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Thanks Phil.

Bill, Don, any others in the know...is it your assessment that most of the fish have not spawned? From the fish I caught last week I would have guessed the blacks were doing it or were done, brownies coming up and spots AWOL. Guess this would explain the spots.

Looking at the levels in the sticky...Do we have any info from COE on the release? Looks like they are back to trying to maintain the pool at 930 and change.

Thanks. Heard my cousins won it, but have not been able to verify. Working 12's slinging pills at the pharmacy to finance next week's adventure to Kiberling so have not called them.

Thanks. You know how this lake is...next week I'm probably in for a week of short biting perch and nothing else. Have to enjoy them when you can.

Anyone? Bueller...? Bueller...?

Great news. Sounds like last week was just the start. I'd take a little cold weather to slow them down a bit until I get there next week. Super to hear about the doctor bite. Beginning to think that would not happen this spring.

Probably 8-12# for cranks, except square bills. 10-15# for jigs depending on size and where you want to put them. If the water stays dirty you will be able to "Trumanize" things for while longer.

Couple of pics, as threatened. All were swimming when last I saw them. Pretty nice trip all in all.

Anyone have results on the Shriners tmt?

Believe that is the gentleman I heard on the Steve and janet show Thursday am. Gave great info then.

Depends on what you are doing. I did not catch a fish last week on line lighter than 15# big game or Seaguar. That was fishing the bank to about 6' in stained to muddy water, spinnerbaits and big plastics. Probably don't need to go under 8# for the finnesse work this year.

The Corps was sending emails to the area resort owners last week updating pool predictions and access...mentioned the possiblity of fully opening the old Joe Bald area.

Post spawn thoughts anyone? My guess is it will depend a lot on water clarity. Hoping for a good topwater bite in the outside bushes, seems like a logical first stop from the spawn banks since they have 12-20 feet of water in them. Maybe a rig bite outside the bushes. Had one fish jump on a buzzbait and come off Tuesday, one ate it Friday, and we have not cleared 70 degree water yet, so am hopeful about that bite. Listened to a serious T-Rock veteran explain why he thought there could be a blade bite all summer. Made a lot of sense.

Because it is an absolute bass factory. Just a humbling one at times. Lots of bass, lots of big (for MO) fish of all three species. When it is right this lake is amazing as any other.

Fished Monday thru Saturday around 13HWY / Kimberling. Mostly brownies, occasional blacks. Good blade bite until Saturday, think the cool nights, high skies, and stages hurt it then. Had to run it slow at the base of hardwoods, more pulling it with the rod than turning it. Had to be in behind all the cool looking bushes, almost like bank fishing. Friday and Saturday the brownies clearly pulled up hard. Had a good day both days on TX rigged 7" worms fished dead slow at the base of same trees. 5 keepers on the worm Fri, 9 on Sat (best a 19" brownie). Shared a bank with a true gentleman from the Kimberling area who was catching them in the same place on a shakey head, also the same area with another well known local who was whacking them on a blade. They both reported around 18#, I was at about 14# or so. Believe the smallmouth are spawning at the bases of those hardwoods, 1'-6', looked full, not fanned or gutted yet. Saw a lot of boats fishing bushes and the front side of the flooded stuff, also a lot of guys zooming in and out throwing blades Saturday at a high rate of speed...did not see much success from them. 29 keepers for the week, did not fish Thursday (did some tourist stuff...flood gate pics, etc). Best fish was a 21" black on Wednesday, best days Fri & Sat @ 9 total keepers each day, solid keeper brownies. Temps were warm enough at the start to scare me (mid to upper 60's) down to low 60's by Sat. Back of the creek I was in seemed to be clearing once they opened the gates. All in all a nice week, a nice slow and relaxing way to fish. Did catch one good keeper black (3#+) on a buzzbait around outside bushes Friday am, might be a lot of fun in a couple of weeks. Will put up a pic when I get squared away. Heard my cousins did well in the Shrine tmt, but have not had a chance to confirm that. Where are the Kentuckies????

Maybe this is a dumb question, but how low are the lines in places like Little Indian, around Wooly? That could be a most unpleasant surprise, would rather not find out the hard way tomorrow.

Looked like weights were down for the BFL. Ideas why?

Will have to be some on beds then. Believe SKMO had a post this week about a largemouth that was dumping eggs from the west end of the lake.

Going to straight C&R a week before thru a week after the full moon in April might work as well as any other idea. Awful lot of fish doing the deed then, in an average year.

Great info from all hands as usual. Have not seen any mention of a jig/flip bite. Is the blade just that good right now, or is there something not right with the jig bite? Seems like it should be going with the water staying high.

Thanks to all the locals for the efforts on behalf of those of us who only get to part time at the lake. Good to hear about POK area, hate to pay, but have gotten lazy and used to launching at Schooner's resort ramp when I am down, and that is the closest to it. Anyone seen water color at Cape Fair...thinking fondly of the bushes up that way, especially if it starts to clear out. Of course, I'd think more fondly of swim grubs and brownies down in the lake, oh well.

Sounds like normal is several weeks off at best. The reports I have read, few folks I have spoken or emailed with mentioned a few and far between bites on little brown jigs in bushes. I'm coming in 4/6, plan on trying bushes on points if they are still pulling a lot of water, but am re-adjusting (read tearing my storage boxes up) to try some bigger jigs, flip tubes, etc versus the little stuff. May not work, but I intend to find out. Kind of backwards, but you might be able to go up (as in tow to a different area and put in) the rivers to get away from the color coming down the lake. If weather is nice to us the color should start to improve in the backs of those places. Good luck, get your hillbilly on, and have some fun. At least the leaves haven't frozen off like they did last spring.

Thanks for the report on the west end. Good news on some of the improving color, if we can get the rain to hold off. Have not seen any mention of What's Up Dock / Kimberling commercial area...anyone know if that is open? Looking for something close to Schooner Creek Resort.

I'm not worthy. Thank you.