Don House

Bill we were using the same thing down there also, white jigs on a drift rig, worked really well and was getting our bigger fish.. Also the good old standby down there power bait was getting a bunch to eat as well. Start up at the island and drift your way down to the landing on both sides. Beats the heck out of the crowd! Going back up again today with a group, Leonard from Taneycomo Nights has put me together some new White PMS jigs to play with should be alot of fun if there is not to much traffic!! Yes, I also noticed there was alot of trash around that area, cleaning day would be good, but it won't last, best bet would be to get the conservation guys to put some trash cans around there at least it would be in the cans?? See you up there today Good Fishing Capt. D

Went back out this afternoon with a group from Branson West ran back up to the DAM drifted from Just below Outlet two to 100 yards past the Boat Ramp. Another really good day on the water, boated well over 25 fish in the 15 - 16 inch range with a few bigger ones including some nice Browns. Everything came on the All White Jig and the Woolie Bugger in White. Shad are still coming through the DAM in large amounts today. This little guy I had on the boat today was just killing them, he out fished all of us 3 to 1 per drift. Phil was right it does matter which side you drift down. You just have to play with it until you start catching fish then repeat. Here are some pictures of todays outing.. Good Fishing Everyone.. Capt. Don

I know Bill will put his two cents in, but fishing on the Rock is to say the least hard! Most guides can find a few fish but the average guide trip our clients don't really know how to pitch or flip and alot of casting can be a challenge also trying to get baits in the flooded bushes. Spinnerbaits in the flooded bushes seems to be working but very hit and miss long with crankbaits and some shakey jigs also. Me personally for the time being I'm trying to take everyone I can over to Taneycomo. Taneycomo right now it is HOT!!! Yesterdays trip was the best fishing I have ever had on Taneycomo, had to make some changes "thanks to Bill" to help with the wind and fast moving water, you can read Bill's report on the Taneycomo Upper Lake form, I know he did very well also. Trout Fishing is alot of fun even better when you get to tangle with a 2 plus pound Rainbow. And really trout fishing is not as easy as most people think, it is a real challenge. So if you want to catch a good amount of fish Taneycomo is the ticket, if you don't mind fishing for one to two bites for 8 hours then Table Rock will be your bet. And yes to answer your question this weather is hurting alot of the guides down here including me, so much I'm seeing alot of guides that don't fish for trout working Taneycomo now, that should tell you something. Good Fishing here comes the rain again. Capt. Don

Bill, glad to hear they really turned on for you. Thanks for the tip, all of our bigger fish came on the small white jig but a alot also came on the red san juan worms all in all we really did good also, with a large number of fish in the 15 - 18 inch range and very nice colors. We left to go eat lunch and meet back up with Phil Stone and his group at the landing area then went back and floated from Monkey Island to the Landing and that area was on fire also, all fish were in the 16 - 18 inch range also with one solid three pounder, really good day and just like you we had it all to ourself. Total day 60 plus fish with two many to count over 2 pounds. Best day I have ever had on Taneycomo. Here is a pic of one of many nice Rainbows we had.. Good Memories and Good Fishing for sure! Good Fishing Everyone Don

We did ok, caught alot of nice bows from the cables to the ramp. Biggest was about 16 inches nothing really big but we did catch alot of fish. We also had one really big brown come out of nowhere and chase a PMS Jig, seen it, but it turned away at the last min. Phil Stone was with our group and the gentleman with him did catch a really nice 17" Small Mouth on a glow egg. Will be back again today hopefully the creeks have cleared alittle so we can do both downstream and upstream.. We also seen alot of shad coming through the gates even more in the afternoon. Throw that white jig alot!! Good Fishing Everyone.. Capt. Don

Well the way things are going down here for us it will still be up, we are still having alot of rain... Happy Hollow is a very nice place, just down the road from where I live a few miles. As far as the jig I throw it just about everywhere. But even better on the long gravel points and in the cedars or hard wood trees, and of course in the bushes if they are still under water when you get up here. Also don't forget the docks around here even better on a good sunny day. Good Fishing and have a safe trip up here.. Capt. Don

swelbo1, I would look at finding some of the smaller 1/8 to 5/16 ounce jigs in that range for now. Colors well PB&J, Missouri Craw, All Brown, All Green Pepper, maybe even some black and blue. Trailers will that is your own pickings I like a small craw look alike, zoom makes a really nice critter craw in green pepper, but I have seem them all. You are trying to make it look like a crawfish, that should give you a really good start. Colors of the crawfish down here are, brown, orange, green, purple, chartreuse and some red. Use those colors to find the best looking color of a jig. Good Luck and Good Fishing Capt. Don

edyer, Taneycomo is very easy to fish, yes your rangers can do it very well. The best place to put in at right now is at scotty' s dock by downtown Branson and Bass Pro. Are you guys Bass fisherman or just out to find anything that bites?? I have been that water everyday this week and have found, trout, bass, crappie and have heard of others catching a few whites also.. It can be alot of fun, but you have to work for certain types of fish. Trout is well the easiest right now, light line under 6 pound small jigs with little bits of night crawlers or Berkely power bait in very bright colors. Tight line it and wait for the bite. Bass well that is another story they are there I found some nice ones on Thursday and Friday. As far as Table Rock Goes I have still been going out and trying just about every other day and it is still very hard right now, 8 hour days of fishing spots that I know there are fish at and only one to two bites total. And with even more rain coming I would look at Taneycomo really hard to get some action. If not well just keep plugging away at it, you might find something. All I know is that just about every guide on Table Rock is over at Taneycomo, that should tell you something!! Good luck to you and your six guys coming down, hope you find some fish of all types.. Capt. Don

Guys I was talking to a Park Ranger just a few days ago about old 86 hwy park, it is really under water, I know I was fishing in it. He was telling me some of the issues are the power outlets will have to be replaced because of the water in them. He was saying it could be a few months before that area was ready to go again.. And now they are talking about 6 - 10 more inches of rain by next week!!! This is going to be a really big drag if that happens, the lake will never recover from this mess. Anyone else hear of this?? Capt. Don

Jackie, welcome to the site! It really is a great place to hang out and discuss fishing. I and everyone else would love to get some tips from you on jig fishing, I know you are very hard to beat when it comes to those little guys. Please share we are all ears! See you on the water. Off to work now. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Went out this morning and ran up to the DAM drifted and pickup a few on each drift, they were eating the Orange glow ball really good right between outlet 1 and 2. Left and ran up to Rockaway Beach to do what I was supposed to do fish for Bass, started by flipping the docks with a small 1/8 and 5/16 ounce jig and craw. Had good success with the dock pattern, had 2 keepers one over 4 and the other was a solid 2.5 also had 3 shorts on the jig up there. Ran Back down closer to the landing and worked the same pattern with docks and stumps found a few more good keepers in the 2 - 3 pound range and another short fish. Stayed in the muddy water for the better blacks but also had good luck in the cleaner water just not as big. Could not get a bite in the fast water on the main channel, maybe should have fished a crankbait but oh well I was having fun, nice to feel a bass bite! Went in to Rowark and it was loaded with Bill and all of the other guides, pickup a couple trout and figured I should get out of there and called it a day.. Now lets just see if we can do it again with my clients on Friday and Saturday.. P.S Trav thanks for the hint on one of your posts last week I think anyway thanks! Good Fishing Everyone Capt. D

Edyer, hello Well the stickbait bite may still be there but I think it is slowly going away. And yes Lake of the Ozarks has always been a great stickbait lake, I have had some great tournament there doing just that! Table rock has it's time for the stickbait when temps are around the low 40's to Mid 40's. This year I think the rain and muddy waters in some areas have slowed this down for this year. But it is still a bait I throw alot. Eric Prey and Bill Babler wrote some really good articles on the stick bait bite down here they are posted on the front page of this site, just look through the articles and you will find it, alot of good information worth the read. And Yes the wiggle wart bite will still be there just before the big rain we were starting to get some really big small mouth catches on the wart and a swimming grub, so I hope it will still be around, but you will need some wind and alittle cleaner water to really make that work well. I fished for 6 hours yesterday flipping a small jig's in the flooded trees around the DAM area had only one bite, but it about ripped my arm off, made a run and that was it, broke off had to be a good fish, never even seen it, but boy what a bite! Some going into the bushes well some will. I hope they are just looking for crawfish to eat and not to spawn, that all depends on how fast they drop the lake, But I would think in some areas of the lake yes they will. As far as the clear water, there are certain areas of the lake that are clear and more that are dirty right now. From Long Creek at the state line to State Park there is a really big mud line and most of the creeks and coves on the East side of the dam area really muddy, but in my creek Beardsley creek which is right across from state park it is clear. Also you can see the mud moving down the lake from Kimberling City to just about point 6 and it is also moving towards the DAM. It will clean itself out here soon, I have been watching it everyday. And Yes Tell Dan I said hello and thanks for the kind words from him and you also. I just try to help anyone I can, I remember when I first started fishing this lake I came down from Truman Lake up north of here, large dirty water lake had no clue how to fish this clear deep water and I could never find any information on this lake or anyone to tell me anything, so I try to help everyone for what it is worth. Have a good trip down here hope all goes well and you can find some good fish. Keep looking on this site we will keep posting information as it comes to be. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Phil NICE!!! Good Job buddy! atleast you are finding a few here and there.. Going out today and looking for crappie and bass fish for awhile.. Call me later if you can.. Capt. D

WOW this one hits home for me... I spent many years fishing the local and club events, did ok made some money, but nothing like I really needed to make it. Spent way to much time away from my wife and girls! So I decided to take this to another level and try guiding for a living. It has been hard and still is, but I love it, and my wife loves to see me happy so she puts up with it also. I did some things that most people did not understand for the first three years of guiding, had to stay behind in the shadows of other people and try to learn the in's and outs of guiding, but the stubborn side of me wanted to make it on my own, Well this is my first year on my own, I'm working and paying the bills, well almost if you talk to my wife of 24 years. These things I did I knew would pay off for me in the long run, I just had to deal with it and put in my time. I had to give up fishing tournaments and save my money to make this work. I did and I do miss it alot, but I know will get back into it here really soon. Finding real sponsorships was the challenge, I knew that someone was not just going to handout anything, I had to bust my rear end to get it. So I did, I spent the last 4 years working every sport show I could during the winter, I was gone about 2 months straight every year, and alot of this was for free. But I learned one thing, it's not how good you can fish it's how good you can sell and promote their products and the fishing well that was just icing on the cake. By attending all of these sport shows I was able to meet some really great people in the business to help me fine tune my presentation and skills and believe me I'm still learning to this day. I was lucky and was able to meet a great gentlemen by the name of James Grandt he owns a company called Grandt Rods, a multi million dollar rod company in Chi-town IL. Mr. Grandt taught me alot of the skills I have today. He taught me how to talk with possible sponsors and how to show them you can make a impact on there bottom line and when a Multi-Millionaire takes the time to talk with you man you listen to every word, and that was my lucky break. I was able to work hard and obtain my first really good sponsorship with Grandt Rods and then after some really even harder work I was able to meet with G3 Boats in Lebanon Missouri. Months went by working with the Marketing Director of G3 Boats trying to sell them on the ideal that a guide could help promote and sell there product all over the US. My Business plan and marketing plan was based on the ideal that a guide could place their product in front of 1000's of prospective buyers every year here in Branson Missouri and all over the US. Well after alot of long sleepless nights and many days thinking it was not going to work, it finally fell together I had a really big sponsorship, a real boat deal with a major boat manufacture. I was in the position to start my own company. I've had to teach myself how to market myself and my company via web site presents, had to teach myself how to do that also, because I could not afford to have one built for me. There is alot of beating on doors and taking alot of "NO" we are not interested! But I stuck with it and kept moving forward, believe me I have made alot of mistakes and have learned from everyone of them and I know I'm not out of the woods yet. But I know I'm on the right path now and the phone is ringing everyday. So if you are really interested in making this a real job, here is what to keep in mind. 1) Start small, work your way up, don't try to hit that home run right off the bat. 2) Ask questions and Ask for help from anyone that will help you. 3) Don't be afraid to knock on doors. Meet as many people as you can. 4) Understand Business if you don't then read everything you can find! 5) A good Resume and Business plan goes a long way. 6) Don't do stupid things, think before you act, and if you do make a mistake fix it and learn from it. "Phil Lilley knows what I'm talking about on that one, that was one of my not to forget mistakes!" 7) If you fall get back up and try again " Never say Never" 8) Make this a fun job, and if it get to the point were it is no fun then remember where you came from and what you used to do! 9) And last but not least work hard then work even harder! I spend more time now working then I ever had before, is it worth it Hell YES. Hope this helps some, sorry if I rambled on but it really hit home with me and everything I have been through to get were I'm at today. Good Fishing Everyone Capt. Don House

MOBass thanks for the report.. I will be down there on Taney Tuesday and give the bass fishing a try, heck right now Table Rock is toast!! I was talking with a few other guides down here and 8 hour trips this weekend produced nothing! I will report if anything comes of it.. I have heard a few guys talking about the bass fishing up around Rockaway Beach, so away I go.. As far as cooper creek I have been using my chest waders to launch the boat and then tie up to the dock and then wade back to the truck, what a pain, but it works. I hope the MDC takes a good look at all of this and makes some changes with there ramps and docks on Taneycomo and Table Rock. Good Fishing Everyone Capt. Don

I agree with lilley, I fear the worst.. I know last year at Easter when that big cold front came through it really hurt the crappie. I was catching them in 2 - 3 feet of water then after the snows and cold came through they went back out and stayed in the 30 - 40 feet range on the bluffs.. We were still catching them but they were full of eggs and the egg stacks were very hard and that is not good. I even spoke with a MDC agent he told me they would just go back out deep and drop there eggs and that was it.. So I hope that does not happen again this year. If we can hold off any more rain I think we will be ok, I agree again lilley everything will be atleast 3 - 4 weeks away from spawning, Crappie, Bass all of them everything will be behind from normal times. If that holds true we will make it, if not they will spawn in the high water and the nest are toast! So let's just hope for the best and hope the lake comes back down in a reasonable time before everything starts the spawn. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Trav, thanks for the information.. Looks like I will give it a try this week and go play, thanks again for the input.. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Just looking for information from you guys down on that end of the lake. Water still really bad or is it starting to clear? Hopefull thinking I guess. Looking of bass and crappie thought maybe that end of the lake has flushed out by now? Table Rock is a mess!! thanks for any information.. Good Fishing or Thinking about it.. Capt. Don

Had a trip out this morning, At the Dam end of the lake the ONLY ramp open is at State Park.. Everything else from Long Creek to Kimberling City is closed.. Alot of junk floating everywhere... Dam area is the only clean water I could find, best bet would be to throw spinner baits in the back of the creek arms, everything else gets too hung up in trash!!! Fishing is slow good luck!!! I'm going back to Taney at least we can catch a few fish!!! Capt. Don House

Went down to Old 86 Hwy last night after I left Taneycomo, WOW! the whole park is closed the ramp parking lot is 5 feet underwater and most of the camp grounds are underwater. Looks like all of the ramps on the main lake are that way for now, I can see State Park from my house and it does not look any better. So put your waders on to get your boat on the water. Hope this drops down fast, making fishing on these lakes a real challenge. Good Fishing or Wading Everyone Capt. Don

Purple1Gold, well if it is like all of the rest of the river arms temp should be in the high 40's to low 50's.. What to use well there are other guy's on here that really play in that area right now, like Bill Babler it's really his play ground maybe he or some of the other great guy's on here can shed some light for you.. From what I hear the wiggle wart is coming on strong right now in the creek arms along with a shakey jig or smaller jig also seems to be working.. You might want to look back at all of the posts on this site I sure you can find information from that area, Plus I'm sure other will speak up also.. Good Fishing and Have some fun! Capt. Don

Jaybird, well I wish on the commission thing, not going to happen my name is not Al Linder or Hank Parker.... Just a good old country boy that loves his toy's... Anyway as far as the screen speed I set to my liking fast when I'm looking around then I will slow it down when I really want to see something.. As far as the sensitivity here is a special trick... For Harder bottoms, like rock, gravel ect.. you must set it LOWER below 10 for softer bottoms like mud or sand you Must set it HIGHER above 10... Play with this sometime and you will see what I'm talking about.. If the sensitivity is too high everything will look bright white, too low very dark.. Make sense.. play with it and you will see... Good Fishing Capt. Don

Seth, we stayed down around flat creek to about 1 mile on up, we tried the flats up there by where you were but no luck at all. Should have went out early like you guys but just could not get everyone to get up.. Started at 8:00am looks like we missed alot.. Still had a fun day.. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Nice fish Mr. Webb another one to add to the list of big fish this guide has caught on Table Rock Lake.. I bet only a few know that Mike held the State Record for the Mean mouth for a little bit of time on Table Rock Lake also. So the man can fish and Table Rock is full of them! And yes I have my own thoughts of catch and release, but we will just smile and wish it was me.. Good Fishing Everyone Capt. Don

Pro and Cons of these guys is well just that pro's and con's.. Pro's seeing fish that know one else knows about, finding areas that most will not find, finding deep water trees loaded with fish out of 100 trees looked at and so on and so on. Con's well finding fish and cannot figure out how to catch them, Spending to much time looking and playing with it, the cost, the wife getting made because you bought one, now wanting to buy one for the front of the boat, and so on and so on.. Besides that they are really neat, I had two SI training trips this week and these guys could not believe what they were missing once we got them configured right and really started looking for things, also being able to use the GPS and the SI together making these a really neat tool that is a must have and worth every penny in the long run.. Good Fishing Capt. Don House