CentralARBassman

Thanks for the tips FH

Amateur question - that time of year what areas you trying to concentrate on for bass? Points, grass, structure? Really a rooke at fishing on a lake.

Thanks FH. I'll definitely give those areas a shot. I hope you're right about the topwater bite.

Good evening, It's been almost a year since I fished Bull Shoals and I pray this year is way better than last year. I fished almost two full days last year towards the first of May and went home skunked (water was high but weather was perfect). I think we caught maybe five or six fish total between the seven of us there for the weekend. Several of us are going back this year the first weekend of May so I'm hoping for some help. We're staying at Howard's Creek and renting a couple of boats. Where would yall recommend fishing for bass on this part of the lake or do we desparately need to make a run to another part of the lake? What type of baits would work well? I fish several times a week in a nearby pond with my two very young boys for bluegill (they have a blast - all that matters) and I usually only get to get out on a lake once or twice a year. I'm definitely a bass fishing amateur so the more detail the better please. We're also hoping to do some catfishing at night. Any recommended areas nearby? I'm not too comfortable going very far at night on unfamiliar waters.

Nine of us went on the trip and here's how it broke down: 1 walleye 2 white bass 3 smallmouth 1 crappie 1 kentucky All but two of those were caught on spinnerbaits but we definitely struggled to find anything that would consistently work and we tried EVERYTHING on Friday and Saturday. I personally tried powerworms, lizards, baby brush hogs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, finesse worms, wacky rigs, jigs, tubes, Zara Spooks, nightcrawlers. I was really working the 25-35ft range since two other guys on the boat were throwing spinnerbaits almost all day and working them back to the boat from the shore. I think inexperience was a big factor, though. We'll definitely be back later this year or the same time next year. Had a blast despite not finding the fish.

Thanks for the great tips guys. Headed out in the morning. Hopefully I have lots of pictures to share come Sunday evening. Thanks, LRBM

Thanks for the suggestions. That sounds like a good plan to me. When you say further up the lake is there a specific area you're talking about? Some friends are I are renting a boat from a place that's in Howard's Creek so I wasn't planning on getting too far away. So if I'm focusing on smallmouth I need to stick to the plastics, huh? I've got plenty but I'd geared up with tons of new crankbaits/spinnerbaits that it looks like I won't get to try out Thanks again, LRBM

Hey all, I'm going to be fishing for largemouth in Howard's Creek at Bull Shoals in a few days. I've been bass fishing a long time but still consider myself pretty much a beginner (mostly bank fish). Any tips for what areas I need to target and what I need to be fishing with? The more detail the better. Thanks in advance, LRBM