Ben Gillispie

Ha it does happen! It's everybody's world and we're just fishing in it, I suppose

Caught these two fish around the Indian Point area yesterday 3/31. One on a spinnerbait, one on a jig. Both up on the bank. Haven't been out, even from shore, in way too long! My water temperature project is hard charging! Apologies that I haven't posted lately. I've updated many of the points on my map the last month, just haven't posted here. They are out of date as of this post. I've been busy: I hold in my hand realtime temps. I've done some field tests and all seems well. Measurements have been reporting to me from an unnamed location for a few weeks now. I've currently got it reporting 3 things: 1. a surface temp (18" deep per previous conversations here) 2. a deeper temp (10') temperature (other depths, now that it works, are not difficult and are cheap now that I've blown money on the rest!) 3. A SURPRISE that is going to blow everyone's socks off!! This 3rd metric I'll report is so cool. It's going to revolutionize how we plan fishing trips. Anyways, just and update and some pics!

@Ketchup, are you heading up the James for Whites on TRL? I was wanting to go look for some soon, just wasn't sure if I should try the James or where. Does anyone know if they'll head up the Kings? HWY 86 at the Kings is pretty accessible for me, so may give it a try. Ben

I've updated all the water temperatures on my map. I'm not where I can really comment on them or lay them out here. Just check the map if you're curious. See Temps on Map

Everyone, Words can't describe how valuable this forum is...what an incredible resource! We floated from Stoney Point to Romp Hole. We caught 4 smallies, all under 15". It was by no means a bad decision. The place is beautiful. We used watermelon red hula stick neds the whole way. We both had several misses until we adjusted to the river. Those 4 fish we did catch were a blast. If it weren't for Devan S. it would have been a wild goose chase...his instructions/directions are well written. If anyone if planing any floating of the Kinds, take note of his post, it was very helpful.

That means a lot. I really appreciate it. Glad it is useful.

This is absolutely unbelievable. All of it.

See these on the map or the Quick Glance Here are some updated water temperatures for Table Rock Lake. The average water temperature across the lake is slightly warmer than last week: 46.5 vs. 45.1. For water temperatures in the Dam area, Indian Point Marina's temperature is likely the most accurate. The reading from State Park Marina is only over 4' of open water vs. the surface temperature over 70' of permanently shaded water at Indian Point. Campbell Point Marina had the coolest water temperature and Holiday Island had the warmest. This is news to me. I suppose Beaver Lake warms somewhat more quickly than Table Rock? I am hoping some of you experts have some insight on this topic. The ten-day weather forecast is somewhat Spring-like. Lows are anywhere from 30 to 37 with the exception of Thursday night, and forecast highs range from 50 to 66 next weekend. Will be interesting to see what happens to our lake temperatures. Average water temperature across the lake: 46.5 - previous - 45.1 (State Park Marina temperature omitted) Warmest water: Holiday Island Marina Coolest water: Campbell Point Marina State Park Marina: 48.9 - Note: this is the shallowest spot I take a reading lake-wide, so Indian Point Marina's surface temp over 70' of shaded water is likely more accurate! Indian Point Marina: 45.9 --> previous - 45.3 Cape Fair Marina: 45.9 --> previous - 43.4 Campbell Point Marina: 44.1 --> previous - 44.6 Kings River Marina: 45.5 --> previous 43.6 Eagle Rock Marina: 46.8 --> previous - 45.3Holiday Island Marina: 49.8 --> previous - 46.1 Long Creek Marina: 47.1 --> previous - 45.9 Cricket Creek Marina: 47.3 --> previous - 46.8 Hope everyone has had a great week and that everyone has an even better week coming up. Good luck out there. Ben

So great to see this Phil. We just absolutely tore them up today also...just up river from you, the next island. The word that comes to mind to describe these trout lately is 'veracious'...they're just hammering things and they don't give up easy. I guess to offer some advice...we tore them up on two lures: 1/16 oz and 1/8 oz hot pink maribou jigs and 1/8oz gold flutter spoon. What a great place to live. Ben

Wow, Thanks a ton Devan. And thanks to everyone. Such a great resource, this forum. An unbelievable wealth of knowledge here. Love it. Ben

I am in Branson, so the Kings seemed like a fairly close/easy new adventure. I'm a huge fan of the Buffalo. Just wanting to explore some other areas. I think we'll go poke around. Also, I found Phil's Kings River section of the forum, which helped. Didn't know there was one or I would have posted there. This TR forum is much busier though. Thanks guys

Ha, yes, much longer to grow than to fillet. Not my cup of tea, filleting a smallmouth. If I catch any I'll leave them in there to grow for ya. Thanks guys for the input. Ben

Ha. Sounds about right. Maybe we can beat the crowds before spring. Thanks for the input!

Does anyone on here have any experience with floating the King's River? A friend and myself are wanting to take the kayaks over and check it out. Have heard there is great smallmouth fishing. I've found Kings River Outfitters, which is probably my first phone call, but wanted to check with everyone on here. I was just curious if we could head South from 86 HWY and find anywhere to put in, then leave another vehicle downriver somewhere. We just aren't sure where. We don't have a boat, so we thought that by floating some of the kings, from the river then on to the bigger water there by the 86 bridge, we could cover some river smallmouth then get on down to where the river opens up some, without having to paddle our tails off or battle wind out on the big lake. Seems like it would be an enjoyable adventure. I am sure that Spring will bring some rains and the fishing will pick up, but we're getting anxious and were wanting to try our luck on one of these warm days coming up this weekend, possibly. Any insight would be great appreciated! Ben

I thought the same TrophyFishR, that one definitely caught my attention.

Yes, I'm working on it coachtil Apple is a bit more to tango with than Google when it comes to security and app approval, but it is in the works. I've actually submitted it, waiting to see if they accept. I'll be sure to let you all on here know and will put links on the site. Thanks for your interest. Ben

We fished in the area of the MDC launch ramp and the island across the river from there. We didn't go fishing, we went catching. Somewhere between 30-35 trout between 3 of us from 2-5:30 this afternoon. We caught fish on 1/4 oz flutter spoons and 1/8oz flutter spoons, fished like a maribu jig when we first got down. They were hammering them, some were as aggressive as I've seen trout this year, though I haven't fished taneycomo too too extensively since Fall. Just a lot of fun. After about an hour, they cooled off some and it was here and there. They lowered the generation a bit, so we started throwing maribu jigs that we could better manage in the softer water..... Again, it was just silly fun. The back side of the island was very productive at this point, and that's where or biggest fish came. The numbers came from the hole there on the downstream/stream side of the island, but the more mature trout were back in the wood/stumps. We caught more trout that jigs we lost playing them around the wood so it was well worth it. Picture is my buddy Ryan, he had caught so many fish he was helping me with pictures. This was my biggest trout of the day.

No problem glad it is useful. Perfect, thanks a lot for the feedback.

See these on the map or the Quick Glance Table Rock water temperatures are generally continuing to cool throughout the lake. I've done some research on what is actually happening at these water temperatures, but if some of you wise people have any input for all of our benefit, let us have it. I've read a few things about when water temperatures start getting down to these, shad can start to die is some areas. Just curious as to what this would mean for strategy or if anyone has noticed this happening yet? If any of you have some input, it would be much appreciated. I'm sticking to the main 9 Marinas that I've been doing as of late. Average temperature lake-wide: 45.1 Coolest: 43.4 @ Cape Fair Marina Warmest: 46.8 @ Cricket Creek Marina State Park Marina: 45.1 Indian Point Marina: 45.3 Cape Fair Marina: 43.4 Campbell Point Marina: 44.6 Kings River Marina: 43.6 Eagle Rock Marina: 45.3 Holiday Island Marina: 46.1 Long Creek Marina: 45.9 Cricket Creek Marina: 46.8 Good luck out there. Ben

Wasn't bad at all... Just have to keep it in mind. We just snuck back upstream close to the bank, rest here and there and fish, just until we get upstream enough to jet across. I noticed yesterday evening they were running several units, though.

A buddy and myself went down to the MDC launch ramp up by the dam with our kayaks. We paddled straight across from the ramp and drifted just down stream to land on the island there. We got out and fished the downstream end of the island...so we could cast to the flowing back water, flowing main current, or the slack water at the end of the island. This was our plan... It worked well, trout were active and all have a great fight. Fished from 3pm to about dark, between 2 of us we landed at least 15 trout, 3-4 were 17-18" rainbows, two small Browns. Missed several others and had two very nice fish spit out lures coming to the surface on the fight. We caught fish on a gold blade rooster tail, 1/8 and 1/16 ounce jigs in white, black, even one on a brown jig. my biggest fish came on a 1/4 ounce gold Kastmaster spoon that I've come to love. I just like plenty of feeling at the end of my line, some nice weight. Much less of a current and I would have had trouble with snagging the bottom, but conditions were right and they loved it yesterday. Ben

Great to hear! Glad to hear it is working right.

Some new water temperatures on this Super Bowl Sunday. Saw lots and lots of trailers at all the area marinas today and yesterday. Hope everyone did well. All the area launch ramps are fully accessible and debris clean up is starting to make the Lake look like new again. Water temps are more consistent across the lake this week. See water temperatures on the map. State Park Marina: 49.5 Indian Point Marina: 48.8 Cape Fair Marina: 46.3 Campbell Point Marina: 46.2 Eagle Rock Marina: 47.2 Kings River Marina: 46.7 Long Creek Marina: 47.9 Cricket Creek Marina: 46.2 Hope everyone has a great week! Ben

Bill, I will personal message you and see if I can format this or help you in any way. That sounds fantastic. Ben

Thanks. Things seem to be cooling off, at least some.