Don House

Well, not me.. I was at the Kansas Speedway watching the races for the weekend.. But I will be back out this week.. Good Fishing guys Capt. D

Yes, the deep crankbait river bite fell through, to much wind... Spoon and drop shot that is why it was only 29 pounds, I would guess... But what a class act in Dave Barker, that man can fish! Good Fishing guys Capt. Don

Yes, those are the ones.. Any they don't hang up on them self as much, trees well most of the time you can pop them out with ease, another reason why I like a heaver spoon. Don't really know why but they seem to work better than any other ones I have tried, and I have tried alot.. Good Fishing Guys Capt. Don

Pour Dennis, I use a spoon called Hawg Jaw, I think they are made by Hazy Dazy Lures. You can find them at Ozark Bait and Tackle in Kimberling City or on Rick's strikebass web site, just about any spoon will do when they are on it good, Bass Pro has some and they are about 20 other companies out there that sell them. I use only 1/2 and 3/4 ounce all white spoons, they seem to work the best. I have used all silver and all chart, but white wins out.. The ones that I use have a really good shape and don't get hung as much as others. Size and color are the big thing for spooning on Table Rock.. Good Luck and Good Fishing Capt. Don

John, it might work, but if I was going to fish the bridge I would do it with spoon then a drop shot with crawlers, there are still fish on that bridge, just has been fished to death, but herein the last few week, it has slowed alot. As far as football jigs, I would drive over to kimberling city to kimberling city bait and tackle see Jerry, in the kimberling city shopping mall right after the bridge. He has a nice choice of football jigs in stock and can help you with the trailers or twin tailed grubs to go with them. As far as long creek goes, well that my back yard.. I live just across the lake were your place is at in Beardsley creek. Go past the bridge and fish in the back of brushy creek, stay on the secondary points look for fish to start to surface in that area. Then work your way out into the main lake on the long points, look for guide boats from Big cedar (There going to love me for this one!) to get an ideal of what they are fishing also, try the island in front of big cedar on the deeper side found some good spoon fish there last week. Keep your boat in the 40 - 45 foot range and cast toward the bank and drag that football jig back slow, really slow.. Just keep hoping points and use your electronics you can find the trees on these points.. Good Luck Capt. Don

PIN, well this rain should not hurt at all. All of the fish are still pretty deep so it will not hurt those fish at all. I would still keep fishing the spoon, drop shot and football jig as much as I could, those are the easy fish to catch. Target the main lake points and deeper flats with trees, fish ares till at that 25 -45 foot range and holding chasing balls of shad. Some are right on the bottom on main lake points at 30 - 40 feet those are your football jig fish. You can really find some good fish out in the open right under these shad groups, spoons are the ticket for these guys.. It really depends on what part of the lake you are going to fish? I will be fishing in the Kimberling City area myself on Saturday with clients, we will be doing the same as above. Also you can catch alot of smaller fish first thing in the morning on topwater, the little bucks are running around chasing shad on top also. Can be fun.. Then go to the drop shot or spoon and just start searching, fish any trees that run up to the 30 foot range use night crawlers or small drop shot worms if they won't bite a spoon. Now if you are fishing the rivers with all of the rain I would go to a deep diving crankbait in Chart bodies and blue or Black backs, bounce it off of everything sticking out of the water on the flats and channels bends.. Hope that helps some go just have some fun.. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Gordon, as techo described I too learn something new everyday, so try anything you can think of, trial and error is what works the best. Also I've tried the same thing you are talking about with weighted stick baits like Luckycraft Pointers 100DD and Flashminnows TR95sp all weighted, suspending baits in the early and late spring I place a weight above the stick bait to try to get it down deeper. If you roll these baits back slow they act just like the red fin under water, they wiggle back and forth slow. So would it work ,YES.. But I have also found that with the weight on the front of the bait you loose a lot of the action of the bait, and it sends the nose of the bait down to fast and not suspending the bait, which in this lake is no good. But as far as the red fin, this bait is trying to imitate an injured shad, when a shad has been hit hard underwater or on top alot of times they are unable to return down to deeper water, now they are easy prey because they can not go back down so they swim on top and wake across the surface which bass just can not take. I've also seen this same type of action with small snakes on the surface and watched bass just smash them. If your bait is sinking then use lighter line or slow down your retrieve to really make it work well, it needs to stay on top and get that waking motion. So that is why we try to make this red fin stay on top. Maybe Bill or some of the other guys on here can explain it better, but that is my two cents worth. Good Fishing Everyone.. Capt. Don

am4mu, Boomerang resort, is on DD Hwy about 4 miles. Very nice little place very clean, by water if I remember right... Mid lake close to Indian Point a few miles by boat.. Best bet will be bass fishing, crappie down deep, you can catch some panfish, but bass will be better.. Check out fishing reports as the time comes close on here or on the web site listed at the end of my post.. Good Luck Capt. Don

C-rig-01 Dutch is right, you can make it work.. I've done it myself. Biggest thing to to find the sweat spot with the transducer, best location is right under the shaft of the trolling motor, not in front of the motor like some installations, but it will still work. Start to play with this on a calm day by dropping a larger bait like a spoon right down the shaft of the trolling motor, try alot of different spots about 3 -5 inches apart until you find the best spot to drop your bait everytime, on both sides of the shaft. Remember waves,wind and eveything else comes into play with this type of fishing, so compensate. Turn up your sensitivity on the graph to at least 80% so you can see the bait once it starts down and put the graph on manual mode bottom depth range if available also. Set your bottom depth to where you are marking fish such as if bait or fish are shown at 30 feet set your graph to 45 feet, that way you can see everything from 0 - 45 feet really good. What is below that does not matter right now until you get the hang of it. Once you get good at the spoon, then move over to the drop shot, I prefer using a swivel, hook and a weight, it shows up much better. Now you should see at least 2 - 3 lines going down the graph if your in the sweet spot of the transducer. Top line will be the swivel, middle line will be the hook or worm and the bottom line will be the weight. Line up the middle line with the fish and now the bait is in the fish's strike zone, or even better right in the fishes mouth. Practice, Practice, Practice!!! You will get the hang of it.. Also yes it does work better with a more powerful graph with higher resolution, such as 480x480 but you can still make it work. Any questions reply back, we can help.. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Fishing report for 8/24/2007 By Captain Don House of Chauffeured Guide Service Email: don@tablerockguide.com Web Site: www.strikebass.com Water Level: 913.4 Water Temperature: 88 - 92 Water Color: Main Lake Clear, lower rivers Clear, upper rivers Tea colored Air Temperature: High 90’s Wind Condition: AM Calm, Afternoon 10-15 MPH Well the summer heat is just about over with I hope! I know one thing the lake traffic has really calmed down the last few days. Kids are back in schools, Branson has even slowed down a bit and the fishing is picking up very well. The fish have seemed to be held up around the 25 – 35 foot range on the bottom or suspended on all type of structure on main lake points and secondary points or still in the trees and brush piles around all parts of the lake. As the Corp of Engineers changes the water running schedule at the dam the fishing will also change alot, so be ready to make changes and pay attention to flow of current through the dam. BASS DAM / INDIAN POINT / LONG CREEK / KIMBERLING CITY Fishing has been really good here for me in the last few weeks, alot on the same type of baits, Drop Shots are still getting a good bite everyday on plastic drop shot worms and some days night crawlers in 25 – 35 feet on the bottom or in the deeper trees on the flats near deeper water or in the brush on these same points in the same depth. These fish on the bottom are starting to school up and I have been using 3”-4” drop shot worms, my choice for this time of year are still the Robo Worms with colors of Bold Blue Gill, MM III, Aaron’s Magic, Morning Dawn and Greenie Weenie are catching good fish, along with Chompers DR worms in Red Plum and Brown with a purple stripe. Next in the bag of tricks are the Spoons in all White or Chartreuse in sizes of in ½ to ¾ ounce. We have been getting some bigger fish suspended in the deep trees in the major creek arms and main lake flats in the deeper trees still, these fish are schooling up pretty good so when you find one good tree it will be loaded, expect 3 – 5 good fish then it is over, move on to the next tree. Use your electronics to find these trees and drop the spoon down to just above the tree, in the 35 - 45 foot range, use small jerks and watch for the fish to come up and check out the spoon, the bite always seems to be on the drop. Another good way to fish this spoon is to cast the spoon out and allow it to drop to the depth you are marking the balls of shad then proceed to rip the bait back with sharp jerks towards the boat allowing the bait to fall each time. Strike will come on the fall of the spoon. BAXTER, CAMEL POINT, SHELL KNOB In this area of the lake the better bite has come from two baits, first the spoon in the same colors, sizes and in the same type of areas, such as long points right next to deeper water and tops of deep trees in the 25- 35 foot range. Once you find these fish you will find large groups of fish, some small but some really nice keeper fish mixed in with them. The larger groups of fish seem to be on the points and secondary points on the bottom in this area in the 30 – 40 foot range, sometimes you will not see them until you get one to come up off the bottom and bite, then the whole group comes up. Next after the spoon bite slows I will pickup a ½ to ¾ ounce Football Jig in the colors of Brown with purple flash, Missouri Craw, or PB&J matched with a twin tail 4” grub in green pumpkin or purple cinnamon colors or a smaller craw in the same colors. Crawl these baits along the bottom feeling for the light bite or dragging also working fine like a c-rig type retrieve. Bite is light so be ready but usually produces very nice fish. JAMES RIVER ARM / AUNTS CREEK / CAPE FAIR This area has been really slow for me in the past few weeks, but the lower James seems to be producing better fish for me from point 9 to the mouth of the white river arm. Spoons still seem to be the best in this area as the drop shot bite has slow a lot. Upper James areas have been producing some shakey jig fish in the river bends way up past Bridgeport. Also the rumor of a crankbait bite is still there, these guides are throwing larger DD-22 and DD-13 in Chart and Black, Chart and Blue on the flats with any type of lay downs or brush by running these bait right past or even into the structure then pausing the bait and wait for the bite. Slow running of these baits from 15 feet on down to the 20 plus feet seems to be getting the bite. WHITE BASS Well it seems the white bass bite at the dam has really came to a close as the fish have been pressured so much in the last few weeks, last week only one day of good catches was reports by any guide, most days you will do good to catch maybe 3 - 4 white but the sizes are much smaller, and those bite are getting far and few in between. Well there is always next year. As the water temps start to lower down and less boat traffic the fishing will get much better in all of these areas. Fish will really start to school up in bigger groups and make catching bigger lots of fish a bunch easier. Go out and have some fun, good luck and be safe. Be Careful and Good Fishing Capt. Don House

No very little here lately.. Supposed to get some Saturday, but not very much.. Lake is at normal pool right now or the last time I checked.. Good Luck Capt. Don

redneck, well I would try to start out in Aunts creek. Fishing point 10 right at the mouth of aunts creek, keep the boat in 30 plus feet of water and move out deeper to 45 - 50 feet on the point. Then if that does not work move on into Kimberling city and start the same as the above post. Fish the bridge piers with night crawlers, they always have some fish on them. After that move over and fish the deeper docks with the same dropshot rigs and night crawlers and spoons. Should find fish right at the 30 foot range suspended, use your electronic to find the bait fish in that range. Fishing will be tough as it is right now, or even better think about hiring a guide for at least 1/2 day there are a lot of us out there, worth every penny in the long run. Good Luck and Good Fishing Capt. Don

Ya, I'm still not sure, I found a Kings Cove Resort in Reed Springs which would be Aunts Creek, But I can't find a Kings Cove Inn, but I do remember one in Shell Knob, but not sure, maybe he can find out what part of the lake his resort is at, then maybe we can help him out alittle. Let us know.. Capt. Don

Yes, 6 to 8 pound is fine, just set your drag for a nice even pull out of line.. Good Luck Capt. Don

Well, I think were you are staying is around shell knob area, at least I think that is were kings cove inn is? If you get out some spinning rods rigged with a drop shot rig and 6 pound test and get some nightcrawlers, fish the bridge pillars about 30 feet deep, then take that same pattern and move around to all of the deeper docks you can find in that same area. That should put you on some spots for fun... Maybe some of the other guys in that area can chime in with some help!! Good Fishing and Good Luck with that new boat.. Capt. Don

Bobby, nice report! But lets keep our cove out the the next one ok, just joking.. I also live in beardsley creek on the big creek side in leisure shores, you must be in twin island estates. I allways launch on the no-ski side, that is where our boat lanuch is and found some of those same fish on those deeper docks also, it's alot of fun huh! Glad to hear your son got to get into these fish also, I bet he had a blast along with dad!! As far as the those whites yes they have been hit hard, I've been in there every morning with around 15 - 50 boats piled in the same area weekends are the worst, if you move around you can find your own batch out alittle deeper then all of those other guys. But once you do here they all come, so be ready... Use a smaller spoon 1/2 ounce you will get alot more bites. More than likely I will get beat for that information from some of the other guides, but oh well, go have some fun.. Good Fishing Capt. Don

fshnbuddy2, thanks for the input.. Also try this one.. Get some zoom critter crawlers in green pumpkin, use the 1/8 ounce screw on type shakey jigs, screw on the Critter claws hanging down, dip then the claws with some chart spike it. Spots and smallies down here just can't take it... Good Fishing

J.E. none!! Waiting on you!! Brown/Purple Flash & PB&J BY the way give me a call tomorrow booked at trip for Wednesday AM out of Kimberling Inn, maybe we can meet up after that if you can.. Capt. Don

CMAC, 18 plus pounds for first place and 15 plus for second place. Rick took second by starting to catch fish on shakey jigs but then the football jig really came on strong. But just could not get that really big fish to move them up.

Ok, J.E. well I try to get as much as I can.. But not much after a day like yesterday, man 110 degrees heat index, man it was tough.. Good Luck at Truman go beat up on everyone up there Skeeter Boy.. Love you too Bro!!

Fishing Freak... Well welcome to the dog days of Table Rock.. Fishing is very hard, I fished everyday last week and some were good, some was just plan hard with the heat and all of the boats. Best bet is to get out early or late, fish are still hanging at the 35 foot range on bottom or suspended. I been hitting deep trees with still some success, but that is getting hard now. Look for tree's in deep water that come right up to that 35 foot range. Spoons are the choice with drop shot right behind. Sunday we fished a full 8 hour day and really struggled until late morning then only found 2 trees holding fish and caught 7 good fish out of both of them on 3/4 ounce spoons and only one on a drop shot with a plastic robo worm (Bold Bluegill color) that was a good size spot. Nightcrawlers did not work at all. Next thing start fishing deep flat points dropping out in deep water and bluff ends with tree's. Seems the fish are holding again at that 35 foot range on the bottom also, start throwing a football jig and drag it back to the boat slow on the bottom right to that 35 foot range. Did I bring up the 35 foot range?? 1/2 and 3/4 once football jig in Purple flash and Brown with a twin tailed grub in matching colors along with PB&J colors are working right now also. Some topwater now but you have to be fast and ready when they come up or they are gone! Well get out there and and fight it out... Good Fishing everyone Capt. Don

Well, no I don't a lot of naps in the afternoon.. I always get up around 4:00 - 4:30 in the summer to make it to those 6:00am trips. I don't know about Bill because he guides all year for trout I'm pretty sure, someday I will also, but I sleep in from Nov - Feb sport shows don't start until 10:00am.. Good Fishing Capt. Don

Well everyone, Seems to be better up around the Indian point to Kimberling city to up around Camel Point area for me. The James River around Aunts Creek to point 13 was pretty hard, we only had 3 fish left there went back up to Kimberling City and started catching fish. All still on drop shot and spoons in 30 - 45 feet of water on flats next to really deep water. Monday when we went up the white was the best, Had a lot of good keeper fish on spoons same type of thing on the flats in 35 feet right on the bottom. Had one of the best Wallies I have ever had this guy smashed a spoon, he was in a school of bass and it went over 20" did not weight it or get pictures, but my client was on cloud nine!! Back up to the Dam this morning chasing whites, then over to Indian Point for me.. Did I bring up how hot it is!!! Man this is when I wish I was over at Taney with Bill, at least the is water cold... Good Fishing Everyone Capt. Don

fshnbuddy2, sure I will give it a try today, but just a few questions how are you rigging this tube on a shakey jig? Never tried this one, tried fish doctors and small craws like Eakins trailers, they are work well, but never a tube, is it a solid tube or hollow? I'm going up the James this morning starting at Aunts creek and will give it a try. According to Mr. B they are on the bottom up there so a good place to give it a try. Thanks for your input.. Good Fishing everyone.. Capt. Don

Oops, sorry J.E., a really nice light hat with a long skirt on the back to keep the sun off my neck and ears... Well got it!! Early Christmas, thanks J.E., works very nice used it today... Good Fishing everyone Capt. Don