color and current and the fish in turn have bit a little better. An Eakins’ flippin’ jig in black / blue flash with a Zoom super chunk jr. in flippin blue fished in visible cover on channel swings will produce some nice fish. Early and late several fish are being caught on a pop-r, g-splash or buzz bait toward the backs or smaller creeks and coves near deep water, and watch for surfacing fish.

Walleye fishing has been tough, try SLOW trolling crawler harnesses near the dam and on some of the off shore humps.

Crappie are still being caught best at night under floating lights with live minnows.

Dam area to Lead Hill: Your best bet is to down size and fish deep right now in the dam area; small tubes, 5/16oz. Jewel spider jigs and French fries on Carolina rigs are your best bet. Most of the fish are being caught from 25’ – 40’ deep on the ends of pea gravel / chunk rock points, drag the afore mentioned baits slowly on the bottom and pay close attention since the bit is very light. You can also catch a few fish with a spoon or Chomper drop shot worm in and around suspended shad on bluff ends points.

Lead Hill to Power site: The top water bite continues to be good early and late; sammys, spooks, and buzz baits are all working well close to deeper banks. Once the sun gets up, move out to off shore structure and fish a brown / purple flash Jewel football jig with a 5� Chomper green pumpkin jig trailer. Deep points, humps and roll offs near flats are all holding fish, fish the jig slowly on the bottom to entice a bite.

The water has gotten a little more color in it the week or so. Still catching most of the fish on an Eakins’ jig in PB&J with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw trailer, fish the jig on main lake and secondary chunk rock points from 3’ – 12’ deep. Early and late you can also pickup a few fish on a buzz bait or pop-r toward the back on smaller creeks and coves. The river bite has also been good, 6� Culprit worms in red shad and grape fished around wood cover with a ¼ oz. slip sinker will produce bites all day long.

Most of the crappie and being caught on live minnows, at night under floating lights.

Best fly patterns for the week: Midges continue to be the fly of choice; black and olive zebra are top producers. A tan scud or pink San Juan worm will produce as well.

Best spinning tackle: They are turning the water on almost every day around 1:00 pm, when the water is running throw 1/16oz. super dupers, little Cleos, and buoyant spoons. When the water goes slack switch over to pink and orange power nuggets and live night crawlers on a drift rig.