Focused Fishing Web Log

Kimberling City Area: The heavy flow of water continues through the White River Chain of Lakes. The flow coupled with the rain on Saturday and wind on Sunday made for pretty good fishing on Table Rock. Most of the fish being caught in the mid lake area are coming on either jigs, tubes or jerkbaits. An Eakins’ jig in PB&J or brown / purple flash matched up with a green pumpkin Eakins craw has been very effective on channel swing banks through out the area. Key on the area where the deepest water comes closest to the bank to be successful, if you are having trouble getting bites on a jig switch up to a green pumpkin Strike King Bitsy Tube on a ¼ oz. tube head and fish these same areas. Both Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers have effective around timber on secondary points, throw the bait beyond the point and work it back to the cover then allow the bait to pause for 5 – 15 seconds next to the tree before moving it.

James River: The James is still producing some good fish on jerkbaits and the Wiggle Wart bite has really picked up with the warmer water this past week. Much like the mid lake the Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers have been top baits on secondary and main lake points around isolated trees. Best colors this past week have been; American Shad and Table Rock Shad in the Pointer and chrome / blue and Bleeding Tennessee Shad in the Rogue. Look for cedar trees to be out producing hardwoods now as the fish are moving to the shade provided by the limbs of the cedars. With all the wind and warm rain over the weekend Storm Wiggle Warts were very productive choices on steep chunk rock and mixed rock banks. Parallel the bank 6’ – 10’ deep and try to run your bait into as many pieces of rock and wood cover as possible.

White River: All the current has continued to make the White River the most productive end of the lake. Jigs, Jerkbaits and crankbaits have all been very effective presentations. An Eakins’ Jig in Missouri craw with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw has been a top bait around channel swing banks on both the main lake and in the major creek arms. Look for areas where the swing breaks down into smaller rock to be the most productive. Just like the rest of the lake jerkbaits continue to produce fish around standing timber and brush piles on points and swings. Smithwick Rogues, Lucky Craft Pointers and Xcaliber jerkbaits have all been very effective; use reflective colors on sunny days and matte finishes on cloudy ones. Last but not least Storm Wiggle Warts and Bandit 300 crankbaits in brown and green crawdad patterns have been producing several fish on windy chunk rock and mixed rock banks.

Dam / Branson Area: The dam area has started to produce some better catches over the past week as well; single tailed grubs, shaky head worms and Storm Wiggle Warts have all been bringing fish in. On windy days a smoke or salt and pepper single tailed grub fished on a ¼ oz. head will produce a mixed bag of smallmouth and Kentuckies on pea gravel points and flats. Hold your boat around 25’ deep and make casts toward the point or flat, allow the grub to settle on the bottom and then slowly reel it in allowing it to “scrub� the bottom through out the retrieve, if you notice it has left the bottom stop and allow it to hit bottom again before continuing. These same areas will produce on calm days as well; switch to a shaky head with a green pumpkin finesse worm and slowly work it on the bottom back to the boat. Up Long Creek there has been a pretty decent Wiggle Wart bite on bluff ends and channel banks, make parallel casts in 6’ – 10’ of water running the bait into any cover along the bank.

Dam area to Lead Hill: The bite has been very tough on Bull Shoals over the past couple of weeks; small limits are winning tournaments and reports of two and three bites all day are common. The best patterns have been jerkbaits, jigs or tubes. Most of the fish being caught on jerkbaits have been coming off of secondary points in the major creeks arms, the backs of the creeks all have good water color and it seems these areas are producing the best bite. Work either Smithwick Rogues or Lucky Craft Pointers over steep mixed rock points from 5’ – 35’ deep; allow the bait to pause from 5 – 15 seconds between jerks to draw strikes. The jig and tube bite seems to be strongest on channel swing banks on both the main lake and in the bigger creek arms, throw the bait up toward the bank and work it slowly along the bottom. Most of the bites have been extremely light so you will need to pay close attention to both your bait and line.

Lead Hill to Power site: Above Lead Hill the bite has not been a lot better, most of the better catches of fish seem to be coming from the area above K-Dock where the current from Taneycomo gets fairly strong. Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers have been effective choices in chrome / black, American shad and Nishiki, look for areas where there is a break in the current to be holding most of the fish, points, rock piles and laydowns are all top areas. Don’t be surprised if you catch a mixed bag of fish right now; bass, walleye, white bass and crappie are all sharing these spots and ambushing shad as they come by. Storm Wiggle Warts are another effective presentation; look for chunk rock and mixed rock, sand and ledge banks to be holding fish from 6’ – 10’ deep. Make parallel casts on these banks and work the bait slowly on the bottom running it into any cover that may be present. An Eakins’ jig is another good option on channel swing and bluff banks on the main lake and in the major creek arms. PB&J or Missouri craw with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw will produce fish on these steeper banks through out the area.

Link to the Generation Schedule: http://www.swpa.gov/generation.htm

Best fly patterns: The water continues to flow out of Table Rock dam making wading impossible. For those fishing out of boats the best patterns continue to be minnow imitators; simple minnows, clouser minnows and micro jigs in white / black or white / grey continue to produce. On the rare occasion the water is off scuds and g-bugs have been top offerings in sz. 16 & 18 tan, wine, ginger and other shades of brown seem to be out producing the other colors of late.

Best spinning tackle: With all of the current the fishing has been great. Panther Martin and Mepps spinners, Super Dupers, Little Cleos and Buoyant spoons have all been producing fish. Small white and white / red jigs continue to produce as well with both numbers and quality fish; bigger browns have been showing up this past week or so on Rapalas and small Lucky Craft Pointers. Further down stream the bass fishing continues to be very good, ledge rock banks and points are producing fish on Eakins’ jig and craw combos as well as green pumpkin tubes.

Kimberling City Area: The Corps of Engineers continues to run water through out the entire White River chain, that along with the inch of rain we received last Monday has held the water level steady at around 916 while creating current through out the entire lake. The deep bite has been a struggle at best, locating fish has been tough and once located you really have to work them to draw a strike. The better bite has been working main lake and secondary points with bottom hugging lures. Top three baits have been a Jewel 5/16 oz. Pro Spider jig in PB&J with a green pumpkin Chompers jig trailer, a green pumpkin or pumpkin seed shaky head worm or a 3� smoke or salt and pepper grub on a ¼ oz. head. With the jig or the shaky head look for points leading into spawning cuts and work the bottom slowly and thoroughly from 10’ -25’ deep. With the grub look for windy mixed rock or pea gravel points and throw the bait toward the point, allow it to fall to the bottom and slowly reel it in maintaining bottom contact through out the retrieve.

James River: The James River still has very good color from Hide Away on up to above Bridgeport. The best bite on the James continues to be a jig and jerkbait combination. An Eakins’ jig in brown or Missouri craw with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw trailer has been very effective on deeper points near the mouths of spawning coves and cuts. Look for most of the fish to be around 10’ – 15’ deep holding on either rock or wood cover. A Smithwick Rogue or Lucky Craft Pointer has also been productive on these same steep points when there is a little wind on them, look for isolated cedar trees on or near the point to be holding most of the fish. American Shad and Chartreuse Shad have been the top colors in the Lucky Craft while chrome / black and clown have been top producers for the rogue.

White River: The White River arm continues to be the most productive end of the lake. The current from Beaver Lake along with the rain really has stirred up some action. Jerkbaits and crankbaits continue to be your best two options on both the White and Kings rivers, Smithwick Rogues in chrome / black and bleeding Tennessee shad or Lucky Craft Pointers in Nishiki or Table Rock shad have been producing several fish a day around points near channel swings. Look for areas where the channel swings close to a point or the mouth of a spawning cove to be the most reliable locations. Storm Wiggle Warts in Natural Green Craw and Phantom Green Craw have been the most effective colors, parallel chunk rock and mixed rock and ledge banks in 6’ – 10’ of water to be effective.

Dam / Branson Area: The dam area continues to be tough; the deep bite is almost non-existent and with the amount of current a lot of the shad have been pulled out of the coves into the main lake. Look for most of the fish to be on and around points and channel swing banks on both the main lake and in the creek arms. The best bite has been on mixed rock points near the mouths of spawning coves with bottom hugging baits like a shaky head worm or a Jewel Pro Spider Jig. Use either a ¼ oz. shaky head with a green pumpkin finesse worm or a 3/16 oz. Jewel Pro Model Spider jig in PB&J with a green pumpkin trailer and slowly craw either across the bottom from 15’ – 25’ deep. Most of the bites have been in the 20’ range.

Dam area to Lead Hill: The water just keeps on running through Bull Shoals, I’m sure the trout fishing below the dam is incredible but this much water moving through the lake has effectively killed the deep spoon and drop shot bite for right now. Most of the bait is strung out and the drop in water temperature has started to take its toll on the threadfin with dead and dying shad showing up on and near the surface. With that in mind a couple of key patterns have been jerkbaits and single tailed grubs; Smithwick Rogues in chrome / black and clown as well as Lucky Craft Pointers in chartreuse shad and American shad have been effective around wood and rock cover on and near points and swings. Look for areas where the shad have been blown into the bank and around the cover to be the most productive. Smoke or salt and pepper 3� single tailed grubs are working anywhere you find the dead and dying shad but are most effective around points and channel swings near spawning coves. Most of the fish are being caught in 15’ – 25’ of water either suspended in the water column or right on the bottom. With that in mind you will need to make several casts until you locate the depth the fish are holding in, make several casts counting the bait down about a ten count, if that does work continue to count the bait down to different depths until you find the bottom or the fish.

Lead Hill to Power site: The current is still very strong above K-dock and there are actually some very active fish to be caught in the upper end of the lake right now; bass, walleye, white bass and even a few crappie are being caught on jerkbaits, single tailed and Wiggle Warts off of points and swings. Both Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers have been effective baits when fished near wood or rock cover best colors continue to be reflective ones like American shad or chrome / black on sunny days and matte colors like chartreuse shad on cloudy ones. Storm Wiggle Warts in brown craw and phantom green craw have been effective as well paralleling these same rocky points and swings 6’ – 10’ deep. If all else fails a smoke or salt and pepper 3� single tailed grub on a ¼ oz. head fished in these areas will produce a variety of fish. Closer to the mid lake area Jewel 5/16oz Pro Model Spider jigs in winter craw or PB&J with 4� Chomper Jig Trailers are working on channel swings and points on both the main lake and in some of the bigger creek arms. Most of these fish are 15’ – 30’ deep and are holding on rock piles or scattered boulders.

Link to the Generation Schedule: http://www.swpa.gov/generation.htm

Best fly patterns: The feeding frenzy below the dam continues, the Corps of Engineers continues to run water almost all day everyday and with all that water thousands of shad and other bait fish. With that in mind your best bet is to throw some sort of minnow imitator; Clouser minnows, simple minnows and perfect minnows have all been effective in the heavy current. Check with the Corps (link above) before you go, if they are running more than a couple turbines it can be very difficult to fish effectively in all that current.

Best spinning tackle: The current is running almost non stop and the bite continues to be good, Panther Martin, Mepps and Rooster Tails are still top baits as are Buoyant and Little Cleo spoons. Small white and white / pink jigs have been very effective and have even heard of a few good brown trout being caught on Rapala minnows in rainbow patterns. Further down the lake bass are being caught on Eakins’ jig and craw combos from Branson all the way to Power Site. Look for ledge rock banks and channel swings to be holding most of the fish.

Kimberling City Area: The flow of water continues through out The White River Chain of Lakes creating current in all areas of the lake and shutting down the deep bite by spreading out the shad and pinning them to the bottom. Most of the fish being caught in the Mid Lake are coming off of points and channel swings, bottom hugging baits like Jewel football and spider jigs, shaky head worms and mojo rigs have been very effective on both main lake and secondary points. PB&J, green pumpkin / green flash and watermelon / purple flash Jewel jigs matched with green pumpkin jig trailers, watermelon / candy finesse worms on shaky head and mojo rigs have been the best colors. The fish on channel swings are suspended and are being caught on jerkbaits and single tail grubs, Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers have been accounting for several fish, you will need to pause the bait for 10 – 30 seconds to draw strikes.

James River: The James River continues to have good color and current from around Hide Away to above Bridgeport; fish are positioned on points and swings through out the river holding tight to both wood and rock cover. The best bite has been on Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers; American Shad, Nishiki, Chrome / Blue and Chartreuse Shad have been top colors. Make casts perpendicular to the bank beyond the cover and work the bait back to the wood or rock, allow the bait to suspend next to the cover for 10 – 45 seconds to draw strikes from suspended fish. A secondary pattern is pitching an Eakins jig to these same pieces of isolated cover; throw the jig into the heart of the cover and slowly work it back out allowing it to fall from the cover back to the bottom on a controlled slack line.

White River: The hottest end of the lake right now is the White River arm; both the Kings and the White Rivers have significant current positioning the fish on points and swings making them the most active fish in the lake. On both main lake and secondary points fish have been schooled up on isolated cover or current breaks and can be caught on Jewel football and spider jigs fished slowly on the bottom from 15’ – 30’ deep. Pay close attention to any wood or rock that your bait comes in contact with, most of the fish will be relating to any cover on the point. Above Eagle Rock has the greatest amount of current on the lake, with the amount of water coming out of Beaver Lake the Corp of Engineers has issued flow advisories daily. The current has the fish actively feeding through out the day; look for isolated pieces of cover or current breaks to be holding the fish, Storm Wiggle Warts, Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers are all effective baits around the cover.

Dam / Branson Area: The lack of a deep bite has hurt the fishing in the dam area. Most of the fish being caught are on points and channel swings like the rest of the lake. On points small baits worked slowly along the bottom are keys to success; Jewel spider jigs in PB&J or watermelon / purple flash with a 4� green pumpkin Chompers jig trailers, watermelon / red finesse worms on shaky heads or mojo rigs and 3� green pumpkin tubes on speed loader heads have all been effective presentations. Points with a mix of ledge rock and chunk rock or pea gravel seem to be holding more fish than just pea gravel or chunk rock alone. Work any of these baits slowly along the bottom from 10’ – 30’ deep and pay close attention when ever the bait falls off of one ledge to another as most of the bites will come while the bait is falling.

Main Lake: Most of the ice is gone from the main lake while there is still some in the backs of the creek arms and pockets. Most of the fish seem to be holding tight to steep banks and bluffs. The best two tactics have been either fishing a Jewel ½ oz. Heavy Cover Finesse Football Jig in PB&J or Missouri craw with a green pumpkin Zoom Super Chunk Jr. or a Smithwick Rogue or Lucky Craft Pointer in American Shad or Chrome / blue. With either bait position your boat close enough to the bank to make a series of parallel casts, make casts from tight to the bank out to in front of the boat and work your bait of choice slowly back to the boat.

Above the Bridges: There is a lot more ice in the river arms, while the main channel is clear a number of the creeks and pockets are still iced in, be careful running as large chunks of ice have been floating in the channel as well. Due to the ice most of the fishing is happening in the main channel on points and swings. Most effective baits have been Smithwick Rogues in chrome / black and clown, Lucky Craft Pointers in American shad and chartreuse shad or either an Eakins’ jig and craw combo. Regardless of the bait you use focus on fishing as slow as possible to be effective.

Most of the main lake is ice free, if you are planning on going to Pomme plan on launching on the lower end since most of the ramps on the upper end are iced in. Most of the fish being caught are relating to bluffs and bluff ends; jigs and jerkbaits have been the best presentations. A Smithwick Rogue in clown or chrome / black or Lucky Craft Pointer in American shad or Nishiki fished parallel to the bluff will result in a few fish each day as long as you fish it slow enough, allowing the bait to pause for as long as 45 seconds is critical to drawing strikes from the sluggish bass. A Jewel ½ oz. heavy cover finesse football jig in brown / purple flash fished from ledge to ledge will also result in a few strikes everyday, just like the jerkbait fish it slow to get results.

Dam area to Lead Hill: Still a ton of water running through Bull Shoals just like the rest of the White River Chain, it looks like the lake is almost at pool so once they get Table Rock and Beaver to pool or a little under the Corps will likely shut the water off for a while. With all the current the deep spoon and drop shot bite has essentially shut off with shad holding tight to the bottom. The best two bites in the dam area continue to be either a jerkbait or a Jewel spider jig. The jerkbait bite has been o.k. at best; most of the fish are coming off of isolated rock piles and wood cover in the back half of creeks. Smaller jerkbaits like a Lucky Craft Pointer 78 have been more effective than larger ones, reflective colors like American Shad have been best on sunny days while matte colors like chartreuse shad have been better on cloudy ones. The second effective pattern on the lower lake has been a Jewel spider jig or small tube fished on main lake and secondary points; look for points that have a deep water swing close to them and concentrate your efforts on the deep swing side of the point. Fish are being caught from 10’ – 30’ deep in the clear water of the lower half of the lake. Whichever pattern you choose to fish remember to fish slow if you want to be effective.

Lead Hill to Power site: The amount of current above K-Dock continues keep several species of fish active and feeding. Bass are being caught on a few baits including jigs, jerkbaits and crankbaits. An Eakins’ jig in brown / purple flash or PB&J with a green pumpkin Eakins’ craw has been very effective on ledge banks in both the main lake and in the creek arms and pockets. Look for the fish to be on ledges from 6’ – 20’ deep with most of the bites coming as the jig falls from one ledge to another. Smithwick Rogues in chrome / blue or Lucky Craft Pointers in American shad and chartreuse shad have been effective around isolated pieces of wood or rock cover. Allow the bait to suspend next to the cover for 10 – 20 seconds between twitches and pay close attention to your line while the bait is still a lot of the bites are so subtle that you will only see a twitch in your line. In the thick of the current parallel a Storm Wiggle Wart on steep mixed rock banks 6’ – 10’ deep, this is a numbers pattern and is most effective on windy days.