Don House

Gary, I got my new boat for the 2008 season, it's a 2008 G3 V210, 21 footer with a 101 inch beam deep V walleye boat, I was breaking in the big motor today, so I did alittle fishing while I was at it.. See you on the water.. Capt. Don

Had the chance to go out today in my new toy and try to break it in.. Drove around for a little and then started fishing, went over to point 5 and worked back to 86 Hwy Bridge, was able to catch 4 nice fish in the first couple of hours. Still catching fish down deep in anything over 45 feet of water drop shot was it, tried spoons but still only one small fish, they would come right up to it then swim away. Really starting to see shad bunching up alot fish where right below them, seems the wind was pushing them up along the bluff's on the main lake. Pay attention to our little friends the sea gulls they really pointed out the shad today. Fishing out on the main lake stuff, trees, and deep points. Also found a pattern with small Eakins jigs around some of the larger docks, flipping into stalls with wind coming in on them. Brown and Orange and Green Pumpkin colors was working for me. Also ran into a guide out on the lake with some clients they were doing well on main lake points with wind catching some nice small mouth with wiggle warts and according to him they were shallow, anything under 15 feet with wind. Weather stays nice I will try to go out again next week early, If I find anything really good I will report.. Everyone have a great Thanksgiving!!! Capt. Don

Ham, no I don't think you are asking to much, what are these boards for anyway! I prefer using WAR EAGLE Spinnerbaits myself, 3/8 to 1 ounce. They have some great colors, like firecracker, Blue Herring, Ghost Shad, Mouse, Chart and White, all white and a whole bunch more. These baits have great blades in all types of colors and even holograms patterns. I love to use the basic double willow I think they are 3's and 4". I will slow roll them just about anytime there is wind and clouds on those banks that wind coming into them with and without wood present. Really I have tried all type of presentations from super fast, to super slow, bulging, yoyo'n them just about anyway you can think of.. But it all boils down to what the fish want that day. Time of year, really even more in the spring and late summer from October on to now. Area of the lake well that all depends on were I'm picking up my clients, but we have really had fun on the mid to back sections of the main lake creek arms, but I have used them everywhere, even on the main lake for small mouth... Anywhere there is stumps, trees, brush piles, lay downs, rock piles and even bridge pillars... Water temps well does not really matter to me, but the colder the slower I go and really the big thing is the wind more wind the better of course. If I'm not running a spinnerbait I will throw a grub on the same banks. Well that gave you alittle bit of information some of the other great guys on here will speak up also.. Good Fishing and Welcome to Table Rock Lake!!! Capt. Don

Phil, when you get back in town drop me an email, maybe we can get this seminar together. I would love to help.. Good Luck Deer Hunting Thanks Don

Captain Joe, Thanks for the report.. I will have to go in long creek later this week after I get my new boat and get it rigged Thursday or Friday, love that wiggle wart bite! Sounds like you found some, good job, it can be a pain this time of year! Well keep us posted, I will post next weekend if I can get the new boat out.. Be Safe and Good Fishing Everyone Capt. Don

CaptainJoe, good luck, I need to get off the main lake stuff and get up the rivers I guess, that blade bite, seems everyday I guide I can never get any wind!!! Let us know.. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Ham, I have found a new one that I'm playing around with.. It's made by Jack-All Lures out of Japan.. The Bait is called a Dagored Prop bait.. They have it in 7 colors, it's very easy to use and being a guide that helps me out alot, like I say it can be worked by anyone and casting it is a breeze, very interesting design. I gave one to Mr. B for him to play with also, we will see what the big guy thinks about them. Yes, they are expensive 15 bucks a pop, but you may be right in the long run worth it.. Check them out and give one a try... Good Fishing Capt. Don

Well, guy's I have no problem talking about electronics if you want, a graph is a graph. I've used Lowrance, PinPoint and now sold on Humminbird.. Or even better a more non-bias discussion of Graphs. Or Heck I might be able to get the Humminbird Rep to show up? Maybe we could get Bill to talk about Lowrance? Up to you guys, we could discuss the basics on screen resolutions, size, color vers b/w, peak to peak power, transducers, dual transducers, switches, ect, all for deep water fishing. I could even do something about the new side imaging units that I use if you wanted. Just need to find a place, pick a day, determine discussion and see who could come I guess... Anyway I'm open until Mid Jan then after that in and out for a few months. Keep discussing maybe we can work all of this out!!! Good Fishing Everyone Capt. Don

Maybe we could? Capt. Don

From what I have found it does not seem to matter AM/PM, they are just there you are really seeing them out on the points in smaller groups scattered right now at all depths over 35 feet, on the bridges you can find alot also at that 50 foot range. We should start to see them moving into the creek arms here really fast I would think, that is how it was last year at this time, and yes by turkey day they should be on again and by Christmas really eating good!! Good Fishing Capt. D

Fished the last few days in the cold!!! Found fish deep I'm mean deep to get a better bite. Fished drop shot rig's at 55 to 65 feet of water in the deep, deep trees and bluff ends and bridges. Fish are starting to school up pretty good in this deep water. Pretty much 4" drop shot worms in green pumpkin are working for me, I also had a few on Nightcrawlers. I tried some 1/2 to 3/4 ounce football jigs and had a few small fish again, everything from DAM to Kimberling City have really moved out deep on the main lake, so I put away the jig and went back to the spoon. Deep docks with cables are starting to produce some good fish also, pretty much anything deep atleast 80 plus feet of water you can find the fish right at 55 - 65 feet range. Seems that I really started to due better in the late morning and early afternoons with spoons, I'm using all white 1/2 ounce spoons for the bite in the Deep trees, and out on the long points were it drops off into the channel. Still waiting for them to move back into the creek arms chasing shad in the trees in the main channels of the creek arms. Also on windy days I can picked up a few fish swimming a grub on the long pea gravel points on a 3/8 grub head with a green pumpkin 4" grub. Roll it back to the boat slow from 15 feet in the mornings to 45 feet in the afternoons, but you really need wind. Sorry not to much to explain fishing is hard right now for me, But we can manage to pick off a few. Give it a few weeks and these fish will turn on again, spoon will be the ticket! Good Fishing Everyone or Happy Hunting?? Capt. Don

Here is one of the best guy's I know, really good checkout his web page.. He has a full list of custom colors and baits that work on Table Rock Lake, worth a look.. http://www.hughescustombaits.com/ Good Fishing Capt. Don

First Place Pro Side Tim Sanaito 24.58 AM Side Mike Mulluer not sure on total weight but he won by 7 pounds!! Mike Webb ended up in 6th, and Bill Beck fell off on Sunday end up 12th. Basically everyone that caught fish on Saturday struggled on Sunday and the guys who did not catch fish on Saturday caught them on Sunday. That's Table Rock.. Good Fishing Everyone.. Capt. D

Hunter, hang on, I will be out all day today so maybe I can give you some information tonight.. Best word HARD!! Good Fishing Capt. Don

War Eagle, very nice boat!!! I had the pleasure of taking out Ivan, the National Sales Manager for Bass Cat to show him how to use and read his new Humminbird Electronics, he had a new 2008 cougar elite Black, Yellow and Red man this thing was a rocket!!! Very Impressive boat, handled well at top end fished even better, did you get the new Humminbird Graphs with yours? He was telling me that they are going to be the factory's choice for 2008. Anyway nice boat very nice boat.. Map well when the time comes we can get you some help for your 3 days I'm sure.. Like I say keep checking back here is site has some of the best reports I have ever seen, it the table rock lake fisherman's hangout!!! Best Wishes and Save some money for gas Capt. Don

WarEagle, Well first congrads on your new boat!! Open your pockets and enjoy!! Next Just about all of the guides down run about 250 for a half of a day trip for two people.. There are a few to choose from all of us can teach you anything you want.. Place to fish well, lets see.. Right there at Big Cedar Lodge is some really great places to fish that time of the year. The Big Island right out in front of big cedar gets alot of fishing pressure on the south side. The Bridge at 86 Hwy will offer some good fishing with night crawlers that time of year, Past the bridge into the next big creek arm is called Brushy Creek you will find alot of fish on the points in that creek on topwater that time of year. All of the main lake points from Dam to Big Cedar are pretty good also. Next yes a good map of Table Rock helps, but stay on here and you can find even better reports from a few of us guides and non-guides as well we all love this lake and live down here or spend alot of time down here. Well Good Luck with your new boat by the way what did you buy? Enjoy and Good Fishing Capt. Don

Fisrman, well things are tough right now atleast for me. The fish have changed and moved out with the cold fronts racing through, If you can find them they seem to be hanging out in the 35 foot range on the bottom and suspended on structure, I'm looking for them everyday and I know I will find them again. Some of the other guides like Bill or Buster are more than likely doing better. But I would expect these fish to move into the creeks and start to feed on shad, even more with the weather getting colder. Spoons and drop shot will be the ticket atleast that is how it was last year. Maybe some of the other guides can speak up and give you some things to think about. Good Luck hope your trip goes well.. Capt. Don

Bill I tried that! That was my only way to get two whole keepers... 37 feet on the bottom on long main lake points, but I could only get a few bites and it was over.. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Hey, bill I'm open.. I will give you a call on Wednesday to setup and get info.. Thanks Don

Went out today for a full day trip with a very nice couple from St.Louis,mo. We started out in Brushy Creek and worked all the way to Kimberling City, man I had troubles could not find fish that would bite, we had only 10-15 bites in 8 hours with maybe a keeper or two fish total and the rest were shorts?? Found some fish but they just plain had lock jaw for me. Went shallow nothing, went back out to the 30 -40 foot and deeper, found fish but could not get them to bite. Fished Main lake Dam Area pea gravel points and started catching a few after I spoke with Mike Web around 11:00am he was just getting off the water and he told me he had one of the best days he had ever had. Drop shotting in 37 feet of water, on some of the pea gravel points around the DAM area, he had 5 Spots that went around 20 pounds. Tried some of the same areas and found a few fish missed a few, just an plan old hard day for me. Hopefully the fish will bite or I can figure them out again in a day or so.. Good Fishing Everyone.. Don

echoXLT, really I have tried it just about anyway you can think but the best I have found was 8" to 12" down from the swivel works just fine then another 6 - 10" down is the weight, don't forget what Bill was talking about the double rig, just space down another 8-12" and add another hook. Puts your bait in two different water levels really good for schooling bass. Good Fishing Capt. Don

C-RIG 01, I'm already booked for that day, so get us the information I'm in for a donation, also if you get the silent auction going I will be willing to put in a Half Day Guided Trip on Table Rock for two next year myself. Not much but I can do that if it will help. May be some of the other guides on here can do the same.. Just a thought.. God Bless and keep up the good work.. Capt. D

Bill, congrads on your 3rd place.. Those are some big sticks in the top three!!! Good Fishing Everyone Capt. D

Bill, well you know how this lake is, great one day then bad the next, I so Just got lucky today. Go get them tomorrow you know this lake better than anyone I know have some fun and enjoy.. I hope that item I gave you worked for you, I know it did for me today.. Talk to you later Capt. D

Well guys, fished the last two days in a row, went out Wednesday for a double header, Am was the best with only 3 keepers one on a grub really nice smallie and the other two on a football jig both spots, all of these fish came on the same main lake pea gravel point in 30 feet of water. Left and went to see what was out in deeper water man it really started to get hard, only few small fish on the drop shot, dropped off clients and pickup next group from 1 to 5 then it really got hard, fished Indian point to 86 Hwy bridge and back only had a few shorts and really small 15" keeper all afternoon, could not find anything shallow or deep, nothing on the islands and nothing in the trees, it was like they just left? One of those days I guess.. Went back out today and started at midway from Indian Point and Kimberling City in the fog, fish in the early AM all came on the football jig by hopping main lake pea gravel points again and the mouths of the coves with standing timber, nothing to really brag about but alot more fish and it was fun all in that same depth of 30 plus feet on the bottom, left and went into Kimberling City to try some trees and man we found them. These trees were in 100 plus feet of water came up to the prefect 35 feet, right in the tops and on the side, in water between 35 and 45 feet was loaded with very nice spots and a few blacks mixed in. Caught these fish with a spoon and with drop shot rigs. The spoon was the best and it was one of those drop it down and jig it once and thump they had it, this worked for a few nice keepers then they stopped. Moved right over to the drop shot rig and It seems that these fish were just feeding because it did not matter what color of worm, they just came right up and took it. Best color was chart and brown and all brown with red flakes. This all happened between 10:00am and Noon. So Bill was right on the money, this weather must have moved these guys right back out to deep water again. All in all a great day on the Rock, so go deep guys at least for a few more days. Good Fishing Everyone Capt. D