Dam Area?

[abkeenan]

Anyone fish the dam area lately? If so what have they been catching them on there and what do the water temps look like there as compared to the rest of the lake? Any info is much appreciated as i will be there on Friday morning.

-ABK

[CaptainJoe]

I was out today. The water is clear and the water temps ranged from 49 to 52 degrees. I fished the Indian Point area. Most fish came on a Wiggle Wart, green craw, and my largest, 3.03 lbs. came on a jig in about 12' feet of water. Little Indian, Big Indian, and Jacques were all fished. This area will ge great in about another two or three weeks or right after April's full moon. The fish were about halfway back in these creeks. Look for wind blown banks with small chunk rock and gravel. The stickbait bite is still there, but you must throw very far as the water is very clear. For a finesse presentation, a wackey rig or shakey head with a senko is starting to produce.

Hope this helps,

Joe

[edyer]

I was out today. The water is clear and the water temps ranged from 49 to 52 degrees. I fished the Indian Point area. Most fish came on a Wiggle Wart, green craw, and my largest, 3.03 lbs. came on a jig in about 12' feet of water. Little Indian, Big Indian, and Jacques were all fished. This area will ge great in about another two or three weeks or right after April's full moon. This fish were about halfway back in these creeks. Look for wind blown banks with small chunk rock and gravel. The stickbait bite is still there, but you must throw very far as the water is very clear. For a finesse presentation, a wackey rig or shakey head with a senko is starting to produce.

Hope this helps,

Joe

I've been reading reports for the past two weeks and I know how things change so quickly on Table Rock. I'm heading down there from Michigan on April 2. Should I try this area first or will other areas be as good or better? You mentioned fishing Senkos. I know some of our guys two years ago were using greenpumpkin candy or Blue Pearl colors in Senkos. Does the color really matter or does it matter only if it's sunny or cloudy? This is the second time I've read using Senkos on a shakey head. I usually use some type of finesse worm like a zoom or Net bait, but haven't tried a Senko that way. I usually fish them wacky or texas rigged. What size Senko and color works best? I would think the four inch version in a green pumpkin, but I have been wrong many times before. Thanks for all the great info and good luck on the water.

[edyer]

I've been reading reports for the past two weeks and I know how things change so quickly on Table Rock. I'm heading down there from Michigan on April 2. Should I try this area first or will other areas be as good or better? You mentioned fishing Senkos. I know some of our guys two years ago were using greenpumpkin candy or Blue Pearl colors in Senkos. Does the color really matter or does it matter only if it's sunny or cloudy? This is the second time I've read using Senkos on a shakey head. I usually use some type of finesse worm like a zoom or Net bait, but haven't tried a Senko that way. I usually fish them wacky or texas rigged. What size Senko and color works best? I would think the four inch version in a green pumpkin, but I have been wrong many times before. Thanks for all the great info and good luck on the water.

I just read an article in the March issue of In-Fishermen on using Senko type baits. Do any of you use the Pro-Senko on a shakey head? When you fish your shakey heads, do you thread the worm like a grub, or use more of the weedless Texas style rigging? In previous magazine/internet articles, I have read that for largemouths and spots, the grub/jig worm style was preferred, but for smallmouths, the Texas rigged or Spot Remover(Standup look) was preferred for smallmouths. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated for how you use them on Table Rock. In Michigan, we fish a lot of weed beds, so I usually use the Texas/weedless riging for my shakey head fishing.

[CaptainJoe]

I like to throw the Senko (actually the Chompers 5" Salty Sinker). The bite that has worked best was a 1/4 oz. Spot Remover Shakey Head that has a threaded post that the worm is pushed on and the hook is embedded into the worm making sure that it is straight. The wacky style will work, too, however, the shakey head presentation worked the best, which is mostly due to the bait standing up on the bottom as compared to laying flat on the bottom like a wacky or Texas rig. The green pumpkin color worked the best, but a Watermelon Red also caught fish. Keep in mind that there are other finesse techniques that should also work when your here, e.g., 4" straight tail worm on a split shot. Small carolina rig or mojo rig with a fish doctor, straight tail worm, centepede, or french fry. Swim a salt and pepper grub on a small jig head.

It is difficult to predict the best areas into the future. All I can do is share the NORMAL migration of the fish based on average expected temperatures. March 24th will be the New Moon and April 9th will be the Full Moon. You will be here right in the middle of the two. I would expect the fish to be in a pre-spawn pattern on the main lake and the spawn may be taking place in the rivers and creeks where the water is warmer due to water being stained. At this time, my best GUESS is that the James and Kings Rivers would be the best. Long, Cricket, and Yocum Creeks would be second best. Main lake would be third if fishing the North and North East banks that receive most of the sun.

Good luck,

Joe

[edyer]

I like to throw the Senko (actually the Chompers 5" Salty Sinker). The bite that has worked best was a 1/4 oz. Spot Remover Shakey Head that has a threaded post that the worm is pushed on and the hook is embedded into the worm making sure that it is straight. The wacky style will work, too, however, the shakey head presentation worked the best, which is mostly due to the bait standing up on the bottom as compared to laying flat on the bottom like a wacky or Texas rig. The green pumpkin color worked the best, but a Watermelon Red also caught fish. Keep in mind that there are other finesse techniques that should also work when your here, e.g., 4" straight tail worm on a split shot. Small carolina rig or mojo rig with a fish doctor, straight tail worm, centepede, or french fry. Swim a salt and pepper grub on a small jig head.

It is difficult to predict the best areas into the future. All I can do is share the NORMAL migration of the fish based on average expected temperatures. March 24th will be the New Moon and April 9th will be the Full Moon. You will be here right in the middle of the two. I would expect the fish to be in a pre-spawn pattern on the main lake and the spawn may be taking place in the rivers and creeks where the water is warmer due to water being stained. At this time, my best GUESS is that the James and Kings Rivers would be the best. Long, Cricket, and Yocum Creeks would be second best. Main lake would be third if fishing the North and North East banks that receive most of the sun.

Good luck,

Joe

Thanks Joe. We'll be staying in Little Aunts Creek, so we will probably try the James first and then work our way down. I'll definitely give the Senko type lures a try along with the other techniques mentioned. I appreciate all the help you and the others try to give on this forum. It's still up to us to catch the fish. LOL

Ed

[abkeenan]

Joe-

Thanks for the info. I will be headed down to TR late late this evening and arrive Friday morning early...hopefully with your info we can get on some fish as i only come about 3 times per year down from STL. Again thanks for sharing your expertise with, not only me, but the forum here.

-Brett

[CaptainJoe]

Brett,

Let me/us know how you did? Hope you get on them and have a great time here in paradise.

Joe