1/25/09 Fishing Report

[focused fishing]

Kimberling City Area: The water temperatures have dropped over the past few days and it seems to have effected the location of both the fish and the bait. While the deep bite is still the most consistent pattern several fish have been caught on single tailed grubs and Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers over the past week. For the deep bite the usual white War Eagle Spoons, Chompers Drop Shot Worms and single tailed grubs have been effective in the guts of creeks and tree tops off secondary points, most fish are holding between 50’ – 65’ deep. On windy days a jerkbait or single tailed grub are your best option; fish either around isolated standing timber about mid way back in creek arms.

James River: The James was hot this past week several reports of good fish being caught on ledge rock banks and bluff ends with PB&J or Brown Eakins’ Jigs and Craw combos. Pitch the bait to the bank and work it down the ledges back to the boat, most of the bites are coming as the bait falls from one ledge to another so pay close attention to your bait as it falls. Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers have also been very effective around isolated trees and brush piles on windy mixed rock banks. Chrome / blue and chrome / black on sunny days and chartreuse shad on cloudy ones, still no need to pause the bait for a long time most of the bites will come once the bait settles for about four or five seconds.

White River: The deep bite still dominates the White River from Baxter to Shell Knob; War Eagle Spoons, Chompers Drop Shot Worms and Smoke colored tubes have all been effective in the tree tops in the major creek arms. Look for birds to show you where the bait is and in turn where the fish are. You will still need to “work” these fish to get them to bite but there have been some really big Kentuckies caught in this area recently so they are worth the effort. An Eakins’ jig and craw combo is your best bet up the Kings River. Channel swings, ledge banks and bluff ends are all holding fish from the bank out to 25’ deep. Slowly work the jig from one ledge down to the other paying close attention to your line as the jig falls.

Dam / Branson Area: The fish in the dam area are very shad related, if you find the bait you will find the fish. Let the birds show you where the bait is and in turn you will find the fish. Once you locate the fish your best bet is still a War Eagle Spoon, Chompers Drop Shot Worm or Smoke Tube dropped in front of the fish, much like the rest of the lake you will need to “work” these fish to get them to bite. Up Long Creek several fish are being caught on Smithwick Rogues and Lucky Craft Pointers around the isolated laydowns and standing timber on chunk rock or mixed rock banks in the bigger creeks and pockets.

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[edwin]

Great info Eric...thanks for taking the time to write it up and share the details.

[Fishrman]

Eric

What size eakins jig up the Kings?

[focused fishing]

Best bite has been on the 7/16 oz. on 12# fluoro.

[Fishrman]

Thanks Eric