Middle Of The Day Bassin

[Bill Babler]

Well I'm not crazy, but yesterday afternoon I launched at Tucker at 2 in the afternoon. Ramp was full but the lake was empty. Water is up a bit, and the color is really off. Table Rock is much clearer, and even a little warmer. Fished toward Elbow, and then back up to Youcum. Water temps at 82-83.

Targeted main lake flats with wind. On these flats there are points that run out and spill into the channel. Bait is just everywhere. Not a lot of fish for me per location, usually 1 or two on each spot. 17 total with only 2 keeper K's. Mostly short LM.

Thought it was great for the middle of the day on a Saturday in Late July. Saw at least two different pairs of Eagles, and an Osprey. What I didn't see was any boats to speak of, and only two other fishermen. It was just flat deserted from Tucker to Deer Creek, and just a few skiers at the mouth of Elbow. Did not see a jet ski.

Right before dark, I headed back past Tucker up to Youcum. Caught several nice fish off the long points from point 35 back to the ramp. Most all the fish were 25 to 30 with both my keeps came from the 30 range.

All my fish came on either a cenipede or a fish dr. in watermellon candy. Threw a jig quite a bit, but no takers. Dropshotted some of the rolloffs and bluffends, but "Nada". Rig was the only deal.

Spoke to one other guy, fishing a flutter spoon for walleye. He was fishing the same waters I was and setting the boat in 30 ft. He would cast the flutter spoon toward the bank, letting it sink to the bottom and then jerking and letting it settle. He worked it like that all the way to the boat. He said he had two really nice keeper eyes, in his boat well. and had caught 9 short walleye, and countless K's, and small blacks. Believed most of his fish were coming from 15 to 25 ft. Mostly on the fall of the first cast. He was making a cast, and then keeping his line tight and following the spoon to the bottom, feeling for that faint tick. He could fish.

This boy looked like this was not his first rodeo, I watched him for at least 30 minutes, didn't see him catch one, but could tell he knew what he was doing.

All in all, a great afternoon, with a huge lake to myself.

[motoman]

Awesome report, Thanks Bill!

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I'll be down by the dam the first week of august, and this'll be my first time at Bull Shoals. Mainly fishing The Rock several times a year, I was'nt quite sure what to expect from Bull Shoals. But, this report gives me some confidence.

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We'll be mainly night fishing, so it'll be interesting. Nice to hear about minimal boat traffic, too!