Indian Point/Long Creek Arm Help Needed

[SRV1990]

Hi everyone,

I'm heading down to Table Rock next Wed (5/3) for four+ days, will be staying at a place on Indian Point. Would greatly appreciate any help on what's working where in that particular area. Also would like input on whether or not moving further south would be more productive, say down to Beardsley, Brush Creek, or as far as Cricket.

One final thing: If I do move south, and cross into Arkansas, will I need an Arkansas fishing permit, or will my Missouri permit suffice?

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

Tom

[champ187xr6]

Tom,

It's me. You will need a Arkansas license. I believe you can purchase a MO/AR combo for the lake. Keep in mind the length limit is 12 inches in AR. but you can't bring those 12 inchers back across the line. I will have more info before you leave.

Jeff

[Don House]

Tom, welcome down to table rock...

First of all the license issues. Are you a Missouri resident? If you are you can purchase a white water boundaries license cost of $11.00. This will allow you to fish the lakes that boarder MO and Ark, such as table rock. But if not you will have to purchase a Ark License, which you can buy these by phone. Can't remember the phone number but you can call any Ark Conservation or marina in Ark and they will give the number to you..

Ok, now on to the good stuff. You are getting ready to fish in my back yard and my office, I live in Beardsley and spend alot of time in the Dam area every day. Fishing has been great down here all from Cow Creek to Indain point to just past 86 hwy bridge or Brushy Creek, so you really don't need that Ark license unless you want it..

All fish are still in that pre-spawn to spawn mode. Most that I have been catching are in the pre-spawn mode. Main Lake water temp is right at and around 63- 66 degrees. Don't get me wrong you can find fish on the beds, but Main lake points are really hot right now. Gental sloping small pea gravel points primary and secondary are loaded with fish. One day the fish will move up into less than 5 feet of water and feed, next day they will move out into 15 - 25 feet of water and chase shad, so you have to look for them but they are there!

During the early moring before sunrise to 7:30 or so the top water bite is hot, I have been throwing a chug bug in all colors and also a red-fin or a wiggle diggle bait (Double jointed stickbait with the bill bent all the way down which keeps the bait on top of the water). Work these baits slow back to the boat around trees or on the plain points.

Then I will go to a three different baits.

1) Split shot rig: use a small worm or french fry and drag it back to the boat, most bites are right as it hits the water or they will follow it all the way back to the boat.

2) Texas rigged worm or Lizard: same as the above

3)Swimming grubs: On windy days I will throw this to all of thoses primary and secondary points with wind beating on them. No mistake on the bite. Bounce the bait off the bottom and rocks, trees to get your bite.

Colors for all of these baits are pretty close to the same. Base Watermelom colors with black, red and purple flakes on worms and grubs, but also on grubs don't forget to try the smoke and salt and pepper colors.

That should get you started stay in these areas and you will get bit, alot!

Good Fishing and if you fish these areas I'm sure I will see you on the water (Big Red Skeeter Boat)

Good Luck

[SRV1990]

Jeff, appreciate the heads-up on the length limit, and the license.

Don,

Awesome, can't thank you enough. I am a MO resident, with a MO permit, but based on what you have said we may not even need to venture that far down. I have the soft plastics you mentioned, but I don't have any jointed top water stickbaits. Will pick up a couple before heading down.

When you say "Main lake points", I assume you are referring to points that are not located in/on one of the arms, correct? I've got a couple maps, including the Hot Spots East map, will make some notes on there tonight. I also have a Garmin eTrexC and I may key in some waypoints... assuming, of course, that I can pinpoint the spots right.

Again, thanks so much for your help, it is defintely appreciated. I'll keep an eye out for your red Skeeter. Unfortunately neither my brother in law nor I have a boat, so we're renting one. We are staying at Boomerang Resort, where the other guys we are fishing with have stayed for years. It's sort of a "friendly" tournament between 8 guys. We're the newbies, and want to make our presence felt!!!

All the best...

Tom

[Don House]

Tom, look at your map, look at point 1 right by Big Indain creek, that would be just north of the Dam. That is a great main lake point.. that is what I'm talking about, fish all points just like that all the way to kimberling city bridge or go south past the dam towards 86 hwy bridge.. They are all loaded with fish right now.. Just keep looking.. Also don't forget the secondary points close to those primary points. Fish them very good as well.. same baits..

Good Luck

[SRV1990]

One other thing: I just checked weather.com for the Branson area, boy it isn't looking too good for Wed, Thur & Fri ... with rain and temps dropping a bit. Sure hope that doesn't turn the bite off...???

Thanks,

Tom