Phil Lilley

Thanks for the compliment... but this forum is nothing without the members who post here.

My guess on polls... consistency is the key in collecting information. They have been using creel people for years - for better or worse, it's the same way every time. They could start a new way of doing it but it would take many years to develop the consistency they have now. You're right though... there's better ways for sure. Just a guess. There might be people here that do this thing for a living and could speak to it better than me.

If you call our lodge, Bill Babler is our #1 guide. If he's busy, we have numerous others, most specialize in fishing the trophy area. We'll be sure to put you with someone that matches your needs as well as desire to learn how to fish the upper lake.

<p><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2009/prey2.jpg" width="250" height="226" hspace="6" vspace="6" align="right">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Living in the Ozarks offers year round opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Anglers, hunters, boaters, hikers and campers have limitless options regardless of the season. Anglers have the bounty of multiple lakes offering some of the best winter fishing anywhere in the world. While many fisherman rave about catches on Lake of the Ozarks, Norfolk or Bull Shoals, Table Rock Lake shines like an unrivaled jewel producing smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass throughout the winter months. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Understanding winter fishing on Table Rock Lake requires an awareness of seasonal movements as they relate to the changing water temperature. Water temperature and the movement of forage determine fish location through out the winter, your knowledge of this seasonal progression will determine your success. </p> <p><strong>60 – 70 Degrees:</strong><br> While truly not winter fishing, water temperatures in this range are more likely in the mid to late fall. In this temperature range most forage and fish are active. Shad are concentrated in the main lake and in deeper major creeks, wind and current are crucial to the positioning of zooplankton and shad. This is also the time when the corps of engineers will begin to draw down Table Rock for the winter months; current caused by the draw down will group shad on points and other current breaks ambushing zooplankton in the passing current. The concentration of shad naturally attracts feeding fish. Typical summer patterns continue to be effective during this temperature range; drop shotting, football jigs, Carolina rigs and deep crankbaits are all productive presentations on points and humps throughout the lake. Additionally, spinnerbaits and other fast moving lures begin to emerge as valuable presentations. Isolated cover on current breaks such as cedar trees and docks are important areas to throw spinnerbaits. This time of year large fish will suspend in and around isolated cover, throw spinnerbaits beyond the cover, burn it back pausing the retrieve long enough to flare the skirt next to the cover. Strikes will come right after the pause; most will be visible and violent. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Crawfish are also important forage in this temperature range, at approximately sixty degrees they begin to feed for their upcoming hibernation period. Preparing for hibernation requires crawfish to move more in search of food leaving the security of rocks and other cover and becoming susceptible to feeding fish. Transition areas and isolated rock cover on gravel banks are key locations, craw fish imitation baits like jigs, shaky heads and tubes are prime producers. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Productive depths vary with water clarity on Table Rock within this temperature range. On the lower end clear water concentrates most fish from 15’ to 40’ deep while the upper ends of the lake are more turbid with shallow cover and fish can be as in water as thin as a couple of feet. </p> <p><strong><img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2009/prey3.jpg" width="241" height="288" hspace="6" vspace="6" align="left">50 – 60 Degrees</strong><br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the water cools below 60 degrees the activity through the water column rapidly increases. Shad begin to move shallower following zooplankton toward the bank, crawfish move more and more as hibernation inches closer, in turn bass move shallower in search of forage. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shallow cover is increasingly important to both forage and fish; both seeking the protection provided by shallow rocks, wood and brush. Natural shallow cover can be sparse on Table Rock, forge and fish will concentrate on anything. While there may be few stumps or brush, rocks and docks provide all the cover they need. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fishing locations differ in this temperature range, key locations require both cover and access to deep water. Steep rocky banks are very important; rocks hold crawfish and steep banks offer bass quick access to deep water. Feeding fish will tend to stay fairly shallow through out the lake, with most active fish staying in less than ten feet deep while feeding and retreating to the safety of 20’ deep or more when less active. These rocky banks are perfect locations for paralleling medium running crankbaits like Storm Wiggle Warts or Bomber 7A’s, these baits mimic fleeing crawfish bouncing off rocks and other cover and draw reaction strikes from feeding and inactive fish. Keep your boat 8’ – 10’ deep and make parallel cast ahead of the boat while working along the bank. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Larger docks are important in this temperature range, big commercial and community docks offer cover over a greater depth range and allow fish and forage to move through that range without leaving the safety of cover. Docks on gravel and mixed gravel and rock points will generally be more productive than those on straight banks, the effect of current coupled with the cover of a dock can be fantastic within this temperature range. Jigs, tubes and spoons are the key presentations around docks. Smaller jigs like a Jewel Eakins jig tend to fall slower and draw more strikes from suspending fish, natural browns and greens are key producers. On the deeper end of docks, spoons should be fished within the stalls and around any ladders or other extensions. Pitch spoons close to walkways and corners, allow the spoon to fall vertically by feeding line and paying attention to the fall. Most strikes will come as the bait is falling so pay close attention to any changes in fall rate. &nbsp;<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While numbers of fish move shallow in this temperature range many remain in the safety of deep water and feed on schools of shad and larger crawfish on the move over gravel points and humps. Typically these fish will be located in depths from 25’ – 50’ deep, holding tight to the bottom or isolated cover. Two distinct methods are effective on deep locations; vertically fishing spoons and drop shot rigs and casting heavy football jigs. For vertical presentations using a depth finder to locate fish holding tight to bottom is crucial, locate schools or individual fish on or near the bottom and drop bait directly in front of or just above the fish. Watch the fish carefully for a reaction to the bait and adjust your bait color, size or movement until a strike is drawn. For horizontal presentations make long casts with ¾ oz or 1 oz Jewel or Chompers football jigs covering a variety of depths on a point or hump. Change up the retrieve from a slow drag to short hops, big hops and even a series of jerks until a strike is drawn. Once a fish is caught pay close attention to the depth, retrieve and any cover the fish may be on to repeat the pattern. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Within this temperature range the lake will turn over and the oxygen level throughout water column will stratify. The equal levels of oxygen through all depths allow fish to survive and feed at any depth in the lake. During this time fish can be caught at any depth from 1’ – 200’ deep, effectively scattering fish and making fishing more difficult for a brief period.</p> <p><strong>4<img src="http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/images/2009/prey1.jpg" width="250" height="268" hspace="6" vspace="6" align="right">0 – 50 Degrees</strong><br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cooler water changes the location of forage through out the water column. As the water cools into the 40’s shad begin a migration to the larger creek arms in search of current and zooplankton. While shad continue to move in and out of creeks throughout this temperature range, the cooler water temperatures have slowed their metabolism to a point that any movement is slow and deliberate. In addition, water temperatures in the lower 40’s are the bottom of threadfin shad’s survival range and a shad kill will begin. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Targeting fish during these conditions is relatively easy; finding bait = finding fish. Look for schools of shad suspended around tree tops in the middle of creek arms through out the lake. Traditionally the most productive depths have been 40’ – 60’ over as much as 150’ of water. Look for trees that top out in these depths with shad close by to be productive. Seagulls and Loons will also help to locate fish; Lake Loons will congregate over and dive to schools of shad, Loons will force shad closer to the surface and Seagulls will hover over the schools diving into the water to feed on shad. This much movement and activity by shad will attract bass and a feeding frenzy will ensue. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Patterns for these fish are simple, fish vertically with spoons, drop shot rigs, ice baits and “cluster rigs”. White ¾ oz spoons are a mainstay but ½ oz and 1 oz spoons have their place when matching the size of shad, drop shot rigs are very effective in and around trees, use worms and shad imitating baits to increase success, Rapala ice baits are great in open water for suspended fish, their erratic movement will draw strikes when nothing else will and cluster rigs combine the best of both worlds incorporating multiple drop shot hooks and an ice bait or grub. Once shad have been located use a depth finder to locate fish holding in trees, on ledges or under schools of shad. Drop baits directly in front of or above suspended fish, vary colors, movement and size of baits until a strike is drawn. Once a single fish is hooked the entire school will become active and several fish can be caught before fish settle back down.&nbsp; <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While deep fishing off shore is the most predictable pattern in this temperature range there is still a shallow bite on Table Rock. In the upper reaches of the lake incoming current from rivers and major creeks will help to keep shad and fish shallow throughout the early winter months. Bass will hold on steeper rocky banks throughout rivers and creeks, these areas are usually deeper channel swing banks with transitions on both ends. Target these areas with Jewel Eakins jigs, Chompers tubes and shaky heads. Fish baits slowly, working from the bank into the channel. Pay close attention to any wood cover or larger rocks mixed in the channel bank, these areas will usually hold fish waiting to ambush forage as it happens by. Ultra slow retrieves are critical for success when the water is in this temperature range and colder. </p> <p><strong>30 – 40 Degrees</strong><br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Generally speaking this is as cold as the water temperature on Table Rock gets. At these temperatures there will be a shad kill taking place and the metabolic rate of fish will be slow causing limited movement and feeding. The forage base at these temperatures is primarily shad, brook silverside and pan fish. Locating fish again revolves around locating forage; large schools of threadfin shad will be located in major creek arms, gizzard shad will hold close to trees and vertical cover, bluegill and other pan fish will be holding in trees or around docks and brook silverside will be on points and humps on both the main lake and creek arms. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vertical fishing is still the most predictable and productive form of fishing in these water temperatures. Locate the schools of bait and utilize techniques described earlier. As the shad kill takes place fishing will improve, less active fish will readily feed on dying shad throughout the water column. While it is impossible to see shad dying and falling from the school in deep water, a spike in fish activity below a school of shad (seen on a depth finder) is a good indicator of shad dying off and falling from the school. Spoons are king during this time of year; a falling spoon mimics a dying shad and will draw strikes from fish waiting below a school. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shallow fishing can be slow and difficult in this temperature range; fish tend to be sluggish, crawfish are in short supply, and once found fish tend to be slow to chase bait and feed. Suspending jerkbaits offer shallow fisherman a productive option in this temperature range. Working suspending jerkbaits on bluffs or steep chunk rock banks can be very effective in colder water temperatures; cedar trees and other vertical cover are also key locations to work these baits. Make casts perpendicular to deeper banks and work the bait in a series of jerks or sweeping motions allowing the bait to rest from five seconds to a full minute between jerks. Perpendicular casts allow the entire depth range to be covered on a single cast. The cadence and pause time will vary throughout the temperature range and mood of fish, on clear cold days longer pauses are the general rule as fish will be slower to chase and are coming out of deeper water. On cloudy and / or windy days shorter pauses and a quicker cadence will work better as fish tend to be more active. </p> <p><strong>Warming Water</strong><br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As water temperatures begin to rise the scenarios described above work in reverse order; spoons and jerkbaits to jigs and drop shot rigs, football jigs and crankbaits and eventually spinnerbaits and soft plastics. While the timing may vary due to the severity of winter and water levels, fish will follow the same patterns based on water temperature season after season and year after year. <br> Success on Table Rock Lake in the winter is coupled to an understanding the affect of water temperature on the forage base and fish. Paying close attention to the temperature and not the calendar will be the key to your success.</p>

Great information. Thanks! May change after tonight's snow... not sure what the area will get.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/outdoors/story/751EDFBEF873632D86257697008219FD?OpenDocument

With cancellations this weekend on account of the weather (snow mainly), we have quite a few rooms open including most of our bigger condos. We're offering half price on these larger units (15, 17, 18, 23) with at least a 2-night stay. http://lilleyslanding.com for details on units. Call Lisa at 1-800-284-2196 for reservations. Our phone is very busy - taking reservations for the summer - so keep trying or drop her an email at office@lilleyslanding.com. Be sure to include a callback phone number. Fishing/Shopping/Shows are still open too.

That's fantastic news!! Praise God!!!

No.

Thanks for the report!!

Speaking of... the creel guys said they've been tearing up the trout above the dam on Taney at Powersite- off the bank- catching some big rainbows. They couldn't believe it. Didn't have a good explanation why all of a sudden it got so good. But it is I guess.

It's there... It's at the bottom of the Ozark Waters. Can't figure out how to renumber the forums with this new format. Hybrids? Sounds interesting.

So do you think a forum for James A. Reed Conservation Area would be useful on the forum?

Brian - click the button labeled "Watch this Topic" at the top right of this page.

My hunting trip got moved ahead a couple of weeks so I'll be around the first- this Friday. Can I do anything? Bring anything?

I usually do well in cold weather but this year my body hasn't adjusted. I'm not blaming it on old age... yet. The cold and wind is why I haven't gotten out much lately, that and family in town for the holidays and they won't fish in this weather. Been eating and playing cards - fun times. The wind finally laid down a bit this evening so I decided to get out. Grabbed my fly rod and a spin rod and headed up lake. As I passed Riverlake, I decided I wasn't going up very far - I was already cold. I stopped at the Riverpointe Ramp and picked up my fly rod, rigged with a pink micro jig and float and started drifting it in the middle of the lake about 7 feet deep. They were running one unit but barely. The stump on Short Creek gravel bar was a foot out of the water. It's a marker for us... if it's showing, we don't dare try to boat to the dam - just not enough water running to do so without taking a big risk of hitting something. After a couple hundred yards - nothing. Tied on a olive micro - nothing. Shortened up on the depth and move to shallower water - nothing. Good chop on the water, cloud cover, good conditions usually but I wasn't throwing the right thing I guess. As I drifted closer to Short Creek, I decided to anchor on the upper end of the bar, about where the stump is, and strip something. Perfect current and I like the shallow depth of the water on the gravel bar. There's usually a bunch of rainbows on this bar in the evening. They aren't targeted by many anglers, especially the ones drifting by using bait. It's too shallow, at least with the water they're running today, to throw lures over unless you throw something light and move it fast. I dropped the anchor above the stump about 10 yards, letting 20 feet of rope out. It held for about 15 minutes, then the wind picked up and I drifted onto the bar itself. I started with a olive PMS beaded, casting it to the south or shallow side and got chasers on the first throw. The next 6 casts I had multiple swirls at the fly but they just wouldn't commit, grabbing the tail instead. Seemed like big trout too- very aggressive strikes. Finally got a takers but he snapped my only PMS off. Tied on a #8 black wooly bugger, unweighted, and commenced catching rainbow after rainbow, on the shallow side, on the deep side, behind the boat. Didn't matter. They liked it, and didn't mess around chasing or biting short. My anchor drug a bit and my motor was stuck on the bottom- that's how shallow it was on the bar. The boat ended up sitting sideways in the current but it was so slow it didn't hurt anything. The wind kept picking up and then dying. Every time it blew, the fish bit better, harder. I ended up catch and releasing a dozen rainbows from 10 to 14 inches. Lots of fun. There haven't been many people fishing the past week. It's been pretty good for the most part but I don't have any concrete reports to go by at this time. I know they are catching rainbows off the dock on Gulp Eggs and night crawlers.

I don't know about other places but here on Taney they have creel checkers, what we call them, that work the whole lake on foot and from a boat. They come in the shop all the time for coffee and to warm up. Not sure but I think they've been at it this time for about 12-18 months but this stint is up Jan 31st. They ask fishermen a number of questions.

Tough question. Usually they don't swallow the hook when drifting but it varies with amount of water running and chance. I doubt if there's much of a difference.

7 inches of rain is not good wherever you're at... sure sorry to hear it. Thanks for the report, Mike.

Striped Bass

Wow... I'd think they'd be primarily striper bait but what do I know

phillilley but I don't use it much. Can't do everything.

My guess MDC is trying to appease both groups. The opening date is well after most if not all the spawning is over.

By "link" I think you're asking for a separate forum for James A Reed Conservation Area, right? Here's the only thing I found on google - http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/moatlas/AreaSummaryPage.aspx?txtAreaID=5501 If there's enough interest of those on the forum who may fish these lakes, sure. But I don't want to put up a ton of forums (like there's not a ton now) and not get any activity on them. I do go through and check forums occasionally and remove forums that aren't being use. Haven't done that in a while though. So we'll see how many respond to your topic. I'd love to add it if there's interest. Thanks for suggesting.

Small rainbows in the winter... they stock Taney with a ton of rainbows from Neosho - Federal Hatchery - and they always stock the small "silver bullets" you're seeing. They may stock a bunch down at Ozark Beach and I'm sure they come over the dam to Bull Shoals. As far as larger trout on Bull, I'm sure they survive in cooler water in the depths of Bull- they do on Table Rock. Not well enough to be found in abundance but they do and you'll find them anywhere on the lake. I've told this story before but will again- Rex Grady was fishing with his grandson years ago and found a bunch of schooling fish on the surface. He had his grandson throw into the mix and he hooked a white bass. Then he casted again and hooked another fish- this one was much bigger. Rex was busy with a tangle, he said, and didn't see the fish come in. His grandson said it wasn't a bass but something else. He looked- it was a 8-9 pound brown. They ended up catching several more browns surfacing on shad just like the other fish. True story. It was in late fall when the water was cooler. I've caught trout in Swan and Beaver as well as in the lake at K Dock. It's a fluke but it happens.