Phil Lilley

Just glanced at the weather forecast for next week. Starting in the 70's and climbing into the 80's all week with some rain. That just means one thing... crappie are going to move one step closer to spawn. Reports from most areas on the lake are basically the same this weekend- males are off the banks 4-8 feet and varied on depth. Females are off the banks further and holding. They've been moving closer if not on the banks early and late in the day. With the warmer temps, look for pairs to be on the banks spawning this week. Bridgeport seems to have the bigger crappie, unlike last year when you had to catch 10 short to one keeper. I would strongly suggest a couple of things. Releasing part of the females you catch for seed. And releasing crappie under 11 inches, not 10. If enough anglers practice these two things, we should have great crappie seasons for years to come. From what I've heard there are plenty of 11 inch crappie at least on the James Arm. Once last thing- if you get your reports/information off this forum, please give back part of what you've received. Write a report, tell how you caught your fish. Share a picture. If you don't know how- email it to me and I'll post it for you. Thanks - Phil

These are great for tailgate parties- I think they are selling a ton of them. I've riden them- they are a blast.

Going to Tulsa Tuesday to fish the Ark. but will be here tomorrow. Phil

Marabou jigs are DEADLY on the SJ... you could start something out there if you out-catch the guides using them. My daughter will be out at Kanakuk Colorado again in May/June. If we go out to visit, I'll give you a call.

No generation. Still no generation even though Table Rock has risen a bit- up to 905- but that's still 10 feet low and for this time of year, it's almost unheard of. April and May hopefully will bring spring rains. If not, we are in trouble this summer and fall. Fishing has been good most days. Friday and Saturday were ok for those boating but not great. This morning has been much better. Night crawlers are still the best live bait but we are selling and people are doing well on minnows, fishing them on the bottom. The stretch from Fall Creek to Short Creek is still producing the largest rainbows. Jig and float using sculpin/orange head 1/50-1/100th oz jig or micro jigs under a float 4-5 feet has been very good- great chop on the water the last couple of days has made jig-n-float fishing very good. Above Fall Creek- boat fishing... zebra midge in red, black or green under an indicator 18 to 48 inches excellent most of the time. Target feeding rainbows on the surface and fish shallow or fish the deep channel area 48 inches deep. Use scuds- #12-#16's in grey, brown or olive under an indicator and fish deep enough to be very close if not on the bottom. Move 'em around to trigger a strike. Windy- throw a wooly or soft hackle. At the dam - lots of trout- LOTS! Night fishing has been great, according to Leonard. White woolies it sounds like. I haven't heard anything from the forum or from anyone about fishing below the dam this week. Maybe someone could help me out!?!?

bobber- email me the pic and I'll reduce/repost it for you. phil at lilleyslanding.com

So you went by yourself? You must be a sure-footer, or should I say paddler. Was the water real dirty or in good shape? See any other canoers? Any pics? Thanks for reporting.

Went fishing this afternoon with my 'little brother' Logan, part of the Big Brothers program here in Branson. We boated to Short Creek where Logan wasted no time landing this rainbow on his first cast. We were fishing with air-inflated night crawlers. He limited with 4 nice rainbows within the hour. Great trip.

I just learned it's been difficult to get minnows and shiners in the area, especially in the Forsyth area. We carry minnows, small and mediums, and I just picked up some shiners for those who like to use them on whites and walleye. We're located off Fall Creek Rd on Upper Lake Taneycomo. Call is you have special needs. 417-334-6380 800-284-2196 Phil

They are very spotty for us... at least for me. I'm in Branson.

Still have 2 left.

Not really. But may be. Really didn't notice. But we may have caught the blacks early and they were deep off the banks. I know some of the bigger crappie came late and they were on the banks and most of the bigger crappie are white. BUT I think they were on the bank cause it was late and getting dark.

Biggest crappie was 16 inches.

If it is TR - I would make sure he can build a dock- period. The Corp on TR are extremely tight with their permits. He may say he is trying to get a dock but I wouldn't put money on it.

Got an email from a friend in Fayetteville - I took Coltons PE teacher and his son, Got to the spot at about 4 PM.on Tues. My son in law Morris (Colton's step dad) had been there about 2 hrs. He gave me 6 whites up to 2 lbs and 2 Hybrids to 6 lbs. He had to leave. WE stayed till dark. NO more hybrids, But we fileted a total of 22 whites and 13 good crappie. And then came Wednesday. JD went out at 2:30 PM. He picked me up at Walkers bluff at 4 PM. He had a 5 lb Hyb 3 whites. We went back to the spot. Same hole as Tues. A small front passed thru and the sky cleared. We moved up to a little deeper water. Immediately caught 2 five lb Hybs and several medium whites. JD had to leave ahout a 6PM. I took him to Walkers bluff. Just down stream we stopped at a crappie spot. 1 Crappie. I turned around the opposite way and caught a good white. JD turned and caught a Hyb approx 7 to 8 lbs. I filleted 26 whites, 3 hybs and 4 big crappie. We got a lot of rain to the south and east last night. May mess the water for the week end.

I own several G-3's and have had good luck with them. I also have a Landau- as much as I've beat that boat up, it doesn't leak- amazing. Landau is built in Lebanon, MO just up the road and there are dealers in NW Ark. If you're going to live in NW Ark, stay with a dealer in that area if you can. Better service if you buy it from a local dealer I believe. I'm sure there's some OAF people from that area who will chime in.

Are you talking about Table Rock?

Bill Babler and I got a wild hair... needed to get out of the house. He's been cleaning out his garage and me doing taxes. So at 4:30 pm I called him and we planned to meet at Bridgeport. We put in about 6 pm and went under the bridge to the right and started at the bluff bank there- fished to the flat. We caught a couple keepers off some trees and a couple of short fish- no real pattern. We headed upstream into Flat Creek and fished another bluff and caught a couple more- again no pattern. We'd catch one close to the bank and then one out 25 feet from the bank and 12 feet deep. We were swimming swimming minnows with 1/8th oz heads. Went back to the first place and caught a couple more. In the mean time, a small storm system pasted and we got little rain and wind- not bad at all. Jst before it started really getting dark, we wanted to try another spot. We headed down past the bridge and around to the right. Didn't like what we saw and turned around. I pointed out the bluff bank, ramp side of the lake just down from the ramp. I noticed the bluff turned into chunk rock and then back to ledge rock- 3 times over. So we pulled in and started- and they were there. We caught 8 keepers in short order and they were right on the bank. Got too dark to see so we called it an evening. 14 keepers including one I haven't measured yet but I bet it goes 16 inches. Pic to follow- may be tomorrow before I clean them. Thanks Bill for the boat ride and the fellowship. Oh by the way- 2 cars at the ramp when we put in. Rain must have scared eveyone off.

You're talkin' 5.5 to 6 hours from KC to the dam or Rim Shoals.

Never done a bass tournament... not sure where to start. Might think about something in May or June. May is stuffed for me with graduations and weddings.

I heard a College of the Ozark's student won the draw boat. Anyone know?

We hope so too. If you fish RR, we have some great anglers who frequent the park and share their knowledge readily. Welcome!

1/100th oz jig under a float - excellent. Find their depth and area and drop a jig on them. We caught dozens last spring when they were on the banks.

Just sunk a bunch of brush just to the right of the camera view today. I've never attempted attracting fish with brush under the dock because they always ran water, thinking it would blow it out. But since they are not running water, and we are seeing more and more blue gill and bass around the dock, we'll see if they start hanging around the cam.

I think it's an excellent idea.