Don House

Riverrat, The wiggle diggle, is a double jointed stickbait with the bill of the bait heated and bent all of the way down. This allows the bait not to go deep, it stays on the surface and wiggles as it goes across the water. Looks like a big shad that can not go deep. Big fish just can't take this one. I will go out and bring mine in from the boat and get pic's to show you how and what it looks like later today.. Good Fishing

Went out on Saturday with Clients, had a good day of crappie fishing up the James. Went up to bridgeport and started on the bluffs, caught 3 keepers and jigs, but then slowed and started to catch all shorts. Moved on up to flat creek and fished the bluffs just before and into flat creek. Fishing really picked up we had three for four spots where we boated 5-8 keepers at a time. Found fish shallow and right on the bank at all locations, Bluffs and Flats, Also found a good bite just behind the dock walkways. All fish came on Red and White / Red and Chart 1/8 ounce jigs. Had to be bouncing off the bottom to get the bite, Even on the bluff banks in water from 3 - 16 feet. Ended up with a total of 27 10-12 inch crappie all of these were male fish. Females just have not moved up yet. But with weather reports showning 80's this week for 3-4 days in a row here we go!!! Water temps were from 59 in the morning to 62.5 in the afternoon. Sorry no pictures, it was prom night and my wife took the camera for that. But the clients were eating good last night!! Rick Lapoint went way up the White with his clients to SKMO area and had 16 keepers but he was telling me they were all toads!! All over the 13" range, Water up there was not over 60 degrees, so it looks like they will be a week behind the James for the spawn. I'm going back up Long Creek today to see what I can find, hope the cold snap did not drag them back to deep water. I'm booked out everyday for the next two week with guide trips will keep you guys informed to the crappie progress in just about all river arms. Good Fishing

Pre-spawn fishing for Bass Pre-spawn bass fishing when winter gives way to early spring and the trees are ready to bud, grass is turning green from a burnt brown color and my favorite mushrooms are popping up and dogwoods are ready to turn white. This is the season for the bass to move from there deep winter holes and move into there staging areas to prepare for the spawn. This time of year we call pre-spawn. A time of year that will even make the seasoned professional bass angler shake in his boots with excitement with the hopes for a big female bass to move up from her deep haunts and feed on the bait they have offered. Well here is a stab at some information for the pre-spawn big bass of a life time. When and Why? During the winter cycle bass spend there time in deep winter haunts in a lethargic state, were there body tells them to slow there own metabolism to conserve energy for the long winter months. Once Mother Nature allows the seasons to change from Winter into the early spring (March – April) and to begin to warm and the lakes temps rise from the cold 40’s into the mid 50’s and then to the 60’s degree range this will trigger the bass to begin move from deep to shallow and start the feeding cycle for the spawn to come. Bass will move into these pre-spawn areas where they can feel secure and have access to all types of food such as schools shad and crawfish to fatten themselves up and to gain that much needed energy to spawn. Creek Channels highways for the Bass: Bass will begin the migration from deep to shallow with the use of creek channels kind of a road map to the to the spawning areas. During the Late February – Mid March time frame bass will follow the channels to the bluff ends and start the feeding on large groups of shad and crawfish in the area, then as the water warms even more (Late March to Mid April) the bass will start the migration deeper into the creek channels and find areas around primary and secondary points with deep trees, rock piles and ledges even closer to there spawning areas to stage themselves and prepare for the magic water temp to spawn. At this time of year I like to look for areas where the creek channels swings in close to the primary and secondary points with access to the deeper water close by with depths from 15 – 40 feet of water. I always start on the north facing banks with chunk rock first, these north facing banks get the sun first and longer and warm much faster than others. A good 45 degree chunk rock bank close to the channel with structure will get my attention and my bait first. Secondary points with a nice stair step ledges that run from 10’ to 40 feet seems to hold a lot of fish this time of year. Bluff banks with little ledges and drop offs other ledges then deeper drops to structure like trees will also hold a lot of fish. All of these have one thing in common they are close to the migration routes and spawning flats and coves. What baits works the best? Jigs: When the water temps are in the upper 40”s to mid 50”s my go to bait is time of year will these baits, first a small jig with a matching craw trailer with a very slow dragging presentation. The colors for this type of bait on Table Rock will be any of the following, Green Pumpkin, Brown, PB&J or Missouri Craw Colors with matching craws in the 4” size range. A trick I found is to trim with jig skirt even with the jig hook gives the jig more movement and a better flash or flaring motion and makes the craw look more real. Next the crawfish that time of year are much smaller, so I will trim the back tail down about 1” and then place the craw on the jig. Makes for a very realistic looking jig for the bass. Stickbaits: One of the other baits that I love to get the attention of a very large bass and when the water temp is in the high 40”s to the mid 50”s the stick bait or rouge type bait. This baits come in many colors such as black and chrome, blue and chrome, table rock shad (chartreuse and purple), clown colored ( red, orange yellow and silver) and all white and sizes from 4”,6”, and 8” versions with models that float or suspend. The suspending model just about all I use, this allows the bait to stay in the strike zone for a loner amount of time and gives the fish more time to watch it to see if it is real before they strike it. I fish the stick bait in many different ways. Some days I fish it with many fast jerks with no pause in-between each jerk and some days I will jerk and wait sometimes as long as 15 – 30 second pauses in-between jerks, I let the fish tell me how they want it fast or slow. Crankbaits: Another great go to bait I love to throw when the wind pickups up on those same chunk rock banks is a wiggle wart crankbait. These baits act like a crawfish moving around in the water with a very wide wobble. Colors for these types of baits I use are brown craw, green craw. I fish these types of baits parallel to the banks with a very slow return to the boat. Most of the bites are right off the bank in less than 10 feet of water or right around structure like stand trees or rock piles. When the water warms even more into the upper 50”s to Mid 60”s my go to bait is the Deep running DD-22 crankbaits. This is a very large crankbait that I use to search for deep structure and bounce the bait off of it, this cause the fish to give a reaction bite and usually a very big bite I might add. Colors for these I use are Lavender Shad (Purple and White), Tennessee Shad and All White. A slow bouncing off the bottom or structure presentation is needed for this type of bait. Plastic: And last when the water temp is in the Mid 60”s my go to bait is small plastic worms or grubs. Plastic 4” French fry’s used with a split shot rig or a shakey jig with a 4” zoom trick worm. Colors are always watermelon green with red, purple or cotton candy flakes for both seems to work the best for me. Presentation that works best with these is a dragging style and a must to keep contact with the bottom at all times. Light line and tackle is a must for this type of presentation. Shakey jig is best used with a throw out and bounce off the bottom type presentation but when the bait is on the bottom you shake the jig for a few minutes and then move it a little more back to the boat. Swimming grubs are used when the wind really pick’s up and makes it too hard to feel the bite of the small plastic type baits, colors are the same with a 3/8 ounce jig head and the same presentation as the rest. All of these baits work really well for me and there is a lot of playing around with all of these types of baits until you can find the right combination that will give you the success on Table Rock that I’m sure you are looking for. That really covers a lot of information on this time of year, the time of year which can be rewarding or really disappointing. I have seen days where 24 pounds wins the paycheck and the boat in 17th place has over 16 pounds and misses out on everything and then the next day where 12 pounds wins the whole thing. Weather changes everything cold fronts come and go and so do the fish, just remember this time of year you need to fish slow, very slow and just keep moving along search for that next pre-spawn area. Good Luck and Good Fishing.

Fishing report for 4/6/2006 By Captain Don House of Chauffeured Guide Service CRAPPIE Long Creek Area: Crappies are moving in and out of the shallows on a daily basis. Most of my fish are coming from the 12 foot to 20 foot range. Best bet as of this week is a swimming minnow in White or Chartreuse head white body with a 1/8 ounce jig head. Swim this bait on the bottom of the creek channel by any hard wood trees. Bite is slow and few in between. Also try swimming twin or single jigs tipped with Berkley power nibblets (White, Chartreuse or Orange) on the flats and pea gravel banks with a slow retrieve or vertical jigging the big trees in the channels and along the channel swings and just before and past the Marina and in Cricket and Yokum creeks. The best color still seems to be chartreuse and Red or all chartreuse with small 1/16 or 1/32 once jigs. A lot of males are in close to the banks and the big females are deep most fish are being caught everywhere if your there at the right time. Once cold fronts moves in fish move back out to deeper water and slow a lot. James River Area: Crappies are about the same up in the James also some fish are shallow and some are deep. One thing I have found and everyone else I have talked with is that none are up past flat creek in the shallow water yet, but it should be soon. Also a good way to start is trolling with small crankbaits that run in the in 8-12 feet range right in the creek channels 20-30 feet deep, it worked very well last year for bigger females that are in the pre-spawn mode and on hold for the weather to warm up. Swimming jigs has slowed but is still the best in this area with small 1/16 once jigs or 1/8 ounce or heavier in the wind, but we found a double jig setup with Berkley power nibblets (White, Orange or Chartreuse) is working the best. Colors change everyday but chartreuse colors in the dirty water and yellow and white, blue and white, chrome and white still seemed to be the best down on the south side of flat creek to cape fair. Limits are still coming out of this area but are still on a day to day basis and you have to work hard for it. White River Area: Reports show that a good crappie bite is going on down there past viola on the muddy flats and in the trees on the bluffs, but has slowed like everywhere else, but if you work for it you can find them. As soon as the water gets to the 60”s and stay steady these fish will go crazy and spawn. Some are shallow and some are deep, just start on the flats and start searching, like other areas you will work hard for 3- 20 fish one day and then limit out on them the next day. Colors I was told are White, White and Sliver, White and Yellow, Chartreuse and Red. BASS Long Creek Area: Bass are starting to move into there pre-spawn modes also, look for fish midway back in the creek arms on secondary points and staging on hardwood trees in the 8 – 15 foot range and anything else they can find to hold on. Water temps are in the mid 50”s and rising back and forth. There are a lot of reports of great top water bites early and late with all types of baits including small spooks, chug bugs and wiggle-diggle baits. While there is still a stick bait bite going on with all types of colors and sizes, it’s a bite where you will work hard for a few great bites. Reports and pictures of a 6.2 smallmouth are flying around the internet from around the dam area are true and came on a stick bait last week. Fish the stick baits in the deeper trees on points in the deep water and bluff ends or channel swings midway back in the creeks on secondary points and channel swings, On a strong windy day swim grubs or spinnerbaits on those wind blown banks and hang on, keep contact with the bottom. On calm days try a small Eakins or Critterbait brown / purple flash or green pumpkin and brown jig with a craw in the same areas or around brush piles or a ½ ounce or ¾ ounce football jig in the same colors on the long gentle sloping banks. Wiggle warts have slow for me but there are still some reports of this bite on windy days in the brown and green craw colors. Kimberling City to DAM area: Fishing has pickup in this area for me the last few weeks in this area. The best bite I have found is a spilt shot rig (Watermelon/Purple Watermelon/Red Zoom French fry) on 6 pound test is producing a lot of fish large and small. Shaky Jigs with (Watermelon/Purple Zoom trick worms) are still holding strong and producing good keeper fish, but seems to be more of a afternoon bite on the secondary points and in the creeks arms half way back on the hardwood trees. On windy days I throw a swimming grub on the same secondary points and channel bends in the creeks. Use a 3/8 ounce jig with a 3” Watermelon pepper with a very slow retrieve. There are a lot of fish coming also on top water early and late with all types of baits including small spooks, chug bugs and wiggle-diggle baits. Look for fish working shad to top on the points for the best bite. James River area: The James is a little dirtier and bit warmer (High 50’s – Low 60”s) than the rest of the river areas but is much shallower this water will warm up much faster. Look for windy flat banks with mixed small rock banks; throw spinnerbaits in White with Chartreuse and White willows blades right in and along the trees. Also don’t forget the plain do nothing looking flat banks fish seems to be moving up on these to feeding on shad. In the Channel swings and Bluffs swings I would go back to the Storm WiggleWarts in Green and Brown or Bandit crawdad colors crankbaits, fish these slow and parallel to the banks and all hard wood trees. Also try the same stickbaits in the color patterns of Silver and Black and Blue and Silver with an orange belly with easy jerks and long 30 second pauses. Also try small jigs in brown / purple flash or green pumpkin and brown with a craw around pole timber and brush piles with a very slow. This area the water is starting to rise but still be careful. There are still a lot of big trees just under the water in the creek arms and channels swings of the river, go slow and watch for trees just barely exposed. Baxter, Camel Point, Shell Knob Area: Reports are that is area is really turning on for black and spotted bass. All of my fish have come on swimming grubs in the back 2/3 of the creek arms. But reports of great stickbait and spinnerbaits bites are also coming in. The topwater bite is also active in this area too with the same type of baits used in other arms of the lake. This is basic Table Rock fishing, some days are great and some days are slow to just OK. Good fishing Everyone

Thanks Everyone it is already sold!!! Good Fishing

Well, there are two that I can think of right off the bat... First depending on Cost factors.. (Middle of the road cost)G3 Boats (Just to the east of Springfield) build a very nice boat for the money.. The have a very nice 18" deep V boat great for Beaver, you can fish for anything out of this boat. Second, Also depending on cost factors, take a look at LUND boats. They are the Best made but also the most expensive.. (High End Cost) Third, Bass Tracker Boats. Not really too impressed with these boats, They are massed produced and have alot of troubles according to friends that have them, but I thought I would just throw that one out.. (Low end cost) Still The best for the money would be G3 Boats, look these over and you can talk with Terry at Center City Marine in Springfield MO (www.centercitymarine.com) They have a very nice dealership and really takes care of there customers even after the sale for years down the road!! Tell Them Don House sent you they will get you what you want with all of the goodies.. Good Luck and Good Fishing

SKMO, nice fish!! Sounds like our day up in Indian Creek area, Most of our fish came early on topwater (wiggle diggle bait) and mid-day on swimming grubs and spinnerbaits shallow! 8 keepers total and alot of shorts and some keepers on plastic. Best 5 were around 3 pounds, total for 5 fish around 15 pounds or maybe just alittle more.. Fish are really moving into that pre-spawn mode, all on the inside of secondary points right close by the spawning coves. We had one pig on top water right off the bat, but came off at the boat. Still a great day of fishing with a little rain and alot of wind.. How are thoses crappie up in your area? In Long creek they move in and then move out really fast, still catching a few on a swimming minnow dragging it on the bottom in the creek channel. Fishing the poll timber seems to catch alot of smaller males. It's getting close they are ready to move in but the weather keeps pushing them back out. Good Fishing

Sam, Thanks for the information.. hard day but I bet alot of fun!! Just don't understand why these fish are slow right now? Last year we were killing them by now everywhere? Well that is why they call it fishing and not catching.. Thanks again

Went out today, We fished for 4 hours and only 5 keeper crappies, wind was howling out of the north in the morning, fished just past cricket creek marina into cricket and yokum. Slow rolling a white swimming grub in the trees on the bottom of the channel and also on the pea gravel flats with wind.. Hey let us know how the James trip goes, that is usally where I go this time of year.. Maybe I can figure these crappie out down there in Ark someday!!! Good Fishing

Webfreeman, no and yes... I use a jig made by critterbait tackle company (See attached Pic). It has a special jig just for the shakey jig.. Long shank hook with a special worm slide on the head to attach the worm to it.. Works really great and saves your worms!! Drop me an email and I can tell you where to get these guy's or call me and I can get you prices and other web sites to get them.. Next I take a 6" zoom trick worm (Right Now Watermelon with Purple) from zoom and trim off the first 1.5" to 2" or so off the worm them push the worm on the worm slide with alittle extra push so when I texas rig this one the worm hangs straight.. (See attached Pic) Sorry that worm is alittle torn from my little green friends!! And they really work, I had a few more this afternoon on this worm.. Crappie fishing was really slow, so what else do you do, go bass fishing!! Hope that helps it is a great way to catch fish... Good Fishing

1986 20 foot Bass Tracker Party Barge Pontoon Boat for sale. Needs a motor (Will hold up to a 60 HP Merc) and trailer. Old motor had bad lower unit and was removed from boat. Outside of the boat is in great shape and inside just needs alittle cleaning but in great shape. Stored in Dock on Table Rock. Asking 850.00 OBO. Please contact Don@strikebass.com or call 417-779-0399 Home. 417-225-2909 Cell

SKMO, now that is a professional over ride, get out the knife and start to wack away!! Talk to you later..

Had another great day on Table Rock on Saturday! We had the all three species of bass before the day was over. One thing I noticed is that the water temp is really moving up, I was in there just a few days ago and it was 47' water temp, Saturday I found temps in the mid 50's and moving up fast with the strong south winds. We started in the back of Big Indian along with all of the tournament anglers and found some good fish on the sweeping creek bend banks. All chunk rock banks with pole timber, fish where staged right on the hardwood trees. We dragged a split shot rig in 15" to 18" feet of water to get our fish. We then moved out to deeper water and fished the smaller creeks and secondary points just north of Indain point towards the dam. All of these fish came on the same split shot rig with a 4" zoom french fry and a shakey jig with a 4" zoom trick worm in watermelon purple and watermelon red in 18" to 25" of water. Bite was really slight but once you had them you knew it, they where eating the bait all the way down. Moved down past the dam to beardsely creek and started fishing just past the no-ski arm on the north side of the creek. This was afternoon and the shakey Jig bite really came to life. All of these fish were blacks and they would just nail that bait, no doubt when you had a bite. We ended up with over 15 keeper bass and to many shorts to count. Just wish I could have days like this everyday!!! Back to crappie fishing all next week hopefully they are ready to turn on also. Will let everyone know how it goes.. Good Fishing

What a beautiful day in the Ozarks on Friday! Had a trip out with my clients, started out in Baxter and worked long pea gravel points all the way to just past Camel Point. Marking fish in the 15 to 20 foot range, but had no takers on the stickbaits or split shot rigs. Fished our way back to Baxter and picked up some smallier fish on secondary points and then moved back into the creek at baxter and started throwing a 4" watermelom pepper grub on Wind blown banks and points. Fish had moved in and were feeding great, but you had to be in the wind to get bit... Seems that the first few fish were smallier, but once you found some fish if you worked the area back and forth the bigger fish were there and they turned on. Most fish in the 16" to 17" range but good strong fat keepers. Finished out the day with 5 Keepers Spots over 16" and a bunch of shorts, including some smallies. Start back to crappie fishing all next week will let everyone know how that is going in long creek around brushy creek to Ark state line.. Good Fishing

For Sale PinPoint TR320 Deep water graph. Great for Table Rock!! One Year old and used as backup. Includes Graph, power cable, network cable for two grpah networking. If Interest please call, 417-225-2909 or 417-779-0399 Ask for Don

Fished yesterday and pre fished today, found the same bite as I talked about before. Long gravel points with wind, I threw a Split shot and swimming grubs from point 5 to Table Rock State Park. Same Colors Watermelon pepper on both, some on Watermelon grape Just like Bill talk about in his report, put your boat in 20-25 feet and start fishing from the bank out to deep water.. Nothing over 3.5 pounds but fat spots! Nothing like Bill had 2 4.5 blacks and over 35 fish in a 8 hour day!!! Now that is fishing or for thoses days we call it catching!! I will go try Bill's way and throw that stick on Friday and Saturday and see what happens.. Report back on Sunday... Good Fishing

Bill, Thanks for the info, I have a trip out of Baxter on Friday and Saturday, but have not been able to get up that way.. Can't wait love that stickbait!!! Thanks again for the information... See you on the water..

SRV1990, I seen these maps, I used to have one for the Truman Lake area.. I liked it because it gave me a little more detail as far as the creek channel routes though out the lake.. But that is really it.. Hot spots is also a very good map and give you alittle more information about the lake as far as spots to fish and information gathered from guides down here.. So I think it is a matter of what you like to see from your map.. Just my 2 cents worth.. As far as which map to buy, I think you will want the mid section, that should be from Kimberling City to Indian Point and Dam/LongCreek. But I would call this company and verify before I buy.. Good Fishing

Bill, Thank's.. No Type O here just plain wrong... I Re-Read the rules my mistake. I better check these things a little closer before I open my big mouth!! Anyway I still like to see them swim away and fight another day.. See you on the water..

Wow!!! SKMO and Lilley we have to go crappie fishing soon.. Great reply's by you guys.. Also SKMO post your pic's for the holder.. Good Fishing

Your welcome, I'm glad to help everyone out.. For a long time I was one who hoped someone would give me some information online. I take the time to report as much as I can in hopes for someday you may come down and hire a guide just like myself and Bill. Good Fishing

Hunter, is that the non-local fishermen tournament held every year in Aunts creek?

Brett, Ok, First please understand Bill and I make our living on this lake, These fish are our bread and butter we really need them to populate more, So take all of the crappie you want, 10" size and 15 per day per person, and Spots 12" 5 per person per day, those we have a very large population of. But please practice catch and release on the Blacks and Small Month for all of us to catch, we really need these guys to grow and repopulate. We had a very bad fish kill a few years back, So Thanks in advance. Now let’s talk about your questions. Spilt Shot: 6 Pound Test (Spring Time Bait presentation) This means of fishing is very simple. If you are used to Carolina rigging this will be very simple to you.. You have a small slit shot weight about 8 - 12 inches above your hook. The Hook I use is a number 3 or 4 straight wire hook or a texas rig hook. The worm is use is a 3" or a 4" french fry worm, or a zoom trick worm, rig this worm just like you would for a texas rig worm. OK, now drag this rig from shallow to deep just like you would a Carolina rig, drag it slow and watch for the bite on the tip. I like to drag it back with a sideways motion or a sweeping motion. That is it!! The bite comes as a couple of small pulls or just a heavy felling on your line. Drop Shot Rigs: 6 Pound Test (Summer and Fall presentation) This is a little different way of fishing and mostly used for vertical fishing in deep water. I run a swivel(Very Important Part: it keeps the rig from spinning around) at the top of a 2 foot leader, then take a small drop shot hook, about half way up the leader and tie a polymer knot (I think that is right spelling) You can look up this knot on any fishing line web site.. Once I have my knot tied I run the weight end of the line back through (The Bottom End of the line) the eye of the hook, is makes the hook stand up on the line. After that is complete I place a 1/8 - 3/8 ounce weight on the bottom of the hook and there you go.. The worm I like to use is a 3" ROBO Worm, a very small worm just made for this type of presentation. I hook the worm through the head of the worm (Wacky style but right at the Head of the worm) just over the barb so the worm stands straight out when in the water. As you can see these are very different ways of fishing but both work very well. Hope that makes sense and helps you! Good Fishing

The Cape Fair Marina, they have fishing boats for rent.. Not sure what they cost but they have them. Good Fishing

abkeenan, Well here is what I found out today... First In Breardsley Branch, I found fish in the 15 foot range, fish from the bank out to 15 feet.. I was using a split shot rig with a watermelon green pepper french fry worm (4").. Dragging this from the bank back to deeper water is a must, the fish would just eat it, I mean really eat it!!! Also when the wind really got up I starting using a 3/8 ounce jig head with a 3" green pumpkin grub,Slow roll this guy from shallow to deep the same as the other, bounce it off the bottom all the way back to the boat, a few bites came right at the boat.. That should catch you some fish. This same bite also worked in Jakes Branch ( Right hand side of point number 1 ) and also in Big Indain Creek about half way back, On the inside of the secondary points (Wind blown Side).. Stickbaits have slowed down in this creek, But I hear from SKMO and Bill Babler that is it really good on other parts of the lake. Suspending models in chrome and black and chrome and blue worked for me. As far as red hooks, Well I like them, they work for me, I feel it looks like a bleeding bait or a gill flash when moving thru the water.. Hope this help Good Fishing PB&J color, is a Peanut/Butter and Jelly colors, Brown, Tan and Grape (Purple). That is a color of jig's that everyone throws down here.