8/24 Turkey, Roark, And The Landing

[MOBass]

I put in at Cooper Creek around 10AM and found plent of fog on the way down towards Branson. All I could do was idle until I came around the corner and the fog lifted. There were a few boats fishing the island above branson overall though there were not too many folks out. Made a stop at the Bass Pro marina for sunscreen and I was finally ready to fish.

First stop was just the other side of the Bass Pro restraunt. Three bites on a 4 1/2" watermelon red sticko resulted in one fish small fish to the boat. I moved down the wall a bit trying different retrieves and picked up one more fish that was just a touch better than the first. I missed several bites and had a few follows. I also had a decent trout try to choke down the sticko. Their mouths are just not set up for a 2/0 offset worm hook though.

I ran to Turkey creek and could hardly believe the temp. It was 70 degrees at the mouth. Lots of fish at the mouth but not much farther back. There were a lot of fry present also. I missed several bites and between a pontoon putting in and a kayker paddling through I decided to find some new water.

I went back into Roark to the first bridge. This is the farthest I had been back up there and missed a good bite right on the bridge pilling. I was throwing a TX rigged hand pour power worm in bold bluegill color. I kept at it but no love.

With the clouds starting to gather I went back to Turkey and stayed there the rest of the day. I caught a few fish on the stick o around the fry as the front started to move in a little. In the off and on rain the bite just got better. I had four or five small guys and knew there was better fish in the area. First I upsized to a bigger stick o and picked up nothing. I went back to my original bait fished wacky and had a couple of follows. Finally I found some power bait heavy weight finess worms. They look like a mini crawler and might be 4" long. They are fairly dense and designed to sink. I should have downsized the hook to a 1/0 and will the next time I fish them. This little bait produced my best fish of the day that went just a 5#. With the rain coming down and the thunder booming I hung it up.

It was a decent day. I learned a little, tried some new baits, fished new water, and caught a few. Nothing broke, I didn't get hurt, and I stayed out of jail.

[MOBass]

I assume that was a LMBass? Did you see any other type fish working those creek mouths like walleye, whites, etc. Also, how deep is it along the wall opposite the marina at bass pro? And all the way down to powersite..what are depths like?

Yep pretty green fish. Nothing on the whites or walleye. A few weeks ago I came across some whites at the mouth of Bull. I wish I had more to add.

I stay shallow along the wall. For the most part I look for the first good drop off and try to track along it. I would say 8' or so is where I usually put the boat. There were a lot of trout along the wall. Some of them were better than your average stocker. On the marina side of the resteraunt I have seen a particular guide do very well on the trout.

I am usually fishing the creeks for bass. If I am out on the main lake for trout I am usually on the upper end fishing in 12' or less. Other than trout schooled up on the surface I haven't done much in deeper water.