Outdoor Girl

These were caught up here near the marina this past weekend....Cape Fair

The Castaway is set up for fishing. It has 3 rod holders installed on it.

The Cape Fair Marina and Hideaway Marina have kayaks to rent or to buy. I've attached a flyer showing our kayaks. We are receiving a new load in a couple of weeks.

Every Sunday from March 11th until June 24th. Yes, you pay here on the morning of....come out to the marina store. Hope to see you Sunday!

If you're out snagging spoonbill next week, stop by and say HI! We get a lot of spoonbill in here at the Cape Fair Marina, as we are the only marina close to the James on TRL. We have a scale for you to weigh them and a cleaning station too. I love to take pictures and share them with our customers if you're up for that. There's also a couple of contests you can get in...no matter what size your fish! Also, Koppies on the Lake Restaurant (here at the marina) will open at 5pm on the 14th and stay open 24 hours + for the spoonbill snaggers! Great specials... We also have all the tackle you need, just in case! Here's a few pictures from opening week last season....

These pictures were taken around the Cape Fair Marina over the last couple of weeks. Fishing is good!

WEDNESDAY OPEN BUDDY BASS TOURNAMENTS BEGIN TOMORROW!!! Cape Fair Marina on Table Rock Lake 7:00AM TO 1:30PM WEIGH-IN Sign up begins at 5:30am 3 FISH LIMIT (changed from original 4) ENTRY FEE: $35 PER TEAM One person can fish as a team Tournament Rules will be given out at first sign-up WEDNESDAY FISHING DATES March 7 through June 27, 2012 SUNDAY OPEN BUDDY BASS TOURNAMENTS BEGIN THIS WEEKEND!!! Cape Fair Marina on Table Rock Lake 7:00AM TO 2:30PM WEIGH-IN Sign up begins at 5:30am 5 FISH LIMIT ENTRY FEE: $35 PER TEAM One person can fish as a team Tournament Rules will be given out at first sign-up SUNDAY FISHING DATES March 11 through June 24, 2012 Contact the marina for any questions....417-538-4163

Sunday Open Buddy Bass Tournaments begin this Sunday, March 11th at the Cape Fair Marina and will run through June 24th. 7am take off and 2:30pm weigh-in 5 fish limit $35 per team (one person can fish as a team) Sign up begins at 5:30am at the marina store. For more information, contact the marina at 417-538-4163.

Cape Fair Marina is once again sponsoring weekly Wednesday buddy bass tournaments... The first one begins tomorrow, March 7th. 7:00AM TO 1:30PM WEIGH-IN 3 FISH LIMIT ENTRY FEE: $35 PER TEAM One person can fish as a team Tournament Rules will be given out at first sign-up WEDNESDAY FISHING DATES March 7 through June 27 2012 If you have any questions, contact the marina at 417-538-4163.

CAPE FAIR MARINA YEAR END REPORT Like a good fishing trip coming to an end, the Cape Fair Marina has to close for the winter season. Well almost, there are three of us that will be in and out at the marina for the entire winter season. If any week end looks to be pretty we will open for customers who have a bad case of cabin fever. It is also our intent to leave the gas pumps on during the day for credit card sales only. We might also mention that our gas prices during this time are very reasonable. The tackle store will be open but our live bait will be shut down till early spring. We want to thank all of customers for making a great year for us in spite of the floods and drought and extremely hot temperatures. All the local communities and chambers have been a great help and it’s super to see the local residents come down and enjoy themselves. It has been a better than average year for all kinds of fishing. Before the flood era we had some of the best crappie fishing this old lake has seen in 5 years or more. We have pictures on our brag board of 3 and 4 pound crappie brought in and it seemed like 2 pounders were common to a lot of fisherman. One big crappie was 21 1//2 inches long and weighed 4.02 pounds and made a meal by itself. One of our crappie guys hooked up with a thirty pound flat head catfish while fishing for crappie with his 6 pound line. I suppose he’s still got a grin on his face. Other highlights included an over 9 pound black bass caught on the rip-rap under the Bridgeport Bridge on the East bank and he put it back! My fishing partner and myself both hooked the same bass on crank baits and further more we done it twice in the same day, top that one! The spoon billers had their fun too. One of the boys hooked a monster spoonbill up at point 15, said he thought he had hooked a log; it was so big and powerful. It pulled with all its mite, run left and right almost circle the boat once and after a half hour fight it really was a log! I understand he ate some crow. Our buddy bass tournaments were fun and profitable for some of the teams. The Wednesday tournament will have some major changes next year, one being that it will now be an open tournament to all ages. There will be a discount on the entry fee for all the folks over 55 years or disable. The Sunday open bass tournament will be even bigger next year with extra monies being donated by new sponsors. There will be a fish off on both tournaments. We already have three fundraiser buddy bass tournaments set up for next year. Two bass circuits will also run out of the marina. The Champion Boat tournament will run again next fall. You winter bass fisherman, keep your eyes peeled for a cold winter bass tournament sometime in late January or early February just to get your old winter bones warmed up for spring. The corp campgrounds here at Cape Fair will be open for winter camping for the first time ever this winter. No running water, showers, or electricity but lots of winter scenery and bald eagles. We will be building new slip stalls again this winter and we have a very few new slips available now. We have been running a special entry charge to boaters who want a new slip and will continue this special though the winter months. If you want to get your boat out of the winter weather, then give us a call. We will re-open at the first of March officially but we will be here a bunch by mid February with me out fishing and restocking the tackle store. Again, thank you for your patronage and we write again next year.

We are still open and will be until November 1, 2011 and even then when the weather is pretty we will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Even on bad weather days there is a good chance that one of us will be here on the marina doing paper work or working on the docks. So if you get cabin fever or the urge to go fishing then come on down. Oh yes, I almost forgot. The camp grounds for the first time is allowing winter camping. Now the water will be turned off to prevent freezing but the electric will be on and they are welcoming the hardy to come use the camp grounds and enjoy the beautiful winter scenery. Now to the fishing report! Well what can I say, the bass fishing still “stinks”. Sure you can catch short fish but the good ones are really tough. On the Sunday open fish-off we did have a beautiful 6.28 black bass checked in with a total stringer weight of 13.34 pounds winning the event. That six pounder was the first big bass weighed in over 2 months. The water temperature is dropping into the sixties and the water color varies from very clear to a nasty green. Black Bass: The algae is in its winter die off mood and we believe it is affecting the PH in the lake water. We really don’t know why the bigger bass are so fussy but nobody is catching them with any consistently. The shad are in the back of the bigger coves and are thick. The bass are back there and just about anything will at some point get hit. Spooks and buss baits early will catch bass. Flukes with a hook only in white pearl and bubble gum is doing well right up on the banks and always around shore brush and lay down trees. Peanut butter and jelly colored jigs dragged across gravel points in about 15 foot of water will catch fish. I will say this, we are getting some beautiful brown bass coming in mostly caught from the marina on up the James river as far as you can go. Bass fishing will get better. They have to start hitting spinner baits in the backs of the coves soon. Crappies: Come on down now, the crappie are biting. Minnows are the go to bait. Fish them shallow or deep as long as you drop them around brush and trees and lay downs off the banks. They are really tight to cover, but they working all the way up the rivers and mid way in the bigger coves. The fisherman that work at it (we never said it was easy) are bringing in limits of 15 crappie each. Catfish: Good cat fishing is still happening and plain old dough baits seem to be the ticket. Flat heads are still pounding crank baits on bluff ends. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if trot lines wouldn’t still pick up some good cats. Perch: Some of the biggest perch I’ve seen in a while are being caught around boat docks and steep bluff slides. Plain old worms and bobber, small hooks and light line will fill the frying pan.

Dyna Prop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have had some reports today that the fish are biting a little better............

The bass fishing is so confusing right now that really good fisherman from pro's to locals are checking themselves into our local mental wards. We catch one keeper and think "oh boy, I've found a pattern" and we won't catch another keeper the rest of the day. Friday I talked to one of our guides and with his client and himself they were having a ball catching bass after bass, he was actually happy! Saturday this same guide was back in the mental ward. Black Bass: Wednesday Retires's tournament was won with exactly 8.00 pounds of bass with four fish in the sack. Heavy bass was a 2.90 beautiful dark brown bass. The bass will hit just about anything if they are so minded. Crank baits are working further up the river, sort of. Spinner baits and buss baits catch fish some times in the mornings. Dragging jigs and rigs across good long deep points might work. Big worms and Zoom craws on bluff slides and broken ledges will get a good fish maybe. Jerk baits have been working in the clearer water sometimes. Throwing Spooks, PopR's, and artificial frogs right out in he middle of the lake is as likely to catch bass as anything. Its a typical October with the bass scattering everywhere and no where. Hang on to your minds, it will change and for the better. Hold off on the bows and rifle just a little longer and you can check back out of the mental ward. Crappie: There's some hope here. Good size crappie are being taken, not in large numbers but more than enough to stink your deep fryer. Most of the good crappie are being caught up James river from Bear Den to Ashers Cane Bottom. Piney Creek is also coming on with some good big crappie being caught mostly on crappie minnows. The crappie are holding close to anything made of wood and you have to stick the minnow right down their throats. Jigs and rooster tails will work but you are going to lose some lures. Catfish: Some nice flatheads are coming in from all things, our bass fishing buddies using crank baits and some dandies too. Channel cats are still hitting dough baits and worms and have moved toward the more shallow banks. The catfish will bite if you will just go after them. White Bass: They are everywhere and no where. Some being caught on top waters when they come up and some way up the rivers and creeks where they are chasing shad. Good luck!

This weekend, October 8th, the Champion Boat Owners tournament is BACK on Table Rock Lake!!!! Cape Fair Marina 7am - 3pm $60 per boat (cash only) 100% payback $10 optional big bass Early entry from 5pm to 7pm Friday night at the marina..... Call or message me for further details. 417-538-4163

This weekend is the Kids Fishing for a Cure benefit auction & tournament. Auction is Friday night at Flat Creek and you can sign up for the tournament that night, or sign your child up for the next days Kids Fishing Derby! Saturday's tournament will go out of Cape Fair Marina at 6:30 and weigh in at 3:30. $100 entry fee with $20 optional Big Bass Pot. If you don't have a fishing partner, we are auctioning off Brian Snowden as your partner on Friday Night!!! Come out and support the children who benefit from St. Jude....some of who will be at Friday and Saturday's event. Call Kim at 417-818-6011 for more details....

In conjunction with the Kids Fishing for a Cure tournament on September 24th, there will be an auction full of fishing and hunting stuff at Flat Creek Resort the night before. CATFISH BUFFET, AUCTION, AND ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY NIGHT AT FLAT CREEK RESORT Come out on Friday night, September 23rd, to Flat Creek Resort in Cape Fair, MO. Enjoy a Catfish Buffet, music by Missouri Boatride, fun activities for the kids, and both a silent & live auction provided by Foster Auction Service for only $10 per person. Purchase tickets at Cape Fair Marina or call 417-818-6011 to talk to a committee member. Auction Items Include.... •Guided Fishing Trip on Table Rock Lake with Eric's Elite Guide Service •Handmade King Size Cedar Log Bed •Two youth turkey hunts with Gila Trophy Outfitter's in New Mexico •A guided Oklahoma hog hunt •30.06 Rifle •Other guns •Antler Art •Gift Certificates for Aletha's Beauty Salon •Gift Certificates to Dyna Prop •Hitachi Compound Mitre Saw •12volt cordless drill •Cabela's gift cards •.22 long rifle cricket youth model gun •Boat covers •200 gallons propane •Fully stocked tackle box •Fish cleaning table •Full bass mount from Visions of Wildlife Taxidermy (National & State Champion Taxidermist) •Pro-Guide Marine batteries •Sportsman's Gold Marinades •Pizza World Gift Certificates •Cookie Basket •Rods and Reels •Commando Hunting Products Package •Deer & Turkey Calls •Custom knife •Autographed Jerseys from Pro Fishermen Brian Snowden, Stacey King, and Mike McClelland •1/2 day Fishing trip with Pete Wenners •Clothing •Gift Certificate for a weekend stay in Florida •Opportunity to partner with B.A.S.S. Pro Brian Snowden for the following days fishing tournament!!!!! ***Recently added stuff from Zoom, Spro, a Mustang top of the line PFD signed my Mike McClelland, Lock-R-Bar, Pro-Locker, etc..... Plus skis and wakeboard 1/2 day fishing trip with Dan Boyer

Cape Fair!!!!

Alright, the Labor Day Holiday is over and the fish are ready to bite. Only a few fish were struck by props and most have gone on nerve pills to overcome the noise and wave action that drove them to hide on the bottom of the lake. Crappie: Let’s start with some big crappie showing up. Not in large numbers yet but big enough to make a real meal out of 4 or 5 good ones. Road runners and rooster tails fished down around brush and lay down trees in 15 to 18 foot of water will get you bit if you don’t hang up a lot. Crappie jigs tipped with a small minnow and fished straight down over them trees will catch them too. As the water cools even more now that we are heading into the fall, the crappie will start moving toward the banks and start feeding hard for the coming winter, don’t forget to ever so often fish shallow banks and see if they are there. White bass: These guys are getting ready to start their fall run and if we ever get a rain, I bet they will fill the rivers a long ways upstream. Some of the schools of whites that are chasing shad on top are big covering an acre at times. Problem is that they are hard to sneak up on without putting them down. The white’s are also working over the shad as the wind blows the schools over the better gravel points. Use small to medium size top waters for those schooling white’s and crank baits that run will run 6 to 8 feet deep on the gravel points. Black Bass: We had some nice blacks turned end on a small tournament Sunday. Not monster bass, but good solid 2 ½ pounders. The moon is coming full, so it’s a given that the good bass will be tearing up spinners baits thrown near the banks in the bigger coves. Dragging Carolina rigs over any good point will catch a mixed size of bass in the day time. Also crank baits further up the James and Flat creek will net you a bunch of short bass. Not many keepers but a ton of fun. Just play with these short fish because about the end of this month you will get your rod bent double. Water color and temperature: Right now the water in the upper James and Flat creek is kind of a dirty brown/green. Further down the James the color is a much nicer green but the fish don’t seem to be biting as good. Water temperature is dropping down near the 80 degree mark and if this cool weather hangs in we might see 70 degree water pretty quick.

Come join us for a more laid back tournament every Wednesday. One person in the boat must be 55 or older and/or disabled. See attached for more details! More questions? Call the Cape Fair Marina at 417-538-4163. RETIREES DISABLED TOURNAMENT RULES2011-1.pdf

We now have boat covers, tools from Meeks, and a king size handmade cedar log bed donated to the auction in addition to everything else! Bring the family out on Friday night for food, the Missouri Boatride bluegrass band, kids activities (air rifles, archery, inflatibles), and the silent and live auction! Then, fish the tournament the next morning out of Cape Fair Marina!

The water temperature is finally down in the mid to low 80’s and the fish are moving to different structure. It’s still hot weather fishing, but bearable. As the water cools the fish are going to change their feeding locations and times. Right now we have large schools of black bass, white bass and big perch all blowing up on top chasing shad and they are doing this right in the middle of the hot part of the day. It’s a wonder that the fish are hitting any kind of artificial bait as Table rock is full to the brim with shad, perch and bass fry swimming everywhere and don’t forget the crawdads too. Black Bass: You would have to rate the fishing for legal size bass at poor to fair at best. During the day the big bass have moved into the 18 to 25 range of water depth and are just hanging out over good bottom structure, such as old lay down trees and brush piles somewhere in that depth range. You can get bit if you work a big 10 or 12 inch worm Texas rigged down in that junk and only if you work it real slow. Even then you probably won’t feel the bite as the big bass aren’t moving after they pick the worm up. I mean if you aren’t watching your line for the twitch you won’t feel the fish until they have already spit it out. Night time fishing is a different story altogether. The good bass are hitting the above mentioned worms, and they are also hitting the critter craws well. They are also moving shallow quicker and now is the time to get your spinner baits in the game. Look for them broken rock banks in some of the bigger coves and bring that spinner bait back to the boat at a pretty good clip. Crappie: It’s getting better as these guys are starting to feel the fall urge to put some fat on before winter. They are still deep, but getting more aggressive on chasing down food and it will just get better as the fall comes on. We have already seen one 3 pound crappie come into the marina. White Bass: Hang on these guys are already to make their fall run. They are out on the gravel points chasing shad right up on the bank when they get the chance too. Trolling cranks baits back and forth over the good gravel points will catch a lot of white bass. They are also busting shad up on top right out in the channels and if you can get close enough without spooking them down, you will have a ball. Catfish: I got a couple of guys fishing out of their boats in the back of some of the flatter coves in 9 to 10 foot of water using dough bait of all things and they are bringing in some nice channel cats. Nothing big, just good pound 1 ½ to 3 pound channels and they are telling me they have some fine eating. Flatheads are on the feed and after live bait. We have picked up some nice flats on crank baits while fishing for bass. I cleaned a couple of nice flats for some friends the other day and their bellies were full of shad and small perch. I would say it’s time to get those trot lines and limb lines going.

If you'd like the opportunity to fish with Pro-Fisherman Brian Snowden in this buddy bass tournament.........message me!