Focused Fishing Web Log

Kimberling City Area: The bite continues to be tough. The deep bite is inconsistent at best and the jerkbait bite has never really come around either. Best bet for the deep bite is to target bluff ends and deep trees in the guts of creeks. Look for birds to help locate the schools of bait and fish Bink’s Spoons, Chompers Drop Shot worms and grubs in and around the schools of bait. You will likely see a number of fish on your electronics getting them to bite has been the trick. Rogues, pointers and Vision 110 jerk baits have all been catching a few fish, windy chunk rock banks and points have been the best locations with most of the fish coming off of isolated pieces of cover on these banks. A few fish are still being caught around boat docks on Jewel Eakins and Pro Spider Jigs matched with Eakins craws and Hyperflex Grubs. Look for larger commercial docks on or near points to be the most productive.

James River: Usually one of the first areas of the lake to heat the James continues to be tough. The amount of cold stained or even dirty water that has come in over the past week has slowed the fishing down. The best bite has been on either jerkbaits or jigs. Rogues and Pointers have been effective around isolated cedar trees and other cover on chunk rock banks and points particularly on windy days. Jewel ½ oz. Heavy Cover Finesse Football jigs in brown / purple flash and green pumpkin / candy flash with green pumpkin Hyperflex grubs have been working on these same banks from 15’ – 30’ deep. Work the bait extremely slow along the bottom to be effective.

White River: Much like the rest of the lake the White and Kings Rivers have been slow as well; until we get a prolonged warming trend the bite will continue to be tough. The best pattern has been working Jewel Pro Spider jigs and Hyperflex grubs or Chompers Ultra Tubes slowly along the bottom from 15’ – 35’ deep on chunk rock banks or points and bluff ends. The deep bite is inconsistent on this end of the lake as well with the Baxter area being best. Bink’s spoons, Chompers Grubs and Drop Shot Worms have been effective if you can get the fish to bite.

Dam / Branson Area: The lower end of the lake is in the late winter doldrums as well, there is a deep bite on Bink’s Spoons and Chompers Drop Shot Worms when you can find fish holding close to bait. Much like the mid-lake area let the birds show you where the bait is and look for fish close by. The jerkbait bite has been tough but there are a few large fish showing up each week, target isolated cedar trees and other cover on bluff ends and deep points, allow the bait to pause as long as 30 seconds next to each piece of cover to be effective. This is tough fishing so prepare yourself for very few bites but the quality has been excellent.

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Dam area to Lead Hill: Tough as a pine knot. The best bite is a combination of three baits right now; jerkbaits, jigs and tubes will all produce the limited number of bites you will get on Bull Shoals. Deep rocky points are producing most of the fish with a jerkbait working best on windy days; Rouges, Pointers and Vision 110’s are all working as well as anything right now, you will need to pause the bait for 15 – 30 seconds between jerks to draw strikes. On calm days a Jewel Pro Spider Jig or Heavy Cover Finesse Football jig in PB&J or green pumpkin / candy flash with a green pumpkin Hyperflex grub or Chompers green pumpkin Ultra Tube fished very slowly along the bottom from 25’ – 40’ deep will produce a few bites.

Lead Hill to Power site: The bite up the river has been a little better than on the lower lake. Despite the cold dirty water coming in, the current has the bait and in turn the fish moving around and feeding more. The jerkbait bite has been better in the current and most of the fish have been holding on isolated pieces of cover on rocky points and bluff ends. The jig and tube bite has also been a lot stronger up the river, look for fish to be holding on chunk rock points and bluff ends from 15’ – 25’ deep, work either Jewel Pro Spider Jig and Hyperflex Grub Combos or Chompers Ultra tubes slowly along the bottom to draw strikes.

Don’t Miss Tournament Fishing Radio on ESPN 1400 AM Springfield
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Link to the Generation Schedule: http://www.swpa.gov/generation.htm

Best fly patterns: Four generators running non stop for the past week, the best flies have been scuds and soft shell scuds in size #12 & #14 in ginger and black have been the most effective patterns.

Best spinning tackle: With all of the generation the bite has been very good; rooster tails, buoyant spoons, and super dupers have all been very effective. Small white and red / white hair jigs have also been working well.

Don’t Miss Tournament Fishing Radio on ESPN 1400 AM Springfield
Mondays 5:30pm and Saturdays 5:00 am or on-line at www.espn1400.com
www.focusedfishing.com