Rwh46

I'm posting this report on both Upper and Lower because many people from both Forums helped me out. Our club had a great tournament as a result Posted just now First off I apologize for the tardiness of this report. I hate it when someone asks for help, says they'll give a report afterwords and then never gets heard from again. that's NOT ME, but some unforeseen circumstances kept me from getting this report out in a timely manner. A great number of people contributed to this thread and it really paid dividends for our bass club's 1st tournament on Bull Shoalls. We fished April 23-25th with 2 days prefishing and 1 1/2 days of tournament. Our takeoff point was Lakewood Resort in Little Buck Creek near the 30 mile marker. A GREAT place to stay with good rates and extremely helpful owners (Mike & Sarah). Now before the fishing details, my "unforeseen" circumstances. I got home and needed to have my boat cover repaired from a tear I put in it on the way down. Carrying it down a narrow set of stairs where I couldn't see my feet, to the sewing machine was not a good idea. I slipped 4 steps from the bottom and went down hard. 5 hours in ER, followed by appointment with Orthopedic surgeon a day later and surgery 2 days after that was the results. I tore my quadreceptic tendon off my knee cap. I'm just know mobile enuf to get down an other set of stairs to my computer. Yeah I'm out of boat fishing for a few weeks (probably 6-8). Good thing I had fun at Bull to keep me going til then We had 10 boats fishing and everyone that could figure out how to fish thru or around the bushes caught fish. The lake was 4.5'to 5' high with temperatures in the upper 50s to lower 60s. There was current most days but the lake really didn't fall much On Thursday and Friday I fished Trimble, Shoal, 3 & 5 Fingers, Seed Tick, Buck and Little Buck. I started as far back as I could go and worked my way out with shakeyhead, jig, chatterbait and an A-Rig. Although there were some smaller fish in the very back most quality keepers came from secondary points halfway out of the pocket. My biggest 18 1/2" was on the A-Rig. (I hate that bait). I caught keeper fish in all coves except 3 fingers and Little Buck. Saturday I caught my 1st 3 keepers in Seed Tick on shakey head senkos and got my limit from Buck Creek. I culled up the rest of the day but the rain and wind certainly curtailed the good bite from Friday. The weighin was good with 4 limits, 35 keepers and 70 lbs. No one tells you what they were doing after the 1st day. Sunday the FOG rolled in and it was not safe to launch at our planned time (7:00am), we finally let everyone "Trolling motor only" launch at 8:30. We fished for 2 hours and called it a day. Long trip back to St. Louis for everyone. The weighin still wasn't that bad. 1 limit, 20 keepers and another 33lbs. First place was shakeyheads and tubes on mainlake points, Second was weedless wacky rigged senkos on secondary points and third palce was shakeyhead magnum trick worms on secondary points and banks. No one fished farther away than East Sugarloaf going up the river and Big Creek going the other way. For our first time on the lake I'd say we did "OK" nothing great but everyone caught fish, the accomodations were great and it's a real pleasure to fish where there isn't 5 other boats in the same cove with you, and you don't have to flip docks all day. Bad news for you who live there is "We'll be back" but probably only once a year for now. When everyone in the club is retired it might be a different story though. Again, my apology for the lateness of this report, and I sincerely want to thank everyone who contributed to make our 1st trip a good one

First off I apologize for the tardiness of this report. I hate it when someone asks for help, says they'll give a report afterwords and then never gets heard from again. that's NOT ME, but some unforeseen circumstances kept me from getting this report out in a timely manner. A great number of people contributed to this thread and it really paid dividends for our bass club's 1st tournament on Bull Shoalls. We fished April 23-25th with 2 days prefishing and 1 1/2 days of tournament. Our takeoff point was Lakewood Resort in Little Buck Creek near the 30 mile marker. A GREAT place to stay with good rates and extremely helpful owners (Mike & Sarah). Now before the fishing details, my "unforeseen" circumstances. I got home and needed to have my boat cover repaired from a tear I put in it on the way down. Carrying it down a narrow set of stairs where I couldn't see my feet, to the sewing machine was not a good idea. I slipped 4 steps from the bottom and went down hard. 5 hours in ER, followed by appointment with Orthopedic surgeon a day later and surgery 2 days after that was the results. I tore my quadreceptic tendon off my knee cap. I'm just know mobile enuf to get down an other set of stairs to my computer. Yeah I'm out of boat fishing for a few weeks (probably 6-8). Good thing I had fun at Bull to keep me going til then We had 10 boats fishing and everyone that could figure out how to fish thru or around the bushes caught fish. The lake was 4.5'to 5' high with temperatures in the upper 50s to lower 60s. There was current most days but the lake really didn't fall much On Thursday and Friday I fished Trimble, Shoal, 3 & 5 Fingers, Seed Tick, Buck and Little Buck. I started as far back as I could go and worked my way out with shakeyhead, jig, chatterbait and an A-Rig. Although there were some smaller fish in the very back most quality keepers came from secondary points halfway out of the pocket. My biggest 18 1/2" was on the A-Rig. (I hate that bait). I caught keeper fish in all coves except 3 fingers and Little Buck. Saturday I caught my 1st 3 keepers in Seed Tick on shakey head senkos and got my limit from Buck Creek. I culled up the rest of the day but the rain and wind certainly curtailed the good bite from Friday. The weighin was good with 4 limits, 35 keepers and 70 lbs. No one tells you what they were doing after the 1st day. Sunday the FOG rolled in and it was not safe to launch at our planned time (7:00am), we finally let everyone "Trolling motor only" launch at 8:30. We fished for 2 hours and called it a day. Long trip back to St. Louis for everyone. The weighin still wasn't that bad. 1 limit, 20 keepers and another 33lbs. First place was shakeyheads and tubes on mainlake points, Second was weedless wacky rigged senkos on secondary points and third palce was shakeyhead magnum trick worms on secondary points and banks. No one fished farther away than East Sugarloaf going up the river and Big Creek going the other way. For our first time on the lake I'd say we did "OK" nothing great but everyone caught fish, the accomodations were great and it's a real pleasure to fish where there isn't 5 other boats in the same cove with you, and you don't have to flip docks all day. Bad news for you who live there is "We'll be back" but probably only once a year for now. When everyone in the club is retired it might be a different story though. Again, my apology for the lateness of this report, and I sincerely want to thank everyone who contributed to make our 1st trip a good one

Thanks, I'll give them a try and report back next week

I'm making my first trip to BS this coming weekend. I live out in Lake St. Louis and have been a member of the Emerson Electric Bass Club since 1985. I'd be glad to share my report next week when I get back. I'm going out of Lakewoods Resort up near Peel Ferry. If anyone has some insight on where to start looking i"d welcome it?

From what i have pieced together I think the power pool level was 654 until 2017-18 and then changed by the Corps to 659 or 660. This website is a really good graphic record of the lake levels on a daily basis from 2016 til now. Check it out http://bullshoals.uslakes.info/Level/ To get 2016-2018 data just click on that year's box below the graph. Then use your mouse to slide across it to get the date you're looking for

Good catch, you're right. And high water does not seem to be as much a "fluke" anymore

Thanks for the testimony on Lakewoods. In talking to them on the phone they sound like the kind of people you "want to get to know" I've read some good reports on this Forum regarding Buck Creek as well as 3 & 5 fingers, not to mention the 2 sugarloafs. Most of that info came from 2008-2014 time frame though. Like you said flukes worked well back then but now ???? Maybe COVID changed the pattern & bait selection. HA!!! Anyway thanks for the input

Sent him a PM but no response. His website is for sale, he hasn't been active on his facebook page or his Linkedin one since 2017 either. Kinda like he dropped off the face of the earth. Hope nothing serious happened to him. Anyway thanks for the recommendation. I'll keep looking for help

thanks, what was his forum name? i don't know how to look him up by his full name. There's probably a way but i'm a dummie on most of this stuff

I posted this on Upper Bull Shoals Forum back in December but thought I would add it to this Forum because I know there are members that don’t read both. If I’m being too redundant just delete the post, I’ll understand. I've lived and fished in Missouri for over 40 years and am ashamed to admit I've never been on Bull Shoals. I fish all over the state TR, Lake O, Pomme, Stockton, Mark Twain, and I live on Lake St. Louis (near Wentzville) Anyway the bass club I started in 1985 has finally given up on KY Lake and we are looking to find a replacement for it. Our club is small, our tournaments are usually 10 boats are less and everyone is more or less retired fisherman. One guy in the club has hounded us for years to try Bull Shoals but he's the only one that's spent any time there (Oakland Area). Anyway we're doing it next year to see if it might work for us going forward. The lodging accomodations we need drove us to either the Theodosa area or down by the dam. We wound up picking Boondocks down by the dam and will be fishing there April 24-25, 2021. NEWS FLASH I pulled an audible and made a major change to location for our April Tournament. We are going to launch out of Buck Creek Area and leave Howard Creek and the dam!!!! I was always nervous about fishing so close to the dam. It limits the directions you can go and type of water to fish. After reading this Forum and Lower BS I heard about Lakewoods Resort up near Protem. After talking to the owners I felt like their place and the "mid Lake" Area fit our clubs needs better Some overall help on general areas to fish (not looking for anyone's honey hole) just areas to start looking in would be helpful. What will the bass be doing at that time of the year (normally) prespawn, spawning or post. We've heard that the water levels this year were extraordinarily HIGH. Is that because of flood control issues or unusual weather. Real question is "Will it likely occur again next year" or was this year a fluke.? We have our lodging set but how about bait and tackle places? How about good places to eat (homestyle is our favorite choice). 5 of us run BassCats with Yamaha outboards. Is there a marina or dealership near by for support? I know I asking for the "whole enchalada" in help, but I'd like to get our guys a good start for their 1st time on Bull Shoals in looking for fish, food and help (if needed). I consider this forum the "Chamber of Commerce" for fishermen so I'd appreciate the help

Thanks, my problem is I have only 1 Navionics card which I use at my console and upfront I have a Lakemaster Card and that's the one that worries me about coverage.

So now a new question regarding maps. I have Humminbirds on my Cat and use both Navionics and Lakemaster maps but. I believe my Navionics South Card covers Arkansas but my Lakemaster Great Plains V 5.0 only goes to the Missouri Border. Unfortunately my boats in storage so I can't get to it to fireup the units and see if Bull Shoals is included. I saw the Lakemastewr V 6.0 Great Plains Card covers Bull Shoals or I can get a Mid-South card, but before I spring for another $100 card can anyone tell me if my older version already does the job. Also for those in my club that have Lowrance and Garmin, what will they need? Appreciate any help you'll might have.

OK, I pulled an audible and made a major change to location for our April Tournament. We are going to launch out of Buck Creek Area and leave Howard Creek and the dam!!!! I was always nervous about fishing so close to the dam. It limits the directions you can go and type of water to fish. After reading this Forum and Lower BS I heard about Lakewoods Resort up near Protem. After talking to the owners I felt like their place and the "mid Lake" Area fit our clubs needs better, SOOOOOOO we're off to fish a different places. I don't expect to see stained water (unless it rains alot, but from what I've read I think this is a better section of the lake for bass fishing. Now I need help again. First was moving up the lake a good call or did I screwup? I've heard and read some about the areas, sugarloaf, trimble, buck, big, music, elbow so I know there's fish up that way. Any HELP would be appreciated

Thanks, that time of the year protection from North Wind is a good plan, even though "the wind is your friend"

Hey, that's encouraging info, thanks. I have heard from other people and other reports that the fish on Bull Shoals like "small pockets" "bluff cuts" etc.. To me that means little niches or cuts in a bank that are 1 or 2 boat lengths deep rather than a pocket 50-100 yds long and they can be on either main lake or in the creek arms. Have i got that right?

Thanks for help I'm trying to gather enough info to pass along to the club members so they "all" have a good experience on the lake. It's our 1st venture this far out, since Ky Lake has gone dry. We have a mix of fishing styles in the group. 2 or 3 like topwater and power fishing, 5 or 6 are finesse prone with wacky, shakey and Nedrigs in their arsenal as well as jigs & carolina rigging and 1 or 2 fish crankbaits or spinnerbaits. The biggest issue will be finding enough "Off color" water for at least half the guys. We fished Table Rock for 5 years out of Aunts Creek in late March and the clear water finally was too much for them. Our last Tournament there we had 10 boats, and 3 fish after 2 days. (I caught 2 of those 3 and had to run 25 miles up the James to get them). They won't go back, I'm hopeful that the smallmouth population down by Howard, Jimmy and Sisters Creek will work for the jig and finesse guys. Top water or jerkbaits will probably work OK. Key will be water temp I'm sure and are the fish in prespawn, spawn or post spawn? Only time will tell on that. Still trying to learn more about the areas down by the dam since most guys will want to fish within 5-8 miles of takeoff (Boondocks Resort in Howard Creek)

Thanks for the tips. I'll certainly contact you sometime mid April. We're fishing the last wee of that month.

Got sidelined with Grandkids over Xmas. Back on the searchs now I have "cut & pasted' 54 pages of "data" on April/May reports from from Upper and Lower Bull Shoals. They're in a word document. Now I start back thru them and save the "nuggets" of what, when, and where. That'll get me a better idea of what baits on what days at what depth and where on the lake I should look. That's usually takes more than one pass thru. When i get something down to a manageable size (2 or 3 pages) i'll send you a PM with that data , and if you would, tell me whether I'm off base or not. Thanks

Thanks for the tip on "Lower" data. I'll get busy on it As far as White River Border Lakes Permits, I did look into them and the guys that aren't old enough to get by without a license will be using that permit vs an Ark Out of state License. Thanks for the suggestion. Since I'm an OLF at 74 I don't need a license in Mo. and Ark. reciprocates as long as I'm fishing Border Waters, so i get a freebee. Probably the 1st thing I ever got free from a government agency other than a plane trip ticket to Nam.

I'm not a big crankbait guy but if you looked at how many i own you would say the opposite. Wasted moneies, should have bought more jigs & shakeyheads I started looking at a couple of Del Colvin's you tube reports. One thing i like for starters is he isn't pimping somebodies baits like so many other guides do. He does good coverage on generalities and covers the spectrum. i'll need to hear/see more before i gain value i guess Thanks for the offer to chat in April next year. You can bet I'll still be screwed up and will need help then Does the Lower Bull Shoals part of this forum just cover below the dam or above the dam but closer to the dam, I thought it was just for the White and i haven't looked at it?

I ordered the Hot Spots map from TW. I also have an old Garmin application on my computer called Map Source. I got it when I was doing Orienteering with my Boy Scout Troop. It came with the handheld unit on a CD, so ill see if it has any info You say read reports on Upper and Lower. I thought lower was for info below the dam, shows you what i know. I'll look into it as well I think Ill plan on bringing multiple tackle boxes as the local places seem limited in stock I'll ck mixermarkb's reports, thanks

I'm not very good at "sight fishing" Maybe cause I'm not a big fan of it anyway, so the spawning fish are likely to get a "pass" from me. I read what Randall Tharp said about his win in 2016. That was interesting. I do like jig fishing and shakeyhead and off color water so sounds like (at least for me) i'll be burning some gas. Other guys in the club love topwater and jerkbaits so clear water is to there liking. The club fishes WWs and RK Crawlers on Table Rock and Lake O that time of the year. Also good on Bull Shoals?

That was some good advice about the 43 pages of info. I started thru it but not being familiar with the lake, it'll take me some time to find the areas mentioned. Today I have no idea where Lead Hill is or Beaver, Kissie, 5 fingers, cedar, etc. etc. but it'll be a good winter project.

Yeah, that's what i suspected. My real concern is where to launch with 20' high water. The launch ramp over by Boondock's Resort looks like it could under water as well as the road to it? Any thoughts?

That's good to hear, in your experience are most of the fish caught in the spring within say 5 miles of Bull Shoals Marina or are most guys fishing farther away than that?