mixermarkb

That boat looks kinda familiar.. Hope whoever was driving it caught a few too...

Between Bryan texting me pics and Don on here talking, you guys are killing me! Gonna have to get some work wrapped up so I can come down before the spring rains and the lake floods again!!!

I'm not sure what the MO and ARK guys can do about Bull. It sure seems to me like someone at the corps has changed the policy on how they handle lake levels. I know we had a couple of wet years, but full pool never in 50 years, then twice in a couple years like we have had, to me says less about the weather and more about what the corps has written in their water management policy. I'm thinking that power is worth a lot of money, and they have to have water to make the power all summer long. I think we will be seeing higher lake levels every year. It's up to mother nature when the rains come, and wether or not they flood nests and ruin a spawn, or provide cover and help fry. As for stripers? I'm all for them. I haven't caught a big one yet, but I bet getting your Sammy or Redfin blasted by a 30+ pound fish has got to be a rush.

I haven't had any problems fishing during the week at LOZ. I own a recording studio, and also do live sound mixing, so I pretty much work every weekend. Monday is my day off, and I haven't had any real problems putting in at Coffman and fishing the gravois down to the dam. I do own a 20' champion, but it's really been fine fishing for me the past few years during the week.

I was hoping and praying for my friends down at Theodosia Marina that some of the rain that was forecasted wouldn't happen and that they lake would keep dropping. 2008 was really hard on them, because they lose their gas storage at around 689, and it's hard to keep a Marina in business that can't sell gasoline. Let's hope it let's up soon so maybe the corps can get a handle on things before summer drags on too long. I never thought I'd see 695 again, and to top it 3 years later is insane. The Corps has to have changed some policies on the way they operate the white river system. Mother nature is angry, yes, but there has to have been weather close to this between 1952 and 2008. Idk, it's all crazy. Hope the storms that NOAA are predicting for today don't cause more deaths like the Joplin storm.

696.2 is what the corps webpage says... That's like a foot higher than the 2008 levels! Wow!

I have more details in my post below, but i did pretty well on smallmouth, flat gravel points in the Oakland to Music Creek area, fishing 15-20 feet with tube baits and grubs.

Ok, so I fished Monday thru Weds out of Theodosia. There is a lot of debris, but the lake is ok to run on if you are careful. Watch out when the wind shifts directions, as it blows the floating rafts of debris off the banks and back into the lake. There is a place to launch at TMR, and they do have parking up in the hill. They don't have gas at the moment tho, so fill up in town before you put in. The water is still awful cold for playing, 65-68 was average, that should bump up a bit between now and the holiday, but it's still gonna be cooler than a normal year. If they are ok with cool water, the tubers should be fine if you sort of scout out a run and take mental not of where the big floaters are. Past pontiac there is much less crap floating than upriver. The fish are biting, cookie's food is great as always, and the Cooks have everything as ready as mother nature will allow. No gas is really the only issue at TMR. Have fun on the big weekend, Mark Burris

I keep my boat at Theodosia, so I put in there. I know Pontiac has a working ramp, and Bull Shoals Marina is ok as well. I drove by Oakland going in to Gooley, but didn't really pay any attention to what the ramp situation was over there. Sorry I don't have more info for you. Mark Burris

The smallmouth are biting pretty well despite the high water. I fished Monday, Tuesday and today. I found a decent tube bite Monday afternoon, and got onto them pretty good yesterday and today. Boat in 18-24 FOW, flat points, dragging a tube or swimming a grub. Fished with a friend of mine yesterday, and we both had well upwards of 15 smallies, with a couple in the 3 pound class, along with a 24" walleye, and a couple more keeper walleye, with a few nice whites mixed in. Solo today from 9 to 4, 17 smallmouth, 3 short largemouths, a 17" Kentucky, a 19" largemouth, and 5 nice whites. The smallmouth were all on tube or grub, everything else topwater. Be careful running still tho, there are some big trees, and the occasional raft of debris. The lake is clearing up, ranging from a good hard stain around Theodosia, to clear in the white river arm. Good Luck! Mark Burris

I fish Bull Shoals, but have been thinking of trying to get to know my way around TR, just because I'd like to fish a tourney circuit at some point, if I ever get to the point that I have time on the weekends free. When I go to TR, I will be hiring Bill Babler for at least a half day trip. Guides who give good info like this on a forum deserve support, as they truly care about people having a good time on their lakes. Thanks Bill, classy move. Mark Burris

You should be ok, if you use common sense and are careful. I'd make sure the resort has enough walkway to get to their dock, as some of the smaller docks are 50' from shore right now. Im going down on Sunday, and fished the lake in 2008 when it was up, and had no issues. Just watch out for floating limbs and other debris and you should be fine. Mark Burris

Howdy. I keep a boat at Theodosia, and have fished the lake for years. Haven't been down in a few weeks tho, the lake was at 680 and coming up fast when I was down last. There was more debris than ive ever seen in the lake, and didnt even try to launch at theodosia. I drove over to buck creek, and was able to launch and fish clear water with no problems, but still had to watch for floaters. From talking to my friend Brian at the marina, there is still an awful lot of debris between Theodosia and big boy point. I have no guess as to how much will have settled by memorial day, but a slow drop from an expected crest this week would help a lot. The lake is clearing up and in much better shape around point 13 to Pontiac. Going back to 2008, they did have a decent place to launch off the road at the corps park, with trailer parking up on the hill at the boat storage in town. I'm headed down Sunday evening for a few days, and will post back what I find. My gut says you will be ok, if everyone uses common sense. The tubers may have to run 5-10 minutes down the lake to do their thing, but their should be a fun topwater bite for the fisherman, and probably a good smallmouth grub bite downlake. Ill know more on Monday, Mark Burris

I launched in 2008 at Theodosia several times, and just put in off the road at buck creek this week. Also saw rigs at Pontiac in 08, so there are places around. May have to walk a bit to your truck, but it is do-able.