1/1/09 Table Rock Report

[focused fishing]

Kimberling City Area: Despite the colder weather water temperatures have remained relatively warm for the first week of January. Windy chunk rock and ledge rock banks continue to out produce other areas, wiggle warts, jerk baits and jigs are still the best options. On windy days work into the wind and parallel these banks using wiggle warts in brown craw, natural green craw and phantom green craw. Position the boat 8 – 10 feet deep and maintain bottom contact throughout the retrieve to be successful. The jerkbait bite has been very similar to the wiggle wart, American shad, chartreuse shad and aurora black have been top colors, unlike normal winter jerk bait fishing do not pause the bait long before jerks, work the bait back to the boat quickly to be effective. Jewel 1/ oz. and 5/8 football jigs in brown / purple flash and PB&J have been the most productive, work these same areas from 5’ – 25’ deep.

James River: The same patterns working in the Kimberling area will work in the James. Off the three the jig and jerkbait bite has been stronger than the wiggle wart. Cooler water temperatures have slowed the wart bite over the past couple of weeks. The jig bite has been a little shallower further up river and in the back of the major creeks. Most of the fish have been caught between 10’ – 15’ feet around any wood or rock cover you can find on chunk rock banks and points. In addition to these patterns a strong deep bite has taken shape over the past week or two. Look for schools of shad to be 1/3 to ¾ of the way back in major creek arms suspended around 40’ -60’ deep. Spoons and grubs have been the top baits for these fish.

White River: Much like the rest of the lake the White river has been producing good numbers and quality of fish on wiggle warts, jerkbaits and jigs. Look for the same windy chunk rock banks and points to out produce others. Colors and presentations are the same as the rest of the lake. The deep bite seems to be a little further along in the White river than the James. Schools of shad are suspending from 30’ – 60’ feet deep over the main creek channels of the major creek arms. Look for gulls to show you where the schools of bait are amassed. The gulls will hold over top of the schools awaiting them to move toward the surface. The best jerkbait bite has been up the Kings river, chunk rock and channel swing banks on the main lake and in the creeks have been producing fish. Move the bait quickly to draw strikes.

Dam / Branson Area: The lower end of the lake has had the best deep bite so far this winter. Larger creek arms like; Beardsley, Big and Little Indian and Jakes branch have been producing fish on spoons and grubs from 30’ – 70’ deep suspended in and under schools of threadfin shad. Look for gulls to key the areas holding shad and then utilize your electronics to work bait in front of the fish. Like the rest of the lake several fish have been taken on wiggle warts, jerkbaits and jigs on windy chunk rock and ledge rock banks from 10’ – 30’ deep. A few fish have been taken around dock on the lower end as well, look for larger community or condo docks to be the most productive, Eakins jig and craw combos in brown / purple flash, PB&J and watermelon candy flash have all been effective colors. Most of the fish are holding below the center walkway from 10’ – 25’ deep.

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[Flippin]

Eric,

Great report and thx. I plan on going out on Saturday and this should help shorten my learning curve.

[Jason Essary]

Eric,

Great report and thx. I plan on going out on Saturday and this should help shorten my learning curve.

My thoughts also. going saturday. Thanks for the great update. but one question, havent heard of beardsley, where would that be??

[Don House]

My thoughts also. going saturday. Thanks for the great update. but one question, havent heard of beardsley, where would that be??

Coyote, I will help Eric and answer that one, it's my back yard.. Beardsley is across the lake from Table Rock State Park or look for Point 2 in the Long Creek Arm south of DAM. There is a Large Island right in front of it, creek goes way back in and forks at the back.

Enjoy and Good Fishing

Capt. Don

[focused fishing]

Oops.... Sorry Don didn't mean to give up one of your honey holes.....

You looked lonely fishing in there by yourself anyway...... just kiddin

EP

[Donna G]

Thanks, Eric. Champ188 and I are hitting it Saturday. It will be my first full day on the water since surgery. I'm really looking forward to it. I found it interesting that you said jerk baits needed to be moved quickly. Champ took me to Beaver last Friday for a short day. Wasn't much happening on jerk baits - we were doing the typical slow winter presentation. Then, I ended up hooking a nice SM on a jerk bait when I was letting it drag behind the boat as Champ was moving up the bank. I thought, huh, they must want it moving. I'll be sure and try the faster retrieve on Saturday.

Think we are going to hit the lower end this trip. We're river rats, but need to learn more about the rest of the lake. Appreciate the good info - that'll get us started.

Donna G

[KC Trout Fan]

What do you mean when you say "Ledge Rock" banks??

[KC Trout Fan]

[Champ188]

KC,

Ledge rock consists of big, flat slabs of rock that are stacked, forming a pretty steep, vertical drop along a bank. The edges aren't even, creating little shelves for the fish to hide in and ambush prey. With the lake at its present level, this kind of rock extends above the waterline right now in lots of areas, so keep an eye out next time you're out and you'll see some of it. When fishing this type of bank, it's important to cast parallel down the bank and keep your bait (Wiggle Wart or suspending jerk bait at present) as close as possible to the rock all the way back to the boat. The fish will dart out and grab it as it comes by, unless it' a day like Saturday, in which they'll just lay there and look at it. Good luck to you.

[focused fishing]

KC<

Sorry I was ouot of pocket all w/e. Champ is right, look for rock that looks like stacked slabs. There will be several ledges or shelves along the bank that the fish will hold on.

EP