magicwormman

I think the Rock is coming back strong!!! For numbers, I would give it about 75% of it's peak back in the early 70"s. For lunkers (5 lbs plus) I would give it around 50%. For those that never experienced this fishery back in the 70's, you can only imagine how mighty the Rock once was. I've had a summer home near Kimberling City for 30 years and lived here permanently for last 15 years. I've fished the Rock since the early 70's and love it with all my heart. I had the experience of being on the water during the fish kill of 1999 and it was the most sickening site, that I've ever experienced. I thank the Lord, the Rock is coming back as good as it is. I think the secret is consistent water levels during the spawn and good conservation practices by most everyone. Just for comparison, I generally fish around 200 hours per year (since 1997), prior to the fish kill I would usually have 4-6 bass over 6 lbs. This year (most of my spring fishing was near pt. 13 on the James) my best was 5 lbs and one 6 lber was caught by my partner. This year the James got so tough for me that I brought my boat back to Kimberling City, so I could catch some decent fish. The water in the James has been a nasty color for the last few weeks and I saw a lot of nice crappies floating dead, during the Oakley bass tournament. I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful part of our country and to be able to fish such a great lake as the Rock.

RPS, You have the right lake, but wrong bait. You have to take Bablers advice and throw that Buckeye away. The only time I can catch fish on that bait is dirty water. Try a spook jr. or giant dog x and the topwater fish will play.

Good report Dave!! How long are you down for? If you have time...........give me a call.............417-527-2470. Thanks, Ken

Enjoy your reports!! Glad to see you're back on the water, so we know what's going on at your end of the lake.

Great report Champ!!! It sounds like the shaky head is the deal. I've found that the topwater fish prefer a spook jr. or dog to the redfin. I don't understand why, unless they are feeding on the smaller shad.

Glad you guys caught some fish!!! All on tw??? I think the whites are afraid of us I haven't seen them feeding at all. I fished tw around KC this a.m. and had 10 bass with 3 legals, biggest a 18" LM.

Jason- Fished from 5 A.M. - Noon from Kimberling City to 86 bridge running and gunning for whites. Has two college kids fishing with me and wanted to put them on whites. Never saw any whites feeding all morning. we did manage to catch two big whites and 22 bass with 6 legals up to 3 lbs. Mix of jaws, spots, and LM, all on the fin or spook. Jointed worked best until the wind picked up and than the spook and solid fin worked the best. Main lake pts with trees was the best for us.

7.37 topwater

What are the options for picking up the free rods for early entries?????

Thanks for the great report!! Well done!!

Great report! Great fish!!! Nice to see some good fish!

Good report!! Glad to see some topwater action. I need to catch a bigun on top to get my fix.

Great reports during your visit!!! Look me up when you come back in June. Let me know if you need any secret colors made.

"My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing tackle for what I said I paid for it." (Or less) -Koos Brandt How do not agree with his thinking.

Thanks for the reply! Good info! I'll give him a try. It's nice to support someone local if possible.

Has anyone tried the jigs from Northstar custom baits? They look like a real good quality jig. I may have to order a few to try them out. http://www.northstarbaits.com/home.html No, I don't have any connection.............................just sharing.

Great reports Bill!!! That's what I like about you.............not afraid to share your knowledge and experiences.

One of the five boys, staying with us got the 2nd big bass on the last weigh in yesterday and my grandson won a raffle drawing. Cabelas gave away some really nice prizes, considering no entry fee. It's great they do something like this for the young people in our sport.

It was great meeting everyone and putting a face to the name. Great people and good food too!!! Special thanks to Lilley for the great food. One of my five college boys, staying at the house got 2nd big bass for the last weigh in yesterday and my grandson won a raffle drawing, so all were happy. Oh to be 21 again!!!

The college boys are wacking em pretty good, despite the weather. I bet the A rigs are flying everywere. http://www.collegiatebasschampionship.com/lions-king-of-the-rock---day-1-recap.html

Welcome! Feel free to ask any question, as you will get an answer from some great fisherman on this site. I've fished the Rock for forty years and it still kicks my butt on occasion. My advice would be to hire a guide for a day and you'll learn more than you can by yourself in a year. I use to spend a lot of time in the clear waters of the Dam area and found that most days it was just to tough for my skills. I now spend more time in the James and White river and I just seem to catch more fish. If you have to fish the clear water, my advice would be to go light line, get good electronics, and master dropshot and spoon fishing. Good Luck and God Bless

Looked to me like they were just collecting data on length,girth, and maybe some possible tagging. They were releasing the spoons fairly fast as they were bringing them in.

Took my grandson and his buddy up the James yesterday, in search of the elusive white bass. We went almost to Blunk were the current was strong and the water was brown........couldn't hold the 20 ft Ranger so deceided to drift back down for a mile or two. The whites proved to be very elusive.......after a couple hours of that game, we deceided to go chase a few LM..............ended the day with a few small kentucky's. We only saw one white caught. My favorite line................shouda been here last week. We did watch the DOC net a bunch of spoonbill on the James near Bridgeport. That proved to be entertaining watching them wrestle with those big spoons. Hope to see you all on Saturday.............if we don't get snowed in. Tight lines and God Bless!!!

Thanks for the info!!!! I would love to put the boys on some whites.

Nice catch! Is the water deep enough for a bass boat to get to Blunks or do you have to fish from shore?.