9/4/08 Table Rock Report

[focused fishing]

Kimberling City Area: The fish have begun a move to deep water, drop shot rigs, spoons and tail spinners have all been producing fish from 35’ – 45’ deep. Most of the fish have been coming on drops and channel swings off the end of flats and flat points. Look for schools of shad suspended from the bottom to around 20’ deep to key into the fish locations. Many fish will not be actively feeding on bait, they will holding on or near the bottom and will react to a lure when dropped through the shad. A good secondary pattern is to work larger docks with a combination of Eakins jig and craws or spoons. Work the shallow ends of the docks with the jig paying close attention to shady areas as they will hold most of the fish. As you work out to the deep end switch up to a ½ oz. white spoon and pitch into the dock stalls and around the ends of the dock. Again, pay close attention to shady areas, watch your line as the bait falls as most of your bites will happen on the fall.

James River: The James continues to produce, up river fish can be caught on shallow flats and the backs of creeks on a combination of buzz baits, jigs and shallow crankbaits. The buzz bait bite is most effective during lower light hours close to any flooded brush or laydowns in the water. As the sun comes out switch over to a shallow crankbait or jig, or the first hour or so of sunlight the fish will move tight to the shallow cover and can be caught by flipping or running the crankbait into the brush. As the day wears on move out to 20’ – 25’ of water and work a Jewel Football jig close any deep water. Closer to Kimberling the bite is deeper with most of the fish coming on drop shot rigs and spoons and a few being caught on Jewel Football or Spider jigs. Look for schools of bait to key you into fish locations.

White River: The White River is still producing fish as well; Jewel Football, Pro Spider jigs and Carolina rigs are all producing on flat points and roll offs near flats from 20’ – 30’ deep from Baxter to Roaring River. Most of the fish are holding on isolated cover, multiple casts to each piece of cover is key. While some fish are shallower early and late in the day the bulk of the fish are holding in deeper water. Further up the White and into the Kings River there is a great shallow bite. In the Kings fish are being caught on buzz baits early and late around flooded brush and laydowns, as the day wears on switch up to a shallow crankbait and work these same areas. Laydowns will also produce fish on a jig or large worm when the sun is high and there is little wind.

Dam / Branson Area: The shallow bite has really slowed this past week in the dam area, while fish can still be caught shallow most are smaller fish and seemed to have scattered with the falling water. The best bite has been 30’ – 40’ deep on flats and flat points with a drop shot, spoon or tail spinner, look for schools of shad to find the fish. While some fish will be actively feeding on the shad the bulk will be holding tight to the bottom and will only appear on your electronics when a bait is dropped to them. Much like the mid lake area, there is a decent dock bite taking shape down by the dam. A combination of Eakins jigs and craws and spoons are working well on bigger docks. Start shallow with an Eakins jig in PB&J or green pumpkin concentrating on shady areas around walkways and lifts, then work your way out to the deeper stalls using a spoon on heavy line and a stout rod. When spooning docks most of the bites will come on the initial fall so pay close attention as the bait is falling, I have been catching a few fish off the bottom under docks usually on the first or second hop off the bottom.

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[tapout]

Thanks so much for the report. Have not fished in three weeks. Read it this morning. Went to state park at 11:30am and fished till 2pm. Used your dock aproach. Result - two k's on a spoon on the deep shady corner of deep (45') docks off the bottom. I was satisfied given the short trip and time of day. I did drop shot a little, but to no avail. I didn't see any balls of baitfish. Without your report I would of been chasing the wind. Thanks again.

[focused fishing]

Glad ya caught a couple tapout. The drop shot bite is still hit or miss and i think this rain is going to move them shallow this w/e anyway.

EP