Bass Tournament

[Bittle]

I have a buddy fishing a small derby this week. With the high water, can anybody point him in the right direction to find some fish. He is pre-fishing friday and is kinda overwhelmed with where to start. I told him spinnerbaits in the backs of coves. Anybody else have any ideas, or anybody been since the rain?

Bittle

[713lefty]

I have a buddy fishing a small derby this week. With the high water, can anybody point him in the right direction to find some fish. He is pre-fishing friday and is kinda overwhelmed with where to start. I told him spinnerbaits in the backs of coves. Anybody else have any ideas, or anybody been since the rain?

Bittle

I fished last weekend before the rain. Chompers on a 5/16 or 3/8 jig. Cast on the bank, drag quietly into the water, bites 10 feet from bank in 2-3 ft of 45* F water. Use a jerkbait in cooler water. We saw 1-2ft. visibility. The jig bite was one light tap after a 3-4 second pause during retrieve. Move jig slowly 1 foot max, pause, then drag along some more. We had boat in 10-15ft depth. Because of the rain, check many coves for clarity and temperature. Find a deep protected cove with not much runoff, no creek, for clearest water. I heard of some 50* F water but could not pry out of him where! The jerk bait needs to be cast as close to the bank as you can crank it down & barely twitch. The areas with the diving gulls and struggling shad resulted in no bites. My guess was fat, stuffed full bass. The jig n chompers worked best for us, on a Loomis rod (my first-a Christmas present from the Mrs) , so the light bite may be felt. Brown or green jig with orange, dark melon pepper 4" twin tail grub. We fished 3-11MM and 3 miles up the Gravois. Prefishing needs to be more scouting for suitable water, or at least the best you can find, than time fishing. When you get bit slow down and be thorough. Also we noticed 2"-6" rock/gravel size where we got bit, about 2/3 to 3/4 the way back in the cove. We tried spinnerbaits & C-rig lizards but no taps. They may produce next week. Good Luck.

[Bittle]

Hey thanks for the info. Very good report. I really appreciate it.

[713lefty]

Don't forget to report back.

[Doug Weston]

had a tournament up there I guess 10 days ago now. That was before the rain, but the 50 degree water then was up the Niangua. Jig bite up there 2 ft of water, mixed rock banks. At the time they were no further back than the 1st secondary point for most people. Have no idea where or what they are doing now, but I thought it might help to know where the warmer water was. I think this was the same weekend lefty was talking about. Hope this helps.

[Champ188]

I will be fishing Central Pro-Am up there April 5-6. From tournament reports on 724outdoors.com from last weekend, fishing is pretty good despite the high water. Haven't been up there myself but plan to leave early Wednesday morning, April 2, and put in three good days of practice. Will be happy to report back, although I know it will be a couple of weeks from now. BFL tournament is Saturday up there so that may provide some information.

[CMAC]

Champ:

BFL, Carpenters, Childrens Miracle Network, Heartland Elite, and many others this weekend. So many boats I think hurts the fishing more than all of the water. Good luck.