Lower Bull Shoals Lake Fishing Report

[Hotdawg Guide Service]

I guided on Bull Shoals two days last week both half days and I started after 11;00 a.m. both days. We caught our fish on several baits with sslloowww being the key. If you think something is different set the HOOK! The bite is extremely light. The good news is that we have had two nights in the 48 degree range and two days of 60 to 65 degree weather with warm rain in the forecast and warm temps all week. The key to better fishing is the warm nights. I had a thermometer with me and three feet down all the way to 80 feet it was 43.9 degrees and according to the walleye club it is that way all the way to 195 feet. Also I guided on the river and the water is extremely cold on the river right now and that means it is cold all the way to 115 feet where the intakes for the generators are. WE used stickbaits (Rattlin Rogues & Lucky Craft) and soft plastics ( Hula grubs,4 inch lizards,gitzits and grubs). Green pumpkin and root beer colors worked. We caught 15 - 20 fish each day with 3 keepers the first day and 5 keepers the second.We all get to chomping at the bit with the warm days but it will be probably a week or two before it gets better. GOOD Luck and GOD Bless Hotdawg!!

[wildmanII]

Keep up the good posts keep us informed thats what these sites are all about. Thanks!!!

[pat]

I guided on Bull Shoals two days last week both half days and I started after 11;00 a.m. both days. We caught our fish on several baits with sslloowww being the key. If you think something is different set the HOOK! The bite is extremely light. The good news is that we have had two nights in the 48 degree range and two days of 60 to 65 degree weather with warm rain in the forecast and warm temps all week. The key to better fishing is the warm nights. I had a thermometer with me and three feet down all the way to 80 feet it was 43.9 degrees and according to the walleye club it is that way all the way to 195 feet. Also I guided on the river and the water is extremely cold on the river right now and that means it is cold all the way to 115 feet where the intakes for the generators are. WE used stickbaits (Rattlin Rogues & Lucky Craft) and soft plastics ( Hula grubs,4 inch lizards,gitzits and grubs). Green pumpkin and root beer colors worked. We caught 15 - 20 fish each day with 3 keepers the first day and 5 keepers the second.We all get to chomping at the bit with the warm days but it will be probably a week or two before it gets better. GOOD Luck and GOD Bless Hotdawg!!

Hotdawg,

I'm staying down here near the 125 Marina. Fished for 2 hours this morning and 2 hours this afternoon. I was hoping for some advice; in 4 hours of fishing I didn't even get a bite. Here's what I tried: Suspending Rogue (about half the time), 4 to 6 inch plastic worms, flat sided crankbait, spoon.

I fished most of the time in the trimble creek arm (around some points and just along various shoreline types) and on the main lake just outside trimble creek (off of a bluff with cedar trees).

Any advice would be appreciated. I'll be down here until Monday Afternoon.

Thanks,

Pat

[Hotdawg Guide Service]

Hotdawg,

I'm staying down here near the 125 Marina. Fished for 2 hours this morning and 2 hours this afternoon. I was hoping for some advice; in 4 hours of fishing I didn't even get a bite. Here's what I tried: Suspending Rogue (about half the time), 4 to 6 inch plastic worms, flat sided crankbait, spoon.

I fished most of the time in the trimble creek arm (around some points and just along various shoreline types) and on the main lake just outside trimble creek (off of a bluff with cedar trees).

Any advice would be appreciated. I'll be down here until Monday Afternoon.

Thanks,

Pat

[Hotdawg Guide Service]

Pat with all the rain and cold I would move out to the main lake and spoon off the bluff ends and try to target deep fish in th 35- 40 foot range. This is so far out of the norm weather wise that I think the fish are even tired of it lats year we already had 60-62 degree water and were having a blast with stick baits and lizards. Good luck Hotdawg!

[pat]

Pat with all the rain and cold I would move out to the main lake and spoon off the bluff ends and try to target deep fish in th 35- 40 foot range. This is so far out of the norm weather wise that I think the fish are even tired of it lats year we already had 60-62 degree water and were having a blast with stick baits and lizards. Good luck Hotdawg!

Hotdawg,

I fished from thursday to sunday twice a day for about 2 hours at a time. I think I tried everything in my tackle box (suspending rogue, finesse worms, jigs, crankbaits, etc...) and every type of structure I could think of. I didn't get a bite all weekend! That has to be first for me; I stayed mainly in the Trimble creek arm and Buck creek. Does fishing vary that much from arm to arm? I figured that all the creek arms would be holding good numbers of fish. I stay at my Father in law's house and try to just fish close by. Would it be worth my time to launch at another location or fish creek arm farther away?

I'll be down in late April with some buddies for the weekend. Hopefully we'll catch something then.

Does color really make a huge difference with stick baits?

thanks,

Pat

[Ham]

I'm not Hotdawg so please PTI, but location can make an all or nothing difference and the color of stickbaits matters when it matters. Some days it makes all the difference in the world, other days almost any color you throw will get some bites.

It should be wide open at the end of April. If you guys can't catch anything then, maybe you should ebay off your fishing gear.

[taxidermist]

Go to the bluffs, with a bubble gum pink sinking jerk bait ans slowly just make it move. Just roll. We caught some smallies this way last week.

[Hotdawg Guide Service]

Hotdawg,

I fished from thursday to sunday twice a day for about 2 hours at a time. I think I tried everything in my tackle box (suspending rogue, finesse worms, jigs, crankbaits, etc...) and every type of structure I could think of. I didn't get a bite all weekend! That has to be first for me; I stayed mainly in the Trimble creek arm and Buck creek. Does fishing vary that much from arm to arm? I figured that all the creek arms would be holding good numbers of fish. I stay at my Father in law's house and try to just fish close by. Would it be worth my time to launch at another location or fish creek arm farther away?

I'll be down in late April with some buddies for the weekend. Hopefully we'll catch something then.

Does color really make a huge difference with stick baits?

thanks,

Pat

[Pat at this time of year water temp is the key a two degree difference can mean it all! Yes cploer does matter but confidence in a lure does also! By the end of April it should be a whole different story and I will post each wek! GOOD LUCK Hotdawg!/quote]