Best Depth?

[mrcold]

What do you guys find to be the most productive depth when fishing...oh, I don't know...around the May 12th or 15th-ish time of year? I'm sure time of day has a huge effect, but do you ever fish into the 0-5' depth range, even early or late? Or are the fish you catch out in 10'+ regardless? Do you catch a lot of fish out in the 25'-40' range this time of year? Does the fish size seem to vary with depth? I guess the bigger fish are probably a bit more conditioned to stay out deeper, but just looking for advice since I can't quit thinking about the trip. I guess watching the FLW tourney this morning didn't help matters...

Anyway, thanks!

[rps]

zero dark thirty until sun on water: on top

[mrcold]

zero dark thirty until sun on water: on top

Weird...something subtle about your interests and avatar made me think you may like the topwater, though I'm not sure what type of lure you prefer. I'm used to fishing frogs (which never work for me on TR) within 2 feet of the bank (which never works for me on TR), so I've got no confidence throwing a topwater over 15 or 20 feet of water. I guess what I'm getting at is are you usually bank-banging or walking over somewhat open water in those low-light times? Thanks for the response!

[edwin]

We were catching 20-25 fish per morning this past weekend on top water. Of all the fish, only a couple of the strikes came within 20' of the shore. Most times the boat was in 25-35' of water, over gradual points / banks. nearly all the strikes came when the bait was about 1/2 way back to the boat. Redfin outproduced the Sammy 3-1

[Bill Babler]

I have no confidence fishing topwater in 15 to 20 ft. either. Most of the day today, and it was a poor topwater day, my boat was in 60ft. to 110ft. of water. Did manage 4 nice keepers, and about a dozen shorts. Had several blowups and lots of follows.

Kind of like Dick Collier says, "The only reason there is a shoreline on Table Rock Lake is to hold in the water."

You are comming primetime, they will be biting. High Prussure, High Blue like today, and its tough. Little cloud cover and a "Walleye Chop," and it gets really, really good. You are fishing World Famious Table Rock Lake, Expand Your Horizons.

Good Luck,

[motoman]

............. I'm used to fishing frogs (which never work for me on TR) within 2 feet of the bank (which never works for me on TR),..........

-

That's what I love about Table Rock, you've gotta leave many traditional bass fishing habits at the dock. Get away from the bank, everybody else already pounded the heck out of it.

-

"Kind of like Dick Collier says, "The only reason there is a shoreline on Table Rock Lake is to hold in the water."

You are comming primetime, they will be biting. High Prussure, High Blue like today, and its tough. Little cloud cover and a "Walleye Chop," and it gets really, really good. You are fishing World Famious Table Rock Lake, Expand Your Horizons."

[rps]

Longer version of what I said earlier: Bill fishes a deeper area of the lake than I do, most of the time. Up here where I fish, the channel is 30 to 65 feet deep. Many of my topwater spots are 4 to 9 feet deep but very near a drop off into the channel. I have taken more than one good fish on top at a bluff end where the water under the bait might be channel depth, but a transition or cedar trees held the fish at the edge of the deep water. The best smallmouth I caught last summer came out of 20 feet of water on a flat point near a knob that stuck out on the flat with water only 10 feet deep. The fish was less than 20 yards from the channel of 60 feet. He blasted a super spook jr. during pinklight morning.

Throw it, walk it, believe in it.

[mrcold]

Longer version of what I said earlier: Bill fishes a deeper area of the lake than I do, most of the time. Up here where I fish, the channel is 30 to 65 feet deep. Many of my topwater spots are 4 to 9 feet deep but very near a drop off into the channel. I have taken more than one good fish on top at a bluff end where the water under the bait might be channel depth, but a transition or cedar trees held the fish at the edge of the deep water. The best smallmouth I caught last summer came out of 20 feet of water on a flat point near a knob that stuck out on the flat with water only 10 feet deep. The fish was less than 20 yards from the channel of 60 feet. He blasted a super spook jr. during pinklight morning.

Throw it, walk it, believe in it.

Good stuff, and I guess I'm probably going to be closer to Bill's neck of the woods, so I'm gonna have to move out even more than I thought...

I have no confidence fishing topwater in 15 to 20 ft. either. Most of the day today, and it was a poor topwater day, my boat was in 60ft. to 110ft. of water. Did manage 4 nice keepers, and about a dozen shorts. Had several blowups and lots of follows.

Keep in mind, the channels in my 100-300 acre lakes are more like 15-25 feet deep. Thanks for the input. It makes me laugh to think of all the times we were bouncing baits off the rocks saying "what the hell are those guys doing in the middle of the lake?"

Kind of like Dick Collier says, "The only reason there is a shoreline on Table Rock Lake is to hold in the water."

Thanks, a lot to all of ya! I'm hoping that line will be the most helpful tip I've ever learned about the lake.

[SRV1990]

My first trip down to Table Rock several years ago to fish with my buddies I caught hell from them for "beating the bank". I didn't know any better, but sure learned quick. And the above posts reaffirm that 10-fold. It's tough to train yourself to stay out, especially if you're a once-a-year guy like me, but trust me I'm sure gonna try.

Thanks all for the great advice!

Tom

PS... my buddies to this day insist that still I fish 6 inches from the bank... with friends like that, who needs enemies???

[motoman]

My first trip down to Table Rock several years ago to fish with my buddies I caught hell from them for "beating the bank". I didn't know any better, but sure learned quick. And the above posts reaffirm that 10-fold. It's tough to train yourself to stay out, especially if you're a once-a-year guy like me, but trust me I'm sure gonna try.

Thanks all for the great advice!

Tom

PS... my buddies to this day insist that still I fish 6 inches from the bank... with friends like that, who needs enemies???

-

I should clarify, I learned the hard way about Table Rock too. Heck, she still hands my tail to me when I come down there; but I'm getting better!