Fishing Report

[Bill Babler]

I guess really the best report, would be for most of us locals, to just stay off the pond till about July 10th. I know that ain't going to happen, so here is what is currently happening.

Fish seem to be scattered throughout the lake at varing depths. I have guided the dam area, and the Viney creek area the past two days, with good fisherman from Oklahoma, that had no use for a drop shot, so we have been dragging the 3/8th. oz jig.

Dam area from Longcreek to Kimberling City; Fished there day before yesterday 19 fish with 3 keepers. No topwater to speak of or very little at best. Few whites schooling in the evenings around Cow Creek, but very sparce. Not seeing any in the mornings.

Good SMJ fishing early from 4;30AM till 7:30 I am using that 3/8th.oz jig with a green pumpkin or a pbj twin tail on the rear. Smallmouth bite for me was in the 16 to 26 ft. range early, and then it was over. Dropshot fish are reported now by most of the guys to be suspended, and very hard to locate. One of the guys said last week he had 15 fish on a 4 hr. trip, and 12 had hook holes in their beeks.

Kimberling city to Baxter; Dropshot fish in the 40 plus ft. range suspended, with action good some days and very poor on others. Jig bite good in the 28 to 40 ft. depths dragging the 1/2 oz jig. Few whites early in the wind blown coves, but mostly gone by 7 AM. No topwater action to speak of.

James River; Was up there last weekend, so might still have a little idea. Drop shot fish suspended over trees in the 40 ft. range. Jig fish very good early in 14 to 26. No topwater to speak of and very little white bass activity.

Baxter to Big M; guided there today, and had 21 fish with 7 solid keepers on the jig. Dropshot fish are scattered but available if you want to pick off singles, in the 32 to 45 ft. range. Saw one today loafing at 45 feet. and as I dropped to him he screamed up and meet the bait falling in the 30ft. range. Nice keeper K. Most all fish on the jig in the 22 ft. range, on flat gravel. No white bass to report, and absolutely no topwater.

YOu can replace the jig with a splitshot rig with a cenipede, and I believe it will do just about the same thing. Bass are coughing up pumpkinseed perch and crayfish. Have not had one puke a shad in a couple of weeks.

Lake wide reports of Bluegill excellent in pockets or gravel flats in 18 to 26 with gills 8 to 11 inches being caught on crickets.

One of the neighbors said the catfishing in and around Longcreek and Brushy Creek was excellent on Limblines using small perch. He said he has enjoyed his best year in the last 10. Quality flatheads and channels every night on his lines.

Good Luck

[Champ188]

Great report, Bill. Thanks for all the detail. Won't be bucking the waves myself this wkd but patterns like that should hold for a good while.

[Sore Thumbs]

Thanks for that report. That is awesome that someone can come on here and get all that information that you don't have to share. I really appreciate what you do in here. I am a novice when it comes to suspended fish. I think that that is probably my weakest technique. Does a wacky rigged worm ever work on suspended fish. Just seems like the presentation would be perfect for that. Just don't hear of people using it very often. Thanks again.

[Bill Babler]

Sore Thumb, excellent question. That presentation, will work very well. I believe Eric Prey uses it from time to time. Couple of problems this time of year is the depth. It takes that rig a bit more time to reach that 35plus ft. range spiraling down. Also a bit of a problem with line twists, even with a swivel, if your rig is not streamline. I know Tim Sainato uses it on crawlers when the perch are bothering him. He hooks the crawler thru the middle and believes it helps to a small degree to keep the perch from getting it before the K's can take it.

Good Luck and Stay Safe out there.

[T-RockJaws]

Bill, once again you have gone above and beyond... Your knowledge and willingness to share it are greatly appreciated by many.

[focused fishing]

Thanks for that report. That is awesome that someone can come on here and get all that information that you don't have to share. I really appreciate what you do in here. I am a novice when it comes to suspended fish. I think that that is probably my weakest technique. Does a wacky rigged worm ever work on suspended fish. Just seems like the presentation would be perfect for that. Just don't hear of people using it very often. Thanks again.

Sore Thumbs,

Like Bill said I do use the wacky rigged finesse worm from time to time in the summer, can't take any credit for comming up with the idea a client I have from TX turned me on to it a few years back. Here's the deal:

Usually use a green pumpkin 4" finesse worm with chartreuse tail, rig it wacky style with a #1 or 1/0 hook and then put a nail in one or both ends to help it sink. Throw it out over an area holding suspending fish, bridge pilling, dock, or tree top then let it sink on controlled slack (feed it line as it's sinking). Pay close attention to your line if it stops falling set the hook, if it goes tight set the hook, if it seems the least bit funny set the hook. The bite can be really wierd. If the fish are really deep, 30'+ I will use a 1/8th or lighter jig head, the only draw back is it can make the bait fall too fast at times, just depends on how aggressive the fish are. It's a blast once you start catching them this way, they are usually schooled up this time of year and catching one will turn on the whole school.

Good Luck,

EP

[Sore Thumbs]

Sore Thumbs,

Like Bill said I do use the wacky rigged finesse worm from time to time in the summer, can't take any credit for comming up with the idea a client I have from TX turned me on to it a few years back. Here's the deal:

Usually use a green pumpkin 4" finesse worm with chartreuse tail, rig it wacky style with a #1 or 1/0 hook and then put a nail in one or both ends to help it sink. Throw it out over an area holding suspending fish, bridge pilling, dock, or tree top then let it sink on controlled slack (feed it line as it's sinking). Pay close attention to your line if it stops falling set the hook, if it goes tight set the hook, if it seems the least bit funny set the hook. The bite can be really wierd. If the fish are really deep, 30'+ I will use a 1/8th or lighter jig head, the only draw back is it can make the bait fall too fast at times, just depends on how aggressive the fish are. It's a blast once you start catching them this way, they are usually schooled up this time of year and catching one will turn on the whole school.

Good Luck,

EP

Thanks for your help guys. I really appreciate it have a great holiday.

[Champ188]

Sounds like a hoot, Eric. I had a guy show me something similar using a 1/16th-ounce (hard to find but they exist) shaky head and a finesse worm on the bridge pilings at Greers Ferry a few years back. Was a good way to catch spots down there and I can see where your rig could work even better. Thanks for sharing.

[techo]

Never thought of doing it that way either. Wacky rigged the drop shot before but not the nail method.....thanks for sharing EP

[Trout Commander]

I've heard of the wacky rig recently but never used it. Do you suspend and twitch it or let it come to rest on the bottom and twitch??

Thanks in advance.