4/29/09 Report

[focused fishing]

Kimberling City Area: The spawn is in full swing in the mid-lake area, several fish are locked on to beds and be caught with typical sight fishing methods; white tubes, lizards and craws will raw strikes from fish guarding nests. For those not wishing to sight fish look for post spawn fish to be holding on secondary points near spawning pockets from 3’ – 20’ deep. Split shot rigged lizards and fish doctors, Jewel spider jigs and shaky head worms are all effective in these areas. While it has taken off yet, the famed post spawn topwater bite will kicking in soon; spooks, sammys and red fins will all be effective during low light hours.

James River: The spawn is further along in the James River; several fish can still be found on beds but post spawn conditions have stared to take over from the mid river up to Cape Fair. A variety of patterns have been effective with the water being a little high and stained; there are several fish holding in the newly flooded bushes flipping Eakins jig and craw combos in to the bushes, casting weightless Chompers salty sinkers and flukes around the bushes and casting Chompers McCutchen spinnerbaits around shallow bushes on windy banks have all been productive. Early and late spooks, sammys and red fins have been producing schooling fish on secondary points.

White River: Fish are in all stages of the spawn through out the White River. In the Kings the spawn is the farthest along with several fish guarding fry in coves around standing timber and laydowns, others are still on the nests guarding eggs and still more have moved out onto points and are suspending recovering from the spawn. The fish on points can be targeted with spooks, sammys and red fins early and late and Jewel spider or football jigs as the sun comes up. Don’t ignore the cover in the water, several good fish have come off of laydowns and flooded bushes in the shallows of the Kings this past week. From Baxter to Campbell point more fish are locked on the beds and can be taken with traditional sight fishing techniques. Shaky heads and split shot rigs are producing on points near spawning coves from 5’ – 20’ deep, target any cover that is on these points. Fish can be caught in the flooded bushes as well, Eakins jigs and Ultra tubes have been working well in these areas.

Dam Area: The dam area has been the toughest end of the lake over the past week; water temperatures have been slow to rise and while there are fish on beds they have been harder to catch than in the upper portions of the lake. Split shot rigs and shaky heads have been producing around spawning areas from 3’ – 12’ deep, look for small “bumps” or pockets in spawning areas to hold more fish than other areas, also any wood or rock cover within a spawning cove deserves attention. As the water warms the fish will spawn and sight fishing will become a more predictable pattern.

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[mrcold]

Thanks for the report!

We're scheduled to be there in about 2 weeks (start fishing the 13th), and will be in the dam area. I have a fear that we'll be hitting the dreaded postspawn time yet again. Do you think we will be ok then, or just a bit late and have a rough time? I've been hoping a couple storms would push the Indian Point area back about a week so we could get some numbers and maybe some decent fish.

(for the record, I'm pretty militant about C&R, and have actually convinced the people I fish with that IF they have to keep a couple, make sure they're going to keep some smaller males)

[CaptainJoe]

Eric,

Great report and thorough, as always.

Thanks!!!

mrcold,

May 13th should be great. The spawn is just beginning in the dam area and will go on for at least a month. Some fish will be in post-spawn, but others will be moving up.

[bjovan]

My plan is working out knock on wood. coming down Friday for a lookin at em week end of fun. How clear is the water in the Cows to KC? Thanks for the report. As I have said before you guys that fish the rock a lot and give the best info I think its great. I will report back on Monday after the trip.

Bill J

[focused fishing]

You should be fine by the 13th, most of the fish will be post spawn but there will be a strong a.m. top water bite and then a good C-rig / mojo rig or football jig bite the rest of the day. Don't let post spawn scare you too much, fish gotta eat....

The water in the Cows and in Kim City has about 3' - 6' of visability as of yesterday, after last night's rain they may have changed. A lot of guys looking at 'em in Kim City right now.

Good Luck.

EP

[mrcold]

Thanks for the replies, guys! I'm feeling a bit better now, except now I won't be able to use the post-spawn, bad weather, pro tourney going on excuses this year...it'll just be "man, I suck at fishing".

[bjovan]

Eric

Thanks for the help. How much rain did you get? Should hit the water by 8:30am or so can't wait.

mrcold my wife tells me I need to fish more when I have a crappy outing, I am a lucky man

See ya on the water

Bill J

[focused fishing]

Eric

Thanks for the help. How much rain did you get? Should hit the water by 8:30am or so can't wait.

mrcold my wife tells me I need to fish more when I have a crappy outing, I am a lucky man

See ya on the water

Bill J

Bill,

Not much yet...... looked at the weather and they are calling for up to 6' of rain over the w/e

[CaptainJoe]

Bill,

Not much yet...... looked at the weather and they are calling for up to 6' of rain over the w/e

Six Feet of RAIN Wow, now I know why your fish catches are so big.

Just kidding, my friend!

[focused fishing]

Six Feet of RAIN Wow, now I know why your fish catches are so big.

Just kidding, my friend!

err.... darn shift key, meant 6" and now my wife won't stop laughing