Focused Fishing Web Log

Kimberling City Area: Still an excellent deep bite in the mid lake area; numbers of fish are coming off of long main lake pea gravel points as well as tree tops on channel swings and points in major creek arms. Chompers drop shot worms in plum and brown / purple as well as Robo Worms in MMIII and Oxblood have been very effective on drop shot rigs fished along the bottom on gravel points from 25’ – 45’ deep and in tree tops around 40’ deep over deeper water. Look for points that extend well out into the lake to be the most productive and concentrate on the sides or edges of the point. There is still a decent topwater bite early and late it is short lived but a few larger fish have been taken over tree tops in the bigger creeks.

James River: Points and channel swings have been important up the James River as well; look for fish to be holding 25’- 35’ deep on pea gravel points near channel swing banks. The side of the point with a deeper drop has been more effective than the shallow side. Jewel football jigs in brown / purple flash and orange craw have been the best colors both matched up with a green pumpkin J tail trailer, work the jig slowly along the bottom and pay close attention to any wood or rock cover the bait comes in contact with. DD-22’s, Fat Free Shad and DT-16’s in lavender shad and citrus shad have been producing some quality fish on ledges and tree tops from the mid James up to Asher Cain. Look for trees that top out around 15’ – 20’ on channel bends to out produce others.

White River: The White River has been very productive over the past week; the deep bite continues to produce around the Campbell Point and Baxter areas, Carolina rigs and football jigs are working through out the white and there is a good flipping bite up the Kings River. Drop shotting deep trees in the larger creek arms continues to produce numbers of good sized KY’s from Baxter to around Campbell Point. Look for trees topping out around 35’ – 45’ to be the most productive, use Chompers or Robo Worm 4” straight tail worms in and around these trees to be effective. On gravel points through out the White River Carolina rigged brush hogs, baby brush hogs and 6” lizards in green pumpkin or water melon / red have been working well as have Jewel football jig J tail Grub combos. Look for points close to deep water or with a good drop on one side to be the most effective. Finally, the Kings river is starting to produce some quality largemouth in and around deeper cover, look for wood and rock cover on channel swing banks to be the most productive and work areas from 6’ – 15’ with an Eakins jig or Ultra tube.

Dam Area: The lower end is dominated by the deep bite, drop shot rigs and spoons are out producing almost every other pattern. The deep tree bite has been the best for producing quality fish; drop shot rigs fished in tree tops 35’ – 55’ deep over water as deep as 100’ has resulted in several really big KY’s this past week. Chomper drop shot worms in plum and brown / purple and Robo Worms Aaron’s magic have been the ticket fished on 6# fluorocarbon. When fish are a little more active the spoon bite has been working in these areas as well; 1/2 oz. and ¾ oz. white jigging spoons fished around the tree tops will work well when the fish are actively feeding. Jewel football jigs and Carolina rigged baby brush hogs have been producing smallmouth on the lower end as well, look for most of the fish to be on rock y points from 25’ – 40’ deep.

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Best fly patterns for the week: Moderate to heavy generation this past week, really just depending on which day you were on the water. Micro jigs, sow bugs, scuds and San Juan worms have all been working well in ginger, grey and plum.

Best spinning tackle: With the generation this past week the spinning rod bite has been on. Super dupers, rooster tails, Zig Jigs and Little Cleos have all been productive baits. During slack water times, live crawlers, Gulp and Power eggs will work on deeper edges.

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Best fly patterns for the week: The Corp has been running the generators through the middle of the day lately making the fly fishing excellent in the morning and evening. Scuds, sow bugs, soft shells and G bugs have all been producing fish in tans, plum, grey and ginger. The better fish have been coming out of shallower water, but you have to ready for the take or they will leave you looking silly.

Best spinning tackle: The drift bite continues to be good, early and late there has been little generation so live bait and Gulp eggs have been the ticket. Once they flip the switch Zig Jigs, micro jigs and Rapalas have been excellent with several better rainbows being caught from Fall Creek to Cooper creek.

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Kimberling City Area: The deep bite is the dominate pattern in the mid lake area. Main lake and secondary points in larger creeks are holding a good mix of spotted, smallmouth and largemouth from 25’ – 45’ deep close to the bottom. Early in the day several fish can be caught on topwaters and spoons fish over open water in these areas. As the sun move higher switch up to a drop shot rig or Jewel football jig. Use Chompers or Robo Worm drop shot worms in MMIII, Aarons Magic, brown / purple and plum. Most of the fish are holding tight to the bottom so drop the rig to the bottom, reel out the slack and pay close attention to the weight of the bait and sinker, any changes in tension signify a strike. If you prefer to throw a football jig position your boat in 35’ – 50’ of water and throw a ¾ oz. Jewel PB& J or green pumpkin / green flash and work it slowly along the bottom from 20’ – 40’ deep.

James River: The James River remained stable last week, the limited amount of rain did not affect the water level or clarity and the temperature has remained in the mid to upper 80’s. Early and late there is still a decent topwater bite; spooks, sammys and pop-r’s are all productive around schooling fish. Don’t hesitate to try using a swimbait when there are schooling fish present, many times better quality fish are positioned below the smaller schoolers. Once the sun comes up move out to 30’ or deeper and cast Jewel Football jigs and Carolina rigs to main lake and secondary points. Work green pumpkin lizards and brush hogs on the rig or brown/ purple flash football jigs slowly along the bottom to draw strikes.

White River: Much like the mid lake the lower portion of the White river has been dominated by the deep bite over the past week, drop shot rigs, spoons and single tailed grubs have all been effective on secondary and main lake points. Most of the fish have been coming out of 28’ – 40’ of water close to the bottom. In the major creek arms there is a decent deep bite in the trees. Look for trees that top out around 25’ on points and channel swings, the over depth is unimportant. Further up stream and in the Kings River football jigs and Carolina rigs are more important patterns. Look for fish to be on main lake and secondary points from 15’ – 30’ deep.

Dam Area: The deep bite is most prevalent on the lower end of the lake; main lake and secondary pea gravel points from 25’ - 40’ deep have been very productive. Work drop shot rigged Chompers drop shot worms in plum or brown / purple or Robo Worms in Aaron’s magic, MMIII or oxblood / red along and close to the bottom to be effective. In the creek arms several large spotted bass have been caught in tree tops on secondary points and channel swings; look for trees topping out around 30’ to be the most productive. Up Long Creek there is a decent flipping bite on channel swing banks above Cricket Creek; Eakins jig and craw combos and J-Lock jigs in black / blue flash or orange craw have been effective along steep bluff walls.

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