Top Dog

I know I might be crazy, but I'm hittin the water this weeked (highs in the low 30's). Mostly I can't wait to use my new Eagle Fish Elite480 which I just got my Navionics premium hotmaps in the mail today. If anyone has any comments on the Premium GPS maps I would love to hear any opinions. Otherwise, I will be doing plenty of slow boating looking for fish and playing with my finder. Specifically, I like'd to run into some good Smallmouth action. I have caught a few smallmouth in random locations between Campbell's Point and Viola on the King. I'll be launching at the Shell Knob bridge and would appreciate any tips for any good smallmouth or even spots/largemouth in the area. Thanks to all!

I'm relatively new to Table Rock, but last year I started throwing top water in early to mid April, and by mid May I already boated at least 25 - 30 top water spots off deep channel bends. The super spook landed most my fish including 2 doubles, but the pop R, and sammy continued to bring in 3 -5 lb spots all the way through the summer. I can't seem to get enough top water most the time, so when I got tired of losing my baits in the trees or snagged in the rocks I'd go right back to my spook. I found I would catch fish well throughout the day not just in the first morning hours. Of course let the fish tell you when they want to feed on top. Always keep a top water rod rigged up and handy, cause I can't tell you how many fish I caught chasing bait while I was dragging a caroling rig or finesse worm on the bottom. If you see the chase going down, plop your spook anywhere near the scene and you'll catch that big boy.