Is It Just Me Or Is It Tough Out There!?!?

[Tyler]

I'm seeing thousands upon thousands of balls of baitfish... I've thrown, jigging spoon, flutter spoon, football jigs, finesse worms, drop shot and 10" worms. All of witch I have caught fish on.... But not one of them has produced any "good"

Keepers. I'm sure it has a lot to

Do with the area, time of day and current conditions. This is within the last two days. Anyone wanna shine some light on why I'm unable to find what they want?

Thanks

[rps]

As I posted about yesterday. I obviously have no clue.

[Bluff-Bassin]

This thread is a good read. They're still there. Apparently in deep brush according to the divers. Its been almost the same on bull shoals. I just keep telling myself that everytime I have a bad day it'll make the good days all the sweeter!

[Bill Babler]

Don't know if you read my Shell Knob thread from the 23rd. but the fish are really not relating to the shad outside of a few chasers early and late. Most of the fish now that we are finding are suspended and relating to cove and creek mouths at depth. Again today Bill Beck just had one of those great days after yesterday being a bit tougher.

You all have been here long enough and if you are fishing suspended bait it is time for you to start looking for timber or tree sections that are off shore. Also it is important to remember that the fish really do not need the structure. Bill reported catching quite a few fish today suspended off the major creek point in 35' of water over 150 foot of depth. Just slow moving using your electronics looking for these fish. He is a master at this and you have to have confidence and fish extremely slow to see and catch these nomads.

Bill caught lots today on deep timber in the Kimberling City area. Said his boat most of the day was positioned in 100' to 150' fishing suspended fish that were hovering at the 35' level just over the tops of this pole timber. Said he just had some toads.

If you are struggling and not catching fish anyway, put the rod down and take the time to locate some of these areas. They are on most every map I have ever seen of Table Rock lake, and also on all your chips.

The only lake section that this does not work to some degree is up the White River. Seems to me Owl Creek is just about the cut off however there are fish on the deep flats most of the time up to Devils Dive. Not as congregated as below Owl, but they are there to some degree.

Good Luck

[Chris King]

We had some topwater action down here at point 5 last night in our creek pockets. Not huge fish, but 2-3 pounders (and smaller) chasing on top...LM, KY and SM. Caught several on a spook right before sunset. Had a few nibbles on a drop shot worm out deeper and plenty of lookers but they never would commit.

[rps]

Thank you Bill, and thank Beck. The information you posted will help.

[Bluff-Bassin]

Thank you Bill, and thank Beck. The information you posted will help.

Agreed. Thank you for the insight. That's why this is a great site to frequent. It has helped me to have confidence and motivation enough to try things out of my comfort zone.

Don't know if you read my Shell Knob thread from the 23rd. but the fish are really not relating to the shad outside of a few chasers early and late. Most of the fish now that we are finding are suspended and relating to cove and creek mouths at depth. Again today Bill Beck just had one of those great days after yesterday being a bit tougher.

You all have been here long enough and if you are fishing suspended bait it is time for you to start looking for timber or tree sections that are off shore. Also it is important to remember that the fish really do not need the structure. Bill reported catching quite a few fish today suspended off the major creek point in 35' of water over 150 foot of depth. Just slow moving using your electronics looking for these fish. He is a master at this and you have to have confidence and fish extremely slow to see and catch these nomads.

Bill caught lots today on deep timber in the Kimberling City area. Said his boat most of the day was positioned in 100' to 150' fishing suspended fish that were hovering at the 35' level just over the tops of this pole timber. Said he just had some toads.

If you are struggling and not catching fish anyway, put the rod down and take the time to locate some of these areas. They are on most every map I have ever seen of Table Rock lake, and also on all your chips.

I think fishing for suspended nomadic fish might arguably be one of the toughest patterns to make work. But you can't argue with results. Does he have any certain baits for this he recommends? I would assume a drop shot and spoon? Your traditional vertical offerings?

[Quillback]

We had some topwater action down here at point 5 last night in our creek pockets. Not huge fish, but 2-3 pounders (and smaller) chasing on top...LM, KY and SM. Caught several on a spook right before sunset. Had a few nibbles on a drop shot worm out deeper and plenty of lookers but they never would commit.

I'll take some 2-3 lbers on top. Glad to see you got into some, maybe with the forecast for cooler weather next week the top water bite will continue.

[Quillback]

Thank you Bill, and thank Beck. The information you posted will help.

Yes, thanks much!

[Bill Babler]

Of course live bait presentations are always going to be the best when plying the depths for suspended fish however traditional drop shot worms in the 4" and under range will get you bit.

IF you are trying to find these locations just start working your way off the bluffends and major creek mouths or even the secondary points within the deeper creeks. Do this while setting up front with the troller and not so much trying to either side view or use the console graph, just set up front and look in ever widening circles. Look on very slow speed, as a fish or a single deep tree can go by in a flicker.

After you have had a morning fishing, before you quit, dedicate an hour of non-fishing time to just looking with your electronics. Ralph Lambert showed me a single tree 25 years ago in the complete center of the Kings River channel. No way I would have ever seen it. It is a hardwood that for years held limits of keeper K's and LM. It has since fallen and vanished but for years it was outstanding.

The top of this tree came up to just about the usual thermocline at about 30' Ralph would sit in the middle of the river and fish this tree for hours with what we now call either a varmint or a ned rig.

Usually a 1/8th. oz jig head with a very slender 3" to 4". Watermellon worm.

Great Topwater fish. Thanks for sharing. AND, it is more than tough out there.

There are still lots of those deep places around have fun on your Easter Fish Hunt and good luck