Surface Temps

[Bill Babler]

Just a quick note on the water temps. I have been guiding the entire lake every day this past week, from Eagle Rock to Shell Knob, to Upper Kings River to Viola to Baxter to the Dam. Here is what I have found as early as yesterday. Does, not sound right, because stained water seems to heat faster than murkey, but here goes.

86 Hwy Bridge to mouth of Kings at Twin Rivers. 53 to start the mornings 57 late in the day. Should be warming today

86 Hwy Bridge at EAgle Rock to Twin Rivers at the Knob 53 to start and 57 late in the day.

Shell Knob to Mouth of James 57 to Start 60 plus end of day.

Lower James to Aunts Creek, Same

James River to Kimberling City 58 to start 61 end of day.

Kimberling to Long Creek 59 to start, up to 65 end of day.

I'm like a bad cold, I have been every where with multiple trips out of all these locations in the past 4 days. Yesterday, I was from Eagle Rock to the Mouth of the James, in a 12 hr. day.

Good Luck

[Champ188]

Bill,

Thanks much for this information. Can't get that anywhere else. Curious what the water color is like in the Kings, say from from Sweetwater to 86 bridge? Thanks again.

[Bill Babler]

Just about as muddy as the missippi river.

[Whack'emGood]

Mr. Babler-- if you don't mind sharing... What clarity of water seems to be best right now? Are you looking for clear water or is the stained water the best? Also... is the temperature a few degrees either way making much of a difference right now or are they all in a range that the fish are really active everywhere? Thanks for all you do.

[Bill Babler]

That is a very good question. I have had some success in all degrees of water clarity as that seems to be the case throughout the lake.

Mid Kings river thru about the Shell Knob bridge and backed up to San Succi seems to have the most degree of color. I have not done as well in these locations and have backed off them a mite. Some folks are hitting this type of area and keying on bushes with a chartruse blade. It will work to some degree, but on guided fishing trips, it is very hard. This is also some of the coldest water on the lake, and that may be a factor.

Eagle Rock to perhaps Big M marina, is really clear. It is again very cold but the fish are staging in this clear water and are easier to get at.

Shell Knob to Baxter is very nice kind of a very weak creamed coffee color with visibility about 2 ft. This bite has also been good with fish staging in and around the spawning coves. The best bite is coming on a blade. Not in the bushes.

James river has so many parts from Aqua to a cream color, from lite to dark, it is hard to describe. Bite is very good on staging points draggng. Need lots of gravel off the spawning coves,

Dam area to Old Hwy 86. 8 ft. visibility with a very good grub bite in the same locations as stated above. As the water tends to clear we are using normal presentation for the Rock. In the stained water the flashier and noisier baits are working the best.

Hot spots, Kinberling bridge to Big Cedar, All inclusive swimming a grub to staging SJ's and K's. This is by far the warmest surface water on the entire lake. Strange but true.

Temp does make a difference not only in selection of baits, but also the speed of the presentation, of the baits you chose.

I fished pretty hard today and had two clients behind me. My purpose was to hook fish and hand them to the lady in the middle of the boat. No need. She had 13 on her own, her husbund 3 and me 5. 9 of these were SJ's in the 3 to 4.5 pound range, all filled to the brim with eggs, getting ready to do the deed, in the next few weeks.

I would cast for her, and hand the rod back. I would wait till she was 3/4 way in and cast a second rod again, working the bait to the right depth and then handing her the rod as she finished her previous retrieve. She always had a bait working. She was reeling the correct speed, and she smoked us.

Hope this helps.

[tkite]

I would cast for her, and hand the rod back. I would wait till she was 3/4 way in and cast a second rod again, working the bait to the right depth and then handing her the rod as she finished her previous retrieve. She always had a bait working. She was reeling the correct speed, and she smoked us.

Hope this helps.

I think anyone who says they wanna be a guide should read this and think on it. All you guides have way more patience than I could ever muster.

[Whack'emGood]

Wow. Awesome info Mr. B. Thank you very much. As always, you are the man. I am going Saturday and am looking forward to getting after it with the running start you have given me. Great stuff. You are a huge asset to those of us who are just average fisherman and need a little help.

Good fishing.

Lance.

P.S. I agree with tkite... What an awesome guide trip you have done for that lady and her husband. Top of the line.