Fishin Hodge

In the meetings about this, it really seemed that the MDC and Missouri residents were the biggest pushers of this. While a portion of Bull Shoals is in MO, the vast majority is in AR. MO only has 3 lakes with any real striper populations; AR has a bunch on striper lakes within 2 hours of Bull Shoals. If the folks from MO want to stock stripers in a lake why not just stock Table Rock if there is no effect to the bass fishery???? Anybody have an answer for this question???????? I didn't think so. Again, take a drive over to Beaver Lake if you want to striper fish. There is a bunch of them and it is fun. I enjoy bass fishing Beaver, I really do, but it is the least of the White River Lakes when it comes to bass fishing. We can debate that, but just look at the tournament results. Beaver is always lighter than Table Rock and Bull Shoals, always. Coincidence??? I think not. The Elite series comes to Bull Shoals this year and say it is unbelievable; 4 anglers fail to weigh a 5 fish limit of bass and I think they must have been trying to hand line them, cause if you had a bait in the water you were going to catch them. FLW goes to the Rock, big weights and happy anglers. FLW goes to Beaver and some of them catch them, but a lot of them absolutely hate the lake. I am thankful for the AGFC's decision.

I must say thanks for your reports Fins. I knew I needed to be around Roxky Branch because of your info.

They were submersible lights. One was white and the other was green. The shad hung out closer to the white light that night, but I am not sure which is better or if it matters. They are not mine so I am not sure who makes them or what exactly they are called. I would say we had them like 10 feet deep. The shad nets on the oposite end of the boat probably around 15 foot deep. The deeper deal was just what we did, after the shad really got to circling you could have almost caught them with a bucket. We took out of Rocky Branch and just tied up on a random bluff close to where the bluff met a chunk rock bank. Boat was in 75 foot of water. I think you will have some luck if you give it a try because I really know almost nothing about this way of fishing.

Headed to Rock Branch Wednesday for the 3rd light fishing outing of my life; and let me tell you I have now experienced a real light fishing experience. Took a good friend that just graduated vet school and one of his freinds from school. I was fishing with 2 doctors. The freind drove from Illinios just to go with us, so I am glad it went like it did. My hands are raw and my back is sore. We set a trot line before dark on a main lake bluff and then tied up. I know very little about fishing under the lights, but let me tell you it was awsome. Some shad came through very early, round 10:30 probably. Started catching a few shad about 11:30 and it was a fish for every shad you could catch. I found a artificial flutter/rattle trap metal bait before the shad came in good and was catching them pretty well actually and hooked the biggest fish of the trip on it, a 4 lb striper. What we lacked in size we made up in numbers of 2lb white bass. By 12:30 or so we were well stocked with shad and it was on. When I say it was every drop as fast as you could get the bait down to 20-30 feet of water, I promise you it was every drop. Whacked them all night until about 5:30 and suddenly it was all over. I was really expecting some topwater action to break loose, but it was non-exsistant for me. When the dealing was done we had caught, and I realize you are not going to believe me, 170 White Bass. A handful of small stripers, a 23 inch walleye, and a 10 1/2" crappie. Holy cow was it awesome. Our hopes were high as we headed for the trotline. We got there and started bringing it in. We did not catch a single fish and only 2 of the perch were missing. Well that is how it goes. It is the time to take a night trip. Have fun, unbelievable.

They stocked somewhere between 14,000 and 19,000 "on accident" in the late 90's I believe. There have been many 50+ pounds stripers caught over the past 3 or so years. Bull is an outstanding lake and will grow any species you put in it to large sizes, Carp, Gar, Bass, Catfish, Crappie, Walleye, Stripers, yellow perch, cotton mouth, you name it. You could stock it with Snake head and let me tell you, there would be some big ones. Due to an overwhelming number of requests, the proposed stocking of stripers has been put on hold for 3 years at which time the bass populations of Bull Shoals and the surrounding lakes with stripers will be assessed and a decision will be made going forward. I know you guys love em, but I am happy about there decision for Bull.

I think we have all cast a football jig in a tournament to the bank and drug it off the bank really slowly and at some points i have it back to the boat and I let it sit out deep for minutes at time with the boat drifting in 30 foot of water. I hope you guys are saying you think that is not right. I understand and agree don't put the trolling motor half or full speed and pull a crankbait or a a-rig for 10 minutes in a tournament, but I feel completely comfortable fishing a flat with a jig with the wind or against it for that matter, come on now, unless the rules state no dragging. The BassCat Owners tournament states no dragging and it drives me crazy. It is in May and a Carolina rig is often in play. Where exactly is that line? You are moving that bait at least somewhat with the trolling motor. It gets to the point of being behind the boat. At what point in that cast did it go from fishing to dragging. I have lost sleep over this honestly and I think the rule is completely stupid. No trolling makes sense to me. I guess that is what this thread is about, where exactly is that narrow line and what each person thinks the rule means.

You guys are killing me. If you are fishing a jig, carolina rig, or any bottom bait my guess is you can't fish a complete day without moving your bait with your trolling motor at least somewhat. You are walking a fine line and talking about splitting hairs if you are talking about moving a bait with a trolling motor. You think you don't move a float and fly with your trolling motor? I remember when Derek Remitz won an Elite tournament flat out dragging a jig on Lake Amistad. If tournament rules state no dragging then I agree with you 100%, but if they say no trolling I have been under the impression they are talking about use of a gas powered motor.

The reason I am concerned is I have only done this twice. The first time was the new moon of April right down by the dam. Looking back that wasn't a good idea, in fact it was a horrible idea. It frosted hard and we caught 3 white bass. The other time was in June and we really didn't catch much that night either on Point 5. Looking to avoid another bust. Should you be able to tie up on nearly any bluff anywhere and catch some whites, or is there an area that is better, PC, Rocky Branch, Dam area. Thanks for the info on PC area and 12 bridge.

Looking to fish for Whites, Stripers, Walleyes, and Crappie. Thanks for the info. Anybody has any more info, recent sucess or failure, it is appreciated.

I have a couple of freinds that want me to take them light fishing sometime next week. Anybody having any luck, realize the moon has been nasty bright, but looking for some advice, as I know very little about it. What area of the lake should I be looking at? Any tips or reports are much appreciated. Thanks!

I am more of a popper fan than a prop bait guy, but wake baits like a redfin, and walking baits like a Super Spook Jr. are my favorites on Bull.

Gone fishing, I went fishing yesterday. The crankbait bite in the Lead Hill area has slowed down and the water is clearing daily. Bet the water between Peel and the mouth of Thedosia will have cleared a lot by this weekend. If there is not a good breeze my experience yesterday told me you may have to back off and fish for them with something other than crankbait, ecspecially as the water clears. There seems to be a crankbait bite in any of the more stained water you can find basically everywhere but it is not as good as it was last week. These fish have seen a crazy amount of crankbaits in the last week. I look for the fishing to be a little tougher than it was for several more days and pick back up as the moon comes around due as much to the fishing pressure as anything else.

LJ, Should air either this Sunday, April 29th, or the next one. BASS gets the tournaments on TV pretty quick.

I was at diamond city yesterday and I can tell you somewhere around 20 of the top 50 ran past diamond city yesterday. Sugarloafs were the king of the big bite seemed like. They are going to get beat to death not that they already didnt, and the "road bed" we call it the old bridge, is going to be absolutely smashed for the time being. It has always been hit and miss but he hit it perfectly. I really can't believe it spit out three consecutive 20 pound bags. He knew how to fish a big crankbait and must have really figured out the exact angle. He deserves a lot of respect for basically 20 pounds a day four days in a row. He was doing a cool little line up trick with the butt and tip of his rod. Looked a little odd but it sure worked for him.

Brandon P putting on a real show for us this week. My guess is the Elites will be back and Bull Shoals may be seeing some more anglers. I got on a crankbait bite a couple weeks ago but I did not see it being as strong as it has been and actually thought it was drying up. Boy was I wrong. Never even guessed it would be won on a deep crankbait, and barring a miracle for someone it will be. I watched Russ Lane fishing yesterday and he was a class act; he caught one over 5 while I was watching him and I really enjoyed watching him. I tried not to bother him but we ended up speaking some. He had been cranking steeper banks all week long and felt like the majority of everyone doing well was doing the same. A lot of top finishers between diamond city and tucker from what I understand. All I can say is these guys are good; surprised at the consistency of the 15 pound plus sacks. Amazing!

Day two in the books and the Bull is rocking. 1st place 45-13, 12th place right at 33 pounds and 50 cut was 27-2! 98 of 99 anglers weighed a limit. 6-13 big bass. 4 sacks over 20. What more can you say? Bry you beat me to the punch!

The Elite Series is in town and they smashed them today. About what I expected but it was good! 1 st place Brandon Palaniuk is currently sitting at 21-09. Bigger bags were weighed this winter, but weights usually drop this time of year a little. 12 th place is 17-3! 50th place is 13-2! 95 of 99 anglers with a 5 bass limit. 94th place over 10 pounds. AmazIng! Wanted to say a lot of the anglers said on stage how great the fishery is. A lot said it was the most keeper fish they have caught and they fish all over the country. A lot of naysayers about the quality of bass fishing lake Bull is due to a lot of factors, but she truly is great now if the Corp and the AGFC will leave her alone. A lot of anglers said they have a new favorite lake! This event no doubt brought the area a lot of needed money and should bring some much needed good press on the lake. I hope we see more anglers and business to our local economy.

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Been on the water a lot, mainly turkey hunting until yesterday. The bite is hot right now. You can catch fish on a bunch of different baits and places, in fact you can get a bite just about anywhere. A shakey head worm was my go to bait and the number of 2 to 3 pound fish you can catch is about as good as it gets. Pea gravel was the best for me. Starting down the lake from Diamond City the water was begining to clear the further I got towards Peel. The clearer water towards Peel was a little better for me for numbers, but two of my better bites came in the Lead Hill area with a little more water color. Water temp started around 62 yesterday with the cool night and ended around 68. I had posted I was catching post-spawn fish last week on the bluffs a little. That has dried up and a new wave has pulled up to the bank. Fish were prespawn primarily and I believe some of them were around their beds. One was oozing some eggs. Get on the water. The Elites were running the area heavily and I expect to see a lot of the top finishers fishing from Diamond City to Big Creek. Guessing the 50 cut at 25 pounds, top 12 to 41, and winning weight of somewhere around 65 pounds. The fish are biting and I may be selling the winning weight short, but I don't think so. Now for the turkey hunting. All in all it is tough. Heard very few and talked to a lot of people fishing, some of the Elites too, and noone was hearing many gobble. They are winding down. That being said if you can find one, and I am telling you it isn't easy, if you can find one gobbling you can kill him. Me and my buddy got on some birds the first day and ended up doubling. Here I am holding both of our birds. His bird had a 12 inch beard. Mine was right at 9. Wish I was there right now.

I was shocked with the spawned out fish, but the fish I have been catching have been. Don't know if it is just how I have been going about my fishing, dumb luck, or what, but bloody tails and skinny bellies have been the norm for me. I really think with the last full moon and the close to 70 degree water a lot of them did there thing. You are probably right about several waves, but I have not caught a fat female in any of my last 3 trips on Bull-1 and Table Rock-2 in the past week.

There was definately some color in the water on Saturday in that neck of the woods. Almost ran back up in Shoal Creek to see if the water has started clearing in the backs of the creeks. Know that to be the case on some of the creeks on Table Rock, but didn't get back into any of them on Bull. I am going to guess visibility was somewhere around 18 inches on the main lake. Keep us posted Bill.

Hey Bill, Keep your ears open for turkeys. Would love to know if you hear some and their whereabouts. PM me if you get some good info. Thanks Aaron

I went over the weekend for a few hours Saturday morning. All reports have been fish in and just outside the brush on the banks, so I hit a lot of those spots, but didn't catch much. The falling water is pushing them out just a little deeper I think. I did pull out on some main lake bluff banks and started throwing a Norman Deep Little N, firetiger and had some luck. Fish on just about all the bluffs I pulled up on on that crankbait. Figured that out about 11 and had to leave at noon. Ended up catching a good white bass, a 23 or 24 inch walleye, a 3 1/4 black, and a bunch of short fish in that hour before I had to load it up. I think that bite may be pretty strong, but with the draw down going on and possibly coming to a hault in the next couple of days it might all change again. Best advice would be keep an open mind because those things could be doing just about anything and fish are in all stages of the spawn. The fish I caught Saturday were spawned out. There could be a topwater bluff end bite anytime with those post spawn fish. Hope you do well, let us know.

Should have put that, every bass that I caught of any size was spawned out or a male.