Sprint21fter

There were several places where shad were kicking up to the surface and slowly sinking to the bottom around KC yesterday.

A 5lb bass on TR can easily eat that 8 inch swimbait. Its all about wanting a big bite when you throw the bigger swimbaits. I have caught bass on TR that have 8-12 inch gizzard shad down there throat. Its all about getting them to commit to the darn thing. Another note, if you want to see how big of fish the TR has throw a big swimbait around when conditions are right and you can pull them up and watch them look at your bait, they may not eat it but they follow it right up to the boat. It can be scary how many big fish over 7lbs TR has in her.

Sounds like the perfect storm for pre-spawners on a jerkbait and wart.

Fork is like any other lake down there, when its on its hotter than a fire cracker, when its off its off. However, even when it is off you make a cast you have a shot at a fish of a lifetime.

The level of competition is top notch and going into every tournament you know you will have to catch em. This has made me fish differently in order to try and catch better than average keepers. As long as I am competitive and I get beat I don't get mad, but when I am not I must be missing something it makes me fish even harder making me a better angler.

Those group of guys have wore our butts thin the last three trips. They don't call it the Winter Series for anything. When the water gets cold these guys whack em.

Ryan has fished with our club over the years and is real good stick.

Appreciate it Champ, Good Luck to you Bob and Ryan. We have been getting plenty of bites until 11:00. We will hit 10 spots and get 3-4 bites but on Saturday didn't have enough size.

Did you guys have a bunch of bites throughout the day our bite has completely stopped after 11:00. Are you getting bit very much in the afternoon? The last two Winter Series for us has been nothing after 11:00.

For us when we throw the rig our retrieve is slow. Just like throwing a grub. We just haven't been around alot of active fish we see them on the graph but they are not bunched up. After new years day we can't catch a limit. We mixed in a jerkbait alot to try and trick some inactive fish but never go a sniff on it. The bite on the rig has been mixed to for us. Some absolutely thump it and other will swim up behind and you just feel a slight drag to it. You have to pay attention at all times. Just keep throwing the thing and you will get some positive results. Good luck. This time of year can be very fickle, the slightest adjustment can make all the difference.

14th place caught their fish all on A-rigs too. We caught plenty of fish but had no size. 2 keepers 1 4.5lber and 15 incher. Wind was everywhere yesterday. We fished Baxter to Campbell Point. I know 5th place fished 39 Bridge to Campbell Point throwing the rig as well. Big fish or no fish is what the name of the game is this time of year and we blew a chance for the overall points lead yesteday. That happens and we will keep on trying to figure them suckers out. May fish KC-dam the next couple of week to change our luck.

At times when the light level changes it is hard to get a bite. However, if you are around them and they are in a feeding mode they will be the most aggressive fish to catch as long as you are throwing somthing with vibration. That has been my experience.

Add the Miles brothers: James and Chester, I would love to be competitive as long they have been at it. In there late 70's pushing 80 and can still bring it. James a couple years ago won CPA with 23plus pounds.

X's two for JD Fletcher

Not there yet, but look for Chris Zaldain.

Largie 6.38, Smallie 4.58, Kentucky 4.21, Meanmouth 3.12, White Bass 4.02 My Dad: 8.46 Largie 1996, Kentucky 6.4 caught in 1993, Smallie 5.37 Friend of a Friend: Largie 9.67 1988 caught around Baxter.

Anyone know or hear what the lake record Largemouth is? Have heard of several 10-11lbers caught over the years but never have officially found what the lake record is.

Fished Viola to Campbell Point from 8-3:30. Had a grand total of 5 bites between me and my partner throwing an A-rig all day and my partner throwing a jerkbait. 1 keeper, 1 short kentucky, and 3 bites that never stayed hooked. Water temps at Viola 38-39degrees, Shell Knob to Campbell Point 41-42 degrees. Lots of suspended non-active fish for us. Club buddies fished as well and 13lbs took the prize. 7lbs took 3rd. Everyone mentioned getting a handful of bites or no bites out of 16 fisherman. I will blame the unstable weather for the poor fishing. However, I didn't fish past 45 ft either. Dad fished on Sunday while in the gail force winds and he had 1 bite on a jerkbait that pulled off. He put in at Mill Creek water temp was 45 once the sun got up.

Fished the Winter Series also, partner snuck out on New Years and caught over 22lbs on the A-rig up the White River and was pumped heading into the weekend. The fish had other plans ended up with 4 for just under 11lbs. Noticed another boat a little further up on a different strectch of bank and he made 4 passes down it while we were fishing our banks. Didn't know he was fishing in the derby as well but ended up pulling next to him at the dock and he pulled out 5 twinkies and a dink keeper. Looked like 18plus pounds of fish. They were throwing the A-rig in front and jerkbaitin in the back. Person has to committ to this deal and live with a small bag or breaking a big bag. We had 10 bites and 4 keepers all day fishing. There was 24lbs weighed in and it slowly fell after that. That is the time of the year for you. Whackem or you don't. Still fun trying to chase them.

Put in at Viola and found the mud right at the ramp just like Mr. Babler metioned. Headed down river like an idiot to see if how far down the mud was. Started fishing at Flat Rock Hollow on some 45 banks and was graphing lots and lots of fish. Was skeptical about getting a bite in the mud but quickly caught 8 small fish 6 were caught on a bone and orange wart and the other two were caught on a black and purple jig. Left the mud and headed towards 39 bridge and found where the mudline is. Started fishing the A-rig on channel banks from Kings Harbor to the mouth of the White. Ended with 7 keepers that would maybe have pushed 12 lbs. Depth 20-45 ft.

Tom, this is one of the most challenging lakes to learn. It can change every 30 minutes or you can run a pattern that lasts for 4 months IF conditions are stable. Always keep an open mind when fishing Table Rock or other upland lakes. Don't be afraid to fish shallower than what you think is shallow or vice versa. Table Rock is like a woman, you can't understand them 90% of the time and the rest of the time you have to bust you butt to make her happy and she then will be good to you.

My personal best walleye bit a spoon up the white river in July under a dock. 5.5 lbs was a big suprise but sure enjoyed him out of the skillet when I got back.

Fall, Winter, Early Spring(pre-spawn) always a crawdad colored wiggle wart, jerkbait, jig Late Spring-Summer- walking topwater bait, deep diving cranks, jig. That will catch fish for you on Table Rock. Cover water with a crank, jerkbait or topwater and slow down with a jig.

Fished baxter area last wednsday in prepartion for the winter series that was scheduled for the 14th and had a decent bite on a wart with several keepers caugth on windblown banks however didn't find any bigger bites. Moved out with an A-rig, Jerkbait, and never got a bite. Water temp was 48-49.5. Ramp at big indian is fine as well as H-Hwy heading down to the lake.