3/24/09 Fishing Report

[focused fishing]

Kimberling City Area: Swimming or Scrubbing a grub is becoming a good technique on windy pea gravel points, flats and pockets. Use a ¼ oz. head with a 4” smoke, salt and pepper or white grub, make a long cast toward the bank and allow the bait to hit bottom, start retrieving the grub and maintain bottom contact, if you loose contact with the bottom allow the bait to fall back to the bottom and re-start your retrieve. On calm days these same fish will eat a Jewel 5/16 oz. spider jig or 3/8 oz. Jewel Football Jig with a 4” Chomper jig trailer. Hold your boat 20’+ feet deep, make a long cast and drag the jig across the bottom, pay close attention to any rocks or wood you come in contact with as they will hold most of the fish.

James River: The wiggle wart bite is still strong up the James River; brown craw, phantom green craw and watermelon are all good colors right now. Look for fish to be on windy chunk rock or mixed rock banks and points near pea gravel coves, cuts and pockets. Parallel the bank in 6’ – 10’ of water and try to run your crankbait into any piece off wood or other cover on the bank. The fish are starting to transition to pea gravel in the James as well, split shot or Carolina rigs have begun to produce on mixed gravel / rock banks and points. Fish doctors, fries and finesse worms have been the most productive baits in green pumpkin.

White River: Much like the James the wiggle wart bite is still strong on both the White and Kings Rivers; the same colors are working as on the James with the addition of fire tiger in the dirtier water of the Kings River. Just like in the James it is important to run the bait into the cover to get bit. On calm days these same pieces of cover are still holding fish you will need to change your tactics; make multiple pitches with an Eakins’ jig and craw combo into the cover from as many angles as possible to draw strikes. Hints of a spinnerbait bite beginning to start in warmer water in the upper Kings. Chompers McCutchen spinnerbaits in chartreuse shad have been the ticket, slow roll the bait around wood cover to be effective. Not a lot of bites but the quality is there.

Dam Area: Just like the Kimberling City area your best bet around the dam is to swim or scrub a grub. Use the same technique on the same types of windy banks. IF you are looking for a big fish for a kicker or just for fun throw a Lucky Craft pointer or Mc Stick on these same banks, jerk it down with three or four jerks and allow it to sit still for 5 – 10 seconds. You will not get nearly as many bites as with the grub but they tend to be much larger fish. A Jewel 5/16 spider jig or 3/8 football jig in PB&J with a 4” Jewel or Chompers jig trailer is also producing much like the mid lake area. Finally, the split shot, Carolina rig and shaky head bite is just starting to show a little life on the lower end.

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[riverfish86]

I'm coming down tomorrow for 3 days. With these fronts passing through today and looks like again on thursday, how will the fishing respond?

Have the fish shut down on cold fronts or do they just back off into slightly deeper water?

[focused fishing]

The next three days should still be good, the fronts have knocked the fish down quite a bit this spring but the active weather through Saturday should keep them active. Sunday will be a different story, all of the fronts will be through the area and the bite will get tough.

[techo]

You fishing Saturday at AIA? Everyone putting in at Mill Creek? Do you think that ramp can handle everyone?

[Flippin]

I am planning on going out this Saturday on the James river arm but little concerned about the drastic change in temp. How do you guys think it will affect the fishing?

[techo]

I would think it depends on sun and wind. If the sun is out.....they might be on rocks in shallows....no sun and might be a bit deeper than now. I bet they will be hungry though. Can't wait to see what the smart guys say.

[Flippin]

The forecast is for snow and rain. How crazy is that? I guess only in MO.

[KC Trout Fan]

what exactly is scrubbing a grub, also is there a certian color trailer on the jigs?

[abkeenan]

I 2nd KC Troutfans question. I have never swam a grub before really, do u just reel keeping the rod in a fixed position or do u use the rod to pull the grub through the water reeling up the slack as u go? Thanks.

-ABK

[Tom Spence]

I 2nd KC Troutfans question. I have never swam a grub before really, do u just reel keeping the rod in a fixed position or do u use the rod to pull the grub through the water reeling up the slack as u go? Thanks.

-ABK

Scrubbing means to "scrub" the bottom with the grub. Maintain enough reel speed to keep the bait moving but keeping contact with the bottom. Like Eric said if you lose contact with the bottom let the grub sink and start again. Swiming the grub is just reeling it in. Vary retrieves and speeds like you would a crank bait. About the only time I move the rod is if I'm "yo-yoing" up and down as I bring it in.