SKMO

Fished some Sun afternoon, putting in at Big Indian (Baxter area). Water temp was 49-50 in the coves and 48ish out on the main lake. Caught 3 w/ one SM about 3#, one 14' SM and one short KY. Both SM on a grub and KY on jig. Threw a stick some but no takers, only fished about 3 hrs total. Now for 2nd hand info.. Talked w/2 gents at the boat ramp as we both loaded up and they did better, had 5 fish with 2 between 4-5# all LM I believe and they were throwing sticks on gravel. They said this past week they had done well on spinnerbaits in the backs of coves and secondary points. Heard of some decent action up the White between SK and Eagle Rock. A couple guys fished Thur, Fri and Sat and had one excellent day (20+) on a spinnerbait, caught good fish with decent numbers on stick and wart other two days. Heard of some whites being caught in upper Roaring River arm near and after sunset but not real big ones. Also a few walleye being taken up from Eagle Rock. One fellow I know from Cassville took numerous crappie last week between Eagle Rock and Big M, had limits a couple days. He's hands down the best crappie guy I know, and is able to catch them well when most people are struggling. Also heard of some whites and crappie caught way up the kings in the Blue Hole to Dollar hole areas. Upper Kings is starting to clear but most of the arm is bad muddy, with the mud trailing down the White to Campbell point. Clears up pretty quick past Campbell Point. This monster rain we are getting is certainly going to factor into the water conditions and fishing the next several days.

I am selling a Quadra Fire gas firepalce insert. It is about 11 years old. It was new in our house when we bought it 10 years ago. I am not sure but I think it is the same as this model: http://www.quadrafire.com/Products/Gas_Bur...asp?f=ColBayIns Anyway it looks exactly the same with gold trim and a real nice beveled glass front. This is a top shelf brand of inserts, both gas and wood. These sell for about 2,300 new. I would like $700 for it. It has seen extremely limited use, in fact we did not use it at all the last 3 years ! The reason I am selling it is because we do not use it, and I would like to replace it with a woodburning insert. It will also sell with the stainless steel gas flue and all the gizmos to get it connected in an existing fireplace, all of which would cost $500 if you bought it new. It is currently installed and works perfectly, located in Shell Knob MO on the west end of Table Rock Lake. As I am going to a wood burning insert I would trade it for a good one if you are going from wood to gas. PM or call my cell 417/342-1898 if you are interested.

I bought this two years ago from the manufacturer/outfitter in Jasper Arkansas. It was used one season in his canoe livery, after which he sells all his used canoes. I had my pick of about 80 to choose from. Read about it at: http://www.buffalocanoes.com/index.htm I am not a canoe expert but I know this is the canoe that a lot of ozark outfitters use and is very durable. It is green in color and in very good shape. I have only used it twice since I bought it, which is why it is for sale, just not getting used. I just called the company and was told they sell new for about $975, I paid $720 for it used a couple years ago and will sell it to you for $500 PM me if you are interested, or call my cell 417/342-1898 The canoe and I are located in Shell Knob on the western end of Table Rock Lake.

I forgot my digital but have the fish pics on a disposable camera, will try to get someone to scan them when I get them developed.

I just got back from my first foray to Pomme, fished Sun Morn thru today, Wed morning. Fished half a day with a bass buddy Sun and did not do too well, bunch of little fish, two were at the 14" range. Remainder of trip I chased muskies with a muskie chaser friend from way up north who knew what he was doing and we boated a dink miskie and 3 big ones 38, 39 and 40". Had 4 additional follows/nips and adrenaline rushes. As this was my first muskie trip I had nothing to compare to but my seasoned buddy rated it "very good". Also caught a 5# LM on muskie lure at sunset.

Went up the Kings from Viola this morning, only fished from 0630 until 1030. Flat calm and sunny, caught well over 20 fish, probably closer to 30 on a jig in 5-20' water. Average size about 10", most all LM, Not a keeper in the boat. Donated most of an entire bag of 20 twin tails to the green sunfish nippers. Fished from Sweetwater to Blake Allen Bluff. Water temp around 71. Lost about a 18" LM beside the boat off a crankbait and that was the only moment of excitement. I'm going out tomorrow but I think I will wait till the wind howls in mid-day and get it behind my butt and cover some ground with a spinnerblade. Hope springs eternal.... SKMO

I'm making my first time ever foray to Pomme Oct 28-31.. meeting up with a college buddy who is a hard core muskie guy from up north, though he himself never has fished the lake. Staying in a cabin and just doing some serious time on the water pestering the fish and doing some catching up with each other. I am going to have most of a day by myself for bass before he gets there. I am not a muskie person, I live on Table Rock and do the bass deal. Questions I have are: Is muskie fishing generally compatible w/bass fishing? i.e. assuming we are not trolling, can he fish for muskie and I for bass in the same general areas? What types of baits should I be thinking about for bass on Pomme this time of year? I would guess spinnerbaits if the wind blows, jigs, maybe cranks or traps....???? Finally what type of structure for the bass and what water depth should I be gearing toward, bass-wise. My buddy has all the muskie gear and we'll do plenty of that just wanted to see if anyone had some bass tips. Thanks in advance - SKMO

Went out of SK bridge Tues afternoon for a few hours. Looked at and fished a few spots with no success. I have been "seeing" most concentrations of fish starting at 40-42' and caught some of these guys my last couple trips though I had to cheat with crawlers one time to get them interested. I was just seeing huge numbers of fish in some 40+ deep spots and had to resort to crawlers to convince myself they were in fact bass, which they were. Somewhat interested in the crawlers but not at all interested in Zoom products, at least I proved to myself they were the quarry. Anyway Tues was slow, my first 4 stops were blanks, then I drifted into the very edge of some mixed hardwoods and cedars in a sizable cove mouth. As I was d-shotting and not in the mood to get hung up I grabbed the next closest rod with a more wood resistant terminal end which happened to be the 3/4 football jig. Trees were thick and wind minimal so I just dropped it over the side, sent it to the bottom and popped it up and down off the bottom hoping for a bikina clad boater to break down near me to salvage the afternoon as the fish were not going to cooperate. Much to my surprise got a thump and then 5 more and boated 6 w/4 keeper KY's in about 15 minutes in a pretty small spot. 35ish water depth. Thought I had it all figured out and went to about 5 similar spots i.e. first trees in cove mouths 35 foot water but no one home or hungry anywhere. No bikini clad damsels to rescue either so I went home with 15 minutes of glory in a 4 hour trip. Yesterday I figured I was tired of getting beat up on the clear water channel and made another 3 hour foray up the Kings to mid-river sections. 3 hours, 9 fish, all LM with 4 nice legals, 2 about 3.5# All the shorts were same year class 13"ers. It was pretty good conditions with clouds and wind and the front rolling in so odds were with me. Caught 2 w/one keeper on a blade on wood on gravel but other 7 were 3/8 oz jig pitched to wood on 45 banks, fish were 4-10 feet deep. Water really nice color to do this and 72 degrees, a little cooler than main stem of lake. All I have to offer - SKMO

If you are going to use it for drop shotting make sure you get one with with a wide transducer cone angle. There is a huge difference between wide and narrow angle transducers in how easily you can keep your bait in the visable zone. The following link has a ton of really good information regarding how sonars work, how to use and interpret them. The chapter on cone angles is really informative as to what the cone actually is and how your sensitivity setting affects if. http://www.lowrance.com/support/Tips_Tutor...tutorial_01.asp

Been a while since I have posted. Some new job assignments and the majority of the Sumer spent in Montana, plus I try to stay off the lake anyway in the heat and jet-ski season. Doing the usual upper-White thing from K-City to Big M. I was catching fish pretty fair until about a week ago. Strictly deep fish 32-42", drop-shot stuff as Babler has relayed. I have made two EARLY morning forays when I got on at 0330 hrs and did extremely well both times for larger fish until the sun came up. Caught about 5 fish each trip between 3-5#, LM & SM. All on spinnerbait which is all I ever throw that time of day (night). Rarely catch a short on this early AM deal. I was doing OK on the deep fish just like Babler described until about a week ago, pretty much fishing gravel breaks at 30-40' depth with the d-shot, or dragging jigs or c-rigs at same depth. About 3 out of 4 fish were nice legal K's. The last week I have been out 3 times and must say I have pretty much stunk the lake up. If you noticed an odor that was me. I think I am on fish but they are not very agressive to say the least. I talked with 2 real good Shell Knob fisherguys this afternon and they had done worse than me recently, if that is possible. Oh well, the last couple Oct's have been tough and I expected nothing different this year. I will continue to chase rumors of hot bites that never materialize and let you know of my struggles. Tight Lines - SKMO

Friends - Not a Taney or a trout fisherman myself, but I do pester the bass species on The Rock to a great extent. I have some firsthand experience with zebras fishing the upper Mississippi in MN for smallmouth. I also have done my share of reading on the subject over the last 5 years, and have come to the conclusion that the outcome is generally Bad. Sure there are instances of zebras "filtering and cleaning" the waters, increasing clarity and benefitting sight feeding species. But the long term outcome is simply unknown, to the ecosystems as a whole. What is absolutely known is the devestating effect they have on man-made infrastructure and vessels. Does 500 million dollars touch home? That is one estimate of what it costs the great lakes communities and recreational users each year due to the Zebra. My Brother-in-Law in Rochester MN, who works at a boat dealership told me that in 2006 they rebuilt or replaced over 70 outboard and inboard boat motors damaged or destroyed by zebras in the cooling system of boat motors. Strictly my opinion but we need to do everything we can as individuals to prevent the spread of this thing. If anyone is looking to the silver lining of the cloud there is none, and if you are too lazy to do your part..... please stay keep your boats and boots off our beloved ozark waters. Anyone want to venture a guess as to how these things will impact our already stressed warm water Ozark riverways? If your answer is it will clean them up and improve them, well you are simply wrong, again in my opinion. Also FYI here is a decent set of FAQ's put out by MDC in response to the recent zebra discovery in Taney. Tight Lines - SKMO ------------------ Zebra Mussel Frequently Asked Questions – Lake Taneycomo 1. Q: What are zebra mussels and where did they come from? A: Zebra mussels are fingernail-sized, black and white striped mollusks. Similar to clams, they are invertebrates with a soft body that is enclosed in a shell. Zebra Mussels are native to the Caspian Sea region of Europe and Asia. They were transported to North American waters in the bilge or ballast water of international ships and were first discovered in Lake St. Clair near Detroit in 1988. 2. Q: How did they get into Missouri? A: Veligers, or the larval stage of zebra mussels, are easily transported in water in livewells or engine cooling systems. Juveniles and adults use small elastic threads known as byssal threads to attach themselves to any hard surface including rock, wood, concrete, plastic, crayfish shells and other mussel shells. They remain attached to an item until they die. Adult zebra mussels can live for several days out of water. If the mollusks attach themselves to watercraft which is then moved to another body of water, the zebra mussels hitchhike a ride to a new lake or stream. It is suspected that zebra mussels were transported into the state by watercraft that had been in the Mississippi River or other zebra mussel-infested waters. 3. Q: Do you know when and how zebra mussels were introduced into Lake Taneycomo? A: Because zebra mussels can attach themselves to virtually any hard surface and are easily transported in livewells and engine cooling systems, we cannot determine exactly how or when they were introduced into the lake. As there are tens of thousands of visitors to Lake Taneycomo annually, it is likely that zebra mussels were unintentionally transported by boats, motors, trailers, aquatic plants or other items that had previously been in infested waters. 4. Q: How were you made aware of the infestation? A: Employees of Empire District Electric Company (operators of Powersite Dam on Lake Taneycomo) contacted the Missouri Department of Conservation to investigate what they thought to be zebra mussels on some submerged items they removed from the lake. 5. Why is the presence of zebra mussels in Lake Taneycomo a concern? A: A single adult female zebra mussel can produce a million young each year that can coat the surface of any item upon which they attach themselves. In some locations zebra mussels have reached densities of more than 750,000 per cubic meter – in some areas in the Mississippi River, zebra mussel shells are up to 6 feet thick on the bottom. At these high densities they can clog power plants, industrial and public drinking water intakes and boat hulls, causing millions of dollars in damage. Zebra mussels directly threaten native mussel populations by suffocating them and preventing them from getting nutrients. 6. Do you routinely monitor for zebra mussels? A: Conservation Department biologists have been observing submerged and on-shore areas during the course of their other duties since the zebra mussel was discovered in the state. Additionally, we have worked to educate Missourians about ways they can help prevent the spread of zebra mussels. The result has been several instances of citizens and business owners reporting infected boats, which were prohibited from being launched in water bodies until properly cleaned. This work continues today. Several Missouri STREAM TEAMS also are helping by monitoring lakes and streams for zebra mussels. If you would like to join the effort, call (800)781-1989 or visit the Stream Team web-site at www.mostreamteam.org. 7. Q: Is there any way to rid the lake of the zebra mussels? A: Research for methods to eradicate zebra mussel populations is ongoing. There are some mollusk-specific chemicals that help control zebra mussel populations, but the large scale use of these, i.e., treatment of the entire lake, is unfeasible. Additionally, these chemicals are also harmful to our native mussels and snails. The Conservation Department can provide information to those who would like to apply those chemicals at their facilities. 8. Q: My boat stays at Lake Taneycomo and is moored in a slip. What can/should I do? A: On boats that remain in the water, zebra mussels can attach to drive units, cover or enter water intakes, and clog, overheat and destroy the engine. If possible, leave outboards or out drives and lower units in the “trim up” position. Juvenile mussels are quite soft and are scoured off the hull when the boat is cruising. Periodically inspect hulls, drive units, docks, boat lifts, and cables and scrape free of mussels. Mussels and other items removed from the boat should be properly disposed of in a trash container. If possible, pump hot water through your engine's intake on a regular basis to prevent mussel growth inside the engine's cooling system. If you ever move your boat, lift or dock to another body of water, follow the steps outlined below. 9. Q: What can I do to help? A: You can play a critical role in preventing the spread of zebra mussels in Missouri by following a few simple steps: Inspect boats and trailers thoroughly, and remove any trash, mussels or aquatic weeds before leaving any water body. Mussels and other items removed from the boat should be properly disposed of in a trash container. Drain water from the motor, live-well, bilge and transom wells, and any other water from the boat and equipment before leaving any water body Dump leftover bait on land, away from the water. Rinse boats, trailers and equipment (including live-wells, bilge, and cooling systems) thoroughly with hard spray or HOT (104 degrees) water, like that found at a do-it-yourself carwash. Dry boats, motors, trailers and equipment thoroughly in the hot sun (for approximately 5 days) before using them again. Several Missouri STREAM TEAMS are helping by monitoring lakes and streams for zebra mussels. If you would like to join the effort, call (800)781-1989 or visit the Stream Team web-site at www.mostreamteam.org. 10. Q: Where can I get more information about zebra mussels? A: For more information about zebra mussels, please feel free to contact the Conservation Department Invasive Species Coordinator at (573)-751-4115 or go to www.protectyourwaters.net . To report a potential zebra mussel sighting, contact your nearest Missouri Conservation Department office or go to: http://www.mdc.mo.gov/nathis/exotic/ By working together we can prevent the spread of zebra mussels in Missouri. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information contact the Conservation Department Invasive Species Coordinator at (573)-751-4115.

Have had several trips on the water the last few weeks but nothing significant to add to the general discussion of TR fishing. As reported by others I have been catching my fish 30-35' deep on dropshot, sometimes up to 40'. Seems like most of the usual standby spots have a little too much water over them as compared to years past. I have said it before but it's hard to get any pattern to stick from one year to another on this lake. Most days, weeks, months, years, etc it is simply a fish hunt. Best action for me has been on the edge of gravel flats or points where there is a quick break to 50' or more of water. It seems to be hard to catch more than 2-3 fish off any one spot, although I did have one day last week where we parked on them for 3 hours. Normally I can get 2-3 pretty quick and then the word gets around and lockjaw ensues. I have had a few memorable moments the last couple weeks, always related to some shad balls. Bait I have been hanging on the dropshot is the standby W/C Zoom finesse, a smoke/red slim senko, and Iovino Rythem & Blues. Went out this AM before daylight (0400) and had 2 keeper (16 and 17) LM on black spinnerbait. No shorts. As it started to get light caught 5 on topwater with one squeeker KY and 4 Dinks. Picked up my Daughter on the dock at 0800 which was Really Early for her. Went to some spots we should have seem some top fish but nothing, par for the course for '07 in my book. Ended up dragging some plastic with 2 fish in 45 minutes, all dinks. Success of the day was we went to a bluegill spot at 1000 and caught and kept "a mess" between us in about 90 minutes. Threw more shorts than that back but we took 23 home between 8 and 9 inches. Really nice "gills. A lot of people do not realize that there are quality gills in TR, just have to go deep on the gravel, same places you fish for KY's. PETA fans: My Daughter and I and everyone we know loves to consume these little fishes. We are Carnivores of the First Order and have come to the agreement that "gills" are about as good as it gets.

J.E. - Shoulder is not so fine. Am going in Wed for arthroscopic surg to fix torn rotator cuff and torn labrum. CMAC - I thought the plastic bite was tough too as I went a couple hours and lots of gravel dragging with Zero and was just about ready to head in and do honey-do's when I finally found some fish. I think key was finding the threadfin. They were really bunched up in this little gravel pocket and I had some fast action until they quit which they did abruptly sometime after 10am.

There is a Wed night tournament at the Shell Knob Bridge that starts at 6 PM I believe. There is a Friday night tournament that goes out of Campbell point near Shell Knob, I am unsure what time it starts.

The red oak species (black oak, red oak, blackjack, pin oak, shumard oak etc) take 2 years to develop acorns, so this years crop was pollinated last year in '06 and should make acorns. However next year ('08) will probably be limited to non-existant on the red oaks. The white oak group (white oak, post oak, chinkapin oak etc) pollinate and fruit all the same year so we will probably not have much of a white oak acorn crop this year. This variation may be nature's way of assuring some type of mast production in case of a freeze such as we had.

Here are results from Heartland Pr-Am http://www.hpata.com/results/proam.cfm?tournamentid=192

Never noticed any conection between cedar tree fish and others personally, but might be something going on there. I see a ton of healthy fish on TR and just few that look puny. With the sheer numbers of bass in TR you can't expect them all to be beauty queens, just like people some are healthier than others, and they die at various ages of various natural causes. Of course we have all caught rough looking fish post-spawn but that it to be expected, they have just spent 3 weeks night-clubbing chasing the action and not eating that well. I still think a lot of damage we see might be due to the numbers of times some of these fish are caught, mishandled and transported, especially during warmer weather. All supposition on my part of course, but overall the fish I have seen the last few years look to be in excellent condition.

Have heard of no LMB problems since the outbreak a few years ago. Prety common to catch sn occaisional rough looking fish, There are a vaiety of fungi that can affect them and I always suspected poor/improper treatment of fish by anglers handling them and hauling them in livewells was cause for at least some of these beat-up looking fish.

Read and take to heart what Bill Babler said. There have been some terriffic hot bites in the last two weeks, but they last for a day or maybe 2 at best. There are obviously a lot of shallow fish but they just are not always that cooperative. Myself and a friend fished our arses of Sat and ended up with maybe 14 shorts and one that would have squeeked in. Mostly crankbaits in the Kings. Lots of boats out. When the stars line up it's easy, but the "you should have been here Yesterday" line plays out time and time again on the Rock. She can be a mean ol' gal. I will let you in on a secret about fishing this time of year if you promise not to tell: Launch your boat, look for some wind and fish those banks with some stickbiaits, cranks, and if it gets windy enough toss a spinnerbait out there now and again. If that does not produce have start probing a little deeper with a split shot or small c-rig or a PG&J jig out to about the 30' depth. If after about 10 hours of this you are still hauling water, put your boat back on the trailer. Go home and if nothing major is broken, nobody is still bleeding, you have not been confronted by any law enforcment officials on the highway, and the wife greets you with a kiss....you have had an excellent day fishing on Table Rock Lake. Sometimes thats as good as it gets.

Definitely they go into Arkansas. My guess is that they stage and hang out more on the MO side in preparation (last deep holes) but I think they do the love makin' thing in AR. A lot dependes on lake level as I think they need the current and clean gravel. The locals make the hike down the bluff off 86 starting in Jan and catch them on the MO side. There is an excellent new river access in AR called the "Romp Hole". Go south from Carr Lane (39/86 Junction) a couple miles and look for the sign telling you to turn Rt (West) to Romp Hole access. You could launch a jon boat or smaller boat there. Last time I looked at it you could fish it with waders or even hip boots. I helped a fisheries biologist electrofish this exact stretch of river a few years ago on March 15 and it was loaded with big walleye. If I told you the numbers and size of fish we netted you would call me a liar. We saw very few fish less than 22". Give it a shot and let us know if you have any luck. I think TR is like Stockton where they have documented that some fish do spawn on wind swept chunk rock banks but good luck getting that to work, it would definitely be a nightime expedition.

Well the high hopes I pinned on the weatherman's forcast for this weekend fell through the floor. Was hoping more rain, (from forecasts 5 days ago) and moderate weather after that, but turned into a piddle of rain and cold temps and wind. Not a good combination. Actually a bad set up. I feel kind of like Gilda Radner playing Old Lady Emily on SNL several years ago as I say to everyone: Never mind....... Sorry I brought it up. Had a nice day on upper White during a 4 hour venture Thurs. Caught stickbait fish that had read the chapter on how they were supposed to bite and 2 of us got into double digits on them. Half obvious legal but no braggers, other half were legal wanna-be's. which they will be this year. In other words nice sub-legal fish. Bites on stikbaits were out in 20' of water or more. Fri got out for same small trip as I thought it might hold up or improve but was wrong on that. Bad wrong as I never boated a fish. Saw one nice one. Sat shot out early in the AM as I could see from the radar I had 3-4 hours between storms so did a quick AM milk run and boated one 7" crappie on a rogue. Moral of the story: Not sure there is one but keep on trying. Right now I expect to have some real dud trips but I will gamble anytime on the possibility of being on the water when something is going on and getting some nice bites. When general weather and sun, clouds, wind, time of day, water release, and your skills all line up there is going to be a bite from here on out on these late winter fish. Just a matter of days until the overall water temp comes up a degree or two and then we are wide open

Call the Kansas City MDC office. 816-655-6254 They have Fisheries Biologists who can help with pond management issues. You can also get free fish to stock with from them, as long as the pond currently has no fish, is at least 1/4 acre in size, and has a portion of it at least 8' deep

Chip Sold

Beg to differ on this they are great bait. Very durable and the SM loved them over any other live bait including softshell 'dads.