Warts On The James

[ktm3ten]

Hey all, I'm pretty new to Missouri so fishing Table Rock is a challenge for me. Bass fishing in general is all new to me but reading this site has helped immensely as have the seminars, etc.

I fished out of from cape fair to the south today. Water temps rose from 51 when i arrived at Cape Fair Marina to 56.3 degrees at one point in a shallow north side cove. Tried stick baits, smoke grub, and wiggle warts in 3 colors. The firetiger wiggle wart was the answer. I caught 4 k's off of rocky main lake points, each time in 8-10 ft of water. All of them were very hard hits (anything soft and I either don't notice or I instinctively jerk and rip it out!). I know, 4 fish is nothing to brag about but for a guy who's happy just to boat some fish, thought it'd be interesting to some of you all that the warts are starting to work.

If anyone is ever out and see's a 17' center console Boston Whaler, come say hi. I know the stickers are coming to identify those of us on the site, but I think I'm the only one on the lake this time of year who doesn't drive a bass boat! Thanks again!

[techo]

That is great news! There are days when four fish would have been great. I always liked the look of thos Boston Whalers. How is it for fishing out of?

[cyclonebass]

ktm3ten, your post brings back memories of my first years of fishing on Table Rock. My college buddy (Reelhawk) parent's had bought a resort on Indian Point and we would come down to fish on breaks. We sucked at catching fish. We did not know what to throw, where to fish and we didn't know of any forums like this on the web to help us out. One day we were out struggling to get a bite and crossed paths with a local guide. It was the best thing that ever could have happened to us. He told us where they were biting, what they were biting on, and gave us a handful of the plastics lures to fish with until we could go get our own. We finally started catching fish on a lake that always seemed to humble us. I don't know the name of the guide who helped us approxamatly 15 yrs ago, but if you are on this forum reading this, I want to say thanks. I also want to say thanks to the guides who are nice enough to post their reports on this site. Your information helps me enjoying catching fish the 2 times a year I get to come visit.

[Quillback]

Hey ktm3m is that Whaler of yours a Montauk? I used to have one of those when I lived in Seattle, used to take it out into Puget sound and salmon fish. Used to use it on the lakes and troll for trout also. Those boats can handle some really tough weather, as long as your outboard keeps chugging you can ride out almost anything.

[shockley32]

sounds like a great trip to me!!!

Brad

[ktm3ten]

Thanks all-

I really like the Whaler, it is a 17' Montauk. It's a great boat for fishing out of, the center console makes it very easy to get around and I took the bow rail off mine to mount a trolling motor. I think for a 17' multi use boat, it's a great all arounder. The security in knowing it won't sink is why I bought it...just piece of mind. So far, haven't seen much rough water on Table Rock, but you never know when that wind will come up!

Here's a picture, If anyone ever sees the boat out there, come say hi. I can always use any tips cause I'm probably not catching much! Thanks again to everyone for your generous contributions to the site!

[jeb]

So far, haven't seen much rough water on Table Rock, but you never know when that wind will come up!

The wind was howling on Beaver yesterday. White caps even way back into some of the little coves! Still, I'd rather deal with those in my Skeeter than wake board boats and big cruisers. It's when those guys are out that you'll find the roughest water on the Rock.

[T-RockJaws]

Came around the semi-blind corner just down from Big M one day last summer to find the largest boat I have ever seen on TRock. The driver was sitting on top and had to be about two stories high. The wake coming off that boat was at least 5 to 6 feet high and I was running the inside track around the corner, no way to get away from it. I am running a Ranger 520 and was just able to get it shut down enough before we got to it. Had I been running the 70 plus mph my boat is capable of, we would still be in the air... Not sure anything is safe when it comes to dealling with this kind of big boat! Really wish there were some restrictions on them when you get to the smaller water above the Shell Knob bridge!

[Quillback]

Yep KTM that's the boat I had when I lived in Washingston state. A couple of times I had it out in seas I should not have been out in (I was young and dumb), but that boat got me back to the dock.

[dtrs5kprs]

Came around the semi-blind corner just down from Big M one day last summer to find the largest boat I have ever seen on TRock. The driver was sitting on top and had to be about two stories high. The wake coming off that boat was at least 5 to 6 feet high and I was running the inside track around the corner, no way to get away from it. I am running a Ranger 520 and was just able to get it shut down enough before we got to it. Had I been running the 70 plus mph my boat is capable of, we would still be in the air... Not sure anything is safe when it comes to dealling with this kind of big boat! Really wish there were some restrictions on them when you get to the smaller water above the Shell Knob bridge!

Had a similar experience in November running back to KC past the Cow Creeks. Huge cruiser plowing water at about 20-25mph. Wake was like a barge wake from the Mississippi R., no crest just big drop offs. Could not safely get past it in my 521-tried to accelerate past it but it spread too far, tried to time and jump but just ended up pounded. Managed to tack & surf across the lake into Little Cow and fished for about 30 minutes before the wakes ever really quit. Saw it again up by Schooner but was able to scoot around in front of it and get back. Unreal.

I'll take wind any day over that. Used to run barge wakes around Prairie Du Chien, WI / Quad Cities, IA / Lake Cooper, IA, etc...don't miss the big river at all. There you can't do anything but run thru them, can't stray much to the sides due to the channel/wing dams/etc.