Fishrman

I agree with your evaluation of the pros vs. guides Bill. I know I used to think that it would be neat if I could follow a guide and see all of their spots. Never did it though. Did happen to see guides a few times on certain areas and remembered them for later. Stopped later whether it was that day or another and never did any good. Probably because I am not as good as them and probably that is the KARMA I deserved. I followed Robbbie Dodson around last year for about an hour, watching techniques and how he handled himself. Pretty neat, left and went and started to duplicate what he was doing and was successful. No big deal there in my opinion, since I traveled on to locations quite a distance from him, and never saw him the rest of the day. The way I understand it, a person can pay a tag boat fee and follow. I think that is big of the guide and a nice gesture for future clients. I think if someone is following probably nothing can be done, but it could eventually hurt some of the upcoming guide trips and I think that is very unfair to the people paying and to the guide. I know this was way too long, but just trying to add a non-guide perspective. Thanks Bill

Thanks Don, appreciate your honesty and willingness to help.

Please explain what you mean by major creek arm. It means several things to me. Like, Mill Creek, Rock Creek, Roaring River, Big Creek. Are these what you are talking about? Thanks for answering Don appreciate your time and effort.

Got on the water by 6:30, ran to point 23 area looking for a topwater bite, could not raise anything. Left there and ran up the Kings, started throwing DD22, hit one point and caught 6 with 2 keepers, ran further up and fished several other areas with DD22 nothing, picked up the square bill and caught 4 more keepers with 3 of them being really good ones. Caught a few more swimming a worm up around 86 bridge and that was it, caught a few more short fish on my way back down to Shell Knob. Picked the wife up at 1:00 and spent the rest of the day swimming and boating. It was a good day.

Bill Beck, Table Rock Guide Service, 417-739-3066 Home, 417-335-7867 Cell.

Nice handle Cope-e. Are you sure you have a rod limber enough to throw that big crank? It doesn't go very deep on 20 lb. test, and I know that is the smallest you carry. Give me a holler some time and I'll bring lunch.

????????? I've been off for awhile since selling my boat, have I missed somthing?

Their sqare bills are good looking baits and roy is right, you can only get them at Academy. I fished last Saturday and caught one between 7 and 8 lbs. on the square bill, when I got her in the boat, the bait fell out of her mouth and looked down and she had straightened the hook out. From now on I will replace the stock hook, but I will keep buying those baits.

You might also try to fish up some of the major creeks and rivers as far as you can go and throw a little shallow diving crankbait like a 1/4 oz. Big O or deep baby N. Had a 60 fish day a few years ago doing this up the Kings and the White. Only had 6 keepers, but plenty of action. You would be surprise how many fish could be caught shallow that time of year. Good luck.

Sorry I am chiming in so late. Been pretty busy. Fished Sunday afternoon into the late evening. Caught 9 keepers, several of which were very large. The fish that were coming off the bank were small males, what keepers we did catch would come off of wood on channel banks or would come out of spawing pockets but half out to the boat. Anything super shallow was small and a non keeper. Wood still played a key role for the most part. This all happened up the Kings. Sorry I haven't reported much, but sold the boat, now only get to go when I can borrow my father in law's. Also, on Sunday, you need to remember that it was very windy and that the wind was blowing out of the south and east. Not a good combination for anything.

Fished from 7:30 to 4:30 up the White above Eagle Rock, caught (estimating) 30-35 with 17 keepers (not an estimate). Ran from pocket to pocket and caught most of them on Hula Grub and 6 lb. line, did find one stretch that held some good ones on a wart. Couldn't tell you the water temp. Caught fish very shallow though. Good luck when you get to go.

Took the boys this afternoon, put in at Shell Knob and threw jerkbaits in the wind and jigs where it was calm. All told caught 15 with 11 keepers. Oldest boy had one in the 6lb. range on the jig. Had a small jaw and a mean mouth to go along with only one kentucky. Good day considering the weather was miserable, but the boys forgot about that once they started catching. Good luck when you get to go.

I will venture to say that 37 lb. 9 oz. will be close.

Fished from 6:00 to 2:00. Was fortunate enough to be there early, when I left the parking lot at Viola was absolutely jammed. Crappie fished most of the day. Ended up with only 6 keepers, several shorts and caught them in various locations. Shallow, deep, pockets, coves, channel swings etc. Did do a little bass fishing, had 4 keepers, all flipping an eakins and luck e strike jig. Caught several shorts on the jig also. Did throw a spinnerbait a little with minimal success, jerkbait caught a few as well. Did see several of the FLW guys up the River, Ron Shuffield, David Fritts and Joe Thomas. Well that is it for now. Good luck.

Just to let you know, went after work, had 7 good keeper crappie, wind really hurt my best spot, could not stay on it. All were over 11" with one right at the 14" mark. 16th oz. jig head with a chart. curly tail. Will be back after them Saturday.

I was up the Kings. Will be going of the evening this week to look for other spots similar to what I was catching them on Sat. Someone will find it, that is fishing. Right now, I have only located them in two small spots, and I mean spots, not banks or coves, just little spots. This week will definitely help. I would bet a well placed stump would gather them quickly as we head into the warmer weather.

Ok, just to get this out of the way, I went on Saturday, and no I am not very smart, but I absolutely spanked the crappie and I mean some good ones. Found a few shallow and they quit pretty early, caught 3 and they were done. Found some on a deep channel and it was fast and furious for over an hour. Culled up several times. Did catch my limit and then crept home on the snow covered roads. Caught a few bass on a jerkbait and jig, but did not spend much time fishing for them. Good luck when you get to go. All the crappie came out of an area about 10 yds by 10 yds.

I have a Curado 3.8 to 1, have only used it 3 or 4 times. Didn't really like the way it felt throwing the DD22, I also have a 5.0 to 1 Citica. I fish Table Rock primarily and want to know, of the two reels, which is best suited for throwing the deep diving crankbaits. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Fished from about 10:30 to 3:00, caught 6 total, 3 keepers, 2 shorts and one 3 lb. trout. All came on jerkbait on flatter transitions between Big M and Point 23. Beautiful day.

Thanks Eric

Eric What size eakins jig up the Kings?

Should have stayed home. But had to get out. Have not been in quite some time, so I braved the cold weather and drove to Big M. Water was 40 degrees and I attempted to fish deep. Did not get one bite and only had about 3 lookers. Sorry so poor of a report to post, but thought someone might get some use out of it.

Had a few other questions for him I did not want to post on the forum, nothing secretive and this gave me an avenue to ask him. Nothing sneeky, I promise.

Way to go Doug, glad to hear you broke it in right. By the way, send me a pm and let me know what you caught that thing on. Again, congrats and glad you are having a ball in that new boat. Fish

I was up there on Friday and there is muddy water from the ski buoys up past Jakie.