lildave

We only got into them once last week, but they were BIG! We found them in the mouth of Basin Hollow across from Mill Creek east near Shell Knob

I've been reading and learning from you all on this site for years, so I wanted to give a little back... Just got back from my annual fishing trip in the Shell Knob. We were there for 3 weeks. Water was as clear as I've seen it when we got there, and the bite was tough. Early on, we went up the White a ways and found some stained water and did fine. Eventually the stained water got down to the Big Creek area, and we didn't have to run as far. The moss was as bad as I've ever seen it this year, but the fish were in it, and biting. We fished green pumpkin Senkos in the mossy water, or even in the clear water when it was calm. If it was calm, you could see the fish take the bait. When the wind was blowing, we went with green pumpkin Dead Ringer Worms from Zoom. We killed them on both baits. We fished shallow and plucked males off the nest, but even though the water temp was over 70 degrees when we left this morning, we still had not seen the big females on the nests,,, Strange year... We didn't catch any big fish, but we caught hundreds of 'em. If you use the Senkos and Dead Ringers, you'll get bit... Thanks everyone, for all the help over the years. Hope this helps some of you next week...

I never used to fish with crappie nibbles, but a buddy convinced me last year after boating 3 fish to my 1 on a trip to Truman. They're messy, but I'm a believer now...

Most fish were caught on cove banks and backs of coves. The best bite we found was when the boat was in about 15 feet of water when you were a cast distance from the bank. We fished it pretty fast, letting fall down the slope, then quick cranks as soon as the jig hit bottom. We had lots of fish follow it up to the boat. We fished mostly from Big Creek upstream just past where the White, Kings, and Mill Creek come together.

Got back from annual spring trip and we had good luck on football head jigs with craw trailers.I normally fish topwater in the morning until the bite dies down, then go to finesse worms. They have always caught lots of fish for me. I always have a jig tied on, but rarely fish it. But this year, my partner was doing better on a jig, and I switched over, and hardly ever put it down again. They liked the peanut butter and jelly Eakins jig in 1/2 oz, with a green-pumpkin craw trailer. Got lots of spots, smallmouths, and one of my personal best largemouth. I appreciate all the generous help from this forum, and thought I should try to reciprocate the kindness. Good luck fishin'! Li'l Dave

Magnificent indeed... We saw Ks bustin shad today, but the shad were tiny, and the bass wouldn't hit Spooks or Pop Rs, or Spittin Images even if you dropped it right in the middle of the melee. Caught a few tiny sharks around the docks on top, but all our keeper and close-to-keeper fish came on big football jigs with craw trailers, creature baits like Brush Hogs and Space Monkies, and finesse worms. The wind made it tough to fish main lake points, but we had some luck on the lee side with the big jigs. Couldn't feel anything else

We get a few every May around Shell Knob and Big Creek

The Shell Knob area is really nice, with not nearly the boat traffic as the lower end of the lake. Kelly and Dawn have a real nice resort called Big Creek resort, located in the mouth of Big Creek, near the Campbell Point Marina. The have a small fiberglass bass boat you can rent. Nuthin fancy, but serviceable. Also, Campbell Point Marina has boats for rent. The resort has a wide variety of accomodations and rates. You can go big or cheap, but all the rooms are clean and nice. If it's just you and your wife, they have a couple real nice private cabins with private decks right on the water. Their dock is top notch, and Big Creek is a great fishery for smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass. You literally don't have to crank the big motor to catch a lot of fish. I stay there all the time, and have tried a lot of other resorts. Nice place, super owners,and a great value. Check out their site with the link below. http://www.bigcreekresort.com/home.html

I usually catch one or two each year in May on Texas-rigged finesse worms from Big Creek to the White/Kings confluence. My partner got a 20 incher in Big Creek last month

I have taken a spring trip to Table Rock every year for almost 20 years. It means a lot to me, so I understand how you feel. I too have prayers with folks who's livelihoods and properties are affected by this disaster. But I was there in 2008 and I'll be there this year. Coming down on 5/4, staying until 5/22. We've refined it over to the years to optimize good weather with good fishing. My advice? Stay where you fish. Runs are dangerous. But I'm staying at Big Creek Resort, and I don't even have to start the big motor to slay 'em. And I can fish for a couple weeks at idle speed. You gotta play the cards you're dealt. In my humble opinion, 2 weeks at Table Rock under hisorically bad conditions, beats the hell out of record fishing at Truman. Spots and Smallmouth on topwater in May on Table Rock are worth the minor inconviences of historical flooding. I'm not sayin... I'm just sayin... Li'l Dave

Got a nice one last May on topwater near Campbell Point Marina. We catch a few every year, but this was one of the bigger ones.

I'll be down there that weekend myself. I had some luck last week on Shakey Head worms in green pumpkin. Lots of dinks, but occasionally a 3-4 pounders out from the bank a ways. I also got a few slow swimming smoke grubs. Had some decent luck on Senkos also. Not slaughtering them, but picking up a fish or two an hour, and the better fish coming early in the morning. I had top-water tied on, but saw very little action on top. I would think by the 8th of May, the topwater will be getting good. I had 50 degree water on 4/18, and by the time I left yesterday (4/26), I had found some 62 degree water. Saw lots of beds in the shallows with small males on them.

Champion’s 21 foot, top-of-the-line, tournament bass boat, with 70+ mph Mercury 250 OptiMax Pro XS. GPS on the bow and in the dash. Lowrance LCX-112C Color GPS on bow (10.5” screen); and Lowrance LCX - 28C HD Color GPS in dash (7” screen) Trolling motor is the 36 Volt MinKota Maxxum with 101 pound thrust. Hot foot throttle, turn-signal trim, jack plate, 50 gallon fuel tank, stainless steel speed prop, Hydraulic steering, LED lighting in the boxes, livewells, and console, rod organizers port and starboard, 4 bank battery charger, Loc-R-Bar, keel guard, chromed bumper steps, custom cover, all the premium toys. Perfect condition, always garaged, very low hours. Estate sale. $40,000 or best offer. Detail photographs of all the features available by email - just send your request for images to dblack52@kc.rr.com