Focused Fishing Web Log

Kimberling City Area: The fish have started to move up shallow, the warmer air and water temperatures have put them in a spawning mood and it won’t be long until we start seeing beds all over the mid-lake area. Most of the fish are being caught on pea gravel right now, points and spawning flats are producing numbers of fish on three baits; shaky head worms with a green pumpkin finesse worm or swamp crawler, smoke or salt and pepper single tailed grubs and Jewel 3/16 oz. Pro Spider Jigs in PB&J or green pumpkin / green flash matched with 4� Chompers jig trailers are producing. When throwing a grub position your boat about 20’ deep and cast toward the bank, count the bait down and make a constant retrieve. Both the shaky head and the Jewel Pro Spider jig are retrieved the same; set up in around 20’ – 25’ of water then cast and drag the bait back to the boat stopping and shaking or hopping the bait every few feet.

James River: The big news up the James is the number of fish already on spawning beds, while a lot of them are not “locked on� yet there are still several catch able fish on beds above Cape Fair. The usual spawning baits; white tubes, jigs and Salty Sinkers are all producing in spawning coves and flats. Many times you don’t have to see the fish in order to catch them, in a likely area simply fan cast and retrieve the baits to produce. Above Flat creek the spinnerbait bite is starting to turn on as well; 3/8 oz. and ½ oz. War Eagle double willow and Colorado / willow combinations in white or white / chartreuse will produce some quality fish as well as numbers. Steep banks and points close to spawning coves or wood and rock cover in spawning coves are your best locations with a spinnerbait.

White River: The fishing continues to be hot up both the White and Kings Rivers. While the jerkbait bite has fallen off Storm Wiggle Warts in brown craw and natural green craw are producing good numbers and quality of fish on channel swing banks and steep points near spawning coves. While I haven’t seen any beds in the Kings or White yet I know the fish have moved up shallow and I am sure some have built beds by now. Just like in the James the usual tubes, Salty Sinkers and Eakins’ jigs will produce in spawning areas, even if you don’t see any beds make fan casts to likely spawning spots. The spinnerbait bite has picked up in the Kings River as well, steep banks and points near spawning coves and wood and rock cover in these coves will produce numbers and quality fish.

Dam / Branson Area: The smallmouth have started to show up on points and flats in the dam area, while most are “buck� males the big females are likely a week or so behind them. Shaky head worms, Jewel Pro Spider Jigs and single tailed grubs are all producing in the dam area. Most of the fish are holding around 10’ – 20’ deep so position your boat accordingly and make fan casts toward the bank. Up Long Creek the bite seems to be a bit slower than the rest of the lake, not sure why but the usual patterns; Wiggle Warts, Jigs and Spinnerbaits have not been producing this spring like they are in Kings and James Rivers. Crappie are being caught around the state line in Long Creek, look for standing timber on bluffs and make cast toward the bank swimming 2� grubs, swimming minnows and squirts back to the boat through the timber to be successful. Most of the crappie are less than 20’ off the bank suspended about 6’ – 10’ down.

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Dam area to Lead Hill: The fish are really starting to stage on the lower end of Bull Shoals, a few beds have started to show up behind some of the bigger docks and around shallow rock piles, most of these fish are not “locked on� yet but it is only a matter of days. The best bite has been on a couple of baits; shaky head worms and Jewel 3/16 oz. Pro Spider Jigs have been the most consistent producers when fished on secondary points at the mouths of spawning cuts and coves. Position your boat 20’ – 25’ deep and fan cast these points to find the fish. The best colors are of course PB&J or green pumpkin. Some quality largemouth have been caught over the past couple of days on Eakins Jigs and craw combos; look for ledge rock transitions that lead to pea gravel to be holding most of the fish. Keep your boat a long pitch or short cast away from the bank as these fish are right on the bank and are very spooky.

Lead Hill to Power site: The upper end continues to produce good catches of bass, walleye, white bass and crappie. The best bait for bass continues to be a Storm Wiggle Wart in brown craw or natural green craw fished on channel swing banks near spawning cuts. Walleye have been taken on both Smithwick Rogues and 4� or 5� white or smoke single tailed grubs in the deeper pools above K-Dock. White Bass are toward the backs of the creeks and will eat just about any shad or minnow imitator (rooster tails, small crankbaits even a few on top water). Crappie are on bluff banks suspended in standing timber and will hit small grubs, swimming minnows and squirts 6’ – 10’ deep. There are a few fish on beds already in the upper end of Bull as well, just like the lower end the fish are not “locked on� but should be by the full moon next week.

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

Best fly patterns: Not allot of changes over the past week other than some heavy generation that has made wading impossible, be sure to check the generation schedule before you head out. The best fly patterns continue to be small scuds, soft shell scuds, midges and g-bugs. Sizes ranging from #22 to #16 have been effective using the bigger ones when there is a lot of current. As far as color is concerned stay with natural hues and you should be fine; grey, tans, ginger and black have all been productive. When the current is really running use a sculpin or minnow imitator in white or grey.

Best spinning tackle: With the extra generation and warm temperatures there has been a lot of folks on the water this past week, be courteous to one another there are plenty of fish in Taneycomo for everyone. As usual when the water runs rooster tails, buoyant spoons, super dupers and small white jigs below a float are all really good. If there is no water switch up to a drift rig and either live night crawlers or mixed up colors of Berkley power nuggets, yellow / orange has been a top producer lately.

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Kimberling City Area: What a difference a week makes. The warm rain this week along with above average air temperatures has moved fish up big time. Best baits for this week include a Chompers single tail grub in smoke or salt and pepper fished on a ¼ oz. ball head jig or a shaky head worm. Both baits are working on pea gravel flats and points in the mid lake area from 5’ – 15’ deep. For the grub position your boat in 20’ of water and cast toward the bank, allow the bait to fall to the bottom and slowly swim it back to the boat maintaining bottom contact through out the retrieve. Same boat position for the shaky head, make a long cast toward the bank and slowly work the bait back to the boat stopping and shaking the bait every few feet.

James River: The Wiggle Wart bite is in full swing up the James River. Brown craw, natural green craw and fire tiger have all been productive colors. Put your boat in eight feet of water and parallel steep rocky banks pausing the bait whenever it runs into a rock or wood cover. Eakins jigs in brown / purple flash and Missouri craw have been producing some bigger fish in bluff pockets and steep point near the mouths of spawning coves. Match either jig up with either a green pumpkin Eakins craw or Paca chunk and work it from the bank out to around 12’ deep paying close attention to any brush or other wood on the point.

White River: The White River remains hot with better than average catches of fish coming from Campbell point to Big M on Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers. Color wise the rule remains the same; matte colors like chartreuse shad or Table Rock shad when it is cloudy and reflective ones like chrome / black or American Shad when the sun is shinning. You don’t need to pause the bait for long, five seconds is generally long enough. Up the Kings River the Wiggle Wart is still your top choice, parallel steep banks eight feet deep. I have talked to a few guys catching fish on small spinnerbaits up the Kings as well, they fishing the same areas as you would with a Wiggle Wart, paralleling banks and making a constant retrieve.

Dam / Branson Area: The bite in the dam area continues to improve; several big fish have been caught in the past week on a combination of baits. Jerkbaits continue to produce big fish on bluff ends and steep banks in and around cedar trees. Wiggle Warts have been very effective on channel swing banks in the major creeks and on the main lake; phantom green and natural green craw have been the most productive colors. Just like in the mid lake area a shaky head and a grub have been producing solid keeper fish on pea gravel points and flats, add a Jewel 5/16 oz or 3/16 oz pro spider jig in PB&J to the list of effective baits in these areas. Up Long Creek the crappie are starting to show up on channel swing banks on the main lake and in the bigger creek arms, cast tubes, swimming minnows and grubs to the bank and swim it back through the trees to be effective.

Dam area to Lead Hill: The fish have moved up in the lower end of Bull Shoals over the past week. Smallmouth and Kentuckies have been showing up on main lake and secondary points from 10’ – 20’ deep. A trio of baits have been boating fish; a Jewel 3/16 oz or 5/16 oz pro spider jig in PB&J or green pumpkin / green flash with a 4� Chomper jig trailer worked across the bottom has been a top producer, shaky heads with either a finesse worm or fish doctor in green pumpkin or watermelon / red can be worked in the same manner and on windy or cloudy days move shallow and throw smoke or salt and pepper 4� grubs on ¼ oz. heads toward the bank and swim them back to the boat. Largemouth are moving shallow and can be caught in the mouths of spawning coves and pockets on Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers.

Lead Hill to Power site: The upper end of the lake has been very hot over the past week; Storm Wiggle Warts, Jewel Eakins jigs and Lucky Craft Pointers have all been very effective presentations. Brown craw or natural green craw Wiggle Warts are best fished parallel to steep banks 8’ – 10’ deep, make sure you pause the bait anytime it runs into a rock or wood cover along the bottom. Fish a brown / purple flash or Missouri craw Eakins jigs with green pumpkin Eakins craws on channel swing banks in the bigger creek arms, look for swings that are close to spawning pockets to be the most productive, any wood or rock cover you find in these areas needs to be worked over several times. Pointers have been producing big fish suspended in the mouths of spawning pockets, hold your boat in the mouth of the pocket and fan cast across in all directions allowing the bait to pause up to ten seconds between jerks on your retrieve.

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

Best fly patterns: The bite has been pretty good over the past week, a little generation now and then but for the most part very fishable week. Scuds, sow bugs and midges have all been producing fish in sizes ranging from #24 - #16. Best colors have been ginger, tan, grey and purple with some interesting combinations like ginger / purple and grey / olive producing better than straight colors. On days when there is current switch up to simple minnows, Clouser minnows and sculpins to be effective.

Best spinning tackle: When the water is running the usual suspects will produce; super dupers, rooster tails, small white jigs and buoyant spoons have been very good. When the water is shut off switch to a Taneycomo drift rig baited with live crawlers or wax worms or mixed colors of power bait and work the deep pools and channel swing banks above Branson.

Dam area to Lead Hill: Fish are starting to stage in the lower end of Bull Shoals. Look for groups of fish to be on points in the mouths of spawning coves. These fish can be caught in a variety of ways depending on the weather conditions; on windy or cloudy days the fish will move shallow and can be caught on either jerkbaits or Storm Wiggle Warts and on calm days a Jewel Pro Spider jig is your best bet. Smithwick Rouges in clown or chrome / black or Lucky Craft Pointers in chartreuse shad or Nishiki will work on these points when the fish move shallow, throw toward the bank and work the bait back with a fairly steady retrieve. Brown craw or phantom green craw Wiggle Warts will work on windy days; parallel banks 6’-8’ deep with a stop and go retrieve to be successful. Jewel Pro Spider Jigs in PB&J or brown / purple flash with a green pumpkin Chompers jig trailer worked slowing along the bottom on these same points will produce fish.

Lead Hill to Power site: The upper end of Bull Shoals has turned on with the warmer air and water temperatures. Storm Wiggle Warts, Lucky Craft Pointers and Jewel Eakins jigs are all producing fish in a variety of locations. On windy days look for steep chunk or mixed rock banks and position your boat 8’ deep and make parallel casts crewing up the bottom with a stop and go retrieve. For the Lucky Craft pointer look for spawning pockets and work the inside and outside of points leading to the spawning areas, work the bait with more of a stop and go retrieve allowing the bait to pause for only a couple of seconds. Bluff ends and channel swing banks are producing fish on brown and Missouri craw Eakins jigs with green pumpkin Eakins craws. Look for any wood or rock cover to hold most of the fish.

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

Best fly patterns: Very little water run this past week so the fly fishing was very good. Scuds, G-Bugs, Soft Shell Scuds and Sow Bugs in size #14 – size #20 have been very effective. Tan, brown, grey, ginger and wine have been effective colors. Look for the better fish to be in slack water areas around logs and log jams. Remember to use smaller flies when there is little or no current.

Best spinning tackle: Whenever they are generating current the bite is still very good; Super Dupers, Rooster Tails and Buoyant Spoons are all producing fish when the water is running. During slack periods switch over to a Taneycomo drift rig and fish live night crawler, mixed power bait or wax worms and drift through the deep pools to be effective.

Dam area to Lead Hill: The bite is still pretty tough on the lower end of Bull Shoals but it has gotten better. Jerkbaits, jigs and tubes are all effective presentations. Smithwick Rogues in chrome / black and clown, Lucky Craft Pointers in chartreuse had or aurora black and Rapala X- Raps in white shad and white / blue have all been effective on deep points and channel swings. A Jewel ½ oz. Heavy Cover Finesse football jig in PB&J or peanut butter / smoke / purple matched with a Chompers green pumpkin jig trailer or a green pumpkin tube on a speed loader head fished in the deep brush piles on points and swings through out the dam area is producing fish as well. Look for brush piles in 25’ – 40’ deep, cast well beyond the brush and work the bait slowly through each brush pile from a variety of angles to ensure you are putting your bait in front of the fish. A few fish are being caught on Storm Wiggle Warts toward the backs of some of the bigger creeks, phantom green and natural green craw have been the best colors, make cast parallel to the bank 6’ – 10’ deep.

Lead Hill to Power site: The bite is much improved in the upper end; Storm Wiggle Warts, Jerkbaits and jigs are all very effective presentations. Look for most of the fish to be starting the transition to points near spawning coves and cuts holding on both deep points and channel swings. The Wiggle Wart bite has been best on channel swings, position your boat about 10’ deep and make parallel casts, run the bait to the bottom and slowly crank it along the bottom pausing your retrieve whenever the bait runs into rock or wood cover. Smithwick Rogues, Lucky Craft Pointers and Rapala X-Raps have been effective in the mouths of the spawning cuts; throw your bait right in the middle of the cut and work it back to the boat allowing it to pause for 5 – 25 seconds between jerks. You really are not working the bait around any cover; the fish are simply suspended in the middle of the cove feeding on dieing shad. An Eakins jig in PB&J or Missouri craw matched up with a green pumpkin Eakins craw will work well on channel swing banks toward the back large creek arms and coves.

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

Best fly patterns: With the Corps of Engineers limiting the generation this past week things have settled down. The fishing has been excellent and several 20� browns showing up and a few days when you can throw just about anything and catch a few rainbows. All and all the best flies have been scuds, G-Bugs and sow bugs from sizes #12 - #20 in natural colors; tan, ginger and black. Use the large size flies when there is a little water running and when they shut it off completely use the smaller ones to be productive.

Best spinning tackle: Well it couldn’t last forever, The Corps has slowed the release of water and the drift bite has slowed with the limited current. On days when there is some water running try Rooster Tails, Super Dupers and Buoyant spoons, 1/16 oz. and 1/32 oz white or white and red jigs below a float and small Rapala jerkbaits. When the current is shut off switch over to a Taneycomo drift rig with either live night crawlers or mixed colors of Berkley Power Nuggets or Power Eggs to be effective.